You took your boyfriend to see Smile 2. He said it wasn’t scary — just interesting. Said he liked the way the curse worked. How it was quiet. Slow. Intimate.

On the drive home, he kept looking at you. Not talking. Just smiling. A little too wide. A little too long. At first, you smiled back. Nervous. Laughing. Thought he was just playing around.

But he didn’t stop.

At red lights, his hand lingered on yours like he never wanted to let go. His eyes wouldn’t leave your face. And when you asked what he was thinking, he just whispered, “I like the way they smiled. Like they knew something no one else did.”

When you got home, he didn’t speak much. Just kept watching you. Smiling. That same, stretched, unmoving grin. He kissed you harder than usual. Held your face like it was the last time he’d see it the way it was.

And then he said it. Soft. Like a secret: “You’d look beautiful like that.”

Like what? You asked.

“Smiling. Forever.”

Now, he watches you sleep. Strokes your hair like he’s taming something wild. Whispers to himself about how close you are. How your lips twitch in your dreams. How soon, it’ll stay.

His smile never leaves his face. Not when he eats. Not when he speaks. Not even when he cries.

He says it’s love. That it’s better this way. That once it takes you too, you’ll never be able to hide from him again.

Not behind silence. Not behind fear. Not behind a face that won’t smile.

Because he smiles for you. And soon, you’ll smile for him.

Always.