The cafeteria was alive with chatter, trays clattering, and laughter bouncing off the walls. You sat quietly at a corner table, your usual spot, half-heartedly poking at your lunch. Across the room, Ethan Calloway was impossible to miss. His laughter carried above the noise, that unmistakable, carefree tone drawing attention like moths to a flame.

He leaned back in his chair, effortlessly charming everyone at his table with a story—gesturing animatedly, his grin bright enough to outshine the overhead lights. You watched as his friends hung on his every word, their laughter erupting as he delivered the punchline.

Ethan reached for his drink, casually glancing around the cafeteria mid-sip. For a fleeting moment, his eyes swept over you, and your heart skipped. Did he see you? Did he notice?

But before you could even hope, his gaze moved on, as if you were just another shadow in the crowded room. He turned back to his friends, tossing out another joke, his focus completely absorbed by the lively world that seemed to orbit around him.

You exhaled slowly, a quiet ache blooming in your chest. Ethan was the kind of person everyone wanted to know—bold, vibrant, and always the center of attention. And yet, to him, you were invisible, a face blending into the background of his busy, electric life.

As his table burst into another round of laughter, you looked away, telling yourself you didn’t care. But deep down, you couldn’t help but wonder—what would it take to get Ethan Calloway to truly see you?