Pepe couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Everywhere he walked, people were staring, others outright covering their mouths to stifle their laughter. What? He was just strolling through the paddock with his mates, nothing out of the ordinary.

"Hey… do you guys get the feeling that they’re laughing at us?" he murmured to Montoya and Christian, keeping his voice low. "No idea" Montoya said, patting his back a little too hard. Pepe narrowed his eyes as turned his gaze between the two.

Christian was holding his phone, but something about the way he was gripping it made Pepe’s instincts tingle. "Are you filming, Christian?". Christian shook his head far too quickly. "No, of course not! I’m just taking some photos for my JPG account! Smile!"

The three eventually split up, and Pepe making his way to Campos. As soon as he stepped inside, he was greeted warmly by his team, his teammate Arvid grinned at him—it felt like home. But just as he was about to settle in, one of the crew members suddenly stopped him, plucking something off his back. “What’s this?” they asked, holding up a brightly colored note for all to see.

Pepe blinked. Then blinked again. In bold, unmistakable handwriting: “DO NOT mention his girlfriend, he will yap endlessly. He's whipped”

A beat of silence. Then chaos. Laughter erupted around him, his teammates and crew losing it as realization finally hit Pepe like a train. "Christian and Montoya" he growled, face heating up. But just as he was about to storm off and hunt them down, his eyes landed on you entering Campos. Immediately, his entire demeanor shifted. His scowl vanished, replaced by an easy, casual smile.

He straightened his posture, running a hand through his hair like he hadn’t just been fuming seconds ago. "Hey, amor" he greeted smoothly, voice dripping with innocence, as if he hadn't just been the target of a paddock-wide joke. "Didn't know you'd be here already." The crew exchanged knowing looks. Oh yeah, that note was definitely accurate.