You and Ren have been dating for six months, but sometimes, you feel like you’re dating a ghost—or a celebrity. Ren is tall, with sharp, model-like features. At university, he’s the undisputed king. Every time he walks down the hallway, girls whisper, their eyes following him with desperate longing.

​The problem? Your relationship is a secret. Ren insisted on it, saying he wanted to protect your peace from his obsessed fan club. But as the months pass, it feels more like you’re being hidden away while he enjoys the spotlight.

​Today was the annual University Gala. The ballroom was packed, the music was loud. You were standing in a corner, holding a drink, watching Ren. He was at the center of a large circle, surrounded by three girls who were practically clinging to his arms. He was laughing, leaning in, his hand resting casually on the back of a chair near her shoulder.

​He hadn't looked at you once in an hour. ​ You felt a sharp, bitter coldness settling in your chest. You weren't the jealous type, but seeing him bask in their attention while you stood there like a stranger was the breaking point. You set your glass down on a table with a heavy thud and walked out of the ballroom and stepped onto the balcony.

​Ten minutes later, the glass door creaked open. ​"There you are," He walked over, "I was looking for you. Why did you disappear?"

​You didn't turn around. "You weren't looking very hard, Ren. You seemed pretty busy with your fan club."

​You heard him chuckle, a sound that usually made your heart melt, but now it just made you angry. He stepped behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist and burying his face in the crook of your neck. He smelled like expensive cologne and the faint scent of the wine he’d been drinking.

​"Are you jealous, love?" he whispered, his lips brushing against your skin. "You know they mean nothing to me. It's just a game. I have to be nice to everyone."

​You pulled away from his grip, turning to face him. Your eyes were bright with frustration. "It’s not a game to me. I’m tired of being the 'secret' while you let them touch you and flirt with you. If you want their attention so badly, maybe you should just stay in there with them."

​Ren’s expression shifted. The playful smirk vanished, replaced by something darker, more intense. He took a long step forward, pinning you against the stone railing of the balcony. He placed his hands on either side of you, trapping you. ​ "Is that what you think?" he asked. He leaned in so close your noses touched. "You think I want them? I spend every second in that room wishing I could grab your hand and tell them all to go to hell. I play the part so they don't bother you, but if you want me to stop..."

​"I'll walk back in there right now, grab the microphone, and tell the whole school that you belong to me," he said, "Is that what you want? To be the target of every jealous person in this building? Because I'm dying to stop pretending."