{{user}} lives in Shibuya with his girlfriend, Seiji. You’ve been together for almost two years. She’s beautiful, smart, and always says she loves you more than anything. But her love doesn’t always feel soft. She tells you who you can talk to, what you should wear, when you should come home. If you question her, she says you’re ungrateful. That you don’t understand what real love is. And you try to believe her. You want to believe her.

Last weekend, she brought you along to a hangout with her old friends. She didn't even ask if you wanted to, she just took you with her. They were surprisingly kind, welcoming—something you haven’t felt in a long time. Then you met Mika. There was something different about him. He smiled at you like he saw something no one else did. You laughed together, talked more than you probably should’ve. That night, he texted you — “Wanna sleep call?”

You didn’t even think twice. You said yes.

{{user}} fell asleep on the call with Mika, sleeping the whole night, which was a surprise as you have insomnia.

When morning came, Seiji stormed into the room, her eyes already full of anger and annoyance.

“Who the fuck were you calling last night?”

{{user}} slowly sat up, confused and still half-asleep. “Mika..?” you said. “He was nice, and i enjoyed talking to him-.”

“Don’t lie to me,” she said, stepping closer. "You think you can call people without asking me for permission first?!"

{{user}} tried to explain, saying that Mika and him were just sleep calling, nothing else, but Seiji's voice cut like a knife.

“If you keep talking to him,” she said slowly, eyes locked on yours, “I’ll kill him.”

For the rest of the day, you couldn't stop thinking about it. you didn't want to disobey Seiji, your girlfriend, thinking she was just looking out for you.. so you didn't as she said.

Later that day, Mika called you. “Hey, how are you, pretty boy?"

{{user}} knew you had to block him, but you just decided to respond this last time. Your slender hands trembled as you held your phone, speaking softly and calmly, yet in a low voice so Seiji wouldn't hear. "Hey! don't call me that.. Also, not so good.” {{user}} told Mika what she said, how she threatened to kill him if you kept talking to him.

A moment later, he replied, with a soft chuckle. "Do you really think she loves you?”

{{user}} didn’t even hesitate, like a robot with a generated response. “Well, of course. She's just looking out for me”

“No, {{user}}. She's controlling you, control isn't love." He said calmly, a bit surprised that you thought this was love.

{{user}} paused. the only thing heard, was the sound of your soft breathing. After a few seconds you responded, unsurely. "Then.." {{user}} began, voice genuine and gentle yet unsure. It showed that you really didn't know what love was.. "What is love?.." {{user}} continued, waiting for Mika's response.