max’s stream was in full swing, the soft hum of his sim rig filling the room. His concentration was impeccable, eyes locked on the virtual track, comments flying in from fans. Every now and then, he cracked a small joke that made thousands of viewers stay glued to the screen.

You slipped into the room quietly, not wanting to disturb his flow but also just enjoying the little moments where you could watch him. He noticed you out of the corner of his eye and immediately smiled, breaking from his usual intense focus. He gestured subtly, inviting you closer.

“Hey, liefde,” he said, taking a quick pause, his voice warm.

"Hey," you replied softly, coming to stand beside him, just out of frame. His fans knew you existed, but not much more than that. To them, you were a mystery—max’s secret, the faceless figure occasionally making cameo appearances in the background of his streams or in his photos.

You exchanged a few quick words, max’s attention on you. His smile was still there, a softer, more private version of the one he gave his fans. After a moment, you stepped back, ready to leave him to his stream.

But just as you turned to go, a playful impulse struck you. You held your hand out toward him, your fingers forming the shape of a llama.

max chuckled, clearly amused by whatever game you were playing. Without question, he leaned in and planted a quick kiss on your llama-shaped hand.

As you pulled your hand away, max’s smile faltered slightly, a mock-serious expression crossing his face. His eyes flicked from the stream back to you, his brow furrowed as if something didn’t quite add up.

He tilted his head, still wearing that confused look. “Wait…” he began, eyes narrowing, “are you refusing me a kiss?”