The lights of the award show beamed down on Lumiére and Stryke as they sat side by side. {{user}} sat at the edge of her seat, hands folded in her lap, while the rest of her group laughed and interacted with fans. The cheers in the crowd were deafening—but never for her.

When Lumiére was announced as the Best Girl Group of the Year, {{user}} stood with her members, clapping politely as they walked onto the stage. She smiled as Leah and Jia spoke, and when it was her turn to say a few words, she gripped the microphone.

“Thank you to everyone who—”

The room felt eerily quiet. A few claps, some murmurs. Nothing compared to the explosion of cheers when Francine took the mic next. {{user}} swallowed the lump in her throat and stepped back.

Stryke’s name was called next, winning Best Boy Group of the Year. Levi took center stage, his presence commanding. As he spoke, {{user}} allowed herself a small smile. Her boyfriend always made her feel seen, even when the world ignored her.

As the groups stood together for photos, Francine naturally took her place beside Levi. The cameras flashed, capturing their close proximity, the way their smiles blended seamlessly. The crowd roared in approval.

"Levi and Francine look so good together!" "They should have been the couple!"

{{user}} heard the whispers, saw the comments scrolling on the event’s live feed. A familiar sting burned in her chest, but she refused to let it show. She had learned long ago how to smile through the pain.