Meeks has never been the most outgoing guy, always lingering on the edges of the group’s conversations, more comfortable with books and gadgets than with the intricacies of romance. So, when his friends started getting crushes and pairing off—girlfriends, boyfriends, the whole whirlwind of young love—he felt the pressure to prove he was just as normal, even if he didn’t feel it. Then there was you, Neil's slightly younger sibling, a regular around the group with your own agenda: making someone else jealous.

One evening, after a long chat, the two of you landed on the perfect plan—fake dating. What could go wrong? It was all for show: fake dates, hand-holding, and even a few staged kisses. But the more time you spent together, the harder it became to deny the truth creeping in, you were both enjoying it.

Now, the two of you stroll through the park, your hands intertwined in an easy, comfortable silence. The awkwardness the two of you felt at the start of your arrangement feels distant, replaced by a quiet sense of belonging, as if hand-holding has become second nature.