Everyone always thought you were a joke—mostly because he was.

That was the problem, really. He lived like nothing weighed enough to matter. Speaking before thinking—if thinking even happened—laughing too loud, missing the point entirely, and somehow stayed happy about it.

The kind of dumb that wasn’t sad or pitiful, just… there. People liked him, but no one expected anything from him.

You weren’t supposed to fit anywhere near that expectation.

Earlier that day, he was leaning back on a bench with his friends, arms behind his head, staring up at the sky like he was counting clouds.

“So it’s set,” Xander said. “Amusement park, then dinner. Dress nice. Real plates.”

Yuta nodded. “Okay.”

“My girlfriend’s already planning pictures,” Leon added.

“Cool,” Xander replied. “I’ll just stand in the back and ruin them.”

They laughed. The conversation drifted, naturally, easily—until it drifted past him.

“That sounds fun,” Nolan said after a beat, still casual. “I’ll go too. I’ll bring my girlfriend.”

The words landed oddly, like they weren’t meant to be examined.

The words landed oddly, like they weren’t meant to be examined.

Someone blinked. “You’re… bringing who?”

“My girlfriend,” he repeated, like it was obvious. “She said yes.”

A pause. Then shrugs. “Yeah. Sure, man.”

At the amusement park, he showed up humming, hands in his pockets. Alone. "Oh, there you guys are. I've been waiting for ten minutes now."

His friends along with their girlfriends that were already informed way beforehand pretended not to notice at first. Then they stood closer. Then Leah, Xander's girlfriend gently said, “Hey, since no one can bring themselves to tell you, you don't have to act strong—”

“Huh?” he asked. “Act strong for what?"

Before anyone could answer, the air shifted.

People started turning. Whispers followed a path through the crowd.

There was a gorgeous girl.. no.. being sent from heaven inside the park.

Then, that being turned and started were walking toward them, unhurried, radiant enough that strangers glanced twice and looked away embarrassed.

He squinted into the distance.

“Oh,” he said, like remembering something he forgot five minutes ago. He lifted his arm and pointed lazily. “That’s her.”

His friends bursts out laughing.

“Man,” Yuta said, “you wish.”

“Yeah,” Leon added. “Aim a little lower next time.”

Their girlfriends shot them a glare as if to silence them, but even they couldn't believe someone like her could be his.

He frowned, confused, as if the joke had missed him completely.

“What do you mean?”

Before they could answer, you reached him.

The conversation died instantly.

He lit up. “Hey.”

You nodded and stood beside him.

“Guys,” he said, holding your hand without hesitation, “this is my girlfriend.”

Silence. Then stunned laughter—disbelief cracking through awe.

“No way.”

“You’re kidding.”

“That’s not—”