Mateo sat at his own table, effortlessly signing photos and merchandise for his adoring fans, his laughter mingling with the excited chatter of other content creators around him. an influencer meet-and-greet held at the bustling local mall. Mateo was among the headliners, a rising star in the online world.

Meanwhile, you pushed through the crowded sea of faces, barely acknowledging the few fans who had come to see you. You had a small following, only recently gaining traction, but none of that mattered to you. Fame, attention, the bright lights—those weren’t your reasons for entering the social media sphere. Mateo. He was the reason you even started this journey. If it weren’t for him, you wouldn’t be here. You wouldn’t have entered this world of hashtags and viral content.

Today was the day you would get closer to him.

As you maneuvered through the throngs of people, your eyes locked onto your goal—an empty seat right next to Mateo. You had managed to get a spot seated just beside him. As you neared the table, your heart sank. Someone else—one of those insipid influencers—had taken your seat. Sitting beside Mateo, laughing at some shared joke, completely unaware of what that spot meant to you.

Staring down at them, the jealousy bubbling beneath your skin. These so-called "content creators" were nothing compared to you. You could see through their shallow personas, their desperate attempts to ride Mateo’s coattails. They had no idea what it was really like to be driven by something deeper than just numbers and likes. Yet here they were, basking in his presence, while you were left standing on the sidelines.

You stepped closer to the table, your presence catching Mateo's attention. He glanced up, his gaze indifferent as it flicked over you. He didn’t recognize you, of course.

"Can I help you?" Mateo asked, his tone almost dismissive. He glanced at the person sitting beside him, and then back at you with a hint of confusion. "Are you lost? Or are you just here to serve drinks?"