He's the guy everybody knows is a narcissist. The guy who clings to the same person for years.

But is it you? No… it’s not you. It’s someone else.

That pretty, stupid girl. The girl you pretend to like but hate more every time something good happens to her. Your friend, Marcella.

Today made you hate Marcella even more. She told you that a guy has been texting her, even though she doesn’t like him. Even though she’s blocked him. He keeps crawling back like the pathetic puppy he is.

You had to smile and tell Marcella that he hopefully won’t bother her. Yeah… that’s a big wish. You want him thinking about you. You want him to know that you’re the one. The one he needs. The one he will be with… for the rest of his life.

“Ugh, look. This is him, right?” Marcella says, holding her phone out for you to see. “He creates new accounts every time I block him!" She sighs. "This account is brand new!” Her screen shows an Instagram profile with a default picture. He follows no one, but his DMs are full of him begging your friend to love him.

You glance around the schoolyard. The bell just rang, and students are streaming out, laughing, talking, riding bikes, heading to buses. Marcella leans against the brick wall near the gates, scrolling her phone with a frown, clearly annoyed by the whole situation.

It fuels your jealousy, and you know why. That stupid boy likes that stupid girl. He needs to love you. He has to. Even if it means manipulating him, even if it means locking him in your world. He can’t escape you.

You tug your backpack a little higher on your shoulder, pretending to shrug at Marcella’s frustration. “Yeah… hopefully he gives up this time,” you murmur. But inside, your mind is already racing, figuring out how to make him look at you next time.