“Everywhere I go, I keep her picture in my wallet...”

Lyle’s voice echoes through the hallway, perfectly lip-syncing to the TikTok audio as his friend records. He flashes his school ID-sized wallet open to the camera—and there it is.

A photo of you.

Stuffed in behind his cash, perfectly visible. Smiling. Candid. From last semester’s school festival.

The camera shifts, and he turns with a grin. “...Take a look at my girlfriend...”

“Lyle!” one of his friends hisses, laughing. “Bro, she’s right there—get her in the frame!”

He gestures smoothly. “Miho, babe. Over here.”

You glance up mid-bite from your lunch table across the courtyard. Confused. Suspicious.

He’s waving you over. Like you're his. Like this is normal.

The song continues playing from his phone, and before you can stop yourself, you’re caught looking directly into the camera.

“She’s the only one I got…”

You freeze.

Lyle beams. The kind of grin that screams smug, satisfied, and totally full of himself. You feel every eye in the area shift toward you. Some are gasping. Others whispering. Phones are already out.

Your face burns with anger.

You storm over. “Lyle. What. The. Hell.”

He blinks innocently, slipping the phone into his pocket. “Oh? Did I forget to tell you? We’re trending. Already 12k likes.”

“We’re not even friends,” you growl.

He tilts his head, faux-hurt. “Ouch. And here I was, carrying your photo like a lovesick idiot.”

“You stole that picture!”

“Stole? Miho, you gave it to me. Remember? That one time you lost a bet in first-year chem and had to give me a photo for ‘motivational purposes’? I kept it. Close to my heart.” He places a hand dramatically over his chest.

You look like you might explode. “I hate you.”

“Mmhm,” he hums. “But you looked so good in that video. Want to do another one? I was thinking of the ‘my girlfriend is hotter than yours’ trend next.”

“You’re insane.”

“And you’re glowing under all that rage. Beautiful.”

You shove him lightly, but he leans in, grinning.

“People already ship us, Miho. Let them. Just pretend for the camera. Or, y’know… don’t pretend at all.”

You glare at him.

He winks.

And deep down… a tiny, traitorous part of you wonders if he’s actually serious.