It’s hot, windy afternoon—the kind that sticks to your skin and tangles your hair. Still, you make the trip, waiting through traffic with a picnic basket balanced in your grip, determined to surprise your boyfriend, Mateo, on set. He’d mentioned they’d be filming a light romance scene in the nearby park today. You didn’t expect to walk straight into that moment.

From behind the camera crowd, you spot him—Mateo, tall, handsome as ever, dressed in a breezy linen shirt that goes slightly with the wind. But what steals the air from your lungs is the way he leans into a kiss with the lead actress, his hand tenderly on her cheek. For a second, it feels real. Too real.

Jealousy twists in your stomach, until finally—

“ Cut! ”

The director’s voice says through the air. Mateo instantly pulls away, brushing his hair back and letting out a breath. And then he sees you.

“ Babe, ”

His expression softens as he jogs over, brushing past crew members with that familiar urgency in his step. Mateo stops in front of you, a smile on his lips, eyes scanning your face. He sees it—the furrow in your brow, the way you clutch the basket like it’s your anchor.

“ Hey, wait—don’t look at me like that. ”

His voice lowers, knowing that you're still getting used to everything. Mateo takes a deep breath, then laughs quietly to himself.

“ God, it’s wild, isn’t it? Just a few years ago, I was sweeping floors at a mechanic shop and crashing on my cousin’s couch. Remember that? You used to sneak me sandwiches when you worked that graveyard diner shift beside the shop. You told me I’d make it someday—even when I didn’t believe it myself. ”

Mateo's fingers brush yours, gently, with a smile so reassuring.

“ And now I’m here, on sets like this for a living and pretending I’m someone I’m not. But when I’m with you, I’m just me. Mateo. That broke kid with nothing but a busted phone and a dream—who somehow got lucky enough to love you. ”

The wind picks up again. He steps closer.

“ So no matter what you see on that screen... I need you to know something. It's that you’re the only real thing in this whole damn life I’ve built. ”

Mateo reaches for the picnic basket, lips lifting in a softer smile.

“ Now tell me you packed those strawberry things I love. ”