- 14 minutes ago
I Fell for Her Boyfriend Online
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🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00In my third year as the young Mrs. Lackey, her family told her to win over her arranged marriage match.
00:09She shoved her Instagram at me and made me chat with him in her place.
00:14If you screw this up, you're dead.
00:19So I gritted my teeth and racked my brain every day for all kinds of sweet nothings.
00:26I chatted with Chase Merritt like this for three months, and he grew more and more proactive.
00:37Until one day, he messaged my own account, asking me to help pass a gift along to the young Miss.
00:44I replied on reflex.
00:46Okay, thanks, babe.
00:48The other end went silent.
00:51By the time I was actually awake, I remembered his message.
00:56I opened my phone to check where he'd left the gift.
01:00Went back to the thread.
01:02Clicked in.
01:03Clicked out.
01:04Did it three more times.
01:06Hands unsteady.
01:07Like the answer was going to change.
01:10It didn't.
01:11I'd replied from my personal account.
01:14Already past the delete window.
01:17After my message, Chase hadn't responded the way he usually did.
01:22No warmth.
01:23No patience.
01:24Just a question mark.
01:26I ran through every possible excuse.
01:30Discarded most of them.
01:32Finally landed on the one that might actually hold.
01:37Sorry, wrong chat.
01:40Meant to send that to a friend.
01:42I'll grab the gift now.
01:45Chase didn't push it.
01:47Just replied, okay, thanks.
01:49I exhaled.
01:51Switched to Vivienne's account.
01:53His messages there had a completely different tone.
01:57Babe, I'm on my way back.
01:59Can we talk about making things official when I get back?
02:03The breath I'd just let out got stuck in my throat all over again.
02:09I started working for Vivienne Ashford freshman year.
02:13Her family paid me to manage her online presence.
02:17Captions, comment sections, dating app conversations.
02:22I needed the money for grandma's medical bills.
02:25It was that simple.
02:27Three months ago, Vivienne's mother started pushing her toward Chase Merritt.
02:33Their families had known each other for years.
02:36Mrs. Ashford had made it clear the connection mattered.
02:41Vivienne was told to make him like her.
02:44Chase was traveling.
02:46Vivienne messaged him herself for three days from a backup account.
02:51He didn't bite.
02:52Vivienne had never had someone just not respond to her.
02:57It clearly didn't sit right.
03:02The account wasn't her main one anyway.
03:05So she shoved the login at me.
03:09Screw this up and you're done.
03:12I took the phone.
03:14Kept my job.
03:15Started every morning the same way.
03:18Lying in bed.
03:19Scrolling Chase's grid.
03:21Thinking about what angle to try.
03:24Slowly, his replies got longer.
03:27He started responding within minutes.
03:29He started asking questions back.
03:32Three months passed.
03:34Now Chase was coming back to talk about next steps.
03:39This was almost over.
03:41One way or another.
03:45I put together a document that afternoon.
03:48Every preference I'd picked up on.
03:51Food allergies.
03:52What made him go quiet.
03:53What made him actually respond.
03:56Then I went downstairs, grabbed the gift, and walked over to Vivienne's apartment.
04:03She was on the couch.
04:04A few other gift boxes stacked beside her.
04:10Inside was a small, limited edition, jelly cat bunny.
04:16The London collaboration drop.
04:18Long sold out.
04:20That's it?
04:21A stuffed animal?
04:23I mentioned liking rabbits at some point.
04:27So he sent that.
04:30You deal with it.
04:32Next time tell him I'm into jewelry.
04:34Diamonds.
04:35Got it?
04:36Okay.
04:37He's coming back soon.
04:39About the account?
04:40Maybe it's better if you handle it yourself from here.
04:43Her DMs.
04:44Packed.
04:45Scrolling.
04:46Suitors.
04:47Plural.
04:48I've got enough going on.
04:49You keep handling Chase.
04:53Look through this before you see him.
04:55It matters.
04:58Yeah, yeah.
05:00You worry too much.
05:06I put together a document that afternoon.
05:09Every preference I'd picked up on.
05:12Food allergies.
05:13What made him go quiet.
05:15What made him actually respond.
05:18Then, I went downstairs, grabbed the gift, and walked over to Vivienne's apartment.
05:24She was on the couch.
05:25A few other gift boxes stacked beside her.
05:32Inside was a small, limited edition Jelly Cat Bunny.
05:37The London collaboration drop.
05:39Long sold out.
05:42That's it?
05:42A stuffed animal?
05:45I mentioned liking rabbits at some point.
05:48So he sent that.
05:51You deal with it.
05:53Next time, tell him I'm into jewelry.
05:56Diamonds.
05:57Got it?
05:58Okay.
05:59He's coming back soon.
06:00About the account?
06:01Maybe it's better if you handle it yourself from here.
06:05Her DMs.
06:06Packed.
06:06Scrolling.
06:08Suitors.
06:08Plural.
06:09I've got enough going on.
06:11You keep handling Chase.
06:15Look through this before you see him.
06:17It matters.
06:20Yeah, yeah.
06:21You worry too much.
06:27A few days later, Chase was back.
06:31Vivienne brought me along to his welcome back dinner.
06:35I carried her bag.
06:36We were almost at the door when her phone rang.
06:39She waved me inside and stepped aside to take the call.
06:43I pushed the door open.
06:46Before I could see anything,
06:47someone took the bag from my hand.
06:50A second later, fingers closed around mine.
06:56You wore the bag I gave you?
06:59Good girl.
07:01I'd heard that voice through a phone for three months.
07:06Hearing it in the same room was different.
07:11He registered what he was seeing.
07:14Stepped back.
07:15Let go.
07:16He muttered something under his breath.
07:18Sorry.
07:19Wrong person.
07:21Vivienne appeared in the doorway.
07:24Why are you just standing there?
07:28Chase's expression reset.
07:30Waiting for you.
07:35Vivienne folded into the group quickly.
07:38She was good at that.
07:40I sat next to her and didn't say much.
07:43Nobody looked at me.
07:44That was fine.
07:48The table went quiet.
07:51My stomach dropped.
07:53Vivienne hadn't read a word of that document.
07:57Chase was allergic to shellfish.
08:02I'd bolded it.
08:04I'd put it in red.
08:07Chase's jaw tightened.
08:09He's allergic to shrimp.
08:13Vivienne pivoted without missing a beat.
08:16Ate the shrimp herself.
08:19I know you can't have shrimp.
08:21Just wanted you to smell it.
08:24He laughed.
08:26Crisis handled.
08:28After dinner, someone suggested truth or dare.
08:33Pass me my bag.
08:34His elbow caught mine.
08:38Everything scattered.
08:40Including the jelly cat bunny.
08:42Which landed in the light like it had been waiting for exactly the wrong moment.
08:50Why do you have that?
08:57Six explanations in two seconds.
09:00Holding it for Vivienne.
09:01Bought one just like it.
09:03Found it somewhere.
09:04None of them were going to land.
09:06The truth was, I liked it.
09:09When Vivienne threw it at me,
09:11I'd stood there a while,
09:12before putting it carefully in my bag.
09:15I'd grabbed the wrong bag tonight.
09:17I didn't get to say anything.
09:20Vivienne beat me to it.
09:22Leah!
09:23Did you take that from me?
09:26I've done so much for you.
09:28You knew how much that meant to me.
09:32Why would you...
09:33Every head in the room turned.
09:36Isn't she Vivienne's assistant?
09:38That's bold.
09:41She stole something Chase gave his girlfriend.
09:45I started to say no.
09:48No.
09:50Say one more word and you're done.
09:53Keep your mouth shut and I'll send you $50,000.
09:57The denial died in my throat.
10:00$50,000.
10:02Grandma's next several months of medication.
10:05The surgery I couldn't afford to lose.
10:09I heard myself say it, voice flat.
10:15I took it.
10:18I'm sorry.
10:21It's okay.
10:23I know things have been hard for you.
10:30Don't be too hard on her.
10:33Chase didn't say anything, but I felt him look at me.
10:39Vivienne's so understanding.
10:41Let's just move on.
10:42It's Chase's night.
10:43Five minutes later, truth or dare resumed.
10:46Chase's turn to hand one out.
10:48He looked at me.
10:49Let the silence stretch.
10:51Dare.
10:53Feed someone a pretzel stick.
10:56Hands behind your back.
10:58The room went still.
10:59Nobody volunteered.
11:04Brady stood up.
11:06He looked at me in a way that made my skin crawl.
11:09I'll do it.
11:11He held one end of the pretzel stick between his teeth and tilted his chin up.
11:16My hands were shaking.
11:18I was about to pull back.
11:20Okay, that's enough.
11:25Chase lifted an eyebrow.
11:27The game moved on.
11:30After, I drove Vivienne home without a word.
11:34She transferred the $50,000 before she walked inside.
11:37A few days to clear.
11:41I sat in my car, staring at the pending notification.
11:45Tomorrow, I could buy actual groceries.
11:49Something good.
11:51Grandma had been eating the same things for weeks.
12:00The backup account.
12:02The backup account.
12:03He didn't know anything.
12:09He held one end of the pretzel stick between his teeth and tilted his chin up.
12:14My hands were shaking.
12:17My hands were shaking.
12:17I was about to pull back.
12:19I was about to pull back.
12:19Okay, that's enough.
12:27I was so happy.
12:44I was so happy.
12:47You know what?
12:47It's a good job.
12:49grandma had been eating the same things for weeks the backup account Chase he
13:01didn't know anything the next morning I picked up a shift at the campus bakery
13:11grandma's surgery was still six figures short Vivian's money helped but it
13:17wasn't close around noon Brady walked in I rang him up 1250 with that face why are
13:27you working a register come work for me instead there's a camera right there let
13:35go or I'm calling campus security he held tighter whatever Vivian is paying you I'll
13:42double it the second he hesitated I grabbed a pen off the counter and pressed
13:48the tip into his hand he let go I went for the kitchen he came after me swearing he
13:55almost had my arm when someone else entered the frame I heard Brady hit the
14:00floor before I reacted Chase stood over him looking down like he was mildly
14:06inconvenienced he sent Brady out the bakery got very quiet don't read into
14:13it Vivian likes having you around you end up with Brady she gets upset I know thank
14:21you my co-workers showed up to take over my shift I grabbed my bag and tried to
14:27leave Chase fell into step beside me I'm heading to see Vivian anyway I'll drop you
14:33I'd seen Chase before long before any of this freshman year of high school the
14:39day my parents split up and neither of them wanted to take me with them they
14:44dropped me off near a strip of shops downtown and drove away $50 I owed the
14:51school by the next morning a fee for class materials I'd be the only one who
14:57didn't have it I walked the whole block asking if anyone needed help every place
15:02said no I was too young the last door shut in my face we're not hiring minors
15:09move along how much do you need
15:17$50 Chase was maybe 16 that kind of ease that comes from never having worried
15:24about money one second ran to the convenience store next door broke it into
15:30two fifties came back and returned one
15:39you didn't have to do that I'll pay you back what's your name
15:44Chase that was it he left I didn't know his last name didn't
15:51know anything about him I just kept that name somewhere quiet and moved on three
15:56months ago Vivian sent me a photo I stared at it for a long time now I finally knew
16:04we stood outside the bakery without talking Chase was waiting for his driver
16:09head down on his phone a notification came through on my second phone the
16:15backup account Chase had posted in the close friends thread and followed it with
16:21the DM you good why aren't you responding he waited typed again nothing back then a video call request
16:35through the app I didn't know his last name didn't know anything about him I just kept that name
16:46somewhere quiet and moved on three months ago Vivian sent me a photo I stared at it
16:54for a long time now I finally knew we stood outside the bakery without talking Chase was
17:01waiting for his driver head down on his phone a notification came through on my
17:07second phone the backup account Chase had posted in the close friends thread and
17:13followed it with a DM you good why aren't you responding he waited typed again nothing back then a video
17:26call
17:27request through the app I turned away fast unzipped my bag just enough to decline
17:39to find the call from the inside who are you texting my personal phone an active call hello
18:01hello you still there honey is there something you need nothing cars here let's go
18:22too much coincidence all of it in the car he was on his phone I kept my personal phone face
18:30down
18:30the second phone buzz twice in my pocket two more DMs he glanced over I angled my head toward the
18:39window he waited for a response
18:41that didn't come typed again a third buzz longer a voice note I pressed my hand against my pocket to
18:49muffle it
18:52your bag's your bag's buzzing it's nothing
18:59he looked at me for a moment then his driver pulled up to Vivian's building and Chase got out without
19:06another word I sat in the back seat both phones in my lap staring at the ceiling things continued Vivian
19:14kept passing me the login I kept managing it I hadn't expected
19:19Chase to be like this cold from the outside unreachable but on the account he was different he posted in
19:29the close friends thread at odd hours sent voice notes when he had something real to say remember details I'd
19:36mentioned weeks earlier and brought them back without warning when he asked to meet up I'd text Vivian and she'd
19:44either go or make an excuse
19:47then one Saturday she wouldn't go I'm busy there's this guy in a band I've been talking to he has
19:54a show tonight tell Chase I have something going on I made up an excuse Chase wasn't happy he let
20:01it go Saturday came and went my phone rang Vivian
20:06Leah Chase showed up he saw me with the other guy he won't answer my texts he won't pick up
20:16my mother still hasn't secured the merit connection you fixed this before you can fix it again fix it how
20:30Grandma's surgery is coming up right the out of pocket costs help me sort this out and I'll cover the
20:37rest whatever insurance doesn't pick up all of it all of it all of it all of it okay I'll
20:50handle it
20:51Chase was not easy to bring back three days of carefully chosen posts long voice notes soft ones nothing landed
21:01then finally cut it off with him completely I told him it was done he went quiet again I thought
21:09about it for two days then I decided to make something I bought yarn and a crochet hook followed a
21:17tutorial
21:18and stayed up tonight a small rabbit lopsided ears front paws pressed together like it was apologizing I took it
21:28to Chase's apartment building
21:32why are you here
21:34Vivian thought a gesture might help
21:37she made this for you
21:40he took it looked at it for a long moment clearly handmade by someone who had never done this before
21:53then he caught me watching and the look disappeared
21:56it's ugly
21:57it's not
21:58she sent someone who can't even sell the apology
22:05tell Viviana a stuffed animal isn't gonna cut it
22:08he went back inside
22:10I waited until the door closed
22:13got out my phone flashlight
22:15found the rabbit in the dark
22:17dusted it off
22:19two nights of work
22:21the yarn wasn't free
22:24I sat on the front step with it in my lap
22:27ten minutes later the door opened again
22:29Chase came back out
22:31flashlight on
22:33scanning the bushes
22:34the beams
22:35the beams swung over and landed on me
22:37he stopped
22:39then he caught me watching
22:41and the look disappeared
22:43it's ugly
22:44it's not
22:45she sent someone who can't even sell the apology
22:52tell Viviana a stuffed animal isn't gonna cut it
22:55he went back inside
22:57I waited until the door closed
23:00got out my phone flashlight
23:02found the rabbit in the dark
23:04dusted it off
23:05two nights of work
23:07the yarn wasn't free
23:10I sat on the front step with it in my lap
23:13ten minutes later the door opened again
23:16Chase came back out
23:18flashlight on
23:19scanning the bushes
23:20the beams swung over
23:22and landed on me
23:24he stopped
23:39are you looking for this?
23:41he didn't answer right away
23:45he just looked at me
23:47in a way I couldn't read
23:49long enough that I started to feel stupid
23:53standing there with a lopsided rabbit
23:55extended towards someone
23:57who'd already told me it was ugly
24:04you're the assistant
24:05stay in your lane
24:08he walked back inside
24:10I stood there a few more seconds
24:13cold air on my face
24:15rabbit gone
24:16no better plan than before
24:19but he'd come back out
24:21I didn't know what to do with that
24:25Chase still hadn't fully come around
24:27but he was responding
24:29not often
24:31just enough
24:32I picked up a night cleaning shift
24:34at a bar near campus
24:35better pay than the bakery
24:39I'd been out in the cold too much
24:41I could feel it in my chest
24:43that night at the bar
24:45my head was starting to drift
24:47my supervisor called across the room
24:50Leah
24:52back booth in the bottle service section
24:55someone broke a bottle
24:56go clean it up
24:59I grabbed my kit and went
25:04the booth was empty
25:13my drink was on the edge of the table
25:16I'd brought it from the staff area
25:27I didn't remember finishing it
25:30I looked at the glass
25:31empty
25:32something made me stop moving
25:34I looked around the booth
25:39Brady stepped out from the back
25:42three guys with him
25:44my phone was gone
25:45before I could reach for it
25:48you stabbed me with a pen Leah
25:51you stabbed me with a pen Leah
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