Rafa's POV:
I didn't realize when it happened.
But somewhere between the drama, the fake videos, the copycat situation and—
…everything—
I stopped overthinking.
"Rafa."
I looked up.
A girl I didn't even know was standing in front of me.
Smiling.
"I just wanted to say—you're literally my favorite person on TikTok."
I blinked.
"…me?"
She laughed. "Yes, you. You're so funny."
Funny?
"Uh—thank you," I said, smiling.
"And your confidence?? I wish I had that."
That one hit a little different.
"Fake it," I said. "Works every time."
She grinned. "I will."
As she walked away, Angela appeared beside me.
"Did she just call you funny?"
"…yeah."
"That's new."
"Wow," I said. "So supportive."
"I'm serious!" she laughed. "You used to be more… calm."
CJ walked up. "Now she's unhinged."
"I am not unhinged."
"You posted a video at 2AM talking to your mirror."
"I was bored."
"You named your reflection 'evil Rafa.'"
"That's different."
Sam shook his head. "It's really not."
I rolled my eyes.
But I was smiling.
Because yeah.
Maybe I was different.
And honestly?
I liked it.
"Wait," I said suddenly, pulling out my phone. "New idea."
CJ sighed. "Here we go."
I hit record immediately.
"Okay," I said, holding the camera slightly too close to my face, "important question—why do I act normal in public but the second I'm alone I start arguing with myself?"
Angela lost it in the background.
"Because you're weird," CJ said.
"I am not weird," I said.
Felix's voice from behind—
"Yeah, you are."
I turned the camera toward him.
"Say that again."
He looked straight into the camera.
"You're weird."
I gasped. "Fake friend."
"Not fake," he said. "Just honest."
I ended the video, laughing.
Post.
"Give it five seconds," Sam said.
"Three," Angela corrected.
They weren't wrong.
Notifications exploded instantly.
I refreshed.
"THIS IS WHY I LOVE HER 😭"
"She's so real I can't—"
"Felix calling her weird HELP 💀"
"Their dynamic is everything"
"She's literally so funny without trying"
I paused.
Reading that last one again.
Funny without trying.
"…okay I like this era," I said.
"THIS era??" CJ repeated. "You mean chaos?"
"Yes."
Angela nodded. "I support it."
"Of course you do."
"Post another," she said immediately.
"Right now??"
"Yes."
I didn't even question it.
I hit record again.
"Okay part two because apparently I'm 'weird,'" I said, zooming in on my face dramatically.
"You are," Felix said in the background.
"Can you stop??"
"No."
I turned the camera toward him again.
"Why are you obsessed with me?"
He smirked.
"I'm not."
"Liar."
"Prove it."
"Gladly," I said, flipping the camera back. "He follows me around like a lost puppy."
"I don't."
"You do."
"I don't."
"You literally—"
I cut the video off, laughing.
Post.
"YOU'RE SPAMMING," CJ said.
"I'm feeding the people."
"You're feeding chaos."
"Same thing."
More notifications.
Even faster this time.
"PART TWO ALREADY???"
"I LOVE THIS VERSION OF HER"
"She's so chaotic I'm crying"
"Felix is not beating the allegations"
"They act like a married couple 💀"
I covered my face.
"Not the married couple comments again—"
"Too late," Angela said. "It's your brand now."
"I don't want that to be my brand."
Felix leaned slightly closer.
"Too bad."
I looked at him.
"…you're part of the problem."
"I know."
And there it was again.
That stupid smirk.
I shook my head, smiling anyway.
As we walked down the hallway, more people stopped me.
"Rafa, your videos are so funny—"
"I love your energy—"
"You're literally my comfort creator—"
Comfort?
That one stayed with me.
Because a few weeks ago—
I wasn't even comfortable being seen.
And now?
I was just…
Me.
Loud.
Chaotic.
Unfiltered.
And people liked it.
No—
They loved it.
I glanced at my phone again.
10.4M.
Still climbing.
Still growing.
And for once—
It didn't feel overwhelming.
It felt…
Right.
Like I was finally where I was supposed to be.
"Hey."
Felix.
Again.
"You're smiling a lot today," he said.
"I usually do."
"Not like this."
I paused.
"…what do you mean?"
He shrugged slightly.
"Like you're not thinking about it."
I thought about that.
For a second.
Then smiled again.
"…maybe I'm not."
He looked at me for a moment—
Then smirked.
"Good."
And somehow—
That felt like the best part.
By lunch—
I had an idea.
A dangerous one.
"Angela."
She looked up immediately. "Why do you sound like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like you're about to do something chaotic."
I smiled.
"…match with me."
She froze.
"…what?"
"Matching outfits," I repeated. "Full main character duo energy."
CJ gasped. "Oh no."
"Oh YES," Angela said instantly. "I've been waiting for this moment."
Sam shook his head. "This is about to get out of control."
"It's already out of control," I said.
Keagan nodded. "Fair."
Felix, from across the table—
"You're both going to be unbearable."
I looked at him.
"Already am."
He smirked.
Of course he did.
"After school," Angela said, grabbing my arm. "We're planning EVERYTHING."
"Perfect."
And just like that—
It was decided.
The next morning?
Chaos.
"RAFA??"
"ANGELA??"
"WAIT THEY'RE MATCHING—"
The hallway practically exploded the second we walked in.
Same outfits.
Same colors.
Same vibe.
But styled slightly differently.
"Wait," CJ said, staring at us. "This is actually insane."
"I know," Angela said proudly.
"We ate," I added.
"You devoured," Sam corrected.
Keagan just nodded. "Yeah."
I pulled out my phone immediately.
"Film."
"Already on it," Angela said.
We set it up quickly.
Hit record.
"Okayyy," I said, grabbing Angela's hand and pulling her into frame, "duo fit check because we felt like being better than everyone today—"
Angela flipped her hair dramatically. "As we should."
"Rate us," I added. "But if it's below a 10, you're wrong."
CJ popped into frame. "They're not wrong."
Felix stood in the background.
Again.
Watching.
I pointed at him. "Ignore him."
"Don't ignore me," he said.
"Too late."
I ended the video.
Post.
We didn't even move.
Notifications exploded.
Faster than anything before.
"Uh—Rafa?" Angela said slowly.
"I see it," I said, staring at my screen.
Numbers jumping.
Rapidly.
Views.
Likes.
Comments.
Shares.
Everything.
"Refresh," CJ said.
I did.
And froze.
"THIS IS THE BEST DUO ON THIS APP."
"THEY MATCHED??? IM OBSESSED"
"Rafa just keeps leveling up"
"Angela and Rafa are IT."
"This is going VIRAL viral."
"I think it already is," Sam said.
More comments flooding in.
"11/10."
"12/10."
"Actually unfair how good they look."
"THE CONFIDENCE???"
Angela grabbed my arm. "LOOK AT THE VIEWS—"
I did.
And my brain—
Yeah.
Stopped.
"…no way."
CJ leaned in. "Say it."
"…one million."
"In how long?" he asked.
"…three minutes."
Silence.
Then—
"WHAT??"
The hallway got louder.
People already reacting.
"Rafa, your new video—"
"YOU AND ANGELA ATE—"
"WAIT CAN I TAKE A PIC WITH YOU GUYS??"
I blinked.
This wasn't just viral.
This was—
Bigger.
Way bigger.
I refreshed again.
2.3M.
"…what is happening," I whispered.
Felix stepped closer.
"Told you," he said.
"Told me what??"
"That you're not normal viral."
I stared at him.
"…what does that even mean?"
He smirked.
"It means you break things."
My heart skipped.
Again.
Angela was literally shaking. "WE'RE FAMOUS FAMOUS."
"We were already famous," I said.
"Not like this."
She wasn't wrong.
Even teachers were noticing now.
Students crowding more than usual.
Phones everywhere.
And for once—
I didn't panic.
I didn't freeze.
I leaned into it.
"Okay," I said, pulling out my phone again.
"ANOTHER ONE??" CJ said.
"Yes."
I hit record.
"Okay part two because apparently we broke the app," I said, pulling Angela into frame again.
"We always do," she added.
"Should we keep matching?" I asked.
"Obviously," she said.
"New series unlocked," I grinned.
Felix's voice in the background—
"Of course it is."
I turned the camera slightly.
"You love it."
"I tolerate it."
"Liar."
I ended the video.
Post.
"YOU'RE INSANE," CJ said.
"I know."
And this time?
I meant it.
Because something had changed.
I wasn't just reacting anymore.
I was leading.
Creating.
Owning it.
I glanced at my followers again.
10.8M.
Still climbing.
Still growing.
And this time—
I wasn't overwhelmed.
I was ready.
"Hey."
Felix again.
Closer.
Quieter.
"You're enjoying this," he said.
I smiled.
"…yeah."
He looked at me for a second.
Then smirked.
"Good."
And somehow—
Even with everything blowing up—
That still mattered.