Rafa's POV:
I didn't tell them.
Not everything.
Not about the years of dance classes.
Not about the late nights.
Not about the competitions I used to watch over and over, trying to copy every move until my body got it right.
And definitely not about the fact that—
I never really stopped.
"Again," Angela said through the phone, slightly out of breath.
We were on FaceTime.
Again.
Same time.
Same place.
Same routine.
"Angela, we've done it like ten times," I said, laughing.
"And we're doing it again," she replied. "Because I refuse to flop in front of the entire school."
"You're not going to flop."
"I will if you keep making it harder!"
"I'm not making it harder, I'm making it better."
"Those are not the same thing."
I grinned, stepping back so she could see me fully.
"Watch."
I played the music again.
And this time—
I didn't hold back.
Every move sharper.
Cleaner.
More controlled.
The beat dropped—
And my body just followed.
No thinking.
No hesitation.
Just instinct.
When the music stopped—
I looked back at the screen.
Angela was staring at me.
"…Rafa."
"What?"
"…since when do you dance like that?"
I froze.
"…like what?"
"Like you've been doing this for YEARS."
Silence.
"…I have," I said quietly.
Her eyes widened.
"WHAT??"
"Shhh," I whispered. "Don't yell."
"DON'T YELL?? YOU JUST CASUALLY DROPPED THAT YOU'RE A PROFESSIONAL DANCER??"
"I'm not a professional."
"You just ATE that choreography."
I laughed nervously.
"I used to dance more seriously," I admitted. "Like classes, training… stuff like that."
"Used to??"
"…I still do. Just not… publicly."
Angela stared at me like I had just revealed a secret identity.
"Rafa," she said slowly, "you're actually insane."
"I know."
"No, like—this changes EVERYTHING."
"It doesn't."
"IT DOES," she said. "We're about to win this whole thing."
I shook my head, smiling.
"It's just for fun."
"Speak for yourself," she said. "I'm going for victory."
I laughed.
But deep down?
Something shifted.
Because maybe—
I wasn't just doing this for fun anymore.
The next day at school—
Everything felt the same.
But also…
Different.
Because now?
I had a secret.
"Rafa, your last video hit 5 million," CJ said, running up to me.
"Already??"
"ALREADY."
Angela grinned. "We're unstoppable."
"I'm unstoppable," I corrected.
"Wow."
"Kidding."
"Fake," she said.
I pulled out my phone again.
"Okay wait, I need to post."
"Of course you do," Sam said.
"Content doesn't make itself."
Felix's voice from behind—
"Debatable."
I turned.
"…don't start."
"I didn't say anything."
"You implied something."
He smirked.
"I always do."
I rolled my eyes, opening TikTok.
"Okay," I said, hitting record, "mini chaos vlog because my life is apparently a reality show now—"
Angela immediately leaned in. "It really is."
CJ popped up. "I should be paid for this."
"You should be quiet," I said.
"I am the personality."
"You are not the personality."
Felix stepped into frame—
Of course.
Just standing there.
Watching.
I pointed at him. "He thinks he's not part of this."
"I'm not."
"You literally are."
"I'm just here."
"Exactly."
I zoomed in on him.
"That's the problem."
He looked at the camera.
Then at me.
"Still filming?"
"Yes."
"Good."
And then—
He reached out.
Pulled my phone down slightly.
And leaned closer.
My brain—
Stopped.
"Focus," he said quietly.
I blinked.
"…I am focused."
"Not really."
I stared at him.
"…you're doing that thing again."
"What thing?"
"This."
He smirked.
"Works every time."
I immediately ended the video.
"YOU DID NOT JUST DO THAT—" CJ started.
"I DID NOT JUST DO THAT," I said quickly.
Angela was staring at me. "Oh my god."
"Stop."
"You're blushing."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I hate all of you."
Felix just laughed.
Actually laughed.
And I—
I didn't even try to hide my smile.
Later—
Practice.
Angela and I found an empty space.
"Okay," she said, stretching. "No holding back now."
"I never hold back."
"You literally held back yesterday."
"…okay fine."
"Show me the real version."
I took a breath.
Then—
Started.
Music in my head.
Beat in my chest.
And this time—
I let everything go.
Every move sharp.
Every transition smooth.
Every detail intentional.
It wasn't just dancing.
It was—
Control.
Confidence.
Freedom.
When I finished—
Silence.
I looked up.
Angela was staring again.
"…we're winning," she said.
I laughed.
"Stop saying that."
"I'm serious."
"Angela—"
"You've been hiding this??"
"…maybe."
"That's illegal."
"Relax."
She shook her head.
"This is actually insane."
"…yeah."
We both froze.
I turned.
Felix.
Standing by the door.
Oh.
No.
"How long have you been there?" I asked slowly.
"Long enough."
Angela looked between us.
Then—
"…I'm gonna go get water."
"Angela—"
"Nope," she said, already leaving. "You got this."
I stared after her.
Traitor!!
Then—
I looked back at Felix.
Silence.
"…say something," I said.
He didn't.
Not right away.
He just looked at me.
Differently.
"…you didn't tell me," he said finally.
"…I didn't tell anyone."
"Why?"
I shrugged slightly.
"I don't know."
"You're good."
"…thanks."
"Not just good."
He stepped closer.
"Like—really good."
My heart—
Yeah.
Again.
"…it's just dance."
"No," he said. "It's not."
Silence.
And for some reason—
That meant more than anything else.
"…you're not going to tell anyone, right?" I asked.
He tilted his head slightly.
"Do you want me to?"
"No."
"Then I won't."
Simple.
Just like that.
"…thanks."
He nodded.
Then—
That smirk again.
"But now I get why you're confident."
I frowned. "What does that mean??"
"You already knew you were better."
"I did not—"
"You did."
"I didn't!"
He just looked at me.
"…okay maybe a little."
He laughed.
And somehow—
That felt like a win.
That night—
I posted again.
Of course I did.
"Okayyy," I said, hitting record, "people keep asking what I actually do all day so here's the truth—"
Cut to me spinning in my chair.
Cut to me arguing with Angela.
Cut to CJ being dramatic.
Cut to Felix in the background—
Watching.
Again.
"I literally have no idea what I'm doing," I said at the end of the video. "But it's working so we're not questioning it."
Post.
Within seconds—
It blew up.
Faster than before.
Bigger than before.
Comments flooding in.
"She's so naturally funny I can't 😭"
"Rafa is literally the main character"
"I don't even skip her videos anymore"
"She's actually addictive to watch"
"HOW is she this entertaining doing NOTHING"
I smiled.
Because this time?
It wasn't just luck.
It was me.
Fully.
Unfiltered.
And maybe—
That was the real reason it worked.
I glanced at my followers.
11.2M.
Still climbing.
Still growing.
And now?
I wasn't just viral.
I was—
Unstoppable.
The next morning—
Something felt different.
Not bad.
Not dramatic.
Just…
Bigger.
"Rafa."
I turned.
Three girls stood in front of me.
Phones already in hand.
"Can we take a video with you?? Like a quick one?"
I blinked.
"…a video?"
"Yeah! Like one of your chaotic ones!"
Angela immediately leaned in. "Oh this is happening."
"I haven't even had coffee," I said.
"Even better," CJ added.
I sighed.
Then smiled.
"…okay fine."
We filmed a quick clip.
Me pretending to trip.
Them reacting.
Angela laughing in the background.
Messy.
Random.
Chaotic.
Perfect.
"Thank you!!" they said, practically glowing.
"No problem," I smiled.
As they walked away—
"That's new," Sam said.
"Yeah," I admitted.
"People don't just want pictures anymore," Angela added. "They want content with you."
"…that's kinda scary."
"That's kinda iconic," CJ corrected.
I shook my head, but I couldn't stop smiling.
Because yeah—
It was.
By lunch—
The audition posters were everywhere.
Hard to ignore.
"You're doing it," Angela said.
"I know."
"You're actually doing it."
"I KNOW."
CJ leaned over. "Still think it's a terrible idea."
"No one asked you."
"I'm part of the team."
"You're not on the team."
"I'm emotional support."
"You're emotional damage."
Felix snorted.
I turned to him. "Don't encourage him."
"I didn't say anything."
"You laughed."
"That's not encouragement."
"It is for him."
CJ nodded. "It really is."
I rolled my eyes.
But my mind?
Still on something else.
Auditions.
The stage.
The routine.
And now—
Felix knew.
I glanced at him.
He was already looking at me.
Of course he was.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing."
"That's not a 'nothing' look."
"It is."
"It's not."
He leaned slightly closer.
"You nervous?"
"…no."
"You're lying."
"I'm not."
"You are."
I exhaled.
"…a little."
"Good."
I frowned. "Good??"
"Means you care."
I paused.
"…you're being nice today."
"Don't get used to it."
"There it is."
He smirked.
Of course.
After school—
Practice again.
This time—
Angela was more focused.
More serious.
"Okay," she said. "Run it from the top."
"Yes, coach."
"Don't test me."
I laughed.
Music started.
And again—
We moved.
But this time—
It felt sharper.
Stronger.
More real.
Angela kept up.
Barely.
But she kept up.
"WAIT—" she said, stopping suddenly. "That part—do it again."
"Which part?"
"That spin into the drop."
"Oh."
I did it again.
Slower this time.
Breaking it down.
Angela tried.
Failed.
Tried again.
"WHY IS YOUR BODY DOING THAT??" she yelled.
"Practice," I said.
"YEARS OF PRACTICE." She said
"…maybe." I replied
She stared at me.
"You're insane."
"I know."
"You missed the landing."
We both froze.
I slowly turned.
Felix.
Again.
"…are you serious right now," I said.
"What?"
"You're just… here now??"
"Seems like it."
Angela crossed her arms. "Are you spying on us??"
"No."
"You are."
"I'm observing."
"That's worse."
I looked at him.
"…what do you mean I missed the landing?"
He shrugged slightly.
"You leaned too far forward."
I blinked.
"…what."
"On the drop," he added. "You lost balance for a second."
I stared at him.
"…you noticed that??"
"It was obvious."
"It was NOT obvious."
"It was."
Angela looked between us. "Wait—he's right."
"YOU TOO??"
"You did lean," she said.
I crossed my arms.
"…traitors."
Felix smirked.
"Do it again."
"…are you my coach now?"
"Maybe."
"You're fired."
"Not yet."
I rolled my eyes—
But I did it again.
Focused.
Careful.
Controlled.
This time—
Perfect.
I looked up.
Felix nodded slightly.
"Better."
My heart—
Yeah.
That again.
"…thanks," I said, quieter this time.
He didn't say anything.
Just looked at me.
And somehow—
That felt louder than words.
That night—
Another video.
Because obviously.
"Okay," I said, already laughing before I even started, "people keep asking if I'm always this chaotic—"
Cut.
Me spinning again.
Cut.
Me almost dropping my phone.
Cut.
Angela yelling in the background.
Cut—
Felix.
Looking directly at the camera.
"You are."
I zoomed in dramatically.
"Stop exposing me."
"Never."
I ended the video.
Post.
And just like that—
It blew up.
Again.
Bigger.
Faster.
Comments pouring in.
"She gets funnier every video 😭"
"I'm actually addicted to her content"
"Felix being in every video now???"
"They're not even hiding it anymore 💀"
"THIS IS HER ERA."
I smiled at that one.
Her era.
Yeah.
Maybe it was.
I checked my followers again.
11.6M.
Still rising.
Still growing.
And somehow—
It didn't feel like pressure anymore.
It felt like…
Momentum.
And this time—
I wasn't chasing it.
I was leading it.
But soon—
There would be a stage.
An audience.
And no screen to hide behind.
And when that moment came?
Everyone would finally see—
There was more to me…
Than just being viral.