Whispers of Truth | Matt Sturniolo

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𝘼𝙧𝙖𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙖 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙚

"We've received fantastic feedback on your collaboration with the triplets, Arabella," my manager began, his tone laced with excitement and enthusiasm. "For the sake of both your channels, Laura and I think you guys should continue to occasionally make appearances in each other's videos."

I listened intently, a sense of gratitude welling up as I absorbed the positive news. With my journal open in front of me, I began jotting down notes, capturing my thoughts as my manager continued. "I can make that work," I affirmed, my determination evident. "We still need to film my video, and then Friday's video should be set."

It was an opportunity I was ready to embrace, not only for the growth of our channels but also for the chance to collaborate with the Triplets, whose dynamic energy had resonated so well with my audience. As we continued our discussion about channel statistics and strategies to engage more viewers on various platforms, my phone started buzzing like crazy, demanding my immediate attention.

I couldn't ignore it, and I took a quick glance, noticing '𝘒𝘢𝘮𝘪 🦢' written across numerous notifications. Kami, my best friend from college, had been bombarding my phone with a flurry of messages. I quickly turned my 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 focus on and set it back down.

The rest of the meeting was a struggle to stay focused, my mind constantly wandering to what could have Kami so worked up. As my manager discussed various strategies and statistics, I found myself periodically glancing at my phone, tempted to check the messages that were piling up from Kami.

Her enthusiastic notifications created a sense of anticipation and curiosity that was hard to shake, making it challenging to fully engage in the discussion about channel growth and audience engagement.

Her enthusiasm was undeniable, and as my Zoom meeting with Harrison concluded, I reached for my phone and tapped on her name, promptly selecting it from my favorites list.  While my phone rang with anticipation, I decided to multitask and opened YouTube on my MacBook. I scrolled through the videos through the videos, and there it was— the 'Wear or Tear' video. Kami's comment caught my eye, practically screaming for attention, her voice then booming through the speakers of my phone "ARABELLA, HAVE YOU SEEN THEIR NEW VIDEO?"

Kami's uncontainable excitement made me snort with amusement. "Yeah, Kams, I was in it," I replied, my voice laced with humor. "I'm looking at your comment right now," I added, letting her know that I appreciated her enthusiasm. The call quickly transitioned to FaceTime, and I was met with Kami's radiant face, her blue eyes exceptionally vibrant as she jumped around, laughter and screams of excitement filling the screen.

"So, you saw the way he was looking at you? Arabella, this is your chance! You've talked nonstop about what you would do if you had gotten the chance to ask Chris out, and now he's right in front of you! Look at the way he gets lost in your eyes as he listens to you talk!"

I couldn't help but laugh at Kami's mix-up. "Okay, Kami, I think you're a little confused; that's Matt," I gently pointed out, trying to clarify the situation, "and he does not want me." Despite the mix-up, I couldn't deny that her animated encouragement was heartwarming. She was always ready to lift my spirits and bring excitement to my life, even when she had momentarily confused the names.

As Kami continued, her inquisitive nature shone through, "Matt? He's the one you went to that dance with, right?" I watched as she shifted the phone onto her desk, the camera showing her standing in front of her closet, presumably searching for an outfit most likely for another date.

"Yeah, that's the one," I confirmed, my voice taking on a more thoughtful tone. "He took me out of pity. Said so himself two nights ago after we finished filming," I explained, the memories of that vulnerable conversation with Matt resurfacing. Kami turned around slowly as she held two dresses to her body, one that was a dark shade of aqua with intricate mesh patchwork and a mini dress design.

The other dress was far more extravagant, with sparkles adorning every inch of it, including the see-through sleeves. I couldn't help but be drawn to the sparkled masterpiece. I pointed towards the sparkly dress, and Kami placed the aqua dress down, reaching for her phone to bring her face back into the frame.

Her eyes were filled with genuine concern and affection as she continued, "Regardless, babe, he makes you happy, right? I'm just saying, I'd be fine with either one of them, but this Matt guy? He looks like he really cares for you."