THE BOY

C H A P T E R 6 ( XANDER POV )

The corridors of my life, once defined by the echoes of high school banter and the clandestine rooftop rendezvous with Luca, have since transformed into a bustling runway of international fame. I am Xander, a name now synonymous with the glamour of the modeling world and the allure of being the husband of a K-pop idol.

Allow me to introduce myself—a once carefree jock turned reluctant model, navigating the maze of public expectations and familial obligations. My parents, stalwarts of a prestigious business empire, had envisioned a seamless transition of responsibilities—one that involved me shouldering the burden of the family legacy.

However, the runways of high-end fashion and the glare of flashing cameras weren't part of my plan. The allure of business negotiations paled in comparison to the vibrant colors of the canvas on which Luca painted his dreams. The clash of desires set the stage for familial discord, leading to an unexpected ultimatum—I marry the illustrious K-pop idol chosen by my parents, or face the consequences of tarnishing the family image.

So, I found myself entangled in the threads of an arranged marriage, bound by societal expectations and familial obligations. The radiant K-pop idol, with her ethereal beauty and enchanting voice, became the symbol of our family's prestige—a strategic move to bolster our image on the grand stage of public perception.

Behind the facade of a picture-perfect marriage, however, lingered the shadows of my true desires. Luca, the boy whose laughter once resonated in the hallways of our high school, had become an enduring muse. Despite the miles that separated us, the memories of our shared past refused to fade.

The revelation that I was the mysterious fan behind the TikTok account, crafting edits and thirst traps of Luca, may come as a surprise. The allure of witnessing Luca's life through the lens of a fan account became a clandestine ritual—an attempt to bridge the gap between our divergent worlds. The dichotomy between the glamorous facade I presented to the public and the secret yearning for Luca's presence painted the canvas of my existence with shades of complexity.

The yearning reached its pinnacle in the quiet hours of the night, as I scrolled through Luca's vlog, a voyeuristic observer of his life beyond the curated posts. The emotions stirred—a potent mix of nostalgia, regret, and an unquenchable desire to rewrite the narrative that had unfolded in the wake of our high school separation.

The dates Luca embarked on, captured by the lens of social media, became bitter pills to swallow. Each image, each shared moment, fueled the ache of longing that pulsed within. The public admiration for his blossoming life couldn't extinguish the private flame that still flickered—a flame fueled by whispered promises and unfulfilled dreams.

The paradox of my existence became painfully clear—a marriage of convenience that concealed the yearning for a love that defied societal expectations. The weight of familial expectations pressed down, leaving me torn between the life I had chosen and the life I had left behind.

As I navigate the complex dance of my reality, one truth remains unwavering—I am Luca's silent supporter, a fervent fan of the vlog that offers a glimpse into the world he continues to paint. The duality of my emotions, the yearning that persists despite the obligations I bear, and the silent hope that one day the threads of our past will weave a new tapestry—a tapestry that holds the promise of rekindled connections and a love that defies the constraints of societal norms.
In the virtual realm, I existed as a phantom—Xander, the creator of countless Luca fan accounts that roamed the labyrinth of social media. Each account, carefully curated and disguised under pseudonyms, became an outlet for the lingering obsession that had rooted itself deep within me. It was an unhealthy fixation, a silent testament to the unresolved emotions that Luca's mere presence invoked.

I knew the extent of my obsession was reaching precarious heights. The countless fan accounts, each dedicated to different facets of Luca's life, were a desperate attempt to fill the void left by the distance that now separated us. The screen became a canvas where I painted my unspoken desires and the silent whispers of a love that refused to fade.

Yet, I maintained a careful distance—a digital barricade to shield the reality of my infatuation. The accounts operated with meticulous secrecy, avoiding the prying eyes of fans and the ever-watchful gaze of the media. The juxtaposition between the glamorous facade of my public life and the clandestine world of Luca fan accounts underscored the complexity of my emotions.

In the corridors of my own mind, I grappled with the awareness that my obsession was spiraling into unhealthy territory. The late nights spent scrolling through Luca's social media, dissecting each post, each smile, became a ritual that veered dangerously close to the edges of fixation. The rational part of me acknowledged the toxicity, but the emotional ties that bound me to Luca resisted the call for detachment.

The irony unfolded in the quiet moments when my wife, the K-pop idol draped in the allure of fame, was too engrossed in her own whirlwind of concerts and the euphoria of public adulation to engage in meaningful conversation. The chasm between us widened, accentuating the stark difference in the lives we led.

She reveled in the intoxicating rhythm of the spotlight, living a life that seemed to pulse with vibrancy. The stages of K-pop concerts became her playground, and the cheers of adoring fans became the soundtrack of her existence. In contrast, I grappled with the shadows of a love that refused to fade—a love that lurked in the silent corners of Luca fan accounts and the unspoken whispers of an obsession that defied reason.

Envy crept in—the bitter taste of resentment at the stark contrast between our lives. While she basked in the euphoria of public adoration, I navigated the quiet corridors of obsession and unresolved emotions. The disparity between her vivacious existence and the silent ache that pulsed within me fueled a sense of isolation that transcended the physical distance.

As the digital mirage of Luca's life unfolded before me, I couldn't escape the haunting notion that he had moved on. The images of dates and shared moments painted a narrative of a life well-lived, a life that seemed to have effortlessly transcended the confines of our shared past.

In the midst of the envy, the awareness of the unhealthy obsession lingered—an acknowledgment that the virtual world I had constructed was a fragile facade. The echoes of Luca's laughter, once vibrant in the hallways of our high school, now reverberated through the corridors of my mind, reminding me of the unresolved emotions that continued to bind me to a love that had refused to fade.