Project 100

Nickname for Her

After a long time, Victor, Alex, Tom, and Han decided to hang out at Victor's house. As they entered, Han glanced around and remarked, 'It seems like nothing has changed around here.' Victor, leaning against the door frame, sighed and responded, 'Yeah, I haven't felt like making any changes lately.' He was about to elaborate when Han, seemingly oblivious, said "You know, your house used to change a lot when your sist-". Sensing the discomfort, Tom quickly stepped on Han's foot and shot him a warning look, steering the conversation away to prevent old wounds from reopening.

"So, anyway," Alex interjected, glancing towards a door on the side, "isn't that the way to the basement?" Victor, leaning lightly against the wall, nodded. "Yeah, that's it." Alex's eyes lit up with curiosity. "You know, we never did fully explore down there, did we? What do you say, should we take a look?" The rest of the group exchanged nods, the air filling with a new sense of adventure.

Just as they moved towards the door, a sharp knock echoed through the hall. Without waiting for an answer, the door swung open. A breathless Angela appeared, clutching the doorframe, "I'm so sorry for being late, Vic!"

Victor's face softened. "Ahh, it's okay, Angel. You didn't have to rush—and watch yourself, you might fall and get hurt." The room fell silent, the others turning to stare with wide eyes. Alex's eyebrows shot up, Tom blinked in surprise, and Han's mouth twitched, caught between a smile and a frown. The unexpected nickname hung in the air, sparking whispers of curiosity and leaving them all to wonder about the nature of Victor and Angela's relationship.

"Why're y'all looking at me like I did something wrong?" Victor asked, noticing everyone's stares. The room filled with a curious tension as his friends exchanged glances.

Tom leaned closer to Han and Alex, keeping his voice low. "Don't you think there's something going on between them? Victor never calls anyone by nicknames, not even Ava," he whispered, his eyes flicking back to Victor and Angela.

Alex nodded, as he replied softly, "Yeah, I've noticed that too. There's something different about how he acts around Angela. It's like he switches modes or something." Each word added weight to the suspicion swirling around the room.

"Oh, Hey guys. How are y'all doing?" asked Angela noticing their hidden conversation. "Oh, us, we are totally fine, but you know, victor seems kinda off lately" replied Alex while the other two looked at him in confusion. 

"Is that true, Vic? Are you sure you're fine and not lying to me?" Angela asked, her hands gently cupping Victor's cheeks, eyes searching his face for the truth.

Victor met her gaze, a slight flush coloring his cheeks. "Ah, yes, I'm fine, Angel, really. These fools are just stirring up trouble," he replied, his voice a mix of affection and annoyance. Swiftly, he stepped back, removing her hands and turning away to hide his blush—which didn't go unnoticed by his friends.

Tom nudged Alex with a knowing look. "Oh, so this is why you lied," he remarked, while Alex smiled proudly, clearly satisfied with his successful plan.