One-Shots [Boboiboy]

How to Pretend

How do you replicate a smile?

Boboiboy stared at his reflection in the mirror, his facial muscles dormant as if they had lost their ability to move. There were no hints of expression, no emotions, no nothing.

If I pretend hard enough, will it be real?

He tried for a smile. The muscles moved, his facial expression following the conscious command. It felt wrong. Smiles aren't supposed to be forced out. The smile was there, but the blankness lurks in those cold, chocolate eyes.

The expression was there, yet the emotion remained absent.

Why am I not sad?

"Dey, Boboiboy," Gopal called from outside. "It's almost 7am. Don't want the admiral to go off, do you?"

The false smile receded. He poked at his cheeks. They were sore for faking.

Maybe that's the price for acting.

"Yeah," he drawled over, donning his orange cap. "Whatever."

When he exitted the bathroom, the admiral poked his head in for his daily inspection. Gopal whimpered from fear, but Boboiboy could only wonder why.

Why aren't I scared?

The admiral nodded in satisfaction. "Hm. Magnificient. You're becoming more bold, I see."

Am I? I… don't know.

The door closed gently, a contrast to the moments where they had awoken late to face the consequences. Gopal practically melted into his shoes, relieved that his hide was safe. For now.

Boboiboy faked a grin and presented a thumbs up. He has to pretend. He can't afford to let everyone worry about him.

"Terbaik." His voice was a total monotone, a blank canvas.

One day.