I woke up to a loud knock on the door. I yawned, then checked my phone. It’s still too early, who can this be?

I slowly got up and went to the door, my head still aching.

When I opened the door, I saw that it was JB.

“Avery! I’ve been calling you, but you weren’t answering. Sorry I had to come in like this”, she said in haste as she smiled awkwardly.

I wonder what’s wrong. It looked like she had something urgent to tell me. As she barged into my unit, she approached me and showed me her phone.

“Why? What’s the matter?”, I tilted my head to the side and raised my eyebrow.

She pointed at her phone. Photos of me in Ethan’s car— one was when he opened the door for me, and the next was when he put the seat belt for me.

“What’s wrong? We just happened to stumble upon each other last night. I got drunk, so basically allowed him to take me home.”

“You’re talking again?”, she asked with a malice.

“Just last night. I was a bit tipsy.” Err, drunk.

She just nodded. “There’s also this…”

She then showed me another set of photos. This time it was me with Seth. It seems like it was taken from both our IG stories.

“I just met him at the event yesterday. Apparently, he’s in the same department as us. He seems nice.”

Then she showed me the screenshot of the comments made by Ethan and Seth. Now, I’m starting to get confused.

“Okay. I’m confused. Why are you showing me all these? What’s the problem?”

“The problem is…” She paused, thinking. Now I’m more curious. “you’re trending.”

“Trending? How?”, I asked, shocked.

“Trending. As in your name’s on Twitter type of trending. Belongs in the Forthworth Trends.” She shrugged.

“Wait. What does it say?”

I can sense her hesitation. I grabbed her phone and clicked on what’s trending.

#AveryDayAFlirt

Jared Andrada

#TeamAvSeth

#TeamAveAn

#TeamEthEry

Avery dela Vega

Seth Andre

I tried to check some tweets under those trends.

@trollfarm2038

He was already with the prince of Forthworth, now he’s planning to snatch our prince of dance? Protect Jared Andrada and Seth Andre from Avery dela Vega #AveryDayAFlirt

@moch_fake5806

So I’m guessing she slept with Jared since they went home together…Wow. Partying with Seth and going home with Jared. 👑

#AveryDayAFlirt

@hrrrq123456

Can’t she just choose one? #AveryDayAFlirt

@mrrd2022

SHIP 😍❤️ #TeamAveAn

@ForthworthTea

Teen vlogger, Avery dela Vega, seen with the Prince of Forthworth, and Forthworth’s Prince of Dance on the same night!

Photos and more on our website: (link)

I slumped in my bed. First time meeting Seth yesterday, and first time talking to Ethan after three months…and this is what happens? Great.

It’s my first time to deal with this kind of issue, and I really don’t know how to handle this. Is it really like this once you gain more followers? Should I have been more careful with my actions?

“You know what? It’s so unfair”, I sighed. “They’re bashing me like I was the one who approached the guys. Mind you, it was Seth who befriended me because I didn’t know anyone yesterday. And Ethan just helped me out because some pervert grabbed my butt last night. I can’t with the double standards.”

“Yeah, I know. To think that most of those who comments are girls”, JB shook her head. “Don’t mind them though, as long as we’re all about women empowerment. And just think that they don’t know you. They’re probably jealous because the guys they want to notice them, are approaching you, easily.”

“Kinda crazy, but you’re right”, I chuckled at what she said.

“I know you’re probably worried about it now, but I have to admit that the name combinations are witty.” She giggled.

I then tried to look at my phone and check the trends again. I can’t help but laugh, “Seriously? EthEry? Would we be eating each other?”

“Question is, did you?”, she asked maliciously.

“NO!”, I threw a pillow at her and can’t stop laughing. “AveAn’s cool though…bird.”

We just laughed.

“So you’re okay now? You’re not…AvSeth?”

I cackled. “OMG! Don’t ever try that again.”

It’s really odd that despite this issue, I still got to laugh. Perhaps it’s a sign that I can turn this into something positive.

It’s almost lunchtime when JB got here, so we decided to order for lunch and she just accompanied me, as usual.

For the past few months that I haven’t been with Ethan, JB has become my closest friend here. We’re together in most classes and she lives beside me anyway.

“So how does it feel, Ave?”, she asked me while we were eating.

“What?”

“To be with Ethan again?”

“I don’t know. I was a bit lightheaded then, my vision was blurry. Can’t really remember.”

She raised her eyebrow and nodded slowly. “Yeah, right.”

I nodded, then rolled my eyes.

I love how even though she’s quite boyish, I get to talk to her about a lot of things—guy problems and vanity included—and she won’t even judge me. No wonder she has a boyfriend, she’s really cool, although I haven’t met the guy yet since he studies in a different university.

I just hope that one of these days, she agrees to a makeover. I’m dying to put her out of those loose clothes she keeps on wearing.

“Can you help me think of how to deal with the issue?”

“I don’t know. Notes apology? Isn’t that what influencers do?”

I pouted. “To whom and to what will I owe the apology? Only those with twisted minds can come up with the most crazy scenarios.”

“Well, true. I don’t know”, she shrugged. “Maybe just avoid looking at your phone this day. It seems very stressful anyway.”

She just stayed in my condo and watched a movie. She became a welcome distraction by giving her side comments every now and then. I only listen to her and laugh, even though I was quite busy editing the Get Ready With Me video that I filmed yesterday. Since there aren’t a lot of transitions, I was able to finish it quickly and uploaded it immediately.

Now I’m starting to have cold sweats. This is the first time I got nervous about a makeup video I posted. I guess I’m a bit scared, because it’s the first time that I’ll post something after trending in a bad way. I haven’t even addressed that issue yet. Whatever.

“You think I should turn off the comments for this vlog I just posted?”, I asked JB.

“Up to you, but just wait and see what the feedback will be, then turn off if most of the comments are negative?”

“Can you look at the comments for me?”

“Sure. Later. Let’s watch this movie first, so you won’t be stressed out. Plus, there’ll be the FU fair this week. We won’t have any classes, and no school projects to work on.”

I was trying to check my phone for comments about the vlog and maybe to see if I was still trending.

She grabbed my phone from me. “Nope. Do that later.”

“Fine.”

We ended up having a movie marathon for the rest of the day until I actually forgot my worries. When we finished our third movie, she picked up her phone to call for a food delivery, since it’s almost dinner time.

“Ave!”, she exclaimed as she was now checking her phone. “There aren’t a lot of negative comments. Well, there are some, but most of them left suggestions for your next vlog.”

“Really? What did they say?”, I asked.

“Boyfriend challenge, then that boyfriend or friend thingy…” She paused as she kept scrolling through her phone. “But the boyfriend challenge prevails.”

My eyes widened. “And who will I choose to be my boyfriend?”

“Who do you want?”, and she smiled mischievously. “Seth or Ethan?”

“Are you serious? Then their admirers would bash me? No, thanks.”

She got serious. “I’m not sure, huh? But I feel like it’s really better if it’s either one of them. So that the issue will die down if people will see you together, in a vlog, that is.”

I sighed. “Well, you do have a point. But how would I convince either one of them?”

“Just ask? I mean, Jared has vlogged with you a couple of times already. And Seth, well, he’s also a vlogger, so he might understand if you’d want to collaborate.”

“At this point, I can really hire you as my manager. You’re really helping me a lot.” I hugged her, though she tried to squirm away.

In fairness, JB really has a point. Doing this boyfriend challenge with either one of them might really boost my views and followers on YouTube. But who shall I ask? Ethan and I haven’t been talking—except for last night—and I just met Seth.

After having our dinner and JB left, I tried to hatch a plan to convince Ethan to do this challenge with me. I guess out of the two of them, I’m still comfortable with him because of what we shared over the summer.

Doing it with Seth might be a little awkward, but I guess if Ethan declines, then he’ll be my plan B.

I went up to Ethan’s penthouse. If I want to ask for his participation in my vlog, I guess the best way to do it will be personally. I rang the doorbell two times before he opened the door.

“Av- Avery. What are you doing here?”, he looked at me with shock registered on his face.

“Uh, I guess I wanna say sorry for the issue…You know, what trended on Twitter”, I shyly said.

“Nah, it wasn’t your fault. It’s nothing. Don’t mind what they’re saying.”

I just nodded and smiled shyly.

“Anything else, Ave?”

“Actually, yeah, I wanna ask you a favor.”

He opened the door widely and motioned for me to come in. Once we sat on the couch, that’s when I noticed that he was only wearing boxers below his plain white shirt.

Focus, Avery.

“What kind of favor, Ave?”, he asked as he stared directly at me.

I tried to avoid his gaze. “Uh, can you, can I ask you to show up on my vlog?”

“What kind of vlog, Ave?”, he asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Boyfriend challenge?”

He shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

I was taken aback. I really thought I could easily convince him. “Oh, okay. I’m sorry.”

Gosh, this was embarrassing.

“I would’ve wanted to do this under different circumstances, but it’s just weird, Ave. The first time we talked again you were drunk. And now, you’re suddenly asking me to be your pretend boyfriend?”, he emphasized the last part.

“Look, I- I’m sorry. I really don’t know what to say.” My heart is beating really fast. He was right, I shouldn’t have asked.

“At least tell me why you suddenly stopped talking to me”, he said in a soft voice, almost inaudible.

“I, uh, I don’t know. Sorry. This was a bad idea.”

I immediately got up and went out, headed back to my condo. He was right. What was I thinking? I stopped talking to him all of a sudden, and I instantly assumed that things will be the same as before just because I talked to him while I was drunk? And now, suddenly asking for a favor? How stupid, Avery.

Now my heart is beating really fast and I don’t wanna dwell on it.

I knocked on JB’s door. I felt like I needed to talk about it.

“Oh, Ave? What happened?”, she asked.

“I went to him.”

“Who? Jared?”

I nodded.

“Oh, what did he say? He agreed?”, she asked, smiling.

I shook my head. “No, that’s why I’m here.”

She frowned. “Why? You’ll ask me to be your boyfriend?”

Gosh. You gotta hand it to JB. She can easily make me laugh even in situations like this.

“No!”, I chuckled. “I was close to being dramatic earlier, but you ruined the moment.”

“Okay, so he didn’t agree, then move on. Ask Seth”, she shrugged.

“Yeah, I guess so.”

“Go! He’s also a vlogger, he’s way more thick-faced than Jared, I’m sure of it.”

Can’t help but shake my head.

I then tried to sent Seth a DM via Instagram, I noticed that he already left me a message.

@sethandre95

Hi Avery

it was nice meeting you 😊

Sorry for the issue

I just posted a tweet saying that we’ll be doing a collab soon

I hope that helps 🙂

@averyday_

Thanks!

that actually helps 🙂

Speaking of collab…

Mind doing the boyfriend challenge with me?

“I already DMed Seth. Embarrassing. I barely know the guy”, I said.

“Don’t think too much about it. Just think of the boost it will give your vlogging career. Plus, the spoils and treats you’ll impart to me, your dearest friend”, she proudly said.

“User-friendly much?”

“As if you’re not used to it,” she winked.

I can’t help but laugh.

While waiting for his reply, we were talking about the things to look forward to at the FU Fair, when I suddenly got a message from Ethan.

Ave, I’m sorry

I guess I just wanted to know what happened between us

Maybe something happened to you and you’re not ready to talk about it yet

I’ll wait

And if this is the only way that we’ll get to talk again then I accept being your pretend boyfriend

I’ll do that challenge with you

I was stunned. I immediately turned to JB to ask for help. “Ethan sent me a message.”

“What does it say?”

“He’s okay with doing the boyfriend challenge with me.”

“Then, good, just tell Seth you’ll already do it with someone else.”

I nodded. “Yeah, okay.”

Just as I was typing to inform Seth about not pushing through with the boyfriend challenge, he suddenly replied.

sethandre95

Hi Avery!

Sure

I’ve been wanting to do a vlog on that for a while now

Glad you offered

So let’s plan at the uni tomorrow?

“Oh my, Seth agreed and he’s really looking forward to it. He wants us to talk about it tomorrow”, I told JB.

“So how would that be? A two-timer boyfriend challenge?”