The Humiliation
The internet was a cruel place.
By morning, the blurry photos from outside the concert had exploded into headlines. Every entertainment site had a different version of the same story: Adrian Cole caught with a mysterious woman.
Comment sections boiled with anger.
> "Who is she? She looks plain."
"Adrian would never look at a girl like that. She must be some desperate fan."
"If she thinks she can use this for clout, she's dead wrong."
Maya stared at her phone until the words blurred. Her throat tightened, and her chest ached with shame. The photos weren't flattering—they showed her mid-stumble, hair flying, bags spilling. She looked like the punchline of a cruel joke.
She wanted to throw the phone across the room, but instead, she shut it off and dropped it onto her bed.
You asked for this, she told herself bitterly. You went up to him yesterday with that coffee cup, and he ignored you in front of everyone. Now you're the clown of the internet.
Tessa, of course, was unbothered. She chewed loudly on chips from the kitchen counter, scrolling on her own phone.
"Girl, you're trending. Do you know how many wannabes would kill for this kind of publicity?"
Maya shot her a look. "It's bad publicity. Everyone thinks I'm some delusional stalker."
"Better than being invisible," Tessa said cheerfully. "Anyway, I found out Adrian's holding a fan signing tomorrow downtown. You should go."
Maya's jaw dropped. "After all this? Are you insane? I'd be shredded alive."
Tessa smirked. "Which is exactly why you should. Prove them wrong. Don't let those fangirls scare you away."
Maya laughed hollowly. "Prove them wrong? How, by embarrassing myself again?"
But Tessa leaned forward, her eyes gleaming. "Maya. This is how stories start. You keep showing up. You keep trying. One day he'll notice you, really notice you. Trust me."
Maya hesitated. Her heart warred with her head. Logic screamed to stay far away. But somewhere deeper, that stubborn, reckless part of her whispered: What if?
And once again, against all reason, the whisper won.
---
The next day, Maya stood in front of her cracked mirror, trying to summon courage.
Her closet wasn't glamorous. She owned no designer dresses, no glittering heels. After an hour of indecision, she settled on a white sundress—simple, clean, a sharp contrast to the hate comments calling her sloppy.
She brushed her hair until it shone, dabbed on lip gloss, and tucked a cheap bouquet of daisies into her bag. It wasn't much, but it was all she could offer him.
When she arrived at the downtown mall, the signing was already packed. Banners of Adrian's face hung from every railing, and his songs blasted from the speakers. Fans lined up with posters, albums, and gifts—expensive watches, luxury cologne, branded suits.
Maya's little daisies suddenly looked pitiful.
Her palms grew damp as she joined the line. Whispers began almost instantly.
"Isn't that…?"
"It's her. The girl from the scandal photo."
"Seriously? She actually dared to show her face?"
The laughter stung, but Maya forced her chin up. I can do this. I have to.
The line crept forward until finally, Adrian came into view.
He sat behind a long table, flanked by managers and security guards. Even under the harsh fluorescent lights, he was stunning—golden hair perfectly styled, his sharp suit flawless. Every gesture was smooth, practiced, effortlessly charming.
He smiled at fans, signed posters, accepted gifts with a polite nod. Cameras flashed nonstop.
Maya's heart hammered louder with every step.
Finally, it was her turn.
She stepped forward, clutching her daisies.
For the first time since their collision, Adrian looked at her directly. Recognition flickered in his eyes. His smile disappeared. The air between them thickened, heavy and tense.
Gasps rippled through the crowd. Phones were raised, already recording.
Maya's voice trembled. "I—I just wanted to say thank you…for your music. It means a lot to me." She held out the bouquet, her hand shaking. "These are for you."
For a second, silence reigned. Then Adrian leaned back in his chair, his expression icy.
"You again," he said flatly.
Maya froze. Her cheeks burned under the weight of hundreds of stares. "I…I didn't mean—"
Adrian's voice carried, low but clear enough for the microphones nearby to catch.
"Do you think chasing me like this will change anything?" His eyes swept her from head to toe, sharp and merciless. "You should stop wasting your time."
The crowd erupted. Laughter, gasps, whispers.
Maya's hand trembled. The daisies slipped, scattering across the table.
Her vision blurred, but she refused to cry. Not here. Not in front of them.
She bowed quickly, muttered, "I'm sorry," and fled the stage as the fans' laughter echoed in her ears.
---
Outside the mall, Maya collapsed on a bench, pressing her fists against her eyes.
Humiliation burned her from the inside out. She could still hear his cold words, see the disdain in his eyes.
Part of her wanted to give up, to crawl back into obscurity where she belonged. But another part—stubborn, aching—clung to a dangerous vow.
One day, Adrian Cole, you'll look at me differently. You'll regret this.
---
Meanwhile, inside the private lounge, Adrian set down his pen with a sigh.
His manager, Daniel, scolded him instantly. "What was that? You humiliated a fan in front of everyone!"
"She's not just a fan," Adrian muttered, tugging off his tie. "She's the girl from that ridiculous scandal photo. I won't fuel rumors any further."
Daniel groaned. "Still, the way you handled it…People are already saying you were too harsh."
Adrian rubbed his temples. He could still see her eyes in his mind—the way they had shimmered with a mix of hope and hurt.
Why did it bother him? He didn't even know her name.
But he pushed the thought away. He had no time for distractions. Not with his career on the rise, not with—
His phone buzzed. A name flashed across the screen.
Lila.
Adrian's chest tightened. He stepped away from the table, answering quickly.
"Adrian!" A sweet, lilting voice poured through the line. "I saw the news. Who was that girl? Tell me she's nobody."
Adrian closed his eyes, leaning against the wall. "She's nobody. Don't worry."
"Good," Lila purred. "Because you're mine. Remember that."
Her tone was playful, but beneath it lurked something sharper. Possessive. Demanding.
Adrian swallowed. "Of course."
But as Lila continued to chatter about her overseas plans, Adrian's mind drifted—unwanted, unwelcome—back to the girl with the daisies.
Her trembling voice.
Her determined eyes.
The humiliation he'd given her.
For reasons he didn't understand, the image refused to fade.
And that unsettled him more than anything.
---