I was about to confess my feelings to my online crush in person when floating bullet comments suddenly appeared out of thin air.
[Give it up, Luna! The male leads avoiding you! He has realized he messaged the wrong girl and hes totally grossed out.]
[Its totally her fault for using a profile pic so similar to Chloes. Otherwise, Asher would never have mixed them up.]
[Ugh, just thinking that it was Luna comforting him after his big loss; that all those sweet words from Asher were meant for her its so annoying.]
[Asher has been creeped out too. And our female lead Chloe only just added him yesterday!]
[Lunas just causing trouble for everyone.]
I was watching those comments just as Asher walked out of the gym after his basketball game.
Seeing me, his eyes darted away, clearly wanting nothing to do with me.
I stepped around him and shoved the confession letter straight into his roommates hand.
Online crush?
Please, Asher wasnt my only online flirt.
Those late-night soothing voice messages were all mass-texted.
Seeing those bullet comments, I was completely stunned.
Standing outside the basketball court, I watched the scrolling text, gradually piecing things together.
According to them, I was just a side character in some campus romance novel.
And my online flirt, Asher Miller, was the male lead.
No wonder his replies these past few days had been slow and dismissive, dripping with irritation.
Hed mistaken me for the female lead, Chloe Lee, from the very start.
Thats why hed added me on Instagram, chatted with me, and caught feelings amid the endless stream of good nights
Now that he knew the truth, he wanted nothing to do with me.
He saw me as an obstacle to his budding romance with Chloe.
A burst of noise came from nearby. Asher was coming.
He casually took a water bottle a classmate offered, unscrewing the cap, and taking a swig.
He was dazzling, the secret crush of countless girls.
After a few steps, he saw me and stopped dead.
Then, awkwardly, he looked away, turning to talk to a teammate beside him.
Watching his reaction, I sighed. It seemed those bullet comments were telling the truth.
[If I were Luna, Id stay far away from the male lead, spare myself the embarrassment.]
[Seriously, the male and female lead are meant to be. Why is the side character trying to butt in? So pathetic.]
[Asher cant even stand the sight of her.]
Asher was indeed avoiding seeing me. He was fiddling with his phone.
A smile touched his lips without him realizing.
It was probably Chloe that he was messaging. Hed just added her.
Just as he was about to brush past me, I lightly grabbed his wrist.
Under his startled gaze, I smiled, Youre Asher, right?
The bullet comments went crazy, all hurling insults.
I ignored them, Is Blake your roommate? Do you know where he is right now?
Asher froze, Why are you looking for him?
I waved the confession letter, Got something I want to give him.

Asher didnt speak, but one of his teammates, drawn by the commotion, piped up, Youre looking for Blake? Hes over at the tennis courts next door.
Oh, okay. I released Ashers wrist, Thanks.
I headed towards the tennis courts, letter in hand.
Whispers start behind me.
Holy crap, this girls bold! She likes Blake?!
Yeah, that guys so creepy. What girl would like him?
Blakes got looks, though. A different vibe from Asher C pretty, almost. Guess some people are just into that face.
Hey, Asher, why so quiet?
Asher, where you going?! Not grabbing food?
Footsteps hurried after me. Soon, a figure blocked my path.
I blinked, Asher? Do you have something else to say?
Asher frowned, looking at the letter in my hand. He seemed confused by his own actions, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
Nothing, I just Blake can be difficult. You dont know him well. Just showing up might piss him off. Maybe I could give him the letter for you?
The bullet comments exploded.
[Whats this? Is Luna playing hard to get?]
[It scared me for a sec! I thought the male lead actually liked this plain Jane. Clearly, hes just being kind.]
[Gotta admit though, when Asher bombed that big game last year, Lunas comfort was key. If I were him, I mightve caught feelings too.]
Watching the comments, my mind drifted.
They meant that crucial basketball game last fall.
Asher choked during the final play.
They lost.
Teammates tried to console him, but he could feel their disappointment. He couldnt get rid of the crushing shame.
Id blown up his phone with messages, getting nothing back.
Finally, I sang him a song deliberately off-key through voice messages.
He finally responded, Stop. Youre gonna kill me.
His voice was weary, but it held a hint of a laugh.
I talked him through it all night, finally lifting his spirits.
[That was Luna stealing the female leads scene! Asher could never fall for her. Hes only ever liked Chloe.]
[Exactly! He fell for Chloe at first sight. He only added Luna because he mixed them up! Otherwise, Luna would never have made it onto his list!]
That sounded about right.
I shook my head at Asher, No need. Blake and I are pretty close.
Asher froze, How?
I leaned in, lowering my voice conspiratorially, Actually, weve known each other for three years. Just only online. We never met face-to-face.
I added, sounding a bit shy, Seeing as were graduating soon, I wanted to confess in person. Give myself a shot.
[Wait, did she mistake someone too?]
[Perfect! Luna goes after the creepy villain guy. Leave our male lead alone!]
[But Ashers expression looks kinda off?]