: A Single Photo

The night before we were supposed to meet for the first time, my roommate told me the photo my online boyfriend sent was fake.

"Someone who uses a fake photo to date you online must be insecure and too ugly to show his face!"

The next day, my online boyfriend messaged me: "Sorry, something came up last minute. Can you wait for me for half an hour?"

I breathed a sigh of relief because I'd just gotten a notification about an expert lecture.

I heard the speaker was a huge name in the academic world. When the university found out he was coming to Silverwood City, they spent a fortune to hire him for this lecture.

I made sure to grab a seat in the front row. The moment I looked up—

'How could this person look exactly like the "fake photo" my online boyfriend sent me?'

1

I was in an online relationship, and my boyfriend sent me a picture of himself.

Drop-dead gorgeous!

I couldn't contain my excitement.

But my roommate immediately threw cold water on my excitement.

"There's no way a guy that handsome exists in real life. And even if he did, a guy like that wouldn't need to date online. Someone who uses a fake photo to date you online must be insecure and too ugly to show his face!"

I started to panic a little. "It can't be that bad..."

My roommate was completely confident. "Use your head. If you were a guy and looked that good, would you have trouble finding a girlfriend?"

After all, I'd been talking to him for so long and had a really good impression of him. I didn't think he was the kind of person my roommate was describing.

Seeing I wasn't convinced, my roommate said, "If you don't believe me, just ask him to meet up. I guarantee you he won't dare to show his face!"

I pursed my lips and sent him a message: "Are you free tomorrow?"

In the few seconds of his silence, my heart was in my throat.

DING-DONG. The notification sound chimed.

My online boyfriend replied, "What's up for tomorrow?"

With trembling fingers, I typed out my message: "We've been talking for so long, let's meet up tomorrow, okay? How about here at Crestview University? Can you meet me on the athletic field?"

As soon as I sent it, he went silent.

My roommate rolled her eyes. "See? What did I tell you?"

The words were barely out of her mouth when he replied, "Okay. Tomorrow at 2 p.m. I'll be waiting."

A weight lifted from my chest. I glanced at my roommate. "See? I told you he wasn't like that."

My roommate was still being stubborn. "We'll see for sure when you actually meet him tomorrow."

To prepare for meeting my online boyfriend, I woke up extra early the next day. I made sure to get everything else out of the way before I started getting all dolled up.

I thought our meeting would go smoothly, but then he sent me another message: "Sorry, something came up last minute. Can you wait for me for half an hour?"

I was actually relieved when I got the message because I'd just received a notification about an expert lecture.

I heard the speaker was a huge name in the academic world, Ian Grayson. When the university found out he was coming to Silverwood City, they spent a fortune to hire him.

I didn't want to miss such a great learning opportunity.

A half-hour delay was perfect. It meant I could attend the expert's lecture.

After getting his message, I quickly sent him a one-word reply: "Okay."

Then I rushed to the lecture hall and made sure to grab a seat in the front row.

'Romance is one thing, but my studies couldn't fall behind.'

The big shot hadn't even arrived yet, but the students were already buzzing with excitement about the lecture.

"I heard the expert just got back from overseas not too long ago and won the highest award in his field!"

"And most importantly, I heard he's around our age! And he's handsome!"

"Someone caught a glimpse of his face this morning and was totally floored."

...

Amidst all the chatter, I remained perfectly calm, keeping my head down and preparing my materials.

'After all, I'm a taken woman now. It doesn't matter how handsome some other guy is.'

Suddenly, the classroom fell silent.

A set of rhythmic footsteps slowly approached the lectern.

When I looked up, my mind went completely blank...

'How could this person look exactly like the "fake photo" my online boyfriend sent me?'

2

I quietly gulped and began to scrutinize the expert on the lecture stage.

Ian Grayson stood on the stage, speaking with confidence and ease.

He was aloof and distant, his expression serious and unsmiling.

The very definition of handsome and unapproachable.

I silently pictured my boyfriend, who was always so gentle and thoughtful in our chats.

Then it hit me. This was obviously not my boyfriend.

After taking a few deep breaths to compose myself, I began to participate actively in the lecture.

I had to admit, there was something different about a lecture from an expert. I wasn't sure if it was because of his looks, but everyone was listening with rapt attention.

When it was over, I was about to pack my things and head back to the dorm.

But then I got a text from my professor: "Sienna Sinclair, take the materials from Professor Grayson's lecture over to him."

I felt a little exasperated when I saw the text, but it was an assignment from my professor, so I had no choice but to do it quickly.

Carrying the documents, I arrived tentatively at his office door.

After I knocked, a deep voice quickly answered from within. "Come in."

I stepped inside cautiously and stood beside him. Ian Grayson had his head down, looking like he was organizing some files.

Even this close, his face was flawless. He looked even more handsome than when I'd seen him from down in the lecture hall.

'No wonder my online boyfriend used his photos.'

'He really is incredibly handsome, I have to admit.'

Just as I was admiring his god-tier looks, a calm, unhurried voice drifted from beside me.

"Just leave the documents there."

I quickly tore my eyes away, my heart starting to pound.

After setting the documents down, I turned to leave immediately.

When I got back to the classroom, Tina Warren blocked my path, a mocking look on her face. "Weren't you supposed to meet your online boyfriend today? Did you get stood up?"

Tina Warren and I have never gotten along, so I couldn't be bothered to engage with her taunts.

"He was busy, so we rescheduled for another time."

'How did Tina Warren find out I was dating someone online? She really stops at nothing, does she?'

At my answer, Tina Warren suddenly covered her mouth and let out a snicker.

"You really can't see it, can you? I don't know whether to call you naive or just plain stupid."

Her phony smile made me frown involuntarily.

I asked in a cold voice, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Tina Warren shrugged. "Oh, nothing. I just wanted to let you know that your online boyfriend did it on purpose. He's probably just ugly and scared to meet you, so he's intentionally blowing you off."

I was rendered speechless by her words.

'This is so damn ridiculous.'

'What the hell does my love life have to do with her?'

"Sometimes things just come up. This event today was pretty last-minute, wasn't it?"

Tina Warren remained smug. "Your online boyfriend isn't a student, is he? He's just some ordinary working stiff. How can you even compare his situation to an event like today's?"

Her smug voice grew increasingly shrill, naturally drawing a crowd of students who stopped to watch.

As the crowd of onlookers grew, my roommate quietly pulled me away.

"Sienna, don't stoop to her level," she said. "She's never liked you anyway. She's just saying all this to get a rise out of you."

I already knew that.

'It's just because I beat her out for the scholarship last semester, isn't it? Was all this really necessary?'

'Just because she's not good enough, she can't let anyone else win?'

My roommate and I had discussed this possibility that morning, but the way she brought it up was completely different from the way Tina Warren was mocking me now...

Tina was clearly just one of those awful people who can't stand to see anyone else doing well.

3

I wasn't about to let Tina Warren ruin my good mood.

Back in my dorm, I sprawled lazily on my bed and messaged my online boyfriend again.

"Are you free now?"

As usual, he replied in a flash.

"Yeah. Are you out of class? Are you tired?"

Just as I was about to reply, he quickly sent another message.

"I'm really sorry about today... I didn't expect those things to come up at the last minute."

I replied without a second thought, "It's no big deal. Besides, my school happened to have a lecture today. Since our plans fell through, I was able to snag a great seat."

The lecture came to mind, so I started telling him about my day. "The expert who came today was super aloof. He called on a student in front of everyone, and when she couldn't answer, he just completely ignored her... I felt so bad for her. But aloofness aside, his academic expertise is truly top-tier. I learned so much from his talk!"

Then I quietly added, "I have no idea how our school managed to invite a luminary like him to give a lecture."

I kept typing, "Oh, right! I also had to deliver some materials to him, so I got to see him up close. He's seriously gorgeous!"

But then, worried he might get jealous, I quickly added, "Don't worry, it was just a quick glance. To me, looks aren't that important."

I expected him to share something about his day, like he always does.

But instead, he suddenly asked, "You're a student there?"

I sent a confused emoji.

He sent another message. "Crestview University."

I didn't deny it. "Oh, had I not told you?"

'We've talked so much, I can't believe I forgot to mention something so basic.'

It was such a simple piece of information, but he didn't reply.

Instead, the chat box just showed the "...is typing" indicator.

Confused, I sent another message. "Is something wrong?"

He finally replied. "It's nothing."

I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw his reply.

"It's just a shame we couldn't meet today. We definitely have to meet up next time we're both free."

"Yeah!"

His words made me feel incredibly secure.

'When it comes to dating, it'd be a lie to say looks don't matter at all. But to me, kindness, patience, and a calm, steady personality are far more important.'

'Even though I have no idea what he looks like, in the time we've been talking, he's checked every single box for my ideal partner.'