Caught On Screen

I hadn't even heard her walk in. That's how lost I was in the moment.

"Is that Merlina?" Adriana's voice was cold, it cut through the silence like a shard of glass.

My heart jerked.

I froze in place, hand still on the trackpad, Merlina's face glowing back at me from the screen. The smile in the photo suddenly felt like an accusation.

Slowly, I fully turned around.

Adriana stood close by, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the laptop like it had just confirmed a suspicion she didn't know she had. Her expression wasn't angry. It was worse—quiet disappointment. Like she was still trying to figure out if she had a right to be mad.

I could've lied, said I was just scrolling aimlessly, or that I'd clicked something by accident.

But I didn't. Because somehow, that would've made it worse. More obvious.

What excuse could ever sound right when you're caught staring at another girl's Instagram?

Especially when the girl is Merlina.