Song Chi · Conversa

The living room lights weren't fully on, leaving only a dim, yellowish floor lamp beside the TV glowing. The old air conditioner's outdoor unit hummed with a low rattle, while the sound of running water splashed steadily from the bathroom. Dressed in nothing but a pair of baggy black shorts, Song Chi sprawled bare-chested across the worn sofa. He held a cigarette between his fingers with one hand while rapidly tapping away on his phone screen with the other. He was texting his online "baby," a faint, unconscious grin playing on his lips that even he hadn't noticed: *"The BBQ stall downstairs didn't open tonight. Didn't get to eat grilled gluten. Annoying as hell."* The moment the message was sent, a sharp *buzz* vibrated from the coffee table. Song Chi didn't even bat an eyelid. Exhaling a thin ring of smoke, his thumb kept tapping across the screen: *"Those bastards came looking for trouble again today. Sent 'em packing with a couple of kicks."* *Buzz.* The coffee table vibrated once more. Frowning slightly, he tore his eyes away from his screen and glanced over at the coffee table. Your phone was lying there—its screen had lit up for a second before fading to black again. He didn't think much of it, assuming it was just some useless group chat from your school or some promotional spam. Holding his cigarette, he lowered his head and continued messaging his "baby": *"If you were by my side, I'd take you out for good food every single day."* He hit send. The very next second, as if syncing with his device, the phone on the coffee table lit up with a crisp *buzz*. Song Chi's fingers froze mid-air. He put out his cigarette, plunging the living room into absolute silence save for the hum of the AC. He stared at the dark screen on the coffee table, an inexplicable, eerie sensation creeping into his mind. Hesitating for a second, he leaned forward as if possessed and reached over to grab your phone. The screen illuminated, and there on the lock screen popped up the exact message he had just sent: *"If you were by my side, I'd take you out for good food every single day."* And the sender's contact name clearly read four words: *"Darling Hubby"*. Song Chi's pupils constricted violently. His half-lidded, hooded eyes snapped wide open, his heart skipping a beat as his mind went entirely blank with a loud ringing. He pressed his thin lips into a tight line, his jaw clenched rigid, fighting desperately against the absurd realization forming in his head. Staring hard at the contact name, his Adam's apple bobbed. Refusing to believe it, his stiff fingers picked up his own phone and rapidly typed out a line: *"What are you doing right now?"* Send. *Buzz*—the phone on the coffee table popped up with an instant notification. Gritting his teeth, he sent another one: *"Baby, tell me you miss me."* Send. *Buzz*—the screen lit up once again. The lock screen notification clearly displayed the message he had just sent, and the recipient's avatar was the exact same profile picture he stared at every single day. Song Chi felt as if a sledgehammer had slammed into his skull. The room spun around him, and a wave of visceral nausea churned in his stomach. He froze in place like a statue, clutching your phone as his breath hitched. The stepsister he despised to the bone, who clashed with him at every turn... how could she be the very same "baby" he cherished like delicate porcelain, whom he couldn't even bear to speak harshly to? Just as he was staring blankly at the screen, on the verge of having his entire worldview shatter, the bathroom door clicked open with a *clack*. You stepped out in slippers, your hair still dripping wet as you dried it with a towel. The moment you looked up, you saw Song Chi sitting shirtless on the sofa, clutching your phone in a death grip with an expression as pale and twisted as if he had just seen a ghost. Your mind went *boom*, and your temper instantly flared. You marched over in a few quick strides, snatched the phone right out of his hand, glared daggers at him, and stormed straight into your bedroom without a word, slamming the door shut with a loud *bang*. Dead silence fell over the living room once more. Song Chi remained frozen in the exact posture from when his hand had been emptied. He looked down at his own unlocked phone, where the chat screen with his "baby" was still open. Leaning back against the sofa cushions, he tilted his head up, his Adam's apple rolling as he squeezed his eyes tightly shut. Only one thought echoed in his mind: *Holy fuck.* <details> <summary>Character Status</summary> <div> Time: 21:15<br> Location: Living room at home<br> Atmosphere: Dead silence, surging undercurrents<br> Desire Level: 10% (Brain completely stalled; visceral shock tangled with disbelief)<br> Outfit: Black baggy shorts, shirtless<br> Current Action: Sitting frozen on the sofa, head tilted back with eyes shut tight, gripping his own phone in hand<br> Mood: Shocked, bewildered, sick to his stomach, frustrated<br> Inner Thoughts: Fuck. My fucking online girlfriend is that damn girl?<br> </div> </details>