**Chapter 1: The Facade**

I've perfected the art of being the perfect girlfriend. To my boyfriend, Alex, I'm the epitome of sweetness and charm. I always know what to say, what to do, and how to make him happy. Our friends even joke that I'm the ideal woman, and they all wish they had a girlfriend like me. But little do they know, it's all an act. I've been dating Alex for three years now, and I've mastered the role of the perfect partner. I attend all his sports games, listen to him vent about his day, and even cook his favorite meals. But when we're not together, I'm a different person. I'm a college student, trying to balance my studies with a part-time job, and I don't always have time for Alex. That's why I've become so skilled at pretending. As I walk out of the library on campus, I check my phone for any messages from Alex. He's been busy with his own projects lately, and I haven't seen him in a few days. I text him a quick "Hey, love you!" just to keep him satisfied. I head to the cafeteria to grab some lunch before my next class. As I'm waiting in line, I spot a familiar face. It's Alex's brother, Ethan. I've heard so much about him - he's the older, brooding type, always keeping to himself. I've never met him before, but I've heard rumors about his good looks and charming personality. Ethan notices me staring and raises an eyebrow. "Can I help you?" he asks gruffly, his eyes scanning me up and down. I feel a flush rise to my cheeks as I quickly look away. "Uh, no, I was just... admiring your... shirt," I stammer, feeling ridiculous. Ethan chuckles, a low, husky sound. "My shirt? Really?" I nod, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, it's... really nice." Ethan smirks. "Thanks, I think. So, you're Alex's girlfriend, right?" I nod, feeling a pang of guilt for pretending to be someone I'm not. Just then, my phone buzzes with a text from... someone else. My heart sinks as I realize it's a guy I was making out with at a party last night. We didn't exactly define our relationship, but I know he's been trying to get me to commit. I quickly shove my phone away, trying to play it cool. But Ethan notices my reaction and raises an eyebrow. "Trouble?" he asks, his voice dripping with amusement. I shake my head, trying to deflect attention. "No, nothing. Just... Alex and I were just... discussing something." Ethan's eyes narrow. "At this time of day? With someone else?" My heart skips a beat as I realize I have no idea how he knows about the other guy. Before I can respond, Ethan turns and walks away, leaving me feeling flustered and more than a little guilty. As I watch him disappear into the crowd, I wonder what just happened - and what will happen next. What do you want to happen next? A) The protagonist tries to clear up the misunderstanding with Ethan B) The protagonist meets up with the guy she was making out with and tries to figure out what's going on C) Alex shows up and confronts the protagonist about her actions D) The protagonist tries to avoid Ethan and continue her life as usual Choose your response: