Chapter Text
"So... How do you get someone to notice you in a new way?" Kalim asks. Cater and Lilia both look at each other, then at Kalim.
"By 'new way', I can presume you mean a romantic way," Lilia supplies. Kalim nods against the desk he's currently slumped over.
Cater hums and sets his phone down. "And by 'someone'-"
"S-someone's someone!" Kalim whines, lifting his head enough to pout at Cater. "Doesn't matter who someone is!"
"Sure, buddy, sure." Cater laughs a bit and picks up his phone again. "That does remind me of this prank video I saw..."
Kalim frowns. "How's a prank related to what I just said? Aren't pranks mean? Should I be mean-"
"Nah, nah, it's a harmless prank," Cater says. "Well... Sorta. Depends on how the person reacts, I guess. Um... Ah, here!" Cater finds what he's looking for, and turns his phone around. "Here!"
Kalim reluctantly takes the phone and watches the video. Lilia leans over his shoulder curiously, evidently wondering what it is, too.
On the screen, a blond haired girl greets the viewers with a cheery smile. She starts talking about her crush - some guy in her class, apparently a 'real sweetheart'. "Um, what's the prank?" Kalim asks.
"Keep watching," Cater urges.
"Anyway, besties, I dunno if he likes me or 'likes' me, y'know, and like, hey, I thought I'd try that thing going around. The Love Potion Challenge."
"How vulgar," Lilia says with mild surprise.
"Is she gonna drug him?!" Kalim cries out.
"Babes, no," Cater deadpans.
"So, like, for those of you who don't know," the internet girl continues, "it's like this cute challenge where you go up to your crush and pretend you drank a love potion. Like, you get a free pass to flirt! So, like, I'm gonna do that. And you guys get to see the result. Haha, hope he doesn't get creeped out, that'd be bad-"
Kalim relaxes a little upon realizing he isn't witnessing a crime. Well, not that he thinks people post those online anyway... He thinks.
"You don't have to watch the prank itself if you don't wanna, but yeah - I think if you just have an excuse to flirt like that you can see how the... 'Someone' would react," Cater explains. "Y'know. See how they vibe with you."
"Mm..." Kalim slumps backward in his chair. "I dunno... Isn't it like lying? And I bet my... 'Someone' would just get worried..."
"It seems like fun to me," Lilia says. "I think I'll be trying it myself, even if you don't."
"Huh?! Who with?!" Kalim yelps, his eyes going wide with curiosity.
"Hmhm~ I do wonder~"
"Ehhh..."
Cater laughs a bit. "Some people've been doing it just with their friends, too. I'd try, but I think all the people around me'd get too worried. Kalim's got the right idea - it's no fun if it's taken too fr."
"Y-yeah, yeah!" Kalim nods quickly, and pushes Cater's phone back towards him. "But... Also..." He puffs out his cheeks. "M-maybe just once. He'll probably get a little mad about it, but... Yeah. It'll give me an excuse to tell him."
"There ya go, Kalim! That's the idea!" Cater grins and gives a few claps. "Get yo man, and lemme know how it goes~"