Tiana almost forgot about it.
Almost.
Until the next day.
"Wait—pause it!"
Tiana stopped mid-step.
"…No."
She hadn't even seen anything yet.
But that tone?
Trouble.
"Tiana, come here," one of her coworkers called.
"I don't like how you said that," she replied, walking over anyway.
A phone was turned toward her.
"…Is this you?"
Tiana leaned in.
Paused.
"…Oh."
It was her.
In the middle of a crowd.
Holding a microphone.
Talking like she had signed a contract.
"…Oh no."
Her voice played—
"I wasn't planning to be here…"
Tiana covered her face briefly.
"…Can we skip this part?"
"You're actually funny," someone said.
"That was not intentional."
"Well, it worked."
They zoomed in.
"Send it to me," someone said.
"Don't send it to anyone," Tiana corrected.
A pause.
"…Too late."
She nodded slowly.
"…I need new coworkers."
Later that evening—
Tiana sat outside, scrolling.
The video again.
She watched three seconds.
Paused it.
"…No."
Locked her phone.
Unlocked it again.
"…Just one more time."
She watched it.
Then frowned slightly.
"…That's not as bad as I remember."
Her phone rang.
Jeffery.
She answered.
"…You too?"
He didn't even greet her.
"Why are you doing public speaking now?"
"I'm not."
"I just watched a full performance."
"That was not a performance."
"It had an audience."
"That was not my choice."
"That's worse."
Tiana shook her head.
"I was just standing there."
"And suddenly you had a microphone?"
"Yes."
"…That sounds like a crime."
"Exactly."
Jeffery laughed.
"You looked very confident for someone being kidnapped into a speech."
"I was not confident."
"You pointed at the crowd."
"I was confused."
"That's not what it looked like."
Tiana leaned back.
"…I'm never going outside again."
"You say that now."
"I mean it."
"You also joined a dance class yesterday."
Tiana froze.
"…Who told you that?"
"You did. Just now. By accident."
"…I regret everything."
Jeffery laughed again.
"A dance class?"
"Yes."
"Voluntarily?"
"…Let's not focus on that."
"How was it?"
Tiana thought for a second.
"…Uncoordinated."
"That sounds accurate."
"I went the wrong way more than once."
"As expected."
"I almost hit someone."
"I would have paid for that."
"You're not helpful."
"I'm very helpful," he said.
"I'm building a clear picture."
Tiana shook her head.
"Look at you," he said.
"Trying new things."
"Don't say it like that."
"Like what?"
"Like I've changed completely."
He paused.
"I didn't say that."
"…Good."
A small silence.
"…Anyway," Jeffery continued,
"next time you decide to entertain the public, let me know."
"Why?"
"So I can buy a ticket early."
Tiana almost smiled.
"It was free."
"Even better."
She exhaled softly.
"…I'm hanging up."
"Of course you are."
"Bye, Jeffery."
"Don't go viral again."
"No promises."
The call ended.
Tiana stared at her phone for a second.
Then slipped it into her bag.
"…This is getting out of hand."
But she didn't sound stressed.
Just… mildly annoyed.
She stood up and adjusted her bag.
Then started walking.
No rush.