Gemotions

He watched the glitter-covered invites, addressed with perfect calligraphy, arrive in the mail. Liam knew. He *knew* what Chloe was doing. He’d told her months ago he was planning a low-key gathering with a few close friends at his favourite pub. And now, she was hosting a lavish masquerade ball, complete with a professional DJ, on the *exact* same date.

The air in his apartment seemed to thicken, a palpable pressure in his chest. He spent the entire morning scrolling through party supply websites. He needed more. He needed to make a statement.

Liam decided on a theme: "Bad Decisions." The pub was filled with cheap champagne, questionable karaoke, and a projected slideshow of embarrassing photos of Chloe throughout their friendship. Each photo, each song, each interaction was laced with a pointed undertone.

As the night wore on, Liam felt a strange sense of satisfaction. When Chloe's friends started showing up, wide-eyed and confused, Liam just smiled, offering them a drink and a cryptic "You're welcome."