n.Deliberately believing an unlikely romantic outcome, half as a joke and half not.
The Group Chat Knows
TASH: ok so he liked the photo from 2019
TASH: the 2019 one
BEA: he was SCROLLING
JOY: how far back is 2019
TASH: 340 posts
JOY: THREE HUNDRED AND FORTY
BEA: that's not an accident that's an expedition
TASH: right?? that's a man on a mission
JOY: ok but devil's advocate
TASH: no
JOY: DEVIL'S ADVOCATE. he could have been going through someone else's tagged photos and yours came up
BEA: Joy.
JOY: i'm just saying
BEA: we are not doing evidence tonight. tonight is vibes.
---
TASH: he also watched my story within 4 minutes
TASH: i posted at 11:47
JOY: how do you know when he watched it
TASH: because i checked at 11:51 and he was 3rd
BEA: 3rd is huge
TASH: 3rd is HUGE
JOY: what does 3rd mean
BEA: it means he was on the app when it went up
BEA: it means he has notifications on for her
BEA: OR
BEA: he opens the app and she is who he checks
TASH: stop
TASH: STOP
JOY: or he was on the app because it was 11:47 on a saturday and every human on earth was on the app
BEA: joy i swear to god
---
TASH: ok real talk though
TASH: i know it's nothing
TASH: like i actually do know
BEA: i know you know
TASH: i'm not delusional i'm delulu. there's a difference
JOY: explain the difference
TASH: delusional is when you believe it
TASH: delulu is when you're choosing it on purpose because the alternative is going to bed at 12:30 on a saturday feeling like a bin
BEA: ^^^^^
JOY: ok that's actually fair
TASH: thank you
JOY: that's genuinely fair, i'm sorry
TASH: it's fine you're the sensible one, we need one
---
BEA: ok but what's the plan
TASH: there's no plan. that's the whole point. if there's a plan then i'm someone with a plan about a man who liked a photo
TASH: and that woman is TRAGIC
TASH: whereas a woman who does nothing at all and just enjoys the 4 minutes is having a nice time
BEA: so you're doing nothing
TASH: absolutely nothing
JOY: you've been typing for 11 minutes
TASH: i said i'm doing nothing i didn't say i'm doing nothing about it QUIETLY
---
BEA: how long do we get to run this for
TASH: til something contradicts it
JOY: and then?
TASH: then i drop it immediately, no argument, no grief, no "but the photo"
TASH: that's the deal. that's what makes it fun and not sad
BEA: that is genuinely quite healthy
TASH: i've had a lot of practice
---
TASH: he's typing
BEA: WHAT
JOY: WHAT
TASH: he's typing
TASH: he stopped
TASH: he's typing again
BEA: i am going to be sick
TASH: he stopped
TASH: ok he stopped for real, it's been 90 seconds
JOY: oh no
TASH: no it's fine!! genuinely fine
TASH: honestly this is the best bit anyway. this bit right here.
TASH: nothing has happened and nothing might ever happen and i've had the best hour of my week
BEA: ok that's actually beautiful
JOY: that's actually a bit bleak
TASH: it's both!!! it's ALWAYS both!!
TASH: goodnight I love you both, wake me if he sends anything
BEA: you'll be awake
TASH: obviously
552 words · 3 min read