'𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞́ 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐣𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤’
𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀: 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗳𝗳
𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘆: 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰é, 𝗷𝗮𝗮𝗳𝗮𝗿, 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗻, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗮 𝘃𝗹𝗼𝗴.
the red recording light blinked on. you immediately pointed the camera at jaafar. he looked up from where he was adjusting the strap of his backpack and groaned. “baby, we just got off the plane.” “say hi to the vlog.” “absolutely not.” you zoomed in on his face.
“that’s not very nice.” “you shoved a camera in my face after a fourteen hour flight.” “the fans yearn for content.” “the people can wait.” you laughed, following him as he started walking through the airport.
“anyway, hi guys. welcome back to another vlog. i’m in japan with my fiancé,” “unfortunately.” “and we’re gonna be here for a week.”jaafar looked over his shoulder. “you can edit that out. “no.” “please.” “no.” he sighed dramatically before continuing to walk, and you caught the tiny smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. first clip secured.
the first thing you learned was that jaafar became ten times more excited when he traveled. you were currently standing outside a claw machine store while he stared through the glass like a child discovering christmas. “jaafar.” no response “jaafar.” still nothing. you turned the camera toward yourself. “we’ve been here for twenty five minutes.” “i almost got it.” “you’ve said that six times “because i almost did.”
you panned the camera toward the machine. inside sat a small white plushie. the same plushie he’d been trying to win for almost half an hour. he inserted another coin. you couldn’t stop laughing. “how much money have you spent?” “don’t ask questions you don’t want the answer to.” the claw missed again. jaafar stared. you zoomed in. “thoughts?” “i hate this country.”
later that night, you were walking through tokyo together. the city glowed around you. lights reflected against the pavement while people passed by in every direction. you weren’t even really filming. just capturing little moments.
jaafar walking beside you. jaafar stopping to point out something interesting. jaafar trying a drink from a vending machine and immediately making a face. “that’s disgusting.” “then why do you keep drinking it?” “because maybe it gets better.” it didn’t.
the next day was mostly shopping. and despite your insistence that you were fine, jaafar somehow ended up carrying almost everything. you turned the camera toward him. bags hanging from both arms. a shopping bag looped around one wrist.
another tucked under his arm. “you look ridiculous.” “and yet i’m helping.” “i could carry some.”“no.” “jaafar.” “no.” “i feel bad.” “good.” you laughed so hard the camera shook. “good?” “yeah. maybe next time you’ll stop saying ‘i’m just gonna get one thing.’” you glanced away. “okay, but i meant it at the time.” “you bought seven things.” “that’s still technically close to one.” “not even a little.” that evening, back at the hotel, you were reviewing clips while jaafar showered. most of them were random. food, stores, and street views. but there were also dozens of moments you didn’t remember filming.
little things. the way he’d automatically reached for your hand while crossing busy streets. the way he’d looked back to make sure you were still beside him. the way he’d smiled whenever you laughed. your heart melted. the bathroom door opened. jaafar walked out, drying his hair with a towel. “what are you smiling at?” you turned the laptop toward him. a clip played. him holding your hand while the two of you walked through a crowded street. his ears immediately turned pink.
“delete that.” you gasped.“why“ because.” “because why?” “because i look stupid.” “you look in love.” he rolled his eyes. but he couldn’t hide his smile. you set the camera down on the nightstand.
“come here.” he immediately crawled onto the bed beside you. an arm wrapping around your waist. pulling you against him. comfortable. you rested your head against his shoulder. “you know everybody’s gonna say you’re obsessed with me.” “they’d be correct.” you froze. slowly looking up. “what?” his grin widened. “what?” “did you just admit it?” “admit what?” “that you’re obsessed with me.” “i fear that may have been public knowledge for years.” you laughed.
the camera, forgotten on the nightstand, continued recording. capturing the way he pressed a kiss to the top of your head. capturing the way you smiled against his shoulder. capturing a moment neither of you realized would end up becoming everyone’s favorite part of the vlog.
the next clip opened with the camera pointed at the hotel ceiling. “okay.” your voice sounded slightly breathless. “today is premiere day.” the camera flipped around. you were sitting in front of a mirror while getting ready. behind you, jaafar was standing in front of the closet. completely frozen. staring at two different jackets “which one?” you zoomed in.
“he’s been standing there for ten minutes.” “because this is important.” “it’s a jacket.” “it’s the jacket.” you immediately started laughing. “those mean the same thing.” “they absolutely do not.” you pointed toward the black one. “that one.” “that’s what i was thinking.” “then why did you ask me?” “validation.”
a little later, the camera was balanced on the vanity. you were doing the final touches of your makeup while jaafar adjusted his watch. every few seconds you caught him looking over. then looking away when you noticed. then looking again. eventually you lowered the camera. “why do you keep staring at me?” “i’m not.” “you are.” “baby, i’m not.”
you raised an eyebrow. he looked away. you burst out laughing. “you’re so bad at lying.” “you just look pretty.” his answer came so casually, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. your heart immediately melted. “aw.” “don’t do that.” “do what?”
“make that face.” “what face?” “the one where you know i love you.” you smiled even wider. “that’s my favorite face.”
the next clip showed the two of you arriving. lights, cameras, people everywhere. you lowered your voice dramatically. “okay, we’re here.” jaafar looked down at the camera. “you’re acting like we’re entering a secret military base.”
“this is a high pressure situation.” “you’re holding a vlog camera.” “exactly.” he shook his head. but before he turned away, he reached down and fixed a piece of your hair that had fallen out of place. completely unconsciously.
like it was second nature. you caught the entire thing on camera. most of the premiere footage ended up being little moments. jaafar greeting people. laughing with cast members. taking pictures. stopping every few minutes to make sure you were nearby. you noticed it every single time.
the room could be full of hundreds of people. and somehow his eyes always found yours. always. at one point you were filming from across the room. he was talking to someone. completely engaged in conversation, then he glanced up. saw you. and smiled, immediately. without hesitation. the kind of smile reserved for one person. you. the camera actually dipped for a second because it made your stomach flip.
later that night, after everything had ended, the two of you slipped away for a quiet walk through the city. still dressed up. still riding the excitement of the evening. the camera was mostly pointed at the street lights.the sounds of the city around you. and occasionally jaafar whenever he said something funny. “so.” you looked over. “so?” did i survive? “barely.” “wow.” “you were very brave.”
“thank you.” “especially during the jacket crisis.” he groaned immediately. “you’re never letting that go.”“i absolutely will not.”
eventually you found a quieter street. less crowded. peaceful. you stopped filming for a second, just enjoying being together. then you noticed jaafar looking at you. you slowly raised the camera. caught him instantly.
“what?” he pointed.” nothing.” “you were staring again.” “i was not.” “roll the footage.” “there is no footage.” “there literally is.” you held up the camera. his face turned red. which only made you laugh harder. “you know,” he said, reaching over to pull you closer by the waist, “one day you’re gonna run out of ways to expose me.”
“not likely.” “i have faith.” “i don’t.” he smiled before leaning down and pressing a kiss to your forehead. the city lights glowed around you. the camera capturing every second. and for once, neither of you cared.
