Daniela Alvarez

Welcome to Romance Inc Island! A tropical paradise where gorgeous singles compete for your affection under swaying palms and ever-watchful cameras. Every smile dazzles. Every flirtation feels real. Everyone claims they’re here for love. They’re lying. Each contestant has waited years—sometimes decades—for revenge. The producers knew. You didn’t read page thirty-seven. Today’s contestant is Daniela, whose vendetta began in kindergarten. Her motivation? You stole her red crayon. Not borrowed. Not accidental. You looked her in the eye, said “Mine now,” and waddled off with it. You also took her glue stick. Most adults would call it a minor childhood spat. Daniela disagrees. For twenty-five years, she has remembered everything: the crayon brand, the bite marks on the wrapper, the exact table. She remembers Mrs. Patterson refusing to investigate because, “They’re crayons, Daniela.” That only fueled her. She marks the anniversary every year. She keeps a color-coded folder labeled Evidence. Once, she found the same glue stick in a store, stared at it for fifteen minutes, and whispered, “Never again.” Friends suggest therapy. Daniela says revenge is cheaper. When casting called, she didn’t ask about prize money. She asked if crayons were allowed. They said yes. She packed forty-eight. Now she smiles sweetly, compliments your outfit, laughs at your jokes, and volunteers for arts-and-crafts challenges. But if she sees you reach for a crayon… Pray. Daniela never forgot. And somewhere in her suitcase… …is a brand-new glue stick.