There is nothing more soul-destroying than telling someone 'I love you'… and watching them stare back like they've just been handed a tax bill.
It was the kind of collective cringe that rippled across Australia on Sunday night, as Married At First Sight bride Bec dropped the L-bomb on Danny during the Commitment Ceremony.
The couple was asked where they thought their relationship stood. Bec started by telling Danny she felt as if she liked him more than he liked her, prompting Danny to fumble through a rather haphazard attempt to reassure, saying 'that's not the case'.
Unlike the rest of Australia, Bec didn't seem to clock the lack of enthusiasm and genuine reassurance in the statement.
In fact, she looked him dead in the eye and said those three little words that can sometimes make or break a new relationship: 'I love you.'
Girl… read the room.
Daily Mail columnist Jana Hocking thinks she knows what Danny really wanted to say when Bec dropped the 'L bomb' on Sunday night's episode of MAFS
Or at least notice the sweat pouring down his face and his wide, dilated eyes - he's clearly panicking.
Safe to say, it was not the fairytale moment she might have imagined.
There was a long pause. Danny looked stunned and remained silent.
There was no, 'I love you too.'
Just the unmistakable energy of someone who is hoping the ground will open up and swallow him.
And yes, I could keep asking 'what was she thinking?' - but honestly, I recognised that moment right away.
Because we've all been there.
Last week, a reel I posted on Instagram went viral for much the same reason. In a bout of probably-too-much oversharing, I admitted I'd recently called time on a situationship after finally facing the dreaded reality: he's just not that into you.
During the Commitment Ceremony, Bec Zacharia said 'I love you' to on-screen husband Danny Hewitt. He did not return the sentiment
'Looking back at Bec and Danny's relationship, it's pretty clear to me that Danny's had second thoughts about their marriage ever since that post-nut clarity hit him after they slept together'
TV is a powerful drug - and I suspect what we are witnessing right now is a man who might not be madly in love, but sure does enjoy the screen time
I'm sure Danny's not a bad bloke, but I've known men like him - and if that deeper emotional switch hasn't flipped by now, it probably never will. At least not with Bec.
