In one of the most-anticipated performances of the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards on Monday night (Aug. 26), solo stars Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello took the stage together to perform their recently Hot 100-topping megahit duet, “Señorita,” for the first time live together.
The performance began with Cabello singing the song a cappella, before Mendes — who had already performed once on his own earlier in the night — joined her at a second mic with an acoustic guitar. The performers traded vocals while dancing around one another, before Mendes ditched his mic stand and guitar to join Cabello at center stage.
The performers got increasingly intimate over the course of the song, and at several points found their lips merely inches apart, teasing fans worldwide who have been shipping the duo since they first teamed up four years earlier. But of course, the kiss never quite happened, inspiring yet another round of have-they-or-haven’t-they debates to ripple across the Internet.
“Señorita” is up for five awards at the 2019 ceremonies, including best collaboration. It lost song of the summer to Ariana Grande and Social House’s “Boyfriend” earlier in the evening.
Watch the duo’s full performance below.