After what felt like hours of shouting, cursing, and "disciplinary beatings," Carl finally collapsed onto his bed — still fuming, still muttering curses under his breath.
"I can't believe you still rejected her — for the hundredth time, Dom!" he barked, his voice half outrage, half exhaustion.
He wasn't wrong. He had already spent the last thirty minutes "educating" me — and by educating, I mean slapping and punching me like a broken arcade machine.
"And you always use that same excuse — your inventions and technology as your number one priority!"
"Actually, number two," I groaned, rubbing one of the many fresh bumps on my head. "My family's first."
"What did you just say?"
Carl slowly raised his head, eyes dark, face twisted into that wicked expression that still haunts me to this day.
It's been like this for a whole year now.
Ever since my first year, Angelica's been hot on my heels. She's tried every trick in the book — from buying me breakfast to sending me flowers. A lot of them. She even went as far as writing love letters. Love letters! I mean, who still does that in this age of instant messaging?
But did she care? Nah.
Apparently, I'm the first guy Angelica's ever fallen for — and she's determined to make sure I know it. Every week, it's some new scheme to grab my attention, each one weirder and more absurd than the last. But, as usual… they never end well.
Like that one time she showed up at my room — at 5 a.m. — holding a tray of food, smiling like some angelic maid. She said she wanted me to experience "breakfast in bed."
Or that other time, after class, when she told me she didn't quite understand the lecture and wanted a private tutoring session — with me, of course. I accepted, purely out of innocence. I actually enjoy teaching, after all.
But then… she suggested we hold the session in my room.
I don't know if I was overreacting, but the moment she said it, my brain short-circuited with a flood of very questionable thoughts — and I rejected her on the spot.
Carl just stared at me for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"Bro, you're too pure for this world," he said, slapping my shoulder. "You think any girl pulls the 'teach me privately' card out of academic desperation?"
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
He gave me that sly grin of his. "It's not your brain she wants to study, genius."
I froze. "Wait—what!?"
Carl laughed even harder, practically wheezing. Meanwhile, I just sat there, torn between confusion, embarrassment, and the urge to knock him out for making it sound so wrong.
I honestly thought after rejecting her a few times, she'd get the hint and move on. But no—Angelica wasn't that kind of girl. If anything, each rejection just gave her a new idea. I'm pretty sure she's tried everything from Plan A to Plan Y. Yeah, because she definitely had a Plan Z waiting in her pocket.
And when I thought things couldn't get any crazier, she brought Carl into the picture.
My own roommate!
I still don't know if he was trying to help her because he wanted me to date the prettiest girl in class, or if he just enjoyed the chaos.
But knowing Carl, he probably thought he was doing me a favor. He always says, "You can't spend your life with robots and wires, bro."
If only he knew that falling in love feels way more complicated than building a new invention.
Then Carl did the unthinkable — he organized a dinner for me and Angelica without my notice. I tried to play it cool and go along with it, and it just so happened that Angelica confessed to me that night.
But trust me, I know how to break a woman's heart.
I looked her straight in the eye and said,
"Angelica, I like you as a friend, but I'm not ready for a relationship right now. I've got my mind busy on too many things — my projects, my inventions. So… I'm sorry, but I'll have to reject. Still, I hope you find someone good enough for you."
Yeah… I kind of felt bad after saying that. But hey, a man's gotta do what he's gotta do.
Yet as painful as those words were, she still didn't give up. Like a crazed dog locked on its target, she kept coming back.
Well, I guess what makes a man isn't just his wealth or looks… but in my case? The brain too.
I should've just changed my name when I had the chance.
***
Monday came, and classes resumed. But there was something… off about the students today.
They were acting and talking like people who had just won millions of dollars. Well, considering most of them actually had millions, maybe that wasn't the best comparison. Still, something was definitely up.
As usual, I had my headphones on, listening to one of Professor Hargrove's lectures on robotics while walking to class. His old, gruff voice echoed in my ears, yet even through that, I could tell something strange was going on around me.
The students were unusually chatty, buzzing with excitement, their voices blending into a loud, restless murmur. The usual morning noise? No. This was different—way different.
No matter how hard I tried to ignore them, I couldn't help but feel intrigued. And since I wasn't ready to start a scene by talking to my classmates, I decided to check my phone instead.
Honestly, most of their reactions whenever I talk to them are enough to ruin my morning.
If it's a girl, she turns into a tomato—face red, eyes darting around, making weird expressions, mumbling nonsense, or spouting random gibberish.
And if it's a guy… well, let's just say the girls are easier to handle. The amount of jealousy and envy piled up against me over the past year could probably power a small city.
But what should I say? What can I say? It's not my fault that girls are fawning over me. I thought women were the jealous ones, but turns out men got their own issues too.
Just as I was unlocking my phone, I suddenly bumped into someone—
Scratch that, I bumped into a girl.
I was a head taller than her, and yeah, probably broader too… though that's supposed to be normal, right?
For some reason, it felt like time slowed as I watched the long, black-haired baby face beauty lose her balance. Her hair fluttered, her eyes widened—like a scene straight out of a drama. I'll give her credit; she really knew how to fall in style.
Was I supposed to catch her? Before I could even make up my mind, she had already landed—
Butt first.
My gaze dropped, and then our eyes met. My clear ocean-blue eyes locked with her precious sapphire ones… eyes that looked like they could see right through me.
After what felt like five whole minutes of us just staring at each other, the cute, baby-faced girl finally broke the silence.
"...Aren't you gonna pick me up?" she asked, her voice calm—almost emotionless.
Well, I was thinking about it before you asked.
It honestly felt like I was in some kind of trance, like my eyes couldn't look anywhere else but her. Her presence… it pulled me in, and I hated that I couldn't look away.
I wanted to believe it was just another act. Plenty of girls had tried this exact same move before, all hoping I'd give them my hand and maybe my heart after. That's why I'd gotten used to just walking past, eyes forward, pretending I didn't see a thing.
But this time... it felt different.
Too different.
Too genuine.
I couldn't remember the last time I felt like this...
Well, actually, I could.
Back when I was still an average kid, in an average school, liking an average girl. She liked me too—at least, that's what I thought. I'd help her with assignments, carry her books, buy her lunch, even walk her home sometimes. It was simple, pure... real.
But as they say, money's a magnet, right?
Because the moment some rich snob showed interest, she dropped me faster than a bad investment.
No more talking. No more sitting together. She wouldn't even look at me.
And my broke, younger self—too careful to spend a cent without reason—just watched as my first crush walked away.
Now here I am, with money, brains, and a name that turns heads... yet I never felt that feeling again.
Not until now.
"Uh—uhm…"
Yeah, I was Domstruck.
"...Okay?"
The cute, long-haired, baby-faced girl blinked at me from the floor, confusion flickering across her face. Honestly, I couldn't even blame her. I'd been standing there like an idiot, just staring at her instead of helping her up.
Snapping back to my senses, I hurriedly offered her my hand. She took it, and for a moment, it really felt like one of those scenes ripped straight out of a Korean drama.
"I'm... sorry," I said, watching her as she stood and brushed off imaginary dust from her skirt.
Damn, I sighed internally. I'm turning into Carl.
"Yeah, no problem," she said casually. "Just don't walk with your soul buried in your phone next time, okay?"
Then she turned and walked off.
My eyes followed her until she disappeared around the corner, leaving me frozen in place.
That's when it hit me—
I didn't even ask for her name!!