"What sort of game is this?" I muttered, staring blankly at the ceiling as I lay sprawled across my bed.
All the games I'd ever played came out complete — guides, access, compatibility — the whole deal. Yet this one felt… different. Custom-made, like it was whispering to me alone. Not that I'm complaining, but still… why did that thought feel so heavy?
I sighed, my gaze drifting into the void above as old memories started to unspool in my mind.
***
I was born into comfort — the kind that silences most problems before they even start. We weren't just well-off; we were rich. The type of rich that made people smile a little wider when they saw you coming.
In school, I was the guy. The one everyone wanted to sit beside, talk to, laugh with. Handsome, confident, charming — the full package. Teachers adored me, girls swooned, and boys tried to copy my smile like it was a life skill.
A wink for borrowed homework. A "thank you" for free food.
Simple exchanges. A kingdom built not with crowns and thrones — but with charisma.
I might not have been crazy rich like those spoiled brats, or a walking calculator like the nerds, but if there was one thing I had over everyone else — it was communication.
Talking, reading people, knowing what to say and when to say it — it was like breathing to me.
Some people were born with brains. Others with beauty. Me? I was born with words.
Maybe God looked down, saw I wasn't the academic type, and decided, "Eh, let's throw in some social intelligence instead."
And believe me, I aced that department.
There was this girl back in high school who stole my attention the moment I laid eyes on her. A beauty among peasants — that's what we all thought. Every guy tried his luck, pulling out every trick in the book. Gifts? She rejected them. Lunch offers? Straight to the trash. Love speeches? She brushed them off like background noise.
But me? I was different.
I didn't chase her like the others. I studied her — her patterns, her reactions, her silence. While they threw themselves at her feet, I waited for the perfect moment to make her look my way.
So one day I decided to act
"Hey, Jenny."
That was all it took to get her attention. She turned, her cold eyes locking onto mine like sharpened glass.
"What do you want?" she asked, her voice clipped and icy.
But I didn't flinch. I didn't have to. There was something different about the way she spoke to me — something restrained, curious even. She didn't brush me off like the others. She didn't roll her eyes or walk away.
And that alone told me everything I needed to know.
"Oh, nothing much. Just wanted to know if you had any homework issues," I said, turning on the playboy charm like it was a switch.
Laughter erupted down the hallway before she even answered — the usual chorus of idiots betting on my failure. "That guy's gonna get cooked," one called.
"If she sees him as worth cooking," another snickered.
I smiled without shame. Let them laugh. They didn't know the difference between noise and intention.
"Yeah, I've got some math problems. Glad you asked," her soft, sweet voice cut through the air — slicing the laughter of those idiots clean off.
I almost laughed myself. Hehehe… what do you know? I really am blessed, I thought, straightening my collar with that signature grin.
"Would you be free after school?" I asked, still wearing my trademark playboy tone.
"Yeah, I will," she replied — this time, her eyes softer, her voice warmer.
And just like that… the so-called untouchable queen had given me her time.
I could already feel the death stares burning through my back, but I didn't care. I'd done the impossible — again. Those guys could keep watching; too bad they weren't blessed like me.
Later that day, Jenny came over to my place. And, well… what happened next? Let's just say — it happened.
The next day, I started noticing things — little things. Jenny was everywhere. Morning walks, lunch breaks, even sports and club activities. Wherever I turned, there she was… smiling, waving, pretending it was all coincidence. Yeah, right.
Then she joined the basketball team — out of nowhere. I couldn't help but laugh. Of course she did.
I only joined the team because that's where most of the girls in our class hung out — some cheerleading, others actually playing. But Jenny? She wasn't there for the game. Nah. The way she'd glance at me between plays, waiting for my eyes to meet hers… she wanted me to watch.
And honestly? I found it entertaining — watching the so-called ice queen melt a little every time I smiled back.
After school ended, Jenny walked up to me — shy smile, soft voice — and asked if I could escort her home. Of course, I said yes. I had games waiting for me, but come on… walking Jenny home for the first time? That was worth more than any high score.
"So, what are we gonna do in your house? Another private lesson?" I teased, flashing my signature grin.
Her face turned bright red as she looked away. Gotcha.
"It felt good, you know," I added, enjoying every bit of her flustered silence.
We talked and laughed the whole way — small jokes, awkward glances, stolen smiles — until we finally stopped in front of her house.
Or should I say… her mansion.
Marble walls, gleaming gates, a garden that looked like it came out of a royal movie — I just stood there, staring.
Guess the "beauty among peasants" part wasn't an exaggeration after all.
The place was massive — towering walls, polished marble, and a front yard big enough to host a football match. Not even my house came close to this. But I couldn't lose my composure, not in front of her. I had to act cool… smooth.
"Do you like it?" she asked, her voice soft and innocent, a smile tugging at her lips.
"Y-Yeah… I-I do," I stuttered, still trying to take it all in.
"Well, let's go inside," she said, grabbing my hand before I could process it. The warmth of her palm snapped me out of my daze.
"Sure," I replied, trying to hide the grin sneaking up my face.
We walked through hallways that smelled of luxury, past glittering chandeliers and art that probably cost more than my entire neighborhood. Every step felt surreal — like I'd just stepped into another world.
But then, to my greatest disappointment… we only went to her room.
Still, I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy every second of the walk there.
I thought maybe—just maybe—she'd at least show me around the house, let me take in more of that rich-kid luxury. But no, I couldn't afford to look like some wide-eyed fool right now.
Not here. Not in front of her.
We got to her room, and she quietly closed the door behind us. The soft click echoed louder than it should've, like it sealed us off from the world outside.
My eyes wandered—paintings, silk curtains, chandeliers, perfumes neatly arranged on a golden tray… every corner screamed elegance.
And I couldn't help but wonder—why would a girl like her, someone of this class, attend our average school?
She gestured for me to sit. On her bed.
I did, trying to play it cool, but the moment I sank in, my mind betrayed me.
'Damn, this thing's softer than any bed I've ever been on'
I leaned back slightly, pretending to relax—when in truth, my heart was already racing.
"Carl…"
Her voice was soft—dangerously soft. It pulled me out of my thoughts like a hook snagging my chest. When I looked up, she was there… standing just a breath away. Her face inched closer, her scent wrapping around me, her eyes glowing with that promise that made it impossible to look away.
My pulse quickened. My face burned. I could hear my heartbeat—loud, desperate, and stupidly nervous.
'Calm down, Carl'
We'd done this before… kind of. Back at my place. Though that time, it was an accident—or so I told myself. I'd teased her about kissing a boy, thinking I was being clever. But before I could blink, she'd closed the distance and pressed her lips against mine—soft, fleeting, unforgettable.
But this moment felt different. There was passion now. Intent. Something in her eyes that screamed she meant it.
I wanted to move, to say something—anything—but then…
The next words that left her lips shattered my entire world.
"We… wouldn't be seeing each other again," Jenny said softly. Her voice—fragile, trembling, and heavy with sadness—hit harder than any punch I'd ever taken.
My throat tightened. My heart stilled.
Before I could even form the question why?, she spoke again—faster, as if afraid her courage would fade.
"I'll be traveling out of the country tomorrow. Dad wants me to take over his company, so… he's taking me along to show me the ropes."
Each word sank deep, burning into me.
"So I decided to show you my house… so we could have one last time together."
Then she leaned in. Her lips met mine—soft, warm, desperate. The world around us melted away. I pulled her close, arms wrapping around her as if I could stop time itself.
We stayed like that—locked in each other's arms, hearts racing, breaths mingling—until time itself became a blur.
***
At school the next day, the teacher announced that Jenny had left—"due to family reasons," he said.
Just like that… she was gone.
I didn't understand it at first. The emptiness, the dull ache in my chest. Me? Feeling sad? I was the guy who could get any girl I wanted, dump her the next week, and move on like nothing happened. But Jenny… she was different.
My first real story. My first heartbreak.
I guess not every chapter ends the way you want.
So, to fill the void, I drowned myself in games. Endless quests, flashy victories, virtual girls who couldn't leave. And somehow, it worked. The ache faded, and the old Carl—the charming playboy—was back.
When I turned eighteen, I got accepted into the most prestigious tech university in the country: Helios Institute of Technology.
A place crawling with brilliant minds… and even more brilliant women.
The moment I stepped through those gates, I could already feel eyes on me—curious, intrigued. My charm had begun its work once again.
That's when I met him—Dominic "Dom" Sanchez.
Dom was… something else. A walking paradox. The kind of guy you couldn't read no matter how hard you tried.
No interest in games. No interest in women. No interest in anything that usually keeps a guy breathing.
He was what I'd call one of a kind.
We were polar opposites in every possible way—me, the smooth-talking socialite; him, the quiet genius lost in his own world. And yet… somehow, we clicked.
Maybe it was the mystery around him, or maybe it was just how genuine he seemed. Whatever it was, I couldn't help but be drawn to him.
Dom wasn't like me, and that alone made him fascinating.
The way Dom behaved was unlike any guy I'd ever met.
He had everything—the looks, the brains, even the money. The kind of combo that could make any girl swoon. And yet, he didn't care.
Even the prettiest girl in our class threw herself at him, but Dom? He just brushed it off like it meant nothing. No games. No flirting. No interest.
It was like he lived in his own little world, one made entirely of circuits and code. Technology was his drug, his heartbeat, his entire existence.
When I first found out he'd be my roommate, I didn't think much of it.
'Just another quiet type,' I thought.
But getting to know Dom…
Yeah, that changed everything.
Changed me.
For good.
I didn't even realize when my grades started going up — but I liked it. Guess the 'DOMino effect' really hit me harder than I thought.
Being around him just… rubbed off on me. His focus, his drive, that calm confidence that made you want to do better without him ever saying a word.
So, in return, I figured I'd do him a favor — help him get a girl.
Yeah… bad idea.
No matter how much I tried, Dom repelled them all like a positive magnet meeting another positive. The more they came close, the further he pushed them away.
That guy was impossible — but somehow, that only made him more interesting.
Even the prettiest girl in our class liked him, but he didn't seem interested at all. Not even a glance.
'Well, he's a hard nut to crack', I thought, smirking as I made my way back to the pod room for another try.
'Hopefully, they've released it,' I muttered under my breath, sliding into the pod. The cold hum of the machine wrapped around me like a familiar blanket.
Then something strange happened — the DNA scanning process skipped itself.
"What the—?" I blinked, but before I could question it, the pod's interface flickered to life.
[Welcome to DREAMZ, Player: CARL BROWN]
My heart skipped.' It worked!'
[Please select your
I wanted to scream — to yell in triumph — but I remembered the pod's sleep-inducing agent would knock me out if I got too excited.
'I would've loved to tell Dom about this', I thought with a grin, 'but I'm afraid he'll just have to wait'
I went through the selection process and then came the final message...
The one that made my pulse race.
[Thank you for selecting your
[We wish you a wonderful experience in DREAMZ — the world of limitless possibilities.]
And just like that… everything faded to white.