The next day...
I think I’m actually going to be sick.
The caption was "Building a future worth having, while saving my heart for the only one who deserves the wait. 🕊️✨"
Just saw it
It's nice
The "young professional" look is working for her
Is that all you have to say? "Nice"?
It’s a clean shot, Serena
Look at the caption, Gabriel.
Don't just look at how well the dress fits her.
"The one who deserves the wait."
Yeah, I see it
She’s acting like she’s a prize at the end of a corporate maze. It’s so performative it hurts.
It’s the Virgin-Executive aesthetic
It’s a goldmine for the algorithm
It’s manipulative. She’s selling fantasies to losers and calling it virtue.
Is it?
She’s posing in a dress that probably costs more than she makes in a month and pretending she’s some untouchable moral standard
It’s a smart business move
It’s a fraud.
She’s dangling the "virtuous professional" carrot in front of every desperate guy on campus just to keep her engagement up.
I don't know, Serena
I just checked the live post
She hit 50k likes in under an hour
Because the internet is populated by men with savior complexes and a fetish for "modesty."
Maybe
But you have to admit, her "approachable" brand is polling better than your "perfection" right now
My brand isn't "approachable" because I actually have standards.
People like a girl they think they can "win" over a cup of coffee
You just make them feel like they’ve already lost before they even try
Excuse me?
I’m just being honest
Chloe is the campus sweetheart
You’re the campus boss
I’d rather be the boss.
Sure, but one is a lot easier for the peasants to love
Chloe makes them feel like they actually have a chance if they play by her rules
I don't need to bait the masses with a modest dress and a quote about "waiting" to get a seat at the table.
You don't have to
But she’s richer in social currency than both of us combined right now
Social currency is for people who have nothing else to offer. She’s a fake.
Everyone is falling for the "purity" act, Serena
It’s an insult to your intelligence, I get it
It's an insult to anyone with a functioning brain.
You sound genuinely bothered
Is the Ice Queen feeling a little overshadowed by the girl in the pencil skirt?
Overshadowed? By her?
Please.
The girl next door is taking your spotlight
It’s okay to admit it stings
I’m not overshadowed, I’m disgusted.
There’s a very clear distinction.
If you say so
But 50k people are currently disagreeing with your "disgust"
Surprise, surprise, they’re as shallow as she is.
I’m putting my phone down.
Don't be like that
Should I check in with you later tonight?
No. I have things to look into.
Planning a deep dive into her follower count?
If she’s going to play the saint, I want to see what’s actually behind the curtain. Nobody is that clean.
Good luck with the investigation
Don't get too jealous
I’m not jealous.
I’m a predator, Gabriel. And I just found something worth hunting.
After that, Serena’s growing obsession with Chloe starts to rub off on Gabriel, but he needs more than just Instagram reels to build a strategy. Two days later, he turns to Riley.
be real with me
what's the actual tea on Chloe?
i need the unfiltered version
why the sudden interest?? lol
don't tell me u were one of the 50k who liked that post
i thought you were above the hype
i'm just curious
the whole "waiting for the one" thing feels like a total scam to drive up engagement
nobody is actually that wholesome in 2026
it's giving industry plant or something
nah
she’s actually... nice
like, for real
i've seen her around enough to know it's not a bit
everyone is "nice" when the camera is on, Ry
that's influencer101
you put on the halo, you get brand deals
it's simple
i'm not talking about a reel though
i saw her helping a freshman find the registrar's office yesterday
they looked like they were about to cry
and everyone else was just walking past them like they were invisible
she spent like 10 mins making sure they knew where to go
maybe she saw someone watching?
or maybe she's just playing the long game for the kindness aesthetic
you are getting as cynical as serena istg
did you even listen to that podcast interview she did last week?
the one with the modern muse?
i have better things to do than listen to influencers talk about their "journey" while they sell hair vitamins
well, you should’ve
she sounded sad, gabe
like, genuinely
not the fake 'i'm so overwhelmed' vibe either
let me guess
she cried about the "burden" of being beautiful and pure
i can almost hear the tiny violin from here
no
she said she feels like everyone has a price on her head
like people don't even see her as a person anymore, just a challenge or a trophy to be won
she said it feels like she's a prize at a carnival and everyone is just waiting for their turn to throw the ball
😆
that's a great line
might use that one myself sometime
it's perfect for the "misunderstood" persona
i don't think it was a line, man
she sounded lonely af
like she's surrounded by 50k followers but has zero people she can actually trust
everyone has a price, Ry
she just sets hers higher than the average girl on this campus
she's holding out for the highest bidder and calling it "virtue"
you really don't believe in people anymore, do you?
it’s like you think everyone has a hidden motive
i believe in incentives
she's playing a very smart game, i'll give her that
the vulnerability is just another layer of the marketing
the "lonely girl" act just makes the "hero" types try harder
whatever 🙄
i’m just telling you what i saw
she’s not the villain u and serena want her to be
she’s just a girl trying to stay sane while everyone expects her to be a saint
we don't want her to be a villain lol
we just want her to be real
and "real" is never that clean
people always break when you find the right pressure point
just be careful
trying to find the "real" her might just show you how much of yourself you've actually lost
i'll take my chances
i like a good scavenger hunt
catch you later
gl with that
don't say i didn't warn you when you realize she's actually a human being
While Gabriel digs for dirt on Chloe, Serena’s frustration with the "pure and virtuous" starts to bleed into her academic life. By Friday, she’s found a new hypocrite to obsess over, realizing that Chloe isn't the only one on campus hiding behind a mask of moral superiority.
I am currently calculating the terminal velocity required to end my suffering if I were to jump from this balcony.
That dramatic?
I thought you liked Ethics
It’s usually your favorite place to dismantle finance majors
The subject matter is fine. The delivery mechanism is the problem.
Professor Evans is currently 45 minutes into a sermon on the "Sanctity of Trust".
The Campus Saint strikes again
It’s offensive.
He’s using that soft, paternal voice. The one that makes him sound like he’s dispensing wisdom from the mountaintop instead of reading off a teleprompter.
To be fair, the "Family Man" brand works
I saw him on the quad yesterday with the wife and kids
Even the dog looked like it was under contract to appear wholesome
It’s too curated. Nobody builds a fence that high unless they’re trying to hide something in the backyard.
Or keep the wolves out.
You’re in a mood today
I’m not in a mood. I’m observant.
And I just found the crack in the armor.
Oh?
Do tell
He’s not looking at his notes.
A student is presenting at the front—some nervous sophomore discussing Enron.
And?
Is he critiquing their data?
He hasn't looked at her data once.
He’s not looking at her face either.
He’s staring at her legs.
You’re sure?
Direct line of sight.
It’s not a glance, Gabriel.
He shifts his weight every time she moves. He’s undressing her with his eyes while preaching about "professional boundaries".
Maybe he just zoned out
It happens
He didn't. It’s a hungry look.
He’s repressed.
He’s spent 20 years being the "Good Man" and he is absolutely starving.
So he’s a hypocrite
That’s hardly the crime of the century
It is when you sell yourself as a Saint.
He thinks he’s untouchable. He thinks his "morality" is a shield.
It insults me.
And you think he’s... what?
Waiting to fall?
I think he’s a house of cards waiting for a breeze.
He’s one bad day away from blowing up his entire life. He just needs an excuse.
You’re projecting, Serena
You’re bored, so you want to see chaos in a place where there isn't any
I’m never wrong about people.
He’s weak. He just hasn't been tested yet.
Prove it
Excuse me?
You heard me
If he’s such a fragile hypocrite, knock him over
Stop analyzing from the back row and test the theory
Please.
He’s a mid-tier academic in a cheap suit. He’s hardly worth the caloric expenditure.
Sounds like an excuse to me
It’s called standards, Gabriel.
I don't break toys just because they’re sitting on the shelf. It’s beneath me.
If you say so
I think you just like the sound of your own cynicism
I’m just stating facts. The man is a walking time bomb.
Whether he explodes is entirely up to fate, not me.
Fate... Right
Well, let me know if "Fate" decides to intervene
I’m leaving early.
My tolerance for hypocrisy has reached its daily limit.
I’m at the coffee shop across the street
Window seat
Then I’ll take the side exit. I wouldn't want to ruin your view.
See you in the dark
The tension between them peaks the next night. The petty observations about Chloe’s followers and the Professor’s wandering eyes aren't enough anymore... They need skin in the game.
I’m still thinking about what you said.
About fate?
About standards.
You think I’m making excuses because I don't want to engage.
You think I’m passive.
I think you like to critique the game more than you like to play it
It’s safer in the commentary box
I’m not interested in safety. I’m interested in difficulty.
And I’ve realized something.
Which is?
The reason we’re bored is that the stakes are non-existent.
We’re playing with pennies.
And you want to bet dollars
I want to bet blood.
I’m listening
A race. Two tracks, two targets.
We run them simultaneously.
The "Virgin" and the "Saint"?
Exactly.
So what’s the win condition?
Total collapse.
Elaborate
For you, it’s Chloe. She’s selling this "waiting for the one" narrative. She’s built an entire economy on her virtue.
Your job is to bankrupt her.
You want me to sleep with her
I want you to break the fantasy.
Get her into bed, make her violate her own "brand," and prove that her principles were just a pricing strategy.
Easy enough
And you?
I take Professor Evans.
The man who thinks his marriage is a fortress. I’m going to siege it.
You’re going to get him to cheat
That’s the entry point.
I’ll start with seduction.
I’ll become the "intellectual equal" he thinks he’s been missing.
I’ll make him cross the line.
And then?
Then I burn it down.
The goal is total implosion. I want his wife to leave, his reputation stained, and that picket fence reduced to ash.
Whether it happens through a confession, a scandal, or me leaving evidence on his collar—I don't care about the method.
I just want the destruction.
"By any means necessary," huh?
You’re actually going to ruin a family just to prove a point?
You wanted me to prove he was corruptible.
I’m going to prove he’s combustible.
Breaking a vow is harder than breaking a "promise ring"
That’s why I’m taking him. I need the handicap.
So it’s a test of manipulation
Can I break a heart before you break a marriage?
Precisely.
And what are we playing for?
Bragging rights won't cut it this time
If I win... I want the Porsche.
My 911?
You’re out of your mind
Scared?
That car is worth more than your tuition
Then don't lose.
Fine
But if I win?
Name it.
You tank your GPA
Excuse me?
You fail your finals intentionally
You take yourself off the Dean's List for the year
That’s academic suicide. Being top of the class is my leverage.
And the Porsche is my leverage
You want my status symbol?
You bet yours
You want me to be average.
I want to see if you can handle being a failure
If you lose, you destroy your own pedestal
You’re sick.
I’m bored
Take the bet or fold
Deal.
You’re actually agreeing to that?
I’m agreeing because I’m not going to lose.
Evans is already cracking. He just doesn't know it yet.
And Chloe is already looking for a reason to sin
She just needs the right devil
The race starts tomorrow. First one to destroy their target wins.
May the best monster win
I intend to.
Now come over.
Seriously? It’s 2 AM
I’m wired. I need to burn off the adrenaline or I won't sleep.
I have sprints in four hours, Serena
I’m not driving across campus just to get you off and leave
I didn't say anything about leaving immediately.
I’m beat
Take a cold shower or something
We can celebrate when the game actually starts
You know you love seeing me look at you like this.
You really know how to manipulate me to what you want me to do
Fuck
Unlock the door
I’m leaving now
By Sunday afternoon, with their most prized possessions on the line, Gabriel and Serena split up to move their first pieces on the board, ready to see whose "prey" falls first.
Status report.
Currently stationed on the north bench of the Quad
Visibility is optimal
I’m watching things function as usual
Any sign of the target?
Not yet
Just a sea of hoodies and desperation
Where are you?
Second floor of the Humanities building.
I’m currently standing about 20 feet from Professor Evans’ office door.
Is he in?
The door is ajar. I can see him through the crack. He’s grading papers.
He looks exhausted, Gabriel. Slumped shoulders, rubbing his temples. He looks like a man carrying the weight of the world on a mid-range salary.
A tired man is a vulnerable man
Exactly.
He’s craving relief. He just doesn't know what form it takes yet.
And you’re the relief?
I’m the temptation that looks like relief.
I’m wearing the red silk blouse. Top button undone.
Just enough to be unprofessional, but not enough to be obvious.
The red one?
That’s aggressive for a first move
I chose red for the psychology of it.
It triggers excitement and danger. It cuts through the beige of his academic life.
Besides, subtlety is for people who have all semester. I have a wager to win.
You’ve really thought this through
I always do.
I have a copy of his dissertation in my bag. I’m going to go in there and ask him about his theories on "Ethical Relativism in Crisis Management".
You’re going to bore him into an affair?
I’m going to flatter him.
I’m going to make him feel like I’m the only person on this campus who actually understands his genius.
His wife probably asks him about taking out the trash. I’m going to ask him about his legacy.
The "Intellectual Soulmate" angle, huh
Deadly
It’s the wedge, Gabriel.
Once he feels understood by me, he’ll start feeling isolated by her. That’s when the marriage cracks.
Remind me never to let you meet my future wife
If she’s boring, I’ll destroy her for free.
Hold on
Movement at 12 o'clock
Target acquired?
Chloe just walked onto the Quad
She’s coming from the bookstore
Is she glowing with virtue?
She’s struggling
Carrying three massive boxes
Looks like charity drive materials
"Coats for Kids" or something equally nauseating
Of course she is.
She probably timed it so the maximum number of people would see her "struggling" and think she’s a saint.
It’s working
She just dropped one
Books and flyers everywhere
She looks absolutely helpless
And nobody is helping her?
People are looking, but nobody is stopping
It’s the bystander effect
She’s on her knees gathering papers, looking like she’s about to cry
It’s perfect.
It is
It’s a textbook opening
Initiating protocol?
Initiating "White Knight" protocol
Be charming. But not too charming.
She’s skittish.
I know how to play the hero, Serena
I’ll use the "I was just passing by and couldn't leave you like this" line
It works on the "nice" ones every time
Validates their belief that the world is secretly good
Make her feel special.
Make her feel like you’re the only guy on campus who isn't trying to get in her pants...
Which will be exactly how you get in her pants.
And you?
I’m going in. I’ll have him questioning his vows by 3:00 PM.
If I do this right, he’ll be thinking about the red blouse all through dinner with his wife.
Don't get overconfident
Evans is stubborn
He’s a man. They’re all the same.
He’s just waiting for permission to be bad.
We’ll see who breaks first.
I’m moving in
Phone is going off
Same here.
Hand on the doorknob.
See you in hell
Save me a seat.