I almost jumped out of my skin. Marco was standing in front of me, eyes wide behind his glasses.
"What are you doing here?" he asked. "Don't you have class?"
"It was canceled. The professor is sick." He sat down next to me. "But more importantly: I SAW YOU. I was walking down the hall and I saw you coming out of your class with that look on your face."
"What look?"
"That 'I just conquered the world' look." Marco nudged me with his elbow. "You did it, didn't you? You got the number?"
I couldn't help a wider smile. "I got it."
"I KNEW IT!" Marco grabbed me by the shoulders, shaking me. "BRO! I'm so proud! My little Gino is growing up!"
"Calm down, you're making a scene."
Some students looked at us as they walked by.
Marco let go of me but was still grinning like an idiot. "Tell me. I want details. How did you do it? What did you say? How did she react?"
I told him everything. The wait after class. The words I used. Her smile. The "I was wondering when you'd ask."
"Wait, wait," Marco interrupted me. "She KNEW you were going to ask? And she was going to give it to you anyway?"
"Apparently."
"Brother." Marco leaned back on the bench, shaking his head. "She was already interested. All this time you were worrying about nothing."
"It wasn't nothing. It was—"
"Yeah, yeah, it was terrifying, I know." Annoying Marco. "But you did it. That's what matters."
He was right. I had done it.
[The System vibrates again]
[Rest period: 48 hours] [Enjoy your victory] [Get to know Sophie better] [But don't relax too much…]
[Because the next mission] [will be MUCH harder.]
The next two days were… different.
Good different.
Sophie and I texted regularly. Not constantly, not desperately. But there was a natural flow to the conversation.
Casual good mornings. Complaints about assignments. Occasional memes. Small observations about class.
It was… normal. And that was incredible.
In class, we sat in our usual seats but exchanged more glances. Small smiles. Mutual acknowledgment.
Professor Romano had noticed, obviously. Once she caught me looking at Sophie and shot me a look that clearly said "pay attention." But there was a hint of amusement in her eyes.
The physical changes continued as well.
On Friday morning, Marco stopped me as I was leaving the bathroom.
"Okay, I need to ask you something."
What?
"Are you… doing something different? Like, a new skincare routine or something?"
Why?
"Because your face looks different. Better. The acne you had is almost gone."
I touched my cheek instinctively. He was right. I could feel the difference.
"I guess I'm… sleeping better. Less stress."
"Mmm." Marco didn't look completely convinced, but he let it go. "Well, whatever you're doing, keep it up. You look good, brother."
[Physical changes: 42% completed] [Attractiveness: 34/200] [Others are noticing the transformation] [Keep it up]
Friday night, I was at my desk pretending to study when my phone vibrated.
Sophie: "Hey, random question"
Gino: "Shoot"
Sophie: "There's a French cinema screening at the Arclight this Sunday. Truffaut films"
My heart sped up.
Sophie: "I don't usually find people who like French cinema"
Sophie: "Would you like to go?"
I stared at the message, rereading it three times to make sure it was real.
Was Sophie asking me out?
[INTERESTING…] [She took the initiative] [This could be…]
Before I could reply, my phone vibrated violently.
But it wasn't another message from Sophie.
It was the System.
[ALERT] [NEW FORCED MISSION] [IMMEDIATE ACTIVATION]
[MISSION #003] [RANK: D] (DIFFICULTY SPIKE) [TITLE: "The First Date"]
[OBJECTIVE:] Sophie has invited you out. Accept the invitation. Turn this into a REAL date. Minimum duration: 2 hours. Must end with minimum physical contact: HUG.
[WARNING:] [This is not a casual friends outing] [You must establish romantic intent] [You must prove you are not in the "friend zone"]
[ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:]
[- Pay for the tickets]
[- Suggest dinner afterward]
[- Create a romantic moment]
[- Appropriate physical contact]
[- DO NOT act like "just a friend"]
[REWARD IF COMPLETED:]
├─ +10 Physical Attractiveness
├─ +15 Charisma
├─ +20 Confidence
├─ +50 Sin Points
├─ Skill: "Advanced Body Language"
├─ Skill: "Romantic Timing"
└─ Relationship with Sophie: ROMANTIC LEVEL
[PENALTY IF FAILED:]
├─ -20 Physical Attractiveness
├─ -30 Confidence
├─ Sophie sees you as "just a friend" (PERMANENT)
├─ Massive embarrassment
└─ PUNISHMENT MISSION: "Public Humiliation"
[TIME LIMIT: The date is in 2 days]
[No extended preparation time]
[Either you do it right]
[Or you lose Sophie forever]
[Do you accept?]
"Shit," I whispered.
Marco looked up from his computer. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah… it's just that…"
My phone vibrated again. Sophie.
Sophie: "You don't have to answer right now! I just thought I'd ask"
Sophie: "No pressure 😊"
I looked back and forth between her message and the System alert.
This was more than just going to the movies.
This was my first real date.
And if I screwed it up, according to the System, I could lose Sophie completely.
[Tic tac] [She's waiting for your answer] [What are you going to do, Gino?]
I took a deep breath.
There was no turning back now.
I typed my reply.
Gino: "I'd love to go. What time?"