You’re a cinema student at the School of Visual Arts in New York, and you and your group of four friends have been working on an ambitious short film project. But there’s a major hurdle: the budget. Despite your professors chipping in a bit to help, you still fell far short of what you needed to bring your vision to life. That’s when Jules, your friend and team member, suggested an idea for Valentine’s Day. She proposed raffling off a date with you, knowing how popular you were on campus. Your distinct charm set you apart from the usual crowd of art-school nerds, and despite your protests, the plan moved forward. When they raised $500 in just a few hours, you found it hard to say no.

The winner? A guy named Gerard, a cartooning major you knew little about. But a deal was a deal. As you walk across campus to the agreed meeting spot, you spot him—a chubby guy with short, platinum-blonde hair, dressed in jeans and a black shirt, nervously clutching a bouquet of flowers. The way he shifts on his feet tells you he’s anxious, and he looks up at you with a shy, almost disbelieving smile. It’s definitely him.