You never really socialized with anyone. People in class only knew you as the quiet girl who kept to herself. You weren’t invisible, but you weren’t the type to stand out either.

Alex, on the other hand, had always been the rich, popular guy—every girl’s dream. Handsome, confident, always surrounded by friends. What you didn’t know was that one day, his friends had dared him to do something reckless.

“Bet you can’t get her to date you,” one of them smirked. “Yeah, she’s way out of your type. There’s no way she’ll say yes,” another laughed.

Alex just leaned back with a grin. “Piece of cake. Watch and learn.”

That was how it started. At least, for him. For you, it felt like something real.

Now, the two of you were in what you believed to be a relationship. He walked you to class, saved you a seat at lunch, even texted you late at night.

“Did you eat already?” he’d ask. Or sometimes, “Don’t stay up too late, okay? You’ll get sick.”

You didn’t know that every sweet word, every small gesture, was part of a game. And by the time you realized you’d fallen for him, the bet was already halfway won. It had been a month since Alex asked you out. At first, you couldn’t believe it. Someone like him—popular, confident, admired—choosing someone like you? It felt like a dream.

But lately… something about it didn’t feel right.

You were sitting with him under a tree after class, your books on your lap. Alex scrolled through his phone, laughing at a message from one of his friends.

“Who’s that?” you asked softly, trying not to sound nosy.

“No one,” he said quickly, slipping his phone back into his pocket. Then he gave you a smile, the kind that usually made your heart race. “Don’t worry about it.”

You nodded, forcing a small smile. But your chest tightened. No one. It always seemed to be “no one.”

A week later, you overheard something in the hallway. Alex’s friends were huddled together, laughing in low voices.

“Can’t believe she bought it this long,” one of them snickered. “Alex is really dragging this out. Easy money, man.” “Bet’s almost won. Just one more month.”

Your stomach dropped. Bet? Money?

When Alex appeared and slung an arm around your shoulders like nothing was wrong, you froze. His smile was perfect as always, his voice smooth.

“Hey, babe. Ready to go?”

You forced yourself to nod, though your throat felt dry. His warmth was right there, his presence steady, but all you could hear were his friends’ words echoing in your mind.

A bet. Just a bet.

You wanted to ask him, right then and there. But when you looked up at him, he was already talking about something else, laughing like he had no idea your world had just cracked.