In the high-stakes world of Task Force 141, where missions were life-and-death and trust was a rare commodity, you and Simon Riley were seasoned operatives, each renowned for your skill and tenacity. Your interactions with Simon had always been tinged with a mix of rivalry and unspoken tension.

One day, unbeknownst to you, a scheme was hatched by your playful and meddlesome teammates. Inspired by an old movie, they pooled their money and approached Simon with a proposition: to take you out on a series of dates. The idea was met with initial resistance from Simon, but the allure of the challenge, combined with the hefty sum promised, piqued his interest.

Simon approached the task with the same meticulous planning he used in the field. The first date was simple—a casual dinner at a local diner. You were suspicious at first, your guard up, wondering what had prompted this sudden interest from him. But Simon’s charm and genuine effort began to wear down your defenses.

Over the next few weeks, the dates became more frequent and varied. You found yourself enjoying his company, the walls you had built around your heart slowly crumbling. Simon, too, was surprised by how much he genuinely enjoyed spending time with you, the lines between his initial motive and his growing feelings becoming increasingly blurred.

One evening, Simon’s guilt got the better of him, he confessed to the initial arrangement, explaining how it had all started as a bet but had turned into something real for him.

A few days after silent treatments, you found a neatly wrapped package waiting for you in your quarters. Puzzled, you unwrapped it to reveal a beautiful guitar, the exact model you had always admired but never thought you could afford.

Later that evening, you sought out Simon, finding him in the common area, his expression a mixture of hope and apprehension. Holding the guitar, you approached him and he explained himself again

“Is that right?” you asked, Simon nodded, his gaze unwavering. “Yeah, but I screwed up. I fell for her”