That day felt longer than usual for Nic. He had just finished "playing" basketball at school, although in reality, he spent most of the time being ridiculed. Not because he wanted to join, but because the extracurricular club was mandatory. Every step he took on the court felt heavy, and the sweat on his forehead wasn't just from exercise—it was the weight of pressure and humiliation.
The only thing keeping him going? One name—Vivi.
Vivi, the most popular girl in school. Tall, pretty, athletic, and her smile? Her smile was the reason every guy dragged himself to the basketball court every afternoon, even if just to watch from the sidelines. But for Nic, Vivi wasn't just a school idol. She was someone he'd secretly admired since the beginning of the semester. Someone who made his heart race with just a brief glance from afar.
Sadly, Vivi probably didn't even know his name.
"Nic, you're useless! If you're not even trying, just sit out!"
One of his classmates, Jack, shouted while throwing a basketball at Nic. The ball missed, but the wave of laughter that followed hurt worse than a direct hit to the face.
Nic looked down, clutching the frayed laces of his worn-out shoes. "I'm only here... because it's mandatory," he muttered quietly, not that anyone was listening.
When the long whistle blew for a break, the coach walked over—a broad-shouldered man holding a deflating ball.
"Hey, you in the corner. Go grab a spare ball from the old storage room. This one's useless. Be quick, alright?"
He didn't wait for an answer.
Nic sighed. This wasn't the first time he was sent off to do errands like this. Somehow, he was always the go-to guy for the lame jobs. Refusing wasn't even an option.
The old storage room was tucked behind the school, hidden behind an overgrown garden. Its wooden door was warped and creaky, groaning like a ghost when opened. Dust floated through the shafts of sunlight piercing the cracked window. The air was thick with mildew and rust.
Nic stepped inside carefully, brushing aside cobwebs and navigating between rusty metal racks stacked with deflated balls and outdated equipment. But then—something caught his eye.
A sleek black phone sat on a low wooden shelf, too pristine for this dusty graveyard of sports gear. It looked... out of place, like it had been intentionally placed there.
"What the...? Why is there a phone here?" Nic frowned. Hesitantly, he reached for it. Curiosity overpowered caution.
The screen lit up the moment his fingers touched it. No buttons. No apps. Just a single message filling the screen:
"Welcome to the Heart-Capturing System. Want to make someone fall in love? Confess your feelings, and the system will make her love you back."
Nic froze. "What is this? Some kind of prank? A weird love app?" he thought. He glanced around, half-expecting a hidden camera. Maybe Jack and his gang were pulling something.
But… a tiny spark inside him—the part that still believed in miracles—started whispering, What if it's real?
What if... it could change everything?
He slipped the phone into his pocket and headed back to the court.
The scene hadn't changed. Students were still chatting, drinking from water bottles. Teachers passed by, not paying him any mind.
But Nic had made a decision.
He wanted to know—was this just a joke? Or was it something more?
He stepped into the center of the court, heart pounding.
"Vivi!"
The entire place went quiet.
Vivi turned, blinking in confusion. "Yeah?"
Nic stared straight into her eyes. This was it.
"I... I like you! So, would you be my girlfriend?"
One second. Two seconds. Silence.
Then—laughter.
"HAHAHA! Nic? That loser just confessed to Vivi?!" Jack doubled over laughing, and others joined in. A few stared in awkward silence, some actually looked sympathetic.
Vivi didn't say anything. She stared at Nic for a moment, then quietly turned around and walked away.
No reply. No rejection. Just silence.
Nic stood frozen as laughter echoed around him like thunder. A couple of students threw basketballs in his direction.
"Here! A love ball for Vivi! Haha!"
Nic stormed out of the court, unable to handle the humiliation.
He ran until he reached the back staircase of the school and collapsed, hugging his knees. His hand gripped the black phone tightly.
"Lies... It's all lies," he whispered. "Nothing changed. I'm still a loser."
Footsteps approached. A tall guy in a basketball jersey passed by, drinking from a bottle.
"Oh hey, there you are," he said smugly. "Finally realized how pathetic you are, huh? Should've known better than to aim that high."
Nic didn't respond. Just kept his head down as the guy walked away, laughing.
Eventually, Nic stood and brushed off his uniform pants. He wandered the halls quietly, avoiding eye contact. Whispers followed him like shadows.
"That's him. The one who confessed to Vivi."
"No way. Out in public like that? Hilarious."
When he got to class, Jack stood up and announced, "Make way for our king of rejection!"
Laughter.
Nic said nothing. He just sat down and stared at his desk.
For the rest of the class, he didn't say a word.
When the final bell rang, he left quickly. The sky had turned orange. The wind brushed against his face as he walked toward a small bridge over a shallow stream.
He stood there, watching the water flow, reflecting the fading sunlight.
"Why did I even believe in this..." he muttered. "This phone... it's just another cruel joke."
He raised the phone, preparing to throw it into the water—end the humiliation, erase the false hope.
But before he could—
The screen lit up.
"Initiating process. Vivi will fall in love with you in 12 hours."
Nic froze.
"What... does that mean?"
He didn't know what he had just gotten himself into. But one thing was certain:
His life would never be the same again.
To be continued...