Fulfilling Roman’s Desire

7 years ago College life, to me, was a stage—a platform for mee to perform, to stand out. I, wasn’t the richest, but i was undoubtedly the most popular in my circle. The preps, as we, liked to call ourselves, ran the campus in our own right. It was a world where money, looks, and status mattered, but above all, it was about power—the kind that came from being seen, being admired, being talked about. I, had learned that power early on. And I learned it well. I wasn’t one to get tangled in serious relationships. Ever!. I mean, why live a boring life?. When there is a lot to enjoy out there. No, my relationships were strategic, carefully curated for status and glamour, not for feelings or connection. Dates with handsome boys were part of the game—a game where winning meant being on the arm of someone impressive, and losing was simply never an option. I had my fair share of boyfriends, none of them lasting more than a few weeks, because none of them were ever worth keeping. They were just tools for validation, and when they no longer served their purpose, i moved on. Like the snap of my finger. But there was something about Roman that caught my eye—a certain allure in his quiet intelligence. It was the way he walked across campus, his head always buried in a book, his eyes too busy focusing on the future to care about the shallow world of college socialites. He looked so innocent, pure… but I knew, that’s what he wanted people to believe. Roman wasn’t the type who would typically fit into my world. He didn’t wear designer brands or hang out in the flashy spots where the preps gathered. He was a nerd, a brilliant one, from the engineering department—someone whose world revolved around equations, theories, and technology, not parties, popularity, or appearances. And damn, He was freakingly handsome. And that, in my mind, was exactly why he was going to be her next conquest. You might be curious on how, I managed to spot this new experiment. Well… It all started one bright, breezy afternoon, I and my friends, were outside the schools courtyard, eating lunch, when Roman passed by i and my friends. Well, that was the first time, I had seen someone as beautiful as he looked. Roman, with his disheveled hair and a slightly awkward gait, walked past us, unaware of the gaze i was giving him. I never knew a hot nerd attended NYU. Never had my eyes followed a person until they were gone from my sight, but Roman was different. My eyes, followed him, until I saw him disappear, entering the library. Typical nerd. A small, knowing smile tugged at my lips. This was it. I wanted him. I turned to my friends, my voice low but filled with mischief. “Did you see him?” I asked, glancing at her friends—Esther, Mabel, and River—who were sitting beside her. “That’s my new A-game right there.” Esther raised an eyebrow, her lips quirking into a skeptical smile. “Him? Roman? The guy who spends more time with books than with people?” “ So, that’s his name, huh?”. I smiled, biting my lower lip. His name sounded so different as it rolled off my tongue. “Yeah, that’s his name. And it seems like you’ve got your eyes on him”. Mabel said, taking a fry, and eating it. “Exactly,” i said, a spark of amusement in my eyes. “I’m going to make him fall in love with me. I’ll date him, maybe even steal his virginity, I mean, he looks like one, and then…” i trailed off, letting the implications hang in the air, enjoying the dramatic pause. Mabel rolled her eyes, but there was a mischievous glint in her gaze. “You really think you can make him fall for you? He’s not exactly the type who falls for the whole ‘popular girl’ act.” I smirked. “That’s the beauty of it. He won’t know what hit him. Besides, it’s not like I haven’t done this before. They all act all tough, but I know, how to break down their walls. I mean, I’m hot, aren’t I?.”. I said, with a hair flip. “ I just need to make him feel like he’s the only guy in the world. Like, he’s important, you know?. Once he’s hooked, I’ll break his heart. I’ll leave him begging, just like all the others.” River , who had been quiet up until now, chuckled softly. “That sounds like a pretty cruel game, Lay. You sure you want to mess with him?” I rolled my eyes. I turned to River, my eyes glinting with a mixture of challenge and excitement. “Oh, come on, River. You know how this works. I’ll have him wrapped around my finger in no time. And besides, it’s not like it’ll be anything serious. It’s just for fun.” Esther laughed, shaking her head. “You’re something else, Layla. Always on the lookout for the next challenge, huh?” Layla’s smile widened. “That’s exactly it. It’s a game, and I always play to win.” My friends exchanged glances, each of them aware of how I operated. I ever backed down from a challenge. I mean, with the way society runs it’s s**t, men are always toying with the hearts of ladies, every now and then, it won’t hurt, to have a lady play their games, every once in a while. “You’re really going to hurt him, though, right?” River asked, his tone soft but steady, I could sense the concern in his voice, and it really irked me. “I won’t hurt him more than he needs to be hurt. But trust me, River, when I’m done with him, he’ll be the one left wanting more.” I said, smiling mischievously. And with that, the conversation moved on, but i couldn’t help but think about Roman. I had always played by the rules of attraction and manipulation, but with him? I had to play a different kind of game, one where i would be the one in control from the very beginning. It would be easy, she told herself. A little charm, a little attention, and Roman would be hers. After all, i had never lost a game before.