Chapter 2 The A-Game

Then (7 years ago)

College life, to Layla, was a stage-a platform for her to perform, to stand out. She wasn't the richest, but she was undoubtedly the most popular in her circle. The preps, as they liked to call themselves, ran the campus in their 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. Leila had learned that power early on.

She wasn't one to get tangled in serious relationships. No, her 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. Layla had had her 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, she moved on.

But there was something about Roman that caught her 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. Roman wasn't the type who would typically fit into her 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 that, in Layla's mind, was exactly why he was going to be her next conquest.

It all started one bright, breezy afternoon, when Roman passed by Layla and her friends, heads held high, laughing and joking like they ruled the entire campus. Roman, with his disheveled hair and a slightly awkward gait, walked past them, unaware of the gaze Layla was giving him. Her eyes followed him until he disappeared into the library. A small, knowing smile tugged at her lips. This was it.

She turned to her friends, her voice low but filled with mischief.

"Do you see him?" Layla asked, glancing at her friends-Esther, Mabel, and River-who were walking 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?"

"Exactly," Layla said, a spark of amusement in her eyes. "I'm going to make him fall in love with me. I'll date him, maybe even steal his virginity, if rumors are true, and then..." She 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."

Layla 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. I just need to make him feel like he's the only guy in the world. 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, Leila. You sure you want to mess with him?"

Layla turned to River, her 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."

Her friends exchanged glances, each of them aware of how Layla operated, but it was River who spoke up again, his voice tinged with a note of concern.

"You're really going to hurt him, though, right?" he asked, his tone soft but steady.

Layla paused, her smile fading for a moment before she looked at him with a cold resolve. "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."

And with that, the conversation moved on, but Layla couldn't help but think about Roman. She had always played by the rules of attraction and manipulation, but with him? She would play a different kind of game, one where she 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, she had never lost a game before.