Felicity's POV.
The moment I said it, I knew there was no going back. A competition. Between them. All three of them. I didn't even know why I did it. Maybe it was the pressure. Maybe it was the way they all looked at me like I was something to win, something to protect, something to love all at once. Or maybe… I just needed time. Time to breathe. Time to think. Time to understand my own heart.
But now? Now I have started something. And judging by the looks on their faces, it was about to get very real. I already knew who I loved. The man after my heart. Christopher. But still, what if there was more than I could see, and there was more that met the eye? I knew Noah and Chris didn't really agree to this. But Alex did. So easily. That felt like a red flag. I just wanted to test all of them, and somehow, Alex had already stepped right into my trap.
Chris leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, his eyes fixed on me like he was trying to figure out if I was serious.
"You can't be serious," he said.
"I am," I replied.
Alex let out a low laugh, shaking his head. "I like it. A fair game."
"This is not a game," Noah muttered, running a hand through his hair.
"Umm… I don't know. It is now," I said.
Silence fell over the table again, but this time it wasn't awkward. It felt different. Like something had shifted.
Chris leaned forward, his gaze sharp. "And what exactly does 'prove it' mean to you?"
I met his eyes. "It means consistency. Effort. Respect."
Alex smirked. "So… just be a decent human being?"
"Yes," I said flatly. "Try it."
Noah let out a quiet breath, still looking unsure. "And at the end of this… you'll choose?"
"At the Winter Ball," I said. "Yes."
Chris's jaw tightened, but there was something else in his eyes too. Determination.
"Fine," he said. "If that's what you want."
Alex grinned. "Game on."
Noah hesitated, then nodded. "Okay."
And just like that, it was settled. I had officially lost control of my life. Great. The walk back to my dorm was silent. No one spoke much. No teasing. No soft conversations. Just quiet tension sitting between us like a fourth person. Chris walked beside me, close but not touching. Alex was on my other side, hands in his pockets, whistling softly like he didn't have a care in the world. Noah walked just behind us, quieter than usual, like he was thinking too much. It was a lot.
"You're really doing this?" Chris asked quietly, his voice low enough that only I could hear.
"Yes."
"You're unbelievable."
"You'll survive."
He let out a short breath, almost like a laugh. "Oh, I will. I don't lose."
Alex leaned in slightly from the other side. "Careful, mate. Confidence like that usually comes before a fall."
Chris shot him a look. "Worry about yourself."
"I plan to."
I closed my eyes briefly. This was going to be exhausting.
By the time we reached my dorm, the energy had already started to spread. Of course it had. Penelope was waiting with popcorn and milkshakes. Of course she was. She stood near the entrance like a reporter waiting for breaking news, her eyes lighting up the moment she saw all of us together.
"Oh my gosh," she breathed. "Why do you all look like you just signed a contract with trouble?"
"Because she did," Chris muttered.
Penelope's head snapped toward me. "Felicity. What did you do?"
I gave her a small, innocent smile. "Nothing."
"Liar."
Alex chuckled. "She started a competition."
Penelope froze. Then she screamed.
"WHAT?!"
Students nearby turned to look. I immediately regretted everything.
"Keep your voice down!" I hissed.
"No, absolutely not!" she said, grabbing my arm. "Explain. Right now."
Noah looked like he wanted to disappear.
Chris looked as though he wanted to turn back the clock.
Alex? He looked entertained.
"I'll tell you later," I whispered quickly.
"You will tell me now."
"Later."
She narrowed her eyes. "You are unbelievable."
"I've been told."
She looked between the three of them, then back at me, her expression slowly turning into something dangerous.
"Oh… this is going to be fun."
"No," I said quickly. "No, it is not."
"It is," she said, already smiling. "It really, really is."
I groaned.
"Okay, you guys can go now. Except you, Penelope."
"Are you sure?" Noah asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah, I'm sure. Bye."
They all waved, and Chris leaned in first, pressing a quick kiss to my hand. Alex and Noah exchanged a look, then both turned and kissed my hand the same way, like some ridiculous mirror game. My cheeks burned, and I had no idea where to look.
Once they were gone, Penelope burst out laughing. I groaned and rolled my eyes, wishing I could melt into the floor.
By the afternoon, I was exhausted. Not in my body, but in my mind and heart. Everything felt heavier now. Every look, every word carried weight. I sat on my bed while Penelope stayed quiet in the chair by the table, and I stared at my phone. Three messages. One from each of them.
Chris:
> Don't overthink today. I've got this.
Alex:
> I hope you're ready to be impressed.
Noah:
> Take your time. No pressure. I meant what I said.
I stared at the screen for a long moment. Three different approaches. Three different hearts. And me? Still confused. Still unsure. Still caught in the middle of something I had started. I let out a slow breath and lie back on my bed, staring at the ceiling.
"A game of hearts," I whispered softly.
But it didn't feel like a game. It felt real. And that was the scary part.
>>>>>>>>>>
Christopher's POV.
A competition. She really did that. I leaned against the wall outside the dorm, staring at nothing.
"Prove it," I muttered under my breath.
Fine. If that's what she wanted, that's what she would get. I wasn't Alex with his easy charm. I wasn't Noah with his quiet patience. I was me. And I didn't do anything halfway. I pushed off the wall, jaw set.
"Winter Ball," I said quietly.
Plenty of time. Plenty of chances. And one thing I knew for sure? I wasn't losing her. Not without a fight.
>>>>>>>>>>
Penelope's POV.
I was waiting outside the dorm for Felicity, popcorn in one hand and a juice box in the other, my idea of a serious talk kit. When she finally arrived with three young men, and one of them was my brother, she looked slightly embarrassed and stressed, like the weight of the whole world was on her shoulders. They said their goodbyes and left. I pushed the door open and we went inside.
"So," I said, sipping my milkshake like it was fine champagne. "Tell me, if you had to pick… Alex or Noah or Chris?"
Felicity nearly spat out the milkshake I had just handed her. "Excuse me?!"
"Don't act like I'm asking you to solve world peace. It's a simple question." I leaned back in the chair, crossing my legs with dramatic elegance. "Three boys. All are ridiculously obsessed with you. All very good looking. Who would you choose?"
Felicity groaned and buried her face in a pillow. "Penelope…"
"Yes, darling?"
"This is not a game."
"Oh, it's absolutely a game." I leaned closer, lowering my voice to a dramatic whisper. "And you, my dear, are the prize."
She peeked up at me, her glare sharp. "I'm not a prize."
"Fine," I corrected, waving my straw in the air. "You're the heroine. They're the contestants. I'm the host. Welcome to Who Wants Felicity's Heart, the messiest reality show never aired on TV."
"Penelope, I'm going to kill you," she hissed, her cheeks turning pink.
Before she could argue again, her phone buzzed. She checked it, groaned, and jumped to her feet. "Library run. I need to grab some books before class."
I smirked. "Books… or boys?"
"Books!" she snapped, already heading for the door.
I followed anyway, almost skipping behind her. Because obviously, I wasn't about to miss the next episode.
The library doors creaked open as Felicity walked out carrying a tall stack of books. The books were so high she couldn't even see where she was going. Of course, that was the exact moment the strap of her bag decided to give up on life and suddenly broke and fell off her shoulder.
"Ugh, seriously?" she groaned, struggling to keep her balance, looking more like she was about to drop everything. Perfect timing.
"Need a hand?" a voice asked smoothly.
Alex showed up like a golden retriever in human form, catching two of the falling books easily. He gave that bright, warm smile of his. "Here, let me carry these."
But before Felicity could answer, another hand quickly reached in and took the top three books from Alex's arms.
"I've got it," Chris said firmly, his jaw tightening as he stared at Alex.
Alex's smile stayed, but it turned a little sharp. "Really? Because she hasn't even asked for help yet."
Chris didn't blink. "I don't need to wait. I already know she wants me to carry her books."
Noah stepped in between them. "A real gentleman asks first. You say, " May I carry your books. If she says yes, then you can. If she says no, you don't force it. You didn't even ask her, and you don't know what she wants yet." He looked at her and gave a small smile. "May I?"
I gasped dramatically. Oh wow. We're really doing this. This was actually happening.
Felicity almost dropped the rest of the books. "Excuse me? Since when? And Noah, thank you for helping. You're really a gentleman. Yes, please."
Noah gave a small nod, steady and calm as he took some of the books from her. "You're welcome."
"Oh please," Alex cut in, rolling his eyes.
"Since always," Chris said smoothly, already walking ahead with half the stack like it was nothing.
Alex moved to her other side, giving her a quick wink that nearly made me choke on my juice. "Don't worry, Felicity. I won't let him pressure you into choosing. You can always count on me."
Meanwhile, she was stuck between them, red as a tomato, juggling what was left of the books while students passing by watched like it was a show.
Chris strode ahead calmly, holding half the pile like it weighed nothing, giving her a confident, reassuring smile.
Alex walked on her other side, flashing a cheeky wink that made her cheeks burn even more. "Don't worry, Felicity. I've got your back."
Noah hovered just behind, careful and steady, making sure none of the books slipped, muttering, "Almost… got it…"
Students whispered and pointed, laughing and gossiping:
"Wait, are all three men helping her?"
"Is this a real-life love triangle? Or maybe a love square?"
"Place your bets, people!"
I, of course, popped up beside them, grinning, ready to watch everything happen.
"Oooh, first challenge. Who can carry Felicity's books without looking like they want to fight each other? Five stars. This is great to watch. Excellent entertainment so far."
Felicity groaned. "Kill me now. No, just end me now."
By the time we got down the library steps, she looked ready to give up everything, drop out of Oxford, and disappear somewhere quiet. Unfortunately, Chris, Alex, and Noah had other plans. But the show wasn't over. Oh no. Not even close. Because then came the walk home war.
"Obviously, I'll walk her back," Chris said, still holding half her books, his voice leaving no room for argument.
Alex scoffed. "You mean obviously I'll walk her back. She's not your responsibility, mate."
Chris's eyes narrowed. "She's safer with me."
"With you?" Alex laughed, warm and mocking. "She's happier with me."
Noah stepped closer, his voice calm but steady. "She can decide for herself. We don't need to argue about it."
And just like that, both Chris and Alex reached for Felicity's bag strap at the same time.
"Thank you, Noah. Ugh, you're unbelievable," she muttered. "You two are ridiculous. Actually, I don't need either of you to walk me home," she snapped, clutching her bag tighter. "I'm a grown woman. I have legs. Perfectly functional legs."
"Ridiculously in love with you," I sang under my breath, earning a death glare from her. Totally worth it.
Chris arched an eyebrow. "Functional? You tripped on flat ground last week."
Alex chuckled, low and warm. "Yeah, and don't forget the time you got lost trying to find the dining hall."
"Okay!" she cut in, her face turning red. "That's enough. Not my greatest hit, but I can handle myself alone."
As they walked on either side of her, I had my phone out, commenting like it was the Oxford Olympics.
"Contestants: Chris, Mr. Dark-and-Broody, versus Alex, Mr. Sunshine-and-Smooth, versus Noah, Mr. Quiet-and-Patient. Challenge: Escort the damsel to her dorm without combusting from sexual tension. Place your bets, people!"
"PENELOPE!" Felicity hissed.
But it was too late. Chris offered his arm like some Regency drama hero. "Shall we, Felicity?"
Before she could react, Alex slid in smoothly on the other side, grinning devilishly. "Or shall we, Felicity?"
Noah appeared just behind her, hands in pockets, smirking. "Or perhaps… shall we, Felicity?"
Chris, brooding like Mr Darcy. Alex, glowing like Prince Charming. Noah, calm and sly, like the quiet hero who always shows up at the right moment. And me? I strutted along behind them, sipping my milkshake like it was movie popcorn.
The crowd trailed after us, some whispering, others cheering and giggling like this was a live K-drama. Some shouted, "Team Chris!" Others yelled, "Team Alex!" A few brave souls cried, "Team Noah!" A few shouted, "Shut up, she's clearly confused, give her space! Leave her alone!"
At one point, Chris reached for her bag again, but Alex grabbed it first, slinging it over his shoulder with a grin. "Got it."
Chris's jaw tightened. "Give it back."
"Make me," Alex said, still smirking. "Not a chance."
Before it could escalate, Noah stepped in smoothly, holding out his hands. "Hey, hey. How about I just carry it for her? Everyone stays calm."
The tension and drama were ridiculous. The secondhand embarrassment radiating off Felicity could have powered the entire campus.
Finally, Felicity snapped. She stopped dead in the walkway, books in her arms. "Enough! All of you. I can carry my own things. I can walk myself home. I don't need either of you fighting over me like I'm some prize!"
The crowd gasped. Silence. Chris blinked. Alex froze. Noah stepped forward, hands raised like a peacekeeper. I sipped.
Then Chris said softly, "You're not a prize, Felicity. You're… everything."
Alex didn't miss a beat. "And you deserve someone who makes you laugh, not just brood. Someone like me."
Noah added calmly, "And someone patient, who listens, and actually cares about every little thing you feel. That's me."
Felicity's face turned red. "I'm going inside. Alone."
She stormed off, leaving all three boys standing there, stunned in her wake, as if reality had just hit them.
Naturally, I grinned like the little troublemaker I was. "Well," I announced. "Episode one of Who Wants Felicity's Heart is officially a wrap! Tune in next week for more."
"PENELOPE!" she screamed from the doorway.
I bowed and grinned. "Thank you, thank you. I'll be here all semester."
And just like that, I found myself walking across campus with three ridiculously handsome men, each radiating competitive energy. One held her books, another held her pride hostage, and the third matched them both step for step as students cheered like it was a boxing match.
Noah leaned in slightly, voice gentle but teasing, "Don't let them think you're struggling too much."
Chris leaned down, voice soft but teasing, just for her. "Careful. People might think you enjoy this."
Alex caught that and whispered in her other ear, "Or maybe she does."
And honestly? I almost combusted on the spot.