Pops, [2/28/2026 11:59 AM]
Chapter 3: Public Display
Dorian woke to the sound of his roommate's alarm blaring some generic pop song.
He groaned, rolling over—and immediately froze as his body reminded him of its new proportions. The morning stiffness was no joke. He lay there, breathing carefully, waiting for everything to settle into place.
"Dude, you okay?" Tyler's voice came from the other side of the room. "You look like you're giving birth."
Tyler. Junior. Communications major. Moderately attractive in a forgettable way, with sandy hair and a perpetually confused expression. He was the kind of guy who left his dirty socks everywhere and once asked if water was wet unironically. They'd been roommates for two months and had exchanged maybe fifty words total.
Dorian grunted. "Fine."
"You sure?" Tyler sat up, squinting at him. "You look different. Something different."
Dorian's heart skipped. "No."
"Huh." Tyler shrugged, letting it go. "Well, whatever. You do you."
He shuffled off to the bathroom, and Dorian exhaled.
He pulled out his phone. The system window was still there, hovering in his peripheral vision.
QUEST PACK: "PUBLIC DISPLAY"
DIFFICULTY: C
SUB-QUEST 3A: ARM IN ARM - INCOMPLETE
SUB-QUEST 3B: CHEEK TO CHEEK - INCOMPLETE
SUB-QUEST 3C: THE INTRODUCTION - INCOMPLETE
TIME LIMIT: 72 HOURS
REWARD: +2 Levels. +50 Aesthetic Points. +30 Charm.
FAILURE PENALTY: System deactivation for 90 days. Ring remains stuck. Additionally, host will lose 2 inches from all previous gains.
Seventy-two hours. Three progressively harder tasks. All requiring an attractive female who liked him enough to participate.
His mind went immediately to Sarah. The freshman from philosophy. She'd texted back with a smiley face. She'd said "let's definitely do it again." She was his only option.
He opened their conversation. Her last message still sat there, cheerful and innocent.
Sarah: Aw, thanks Dorian! I had fun too. Let's definitely do it again sometime 😊
He typed:
Dorian: Hey! Free for coffee again today?
Three dots appeared almost instantly. His stomach flipped.
Sarah: Sure! Same time?
Dorian: Perfect.
He set the phone down, a strange mix of relief and guilt churning in his gut. She was so... easy. So trusting. It would be almost cruel to use her like this.
Almost.
But level three meant another inch. A better face. A slimmer body. And after that, level four, level five—until he was better than Tristan. Until Chloe finally noticed him.
Chloe.
The name sparked something darker. He hadn't thought about her in two days. The system had been a welcome distraction. But now, with his new face and new... equipment... maybe it was time to start thinking about the long game.
First, Sarah. Then, the world.
---
He met her at the same coffee cart at 4:00. She smiled when she saw him, those dimples appearing, and Dorian felt that guilt flicker again.
"Hey!" She waved. "I wasn't sure you'd actually text. Sometimes people just say they will and then—" She stopped herself. "Anyway. Hi."
Dorian smiled—his new smile, the one that felt slightly less awkward on his slightly less ugly face. "Hi. Same order?"
"You remembered?"
Of course I remembered. I've been planning how to use you for the last four hours.
He shrugged. "Latte with vanilla, right?"
Her eyes widened slightly. "Yeah. Wow. Impressive."
They got their drinks and found a table. Sarah talked about her psych class, a professor who was "literally insane," a study group that was "low-key falling apart." Dorian nodded, laughed when appropriate, and waited for his moment.
The arm-in-arm thing needed to happen in public. For at least a minute. How did normal people even get to that point? Did they just... link up?
"—and then she said the exam was optional, can you believe it?" Sarah was saying. "I almost cried."
"That's wild," Dorian said. Then, seizing on something, he added, "Hey, walk with me? I need to grab a book from the library before it closes."
Sarah checked her phone. "Sure, I've got time."
They stood. Dorian's heart pounded. This was it.
They started walking. The library was a five-minute journey across campus. Plenty of time. He just needed to... initiate.
He let his arm brush against hers. Once. Twice. On the third time, she glanced at him but didn't move away.
Okay. Now.
He lifted his arm slightly, elbow bent, creating an opening. She didn't take it. They kept walking.
Come on. Take the hint.
Nothing.
Dorian felt panic rising. The quest was ticking down in his mind, even if the system didn't show it.
He needed to be more direct.
"It's cold," he said, even though it wasn't. "You cold?"
Sarah looked at the clear sky, the mild temperature. "Uh, not really."
Shit.
Then, miraculously, she laughed. "But if you're cold, I guess I could help." And she slipped her arm through his.
Dorian almost stumbled.
They were linked. Arm in arm. Walking across campus like a couple.
They passed the student union. A group of guys glanced at them, then looked away. Dorian felt a surge of something—pride? Validation? He was walking arm in arm with an attractive girl. People were seeing it.
"How's the philosophy reading going?" Sarah asked.
"Uh. Good. Fine." He wasn't listening. He was counting seconds in his head.
They passed the science building. A familiar figure emerged—Tristan, holding his stack of animal shelter flyers. He saw them, smiled, and gave a little wave.
"Hey, Dorian!" Tristan called out. "Looking good, man!"
Dorian's jaw tightened. Looking good. Like Tristan had any right to comment. Like he wasn't the reason Dorian needed this system in the first place.
He nodded stiffly. Tristan's eyes flicked to Sarah, then back to Dorian, and his smile widened—not mockingly, but genuinely. Like he was happy for him.
It made Dorian want to punch something.
They reached the library. Sarah unhooked her arm. "Here we are."
Dorian blinked. Had it been a minute? He thought so. He'd know for sure when he checked the system later.
"Right. Thanks. I'll just... grab the book."
"Want me to wait?"
Yes. No. Yes, but that would be weird.
"You don't have to."
She shrugged. "I'll wait. Got nowhere to be."
She sat on a bench outside, pulling out her phone. Dorian walked into the library, found a random book on the nearest shelf—The History of Fungal Diseases—checked it out, and walked back out.
Sarah looked up. "That was fast."
"Knew what I needed." He held up the book as proof. Fungal diseases. Great.
They walked back toward the union, not arm in arm this time. Dorian's mind raced. One down. Two to go. The kiss on the cheek was next. How did he make that happen?
---
Later that evening, Dorian sat in his dorm, staring at his phone. He checked the system.
SUB-QUEST 3A: ARM IN ARM - COMPLETE
PROGRESS: 1/3
TIME REMAINING: 65 HOURS
Good. It counted.
His roommates were both there. Tyler was playing some video game, headphones on, oblivious. The other bed belonged to Marcus—massive, easily 6'4", built like a refrigerator, with a slow, deliberate way of moving that made him seem either very peaceful or very dangerous. Dorian had pegged him early as useful muscle and had been vaguely friendly ever since.
"Yo, Dorian." Marcus's voice was a low rumble. "You look different."
Dorian tensed. "What?"
"Something different." Marcus propped himself up on his elbows. "Can't put my finger on it."
"Just the same."
"Huh." Marcus nodded slowly. "If you say so."
The door burst open and Kyle stumbled in, out of breath, face flushed. Kyle was the opposite of Marcus—skinny, jittery, always looking over his shoulder. He'd attached himself to Dorian early, sensing safety in numbers, and Dorian let him stick around because Kyle was useful for small errands and never talked back.
"Did you guys hear?" Kyle gasped. "Someone got arrested by the science building. Like, actual cops."
Tyler pulled off his headphones. "What?"
"Some guy. I don't know. My friend sent me a video." Kyle waved his phone. "They were putting him in a car and everything."
Dorian's mind went to the mysterious texter. Nice try, fat boy. The system doesn't belong to you. Could it be related?
"Who was it?" he asked, keeping his voice casual.
"Don't know. Some older guy. Not a student, I think." Kyle flopped onto his bed. "Crazy, right?"
Marcus shrugged. "Campus is wild."
Dorian filed the information away. Probably nothing. But the texter was still out there.
He needed to move faster on these quests. Level up before whoever it was could cause trouble.
---
The next day, Dorian texted Sarah again. This time, he suggested studying together. She agreed immediately.
They met in the library, found a quiet corner, and pulled out their books. For twenty minutes, they actually studied. Dorian read the same paragraph four times, his mind churning on how to get that cheek kiss.
Then Sarah stretched, yawned, and said, "I'm dying. Need a break."
Dorian saw his chance.
"Same. Want to grab some air?"
They walked outside, found a bench near the fountain. The sun was setting, casting everything in gold. It was almost romantic. Dorian hated how much he noticed that.
Sarah leaned back, closing her eyes. "This is nice. Thanks for suggesting studying. I hate studying alone."
"Same." Dorian watched her profile—the curve of her cheek, the way her hair fell. Just lean in. Kiss her cheek. It's not weird. Friends do that.
But he couldn't. Not yet. It would be too obvious.
Then Sarah opened her eyes, turned to him, and smiled. "You're staring."
Dorian's face burned. "Sorry, I—"
"It's okay." Her smile softened. "You're kind of sweet, you know? In a weird way."
Sweet. She called me sweet.
The guilt surged again, stronger this time. He pushed it down.
"You're pretty sweet yourself," he said, and it came out more genuine than he intended.
Sarah's cheeks pinked. She looked away, then back. "Dorian, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Why did you really ask me for coffee? The first time. You said it was a study group thing."
Dorian's stomach dropped. "I told you. They canceled—"
"I know what you told me." Her voice was gentle, not accusing. "But there wasn't really a study group, was there? It was just you."
He stared at her. She knew. She'd known the whole time.
"Why didn't you say anything?" he asked.
She shrugged. "Because I wanted to see what you'd do. And you were... nice. Awkward, but nice." She laughed softly. "I don't know. I'm glad I came."
Dorian felt something crack inside him. Something that might have been the beginning of actual human connection.
He leaned in. Slowly. Giving her time to pull away.
She didn't.
His lips brushed her cheek. Soft. Warm. She smelled like vanilla and coffee.
He pulled back. Sarah was looking at him with wide eyes, a faint blush on her cheeks.
"What was that for?" she asked, her voice quiet.
Dorian's brain scrambled. "I... you just looked really pretty in the sunset. I don't know. Sorry, was that weird?"
She stared at him for a long moment. Then she laughed—a real laugh, not a nervous one.
"You're such a dork." She bumped her shoulder against his. "But yeah. It was nice."
They sat in silence as the sun finished setting. Dorian's heart was pounding for reasons that had nothing to do with the system.
Later, after they parted, he checked his phone.
SUB-QUEST 3B: CHEEK TO CHEEK - COMPLETE
PROGRESS: 2/3
TIME REMAINING: 41 HOURS
One more. The introduction. She had to introduce him to someone as significant. Romantically significant.
How the hell was he going to make that happen?
---
That night, Dorian walked back to his dorm alone. Sarah had gone to her study group, promising to text later. He felt... strange. Lighter. Confused.
He was using her. He knew that. But she was so genuine, so unguarded, that it was getting harder to remember why he started this.
For Chloe, he reminded himself. For Tristan. For everyone who ever looked through me like I was nothing.
But Sarah didn't look through him. Sarah saw him.
He was so lost in thought that he almost walked past the figure leaning against the wall near his dorm entrance.
"Evening, Dorian."
He stopped. Turned.
Eli.
The kid from the library. The one he'd bullied, kicked, robbed. He looked different now—not scared, not cowering. Standing straight, arms crossed, a faint smile on his face.
Dorian's instincts flared. "What do you want, mole?"
Eli's smile widened. "Just wanted to see how you're doing. With the ring and all."
Dorian's hand instinctively covered the band. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Sure you don't." Eli pushed off the wall, walking closer. He was still short, still round, still wearing thick glasses. But something in his eyes had changed. Something knowing. "It was my grandfather's, you know. That ring."
Dorian's blood ran cold. "It's just a ring."
"Is it?" Eli tilted his head. "Then why can't you take it off?"
Dorian had no answer.
Eli laughed softly. "Didn't think so." He turned to leave. "Just remember—everything has a price. My grandfather used to say that. The ring gives. But it always collects."
He walked away, leaving Dorian standing in the dark, heart pounding.
It always collects.
He looked down at the ring. Dull metal. Cloudy gem. Just a stupid ring.
His phone buzzed.
Unknown: Nice try, fat boy. The system doesn't belong to you.
Dorian whipped around, searching the darkness. No one.
Unknown: Enjoy level three. Level four is where it gets interesting.
He typed back: Who is this?
Three dots appeared. Then:
Unknown: Someone who wants what's on your finger. Sleep tight, fat boy.
Dorian stared at the screen. Then at the ring. Then at the dark campus around him.
One more quest. Forty-one hours.
And somewhere out there, someone was watching.
[END OF CHAPTER 3]