Jerry stretched under his blanket, the ghost of Vess's lips still haunting his mouth. His chest felt light, like someone had deflated the usual anxiety balloon that lived there.
His phone buzzed.
Vess 🔥💋: Still alive or did my kiss send you into a coma?
Jerry: Barely survived. Might need mouth-to-mouth again for recovery.
Vess 🔥💋: You wish, softie.
Jerry: You literally pinned me to a wall like some supernatural romance villain. I think I'm the victim here.
Vess 🔥💋: Cute. You looked like you forgot how legs worked.
Jerry: You kissed me like I was the last dessert in the bakery. It was terrifying.
Vess 🔥💋: You tasted sweet. Don't tempt me unless you want to get eaten again.
He blinked.
Jerry: ...Are we still talking about kissing?
Vess 🔥💋:Who knows? 😉
Vess 🔥💋: Anyway. Meet me at college. Let's pretend we're normal people before I destroy you again later.
Jerry: That's not threatening at all.
Vess 🔥💋: You'll beg for more.
Jerry stared at the screen for a moment. His face was warm. His soul was combusting.
👻 Zen: "You dog. You absolute barking legend."
👻 Alric: "And to think, a week ago you couldn't hold eye contact with a barista."
👻 Ragnar: "CHECK. THE. SYSTEM. My dude, it literally said you unlocked a scene. I want the loot drop."
Jerry blinked.
He sat up. A faint shimmering overlay flickered in front of his eyes—faintly holographic, like tech laced with magic.
[Thread Notification Detected]
Success: +2 Intimacy – Lyra
Scene Unlock: Duet After Dark
System Shop Tier 1 – Access Granted
New Unlocks:• Charisma +1• Trust Token•
Debug Patch: Confidence (Beta)•
Thread Diagnostic Scan (Cooldown: 24h)
• ??? (Glitched)
• Thread Editor(ADMIN ONLY – Restricted)
• Reward: Stamina Boost
• Emotional Milestone: Achieved
• Relationship Thread: Vess 🔥💋 – Unlocked
• Hidden Trait: Flammable Chemistry
Ragnar: "He has coins now too—check your soul wallet."
A shimmering count appeared in the corner of Jerry's vision.
💰 Soul Coins: 3
System Shop – Tier 1 Available Items:
Aphro-Spike Candy – 1 Coin
• Dissolves on tongue
• Increases flirty tension and sensual energy
Endure-X Elixir – 2 Coins
• Temporary Dick enhancement
• Lasts 24 hours or until utterly drained
Stamina Surge – 1 Coin
• Recover energy post "vigorous interactions"
• Doubles resistance to emotional burnout
Spectral Specs – 3 Coins
• See top fantasies of person in focus
• Accuracy: 99%
• Includes attraction %, interests, and hidden traits
👻 Alric: "We're gonna need an adult."
👻 Ragnar: "BUY. THE. SPECS."
👻 Zen: "Yeah. This is peak gaming. Let the boy peek."
Jerry sighed, muttered "What am I doing with my life," and tapped the Spectral Specs option.
[Purchase Confirmed – Spectral Specs Equipped] Soul Coins Remaining: 0
A brief flash washed over his eyes. The world sharpened. Subtle white outlines flickered around people. Text floated faintly near them—blurred unless he focused.
By the time Jerry reached campus, he'd almost forgotten he was still wearing the specs.
Almost.
Until he stepped into the lecture hall—and saw her.
The new professor.
She stood near the whiteboard, flipping through a stack of notes with one hand and sipping coffee with the other. Her light blue shirt was tucked neatly—and very tightly—into a charcoal pencil skirt that hugged every curve like it had been tailored in sin. Black stockings stretched over long legs that, frankly, could cause traffic accidents. Even when she stood still, her heels somehow managed to click. Her brunette hair was twisted up into a low, messy bun, sharp gold pins glinting like ornaments in a crown.
Every student in the room—guys, girls, probably even the chairs—was staring.
Then Jerry's specs lit up.
[Target Locked]👩🏫 Prof. Nyra Lune
Attraction Toward Jerry: 2%
Top Interests: Fine Art, Power Dynamics, Exotic Teas
Hidden Trait: Masochist
Emotional Trigger: "Being praised for intellect"
Top Fantasy: Being pinned to a wall by someone unexpectedly assertive and verbal degradation... after being outperformed by a student
[Auto-Scan Complete]
Jerry's brain just... stopped. Like someone pulled the plug.
👻 Zen: "A MASOCHIST?!"
👻 Alric: "Oh, we are definitely keeping these specs."
👻 Ragnar: "If she assigns group projects, you better raise your hand first."
Jerry yanked his gaze away, heart hammering against his ribs.
He stumbled to the back row and collapsed onto a bench, trying not to breathe too loud or spontaneously combust. These glasses were dangerous. No—unhinged.
And then he heard it.
Heels.
Click. Click. Click.
He looked up.
And forgot how to exist.
Vess strolled in like the day belonged to her and she'd already decided to ruin it gloriously. Her outfit wasn't designed—it was summoned. A cropped black blazer that couldn't care less about modesty, a deep wine-red satin top that hugged and dipped in all the right places, tight black jeans that looked like they were painted on, and boots that could start wars. Her long dark hair was tied into a high ponytail—sharp, sleek, and utterly lethal.
Jerry's jaw almost unhinged.
Vess clocked him immediately, smirked, and made a straight beeline for the back row. She didn't ask—just slid in beside him, all casual heat and effortless danger.
"You're hiding back here now?" she said in a low voice, leaning in just enough that her thigh pressed against his.
"I—I thought the view was better," he muttered, eyes forward, already blushing.
Her eyes lit up. "Adorable. Still blushing like I didn't pin you against a wall and kiss the life out of you yesterday."
He tried not to combust. "You, uh... dressed up?"
"I dress how I feel," she said, her voice silky as she leaned closer, the neckline of her top a direct attack on his willpower. "And today? I feel dangerous."
He tried holding her gaze. He really did.
He failed.
She tilted her head, her fingers brushing the arm of his specs. "And what's this look? Glasses now?"
"Nothing. Just... new."
She raised a brow. "They make you look like you're hiding something."
👻 Ragnar: "He is. And it's that he knows you're a chaos demon with bedroom eyes."
👻 Zen: "Spectral Specs: best purchase ever."
👻 Alric: "Bet she'd love to know what they show."
Jerry gave a weak laugh. His pulse was already shot, and class hadn't even started.