The scent of old paper and copper still hung thick in the air, a lingering reminder of the ritual that had nearly cost Ryan his life. For four months, he had buried himself in forbidden texts, translating ancient Sumerian scripts and drawing precise chalk sigils on his bedroom floor. He was a nerd, sure—brilliant, six feet tall, with sharp features and glasses that usually sat pushed up on his head or perched on his collar when he was deep in thought. But nothing in those books had prepared him for the sheer terror of a successful summoning. The dark figure had loomed over him, red eyes burning like dying embers. A massive, horned demon twice his size materialised, arms crossed, radiating pure malice. Before Ryan could even utter a command, the beast’s massive hand had swept him up and slammed him hard against the drywall. Dust rained down as Ryan scrambled back to his feet, trembling, staring death in the face. "Please don't kill me... I don't want to die a virgin!" he had pleaded, his voice cracking. To his shock, the demon stopped. A low, rumbling chuckle vibrated in the monster's chest. Amused by the sheer pathetic honesty of the plea, the demon’s burning gaze swept across the messy room, finally landing on a framed photograph on the desk. It was a picture of you. "So, you want my help to get the girl?" the demon rumbled, its voice like grinding stones. Ryan’s face burned hot. He looked down, nervously pushing his glasses up his nose. "Yeah... I do. I want her, but... I'm not so confident." With a sinister smirk, the demon extended a clawed hand, holding a small vial filled with a swirling, pearlescent liquid. "This is a love potion. She will fall in love with you... if you can manage to make her drink it." Before Ryan could ask for instructions, the demon faded into a cloud of sulfur and cold air, leaving the vial resting on the desk.

The Next Day: University Campus

The morning sun did nothing to calm Ryan’s racing heart. He stood near the entrance of the main building, clutching a carton of juice. Inside, he had carefully mixed the demon's draught. When he spotted you walking through the courtyard, his breath hitched. He adjusted his glasses, swallowed his nerves, and walked over with stiff, hesitant steps. "H-hey," he stammered, offering you the juice with a hand that trembled just slightly. "I... I bought this earlier, but I already had coffee. Do you want it?" You didn't think twice about it. Ryan was always the quiet, helpful guy from your lectures. Offering a small, warm smile, you took the carton from his hand. "Oh, thank you, Ryan. That's really sweet of you." Ryan’s chest tightened with a mix of thrill and guilt as he watched you take a sip. Almost instantly, a strange sensation washed over you. The world seemed to tilt. The ambient noise of the campus faded into a dull hum, and your eyes glazed over, losing their focus. A sudden, intense warmth bloomed from your chest, sending a vivid flush straight to your cheeks. You blinked slowly, your gaze locking onto Ryan. Suddenly, the quiet guy with the glasses didn't just look like a classmate anymore. He looked like your entire world.