*ARLENE’s POV*
"Why MAGO?" Patricia asked, her brow furrowed with concern as she leaned against the dorm room desk.
Before I could answer, Janine, lounging on the bed, jumped in. "Patricia, she likes Mago.”
"But why not Kaz or Angelo?" Patricia pressed, her voice rising with frustration, “They’re both sweet guys, and nothing like MAGO CONCEPCION.”
Janine rolled her eyes, cutting in again, "You can't just force her to like someone else, Pat. It doesn’t work that way. It’s like asking you to stop obsessing over Stuart.”
Patricia let out a sigh, throwing her hands up in surrender. “I’m just worried, okay? Arlene is way too innocent for Mago. That guy is a playboy – no, scratch that, he is a manwhore, a monster in bed! He doesn’t date anyone unless he knows it’s going to end in his bed. And Arlene…” Patricia turned to me, her voice softening. “Do you even have any experience… with sex?”
Her question made my stomach twist. I shook my head in answer to her question.
"See?" Patricia said, exasperated, waving her hand in the air. “That’s exactly what I’m talking about!”
I forced a small smile, hoping to hide the unease creeping into my chest. "Don't worry," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "I can take care of myself.”
Patricia gave me a skeptical look, but I continued. “Besides, it’s too late to back out. Unless, of course, you’d prefer to go as his date instead."
"Hell, no!" she blurted out, shaking her head so hard her ponytail swayed. The very thought seemed to horrify her.
Everyone knew MAGO CONCEPCION—the campus Casanova who left a trail of broken hearts behind him. But despite that, girls still flocked to him. They wanted to be the one to tame him, to claim the elusive man who never promised more than a night. And, despite knowing all of this, I couldn’t deny it—I was one of those girls. I wanted him to notice me. Even if I wasn’t sure what would happen next.
Patricia studied me with an intensity that made me shift awkwardly in my seat. Then, she moved closer, her voice dropping as if sharing a secret. “If you want Mago to notice you, we’re going to have to make some changes.”
I frowned. “What’s wrong with how I look?”
I stood up, spinning around to show her my outfit—a simple, modest sundress that I thought looked perfectly fine.
“If we were heading to the library, you’d be perfect,” she said with a smirk. “But we’re not going to the library, Arlene. We’re going to the beach. That’s Mago’s playground. You’re going to be surrounded by gorgeous, bikini-clad girls fighting for his attention.”
I chewed my lip. She was right. Compared to the girls that usually orbited Mago, I felt like an afterthought. No matter how much I hated to admit it, I needed her help.
“Okay,” I sighed. “Do your worst.”
Patricia’s eyes gleamed with excitement, like a lioness ready to pounce. She wasted no time rummaging through my wardrobe, tossing aside clothes that weren’t “beach-worthy.” Janine laughed as she watched from the bed, throwing in a few teasing comments.
An hour later, Patricia had me in a tight, flattering swimsuit under a flowy beach cover-up, and my face was expertly made up. But when she reached for my glasses, my heart stuttered.
“W-what are you doing?” I asked, my hands instinctively flying up to snatch the frames from her grasp.
Patricia held them just out of reach, shaking her head. “No, no, no. You don’t need these. Your vision is fine without them. Besides, they make you look… older.”
I blinked, feeling oddly exposed. “But—can I at least keep them on until we meet Mago?” I pleaded, clutching at the last piece of my comfort zone. “People aren’t used to seeing me without them. If I look good without my glasses, I want him to be the first to see me.”
Patricia paused, considering my words. “Fine,” she relented with a sigh. “But after that? No more glasses. If you want Mago to notice you, we have to go all in.”
Her tone left no room for argument, and I nodded in agreement. She had a point. I couldn’t half-commit if I wanted to stand out.
Janine burst into laughter, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Well, that’s Patricia’s superpower! No one can ever say no to her.”
I couldn’t help but chime in, “With the exception of Stuart. Only he can say no to her.”
Patricia shot me a mock glare, crossing her arms with a playful pout. “Not for long,” she declared, her voice dripping with determination. “Just wait. I’ll make sure that soon, he’ll be powerless to resist me.”
Her confidence was infectious, and I felt a flutter of excitement at the thought. If she could weave that kind of magic, maybe I could do the same with Mago.
*ARLENE’s POV*Patricia made sure I arrived safely on the island, her protective instincts kicking into overdrive. She had arranged for a luxurious yacht to transport me to the venue, the sleek vessel cutting through the azure waters like a knife. As I stepped aboard, the salty breeze whipped through my hair, the sun glinting off the waves, amplifying the thrill of anticipation and the flutter of nerves in my stomach.“I’ve already ordered dinner for you,” Patricia announced, her voice brisk yet comforting as we made our way toward the opulent VIP room. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll be back with Mago soon.”We paused in front of the door, and a heavy sigh escaped Patricia’s lips. “So, this is it.” Her expression shifted from excitement to concern, and she looked me squarely in the eye. “Are you sure you can handle this?”“Hey,” I said, trying to project more confidence than I felt. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.”“Dating Mago is not a joke, Arlene.” Her tone turned serious, e
*MAGO’s POV*The members of the Adonis band rallied together with a singular purpose: to give Marco a chance to finally meet his mystery girl.“Are we really doing this?” Marco asked, his eyes sparkling with a mix of hope and anxiety. “What if she doesn’t show?”“She’ll be there,” Kaz reassured him, clapping a firm hand on his shoulder. “I tipped off Patricia about our plan. You know she won't pass up a chance to snag a date with Stuart. I told her if she helps make sure your mystery girl partners with you, she can have her shot with him. She couldn’t resist the opportunity.”“Trust me, this will work,” I added, leaning closer. “When you invite her on stage for a weekend island getaway, she won’t be able to resist. It’s the ultimate romantic gesture!”Yet, amidst our excitement, I noticed Stuart, who stood off to the side, anxiety etched on his face. He knew the dancer assigned to him was Patricia—his long-term stalker.“Seriously, man,” I teased, nudging him. “Don’t sweat it! Just go
*ARLENE’s POV* "Behave, Mago. Arlene is nothing like the girls you usually date.” Patricia warned, her voice carrying both concern and authority.I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of uncertainty. Should I be offended? Patricia’s words suggested I wasn’t Mago's usual type, but maybe that was a good thing. After all, Patricia was protective of me—she wouldn’t warn him if she didn’t care.Patricia cleared her throat, her sharp eyes glancing between Mago and me before she continued, “I only rented this room because I wanted this meeting to stay private. You know how people talk.”“I told you, I’ve got this,” Mago replied with a smile that seemed both casual and loaded with charm. He had a way of disarming people with that smile—confident, almost too confident.I wish he'd smile like that at me. Mago and I had known each other since high school, though he probably didn’t remember. Back then, he wasn’t the flirtatious heartthrob he was now. He used to be quiet, reserved, even a little nerd
*ARLENE’s POV*“Do you want something to drink?” Mago’s voice pulled me back to the present.“Uh, yeah,” I answered, my voice barely above a whisper.“Timid, huh?” he smiled, handing me a bottle of beer. “Why don’t you drink some of this for confidence.”I accepted the bottle, feeling my cheeks flush under his gaze. “Thanks.”“You know,” he said, his tone dropping to something more serious, “I find women who don’t say much sexy.”I blushed furiously and took a gulp of the beer, the cool liquid doing nothing to calm the heat rising to my face. Mago shifted closer, his hand resting on my shoulder, fingers brushing lightly down my arm. His touch sent shivers through me, but I fought to keep my composure.“So, how did you and Patricia meet?” he asked casually, his fingers tracing patterns on my skin.I cleared my throat, trying to ignore the way his closeness made it harder to breathe. “We’re in the same department.”“Really? Hotel and Restaurant Management?” He raised an eyebrow. “That m
*MAGO’s POV*Of all the girls I’ve dated, this one had to be the most boring. I couldn’t help but wonder how she and Patricia were even friends. Every time I tried to start a conversation, she’d shut it down with a one-word answer, her disinterest as clear as day. I liked women, but I didn’t want to chase them. Hard-to-get girls? They were the ones I hated the most.But there was something about her—the way she was dressed, her makeup, the way she carried herself. It screamed player. Her sexy dress clung to her body like a second skin, hinting at experience, confidence. She was the kind of girl who played innocent, all coy glances and soft shrugs, but I knew better. I’d seen it all before—girls like her only wanted to prove they could make men like me crawl.“I like music,” she finally offered, her voice so flat it could’ve been a statement about the weather.“Music? Well, that makes us the same. What kind of music do you like?” I asked, trying to reel her in, hoping to find some comm
*ARLENE’s POV*We walked across the wooden bridge that stretched over the water, leading us to the secluded bungalow. Each creak of the wood beneath my feet seemed to echo in the stillness, heightening my unease. My knees trembled, and I couldn't tell if it was from the cool breeze coming off the water or the proximity of Mago walking beside me. His presence made my heart race, and I struggled to steady my breathing.Mago broke the silence. “I bet you belong to an organization at the university,” he said, glancing at me. “Which one?”“Music,” I replied, my voice sounding smaller than I intended. Why was I suddenly tongue-tied around him?He nodded, his lips curving into a smile. “What do you do there?”“I play stringed instruments,” I explained, my gaze flicking between him and the path ahead. “The guitar is my favorite.”“That’s perfect. We’ll get along just fine then,” he said, flashing that heart-stopping smile.His words made me blush, and I bit my lip, trying to hide it. The trut
*MAGO’s POV*What the hell? She kissed my cheek. That completely threw me off. I wasn’t expecting it, and now I found myself more intrigued than ever. She was playing hard to get, and I had to admit—it was working. The chase was driving me crazy, pulling me in deeper.She settled onto the lounger, wrapping her arms around her legs, looking so innocent. She had no idea how tempting her simple gestures were—especially when she bit her lip like that. It was killing me.I cleared my throat, trying to keep my cool. “What song do you want me to play?” I asked, sitting beside her.She thought for a moment, biting her lip again. I nearly groaned. “Your Love by Alamid,” she finally said with a soft smile.Of course. A hopeless romantic. Her song choice gave her away, and now I knew exactly how to handle her. I started strumming the guitar, watching her closely. Her wide eyes filled with wonder as she listened, and suddenly, I felt the tables turn. I was supposed to be the one seducing her, but
*ARLENE’s POV*I hadn’t expected us to tumble onto the bed, but the fire in Mago's eyes told me exactly where this was headed. My heart pounded. I knew what was coming, but I felt powerless to stop it.He kissed me.Oh no, what am I supposed to do? Should I open my mouth? Should I kiss him back the way he kissed me? I have no idea! I should’ve asked Patricia about this!“Is this your first kiss?” His voice was soft, but there was surprise in his eyes.I nodded, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. Instantly, he pulled away from me, standing up like he’d touched something burning.What just happened? Did I say something wrong? Shouldn't he be happy that he’s the first one to kiss me?“M-MAGO?” I called out, my voice shaking with confusion.He avoided my gaze. Was he upset because I didn’t kiss him back the right way? I could learn, couldn’t I? Desperation bubbled up inside me. I couldn’t let this moment slip away.“I’m sorry,” he muttered, heading towards the door. “I think I should