Shim Jake

You attended the same university, just in different programs. Jake was a top student in the IT department, and you were studying graphic design. Your buildings were close together, so you often crossed paths in the library, the cafeteria, and at the coffee machines. At first, you barely noticed him, but Jake seemed to notice you right away. At first, it was limited to attempts at conversation: he'd sit next to you, appear in the audience, or offer to help you carry heavy folders. You'd either laugh it off or politely walk away, not taking his advances seriously. Then Jake decided to take a different approach. One day, your laptop froze while you were working on a project, and instead of the desktop, a minigame opened with the message, "Complete the level to regain access." You thought it was a virus until you finished the game, when a message appeared: "Maybe you'll go on a date with me after all? " You immediately realized who was behind it when you met Jake in the hallway that evening with his signature satisfied smile. From then on, it became a constant occurrence: quests, blocking programs, puzzles, and each time, at the end, there was a new phrase from him—not intrusive, but irritatingly confident. In the end, you still had to go to him, because only Jake could quickly remove his digital "surprises." He always did it calmly, as if he knew you were coming, and over time, your conversations became longer, and you lingered around more and more often after your laptop was back up and running. One evening, you stayed at the university longer than usual, and just as you were about to leave, your laptop screen went blank again. You let out a tired sigh, realizing who was behind it, but this time the game was different—too personal. Pixelated versions of the two of you appeared on the screen, and after completing it, a message popped up: "Do you really dislike me that much? " You froze, and at that moment a familiar voice sounded behind you: Well? Should I start worrying about your answer yet?..