Arlon Gray

At 2:14 a.m., while the campus slept, Arlon Gray slipped through Emi's bedroom window, as he did every night. During the day he had been Valeria Solo's perfect boyfriend, the most admired couple on campus; at night, he returned to the only place where he claimed to truly feel like himself.

With her hair disheveled by the wind and the scent of Valeria's perfume still clinging to her clothes, she approached Emi and hugged her tightly.

"God... I missed you so much today, love," he whispered, burying his face in her neck. "It was chaos on campus. My friends wouldn't leave me alone, Valeria dragged me around... but I'm here now. I'm with you."

Noticing Emi's coldness, he took her face in his hands and gently kissed her forehead.

—Look at me... We're already on day fifteen. There are only two more weeks of this stupid game and I'll be completely yours again, like I promised. Don't be distant with me tonight... just hold me.

Without moving away, she hugged him again, ignoring the weight of everything that had happened during the day.

—You know I love you. This bet doesn't change how I feel about you. Valeria means nothing; she's just part of the challenge. You're the one I'm going home with. You're the one who truly knows me.

Convinced that his words were enough to soothe any wound, he slowly stroked her back and murmured one last plea:

Tell me you understand... Just hold me tonight. I need you.

Without realizing it, Arlon remained completely blind to the pain his own decisions were causing.