His Three Secret Girlfriends Are Me

To pull the campus golden boy off his pedestal, I created three separate burner accounts to date him online. My plan was simple: make him fall head over heels, then shatter his heart into a million pieces.

Account No. 1 was the Sweetheart high-pitched, needy, and constantly whining about her tummy rumbling until hed Venmo me for UberEats.

Account No. 2 was the "Pro-Gamer" a cold-blooded assassin in League of Legends who carried his sorry ass through matches while teasing him for being a "cute little noob."

Account No. 3 was the "Sugar Mommy" an older, wealthy woman who threw money at him just to coax out spicy voice notes and shirtless gym selfies.

And then, one night, the floor fell out from under me.

To prove to a room full of people that he actually had a girlfriend, the "golden boy" put his phone on speaker and dialed.

A second later, my pocket erupted.

"Honey-bunny is calling! Honey-bunny is calling!"

The ringtone blared, relentless and shrill.

The entire room went deathly silent.

I stood there, frozen: Well, shit. I played myself.

The referees whistle cut through the air, signaling the end of the game. Our varsity team had sunk a buzzer-beater three-pointer in the final second.

As the crowd erupted in a deafening roar, I was still sitting in the bleachers, staring into space.

"Wren, aren't you going to go give Bradley his water? Move it!"

My best friend, Piper, nudged me with a wicked grin.

"That last shot was Nate Millers. God, hes hot, right? I saw you staring. Admit itis he hotter than your 'God of Basketball' Bradley or what?"

"Not even close," I shot back instinctively, grabbing the chilled bottle of Fiji water and heading down the stairs.

Today was a scrimmage against a rival college. It wasn't supposed to be a big deal, and Id only shown up to support Bradley. But for some reason, Nate Millerthe departments resident heartthrobhad signed up for this game too.

The second the girls in our year heard Nate was playing, they organized a cheering squad like it was the NBA Finals. From the moment he stepped onto the court, the screaming hadn't stopped.

It was terrifying, honestly.

I sighed, feeling a pang of pity for my "God." In every academic competition in our department, Bradley always seemed to fall just a hair behind Nate, forever relegated to second place. Now, Nate wouldn't even let him have the spotlight in a measly scrimmage.

Does the guy have a Main Character syndrome or something?

Down on the court, Nate was already swamped by a mob of girls begging for selfies. Bradley stood in the corner, laughing and chatting with his teammates, looking heartbreakingly sidelined.

Piper was still buzzing in my ear. "I seriously don't get why you have such a massive chip on your shoulder when it comes to Nate. And this 'Evil Catfishing Scheme' of yours? It's unhinged, Wren."

I clamped my hand over her mouth.

If Nate Miller ever found out I was running three different personas just to mess with him, Id be the lead story on the campus news by morning.

Bradley spotted me and looked surprised. "Wren! You actually came to watch?"

I gave him my best shy smile. "I came specifically to see you play, Bradley."

He chuckled, a hint of self-deprecation in his voice. "I didn't think anyone was watching me today."

Poor guy. Nate had sucked the confidence right out of him.

I looked at Bradley with soft eyes, completely oblivious to the world, and held out the water. "Bradley, I got this for"

Before I could finish, a pale, long-fingered hand reached out and snatched the bottle right out of my grasp.

Me: "?"

The crisp, sharp scent of peppermint swirled around me.

Nate Miller stepped directly between Bradley and me. He had one hand buried in his gym shorts pocket while he tossed the water bottle up and down with the other. He leaned in, his eyes curving into a brilliant, predatory smile.

"Wow, Wren. Howd you know I was dying for a drink? Youre a lifesaver."

I stared at him, flat-eyed. If youre thirsty, go to a vending machine, you prick.

The damp strands of hair on Nate's forehead were soaked with sweat. Almost as if he knew exactly what he was doing, he brushed them back, revealing the sharp, perfect lines of his brow and eyes.

The fangirls nearby let out a collective, strangled gasp.

Even I had to admit, the man was offensively attractive. But where the hell did he even come from?

I was fuming. That water was for my guy.

Nate turned to Bradley, his tone light but edged. "You don't mind if I take this, do you, Brad? You're not that stingy, right?"

Bradley blinked, then shook his head. "No, it's fine."

Nate grinned, looking like he hadnt tasted water in a century. He twisted the cap and chugged half the bottle in one go, his Adams apple bobbing rhythmically.

I heard the girls whispering behind us.

"Who is she? Shes so lucky Nates drinking her water! Im literally dying."

"I think shes a junior in his department. They say hes got a soft spot for her."

I watched Nate finish the water with a completely blank expression. When he looked down at me with those "soulful" eyes, I simply held out my phone, screen glowing with my Venmo QR code.

"Nate, Im sorry, I think theres been a misunderstanding. Im actually selling these. Thatll be four dollars."

Nate: "?"

The Crowd: "..."

The air went dead. I watched as the color rushed to Nate's face, turning him a magnificent shade of crimson. He stared at me like Id just grown a second head.

What? Youve never seen a girl run a business? Pay up.

To celebrate the win, the student union threw a small victory dinner at a local bistro. I was invited along with the rest of the support staff.

When it was time to sit, I saw Bradley take a seat by the window. The chair across from him was empty.

Jackpot.

I kept my face neutral, moving with practiced ease to pull out the chair. "Bradley, what a coincidence! Looks like were table buddies."

Bradley smiled back, looking genuinely pleased.

Suddenly, Nate, who was standing a few feet away, stopped mid-motion. He looked troubled, his brow furrowing as he scanned the room.

The student union president asked, "Nate? Something wrong? Take a seat, man."

Nate bit his lip, looking embarrassed. "I... I have this weird thing. I can only eat if Im sitting by a window. Its a claustrophobia thing. If I'm not by the glass, I lose my appetite."

I stopped unwrapping my silverware. You lying sack of garbage.

Id seen him eat in the middle of a crowded, windowless cafeteria back in high school a thousand times.

The president immediately turned to Bradley. "Brad, would you mind swapping with Nate? Just for the night?"

No! Bradley, stay strong!

I sat there, looking at Bradley with pleading eyes. But of course, being the "nice guy" he was, Bradley stood up and swapped places without a second thought.

Nate slid into the chair directly across from me. He met my gaze and smiled like a harmless, fluffy golden retriever.

"Wren, what a coincidence," he purred, echoing my exact words back to me. "Looks like were table buddies."

The smirk he gave me made the hair on my arms stand up.

I was now eighty percent certain he was doing this on purpose.

But I had no proof.

I stabbed a piece of steak and chewed it with unnecessary violence.

Just you wait, Nate. You have no idea whats coming for you.

Around us, the conversation was loud and cheerful. Nate, however, ignored the crowd, resting his chin on his hand as he watched me eat. His gaze was so intense it made my skin prickle. It was the kind of look that made you want to scream at someone to stop.

But in real life, I was a chronic introvert with a touch of social anxiety. All I could do was bury my face deeper into my plate.

Don't look at me. Don't look at me.

Suddenly, Nate leaned in. "You know, Wren, youre actually really cute when you eat."

"Pffft"

I choked, spraying a bit of rice across the table. My face felt like it was on fire. I glared at him, mortified.

Nate didn't even flinch. He just kept smiling that innocent, devastating smile.

Ugh, such a player!

I had three different personas currently blowing up his phone with "I miss you" texts, and here he was, flirting with the real me in broad daylight.

Scum. Absolute scum.

I pretended the steak was Nates heart and sliced into it again.

I had known Nate Miller was a two-faced playboy long before college. We went to the same high school.

Back then, I was obsessed with this one specific Otome game. I was head over heels for a 2D character, calling him "husband" every five minutes. Piper used to say that if anyone ever talked trash about my 2D man, Id haunt them like a Victorian ghost for the rest of their lives.

Then, one day, I saw a video Nate posted on Instagram.

He was already the school's resident heartthrob. In the video, under moody purple lighting, he showed off his sharp profile, radiating a sort of "brooding loner" energy. But then he turned his screen to reveal... a photo of my 2D husband.

The caption read: "On a snowy winter night, I wish I could be the one standing by your side, just like him."

The comment section was a disaster zone of thirsty girls. "OMG! My two favorite husbands in one frame!" "Nate, I'll be your winter girl!"

I felt my blood pressure skyrocket. I scrolled through Nates other posts. Nearly every single one featured a tag or a reference to my game. He even posted clips of himself playing it.

To me, no matter how attractive a 3D guy is, "cosplaying" or trying to skin-walk a 2D character is a capital offense.

That night, Piper witnessed the true terrifying power of a woman scorned. She watched me scroll through Nates feed, cursing him with every insult I could conjure.

From that day on, Nate Miller was on my permanent blacklist.

Then we got to college, and I met Bradley. I quickly realized that Nate was still overshadowing everyoneincluding Bradley. Even the girl Bradley had a crush on had once confessed to Nate, only to be rejected.

That was the breaking point. To expose Nates true, manipulative nature, I launched the "Evil Catfishing Plan."

I would make him fall in love, drain his bank account (ironically, of course), and then dump him so hard hed never look at a 2D character again.

Piper was scrolling through her phone next to me when she let out a quiet "Oh, wow." She turned her screen to show me a post on the campus forum.

Someone had snapped a photo of Nate taking the water bottle from me today. In the shot, my back was a blurry mess of pixels, but Nate looked like hed been professionally airbrushed, drinking the water with cinematic grace.

Me: "..."

The injustice was staggering.

I looked at Nate, who was currently charming the table, and a wicked idea took root. I ducked my head and switched my phone to the "Sweetheart" account. My thumbs flew across the keyboard.

Bunny: [Sent a photo of the forum post]

Bunny: Nate! Bunny is going to cry! Who is this girl at the game? People are saying you drank her water! Hmph!!

Nates phone buzzed on the table. He glanced down, and I watched his expression from across the table.

He froze for a second, but then a slow, genuine smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

He typed back immediately.

Nate: Bunny, baby, it was just water. Shes just a girl in my department. Nothing more.

Bunny: Liar! Bunny doesn't believe you. You're surrounded by pretty girls every day. You've probably already replaced me, you big meanie!

Typing that out took every ounce of my self-control not to burst out laughing. Nate looked genuinely distressed.

Nate: How can I prove my heart only belongs to you?

Just then, the student union president noticed Nates distraction. He stood up with a glass. "Nate! You were the MVP today. We couldn't have won without you. Lets have a toast!"

Nate set his phone down and stood up with a glass of orange juice. "It was a team effort," he said, sounding modest and perfectly composed. "I just helped get us over the finish line."

Piper sighed beside me. "God, hes so well-spoken. Its hard not to like him..."

"Wait, are you even listening?"

I was staring at my phone, imagining the look on Nate's face when he read my next demand.

Piper nudged my shoulder. "Wren, do you realize how creepy you look right now?"

"What?"

"You look like a thirsty fanfic writer who just saw their 'ship' go canon. Its a bit much."

"..."

Hehe. I can't help it.

Nate sat back down and checked his phone. His face went pale.

Bunny: If you mean it, send me a voice note right now. Tell me you love your wittle Bunny-wunny the most in the whole wide world.

Nate: Baby, I'm out at dinner with a bunch of people.

Bunny: I don't care! I want it now! Or were through!

I was shaking with suppressed laughter.

Nate suddenly bolted upright, nearly knocking his chair over. The whole table went quiet, staring at him.

"Something wrong?" someone asked.

Nates face was as red as a lobster. He stammered, "I... I have to go to the bathroom. Keep eating."

He practically fled the room.

I couldn't take it anymore. I turned away, burying my face in my hands as my entire body shook with silent, hysterical laughter.

Nate was gone for a long time.

The table continued to chatter, while I sat in the corner, refreshing my screen. Given Nates flair for the dramatic, he was probably in a stall right now trying to find the perfect "seductive" tone of voice.

Bunny: Nate? Why aren't you responding? Bunny is getting really mad now! You want to break up, don't you?

A second later, a 23-second voice note appeared.

My heart actually skipped a beat. Twenty-three seconds? What did he say?

I moved away from the group, pressed the phone to my ear, and turned the volume down to the lowest setting.

His voice was low, melodic, and held a trace of genuine embarrassment:

"I love Bunny the most... Bunny is my sweetest little baby girl. I'm sorry for making you wait, princess. Don't be mad, okay? Daddy's coming home soon..."

He had lowered his register until it was a husky, intimate murmur. It sounded like a lover whispering in the dark.

My brain actually short-circuited for a moment.

Even though I hated him, I had to admitthe man was a professional. When he "dated" my alt accounts, he was never stingy with his affection. Being pampered by himeven if it was all a liemade me feel a strange, momentary dizziness.

I slammed the "stop" button on the audio.

Nate returned to his seat at the same time. My phone buzzed again.

Nate: Did you hear it? Do you believe me now?

Bunny: Teehee. You're the best.

I typed it out with cold, clinical precision. Hahaha. You don't have a sincere bone in your body, Nate Miller.

Back at the dorm, I applied a face mask and pulled out my other two phones.

Nate had been busy.

Nate: Rogue, baby. I missed you tonight.

Nate: Madeline, Im thinking about you.

What a dog.

If there were an Olympic event for time management, this guy would take the gold every year.

I decided to reply as Account No. 2, "Rogue," the gamer girl.

Rogue: Get online, kid. Theres a guild war. Im carrying you.

Nate replied instantly. Nate: Rogue! Where have you been? I checked the server, you weren't even logged in. Are you ignoring me?

Ah, the classic "guilt trip" play. Too bad "Rogue" was a stone-cold ice queen.

Rogue: Don't get clingy, little man. Were here to play. If youre going to whine, Ill find another support to carry.

Nate sent back a crying cat emoji.

Nate: T^T No, don't leave. I'll play. But Im still trash, so don't let them bully me. Protect me, okay?

It was honestly fascinating. He was a total chameleon.

With "Bunny," he was the doting older boyfriend.

With "Rogue," he was the submissive, clingy "soft boy."

And when I switched to "Madeline," the rich older woman... he became the charming, flirtatious young puppy.

He really put in the work.

I logged into the game. My character was a fierce warrior in green robes, wielding a massive broadsword. Standing next to me was Nates character... a walking disco ball.

He had spent a fortune on the gaudiest, most expensive gear. He wore a glowing crown, a shimmering cape, and rings that pulsed with golden light. He was a mobile loot drop.

Nate was famous on the server for being the "No. 1 Pay-to-Win Noob."

A rival guild member typed in the world chat: "Is that the servers richest loser again? Bringing out the shiny toys for us to break?"

Nates character leaned against mine. Nate: Baby, theyre being mean to me!

Honestly, the rival guy has a point, I thought, laughing as I swung my massive sword. The guild war erupted into a chaos of light and steel.

Nates voice kept crackling through my headset. "Rogue! My health bar is halfway gone! It hurts!"

"God, you look so hot when you swing that sword. My heart is actually pounding."

I glanced at the screen where I had just used Nates character as a human shield to block a fireball. I smirked.

Your heart is pounding? Lets turn up the heat.

I kept playing with one hand and used the other to switch to Account No. 3.

Madeline: Sorry, sweetie. I had a long day at the office. What are you up to?

The voice chat went dead for a second. Then, a message popped up.

Nate: Just got out of the shower, Madeline.

Liar.

Madeline: Oh? Show me those abs. Im exhausted and could use a little eye candy to wake me up.

At the same time, I spoke into the headset as "Rogue." "Whats wrong? Why are you quiet all of a sudden?"

Nate didn't answer in the game. Instead, my "Madeline" phone buzzed with a photo.

It was Nate, leaning against a bathroom mirror, a towel slung low on his hips. His hair was damp, water droplets still clinging to his chest and tracing the lines of his V-cut.

Jesus, have some decency.

I cursed under my breath, feeling a flush creep up my neck. I typed back:

Madeline: You really are my favorite little man. I think I need to hear your voice. I'm calling you now.

Madeline: [Sent a screenshot of a "busy" signal]

Madeline: Wait, why is your line busy, Nate? Who are you talking to?

Nate: Im... uh, Im on a work call, Madeline!

Meanwhile, in the headset, Nates voice finally returned. "Sorry, Rogue! Im back."

I looked at the "Death" screen for Nates character. "You weren't paying attention," I said coldly. "You died so fast it was pathetic. I'm done for the night."

Nate panicked. "I didn't mean it! I'm just... a little slow sometimes. Don't be mad!"

I ignored him on the headset and kept blowing up his "Madeline" phone.

Madeline: I want to hear your voice right now, or I'm going to be very upset. Are you going to be a good boy for me?

Nate: Okay... anything for you.

Then, over the headset, I heard Nate say in a fake-sweet voice: "Rogue, honey, I have to take this. Ill be back in a bit to make it up to you."

Rogue: "Who is it?"

Nate: "It's... my aunt. Family emergency."

"..."

Unbelievable. I didn't realize Id been added to the family tree.

I gritted my teeth. Just wait, Nate Miller. Theres going to be a day when youre on your knees begging for my mercy.