Ruined by the Ripped Nerd

“Bro, you gonna eat those?”

“Nah, go ahead and have ’em.”

I reach into Danny’s open backpack, grabbing the bag of potato chips. I pop them open, chowing down while leaning against the tree. This is our favorite spot to hang out. Located in the center of campus, it’s a prime people-watching locale.

I scan the scene, eyeing students while they hustle to class. A light breeze blows, cooling the sun’s raging heat. It’s the end of the spring semester. Summer break is just around the corner.

And god knows I need it.

School has never been my strong suit, but my dad insisted on it. We’ve got a weird dynamic. He has enough money to buy a small country, but he still demands that his son goes to college and gets a job. I’m forced to play along—it’s one of the conditions of my trust fund. I have to work hard so I can inherit the family empire.

Danny though…things are different for him. He’s here on a scholarship. His dad is practically broke. We’re polar opposites in so many ways, yet we’ve been friends since we were young. I’m on the lacrosse team. Most of my time is spent out on the field. Danny is part of the university physics club. Most of his time is spent with his nose buried in a novel or a textbook.

Just like now.

While I munch on chips, he scans the pages of a paperback. He seems oblivious to the world around him.

I eye his sharp features. He’s not what you’d expect a bookworm to look like. He’s got thick brown hair and masculine, bushy eyebrows. His pecs bulge beneath his tight muscle shirt. His beefy thighs fill his gym shorts. Reading might be his passion, but he still finds time to hit the gym. That’s one of the few things we have in common.

“What’re you reading?”

“A new sci-fi novel.” He looks up, his amber eyes magnified behind thick-rimmed glasses. “Check it out.”

He flashes me the cover. The words “SLAVE TO THE MOTHERSHIP” are printed above an eerie image of men in little metal pods. They wear helmets that seem to connect their brains to a central computer. Drool spills down their chins, dripping onto their shirtless bodies.

Fucking nerd shit.

“What’s this one?” I reach into his bag and pull out a thin, colorful paperback.

This one is titled “CLAIMED BY THE ALIENS”. The cover shows a shirtless model bathed in a red glow. His back is exposed. His lower body is wrapped in some sort of sheer white fabric. The image has a strangely sexual vibe.

I flip it over. The blurb says something about becoming a “hucow”, whatever that means.

“Oh, that’s some trashy porno I bought online. I thought it’d be funny.”

“Yeah, not my thing.” I toss the book in his bag. “I prefer my porn visual. I’ve gotta actually see the tits to get hard.”

“Lame. Don’t be so lazy, Isaac. You’re missing out.” He goes back to reading.

“I only read for class. You know that.”

It’s true. He’s intimately familiar with my academic life. We’ve been studying together ever since high school. He’s basically my tutor at this point. It’s embarrassing.

I close my eyes, taking in the sound of rustling leaves and chatter in the distance. My friendship with Danny is no coincidence—our families have a history. Our dads were childhood friends too. They grew up together and eventually went to the same university.

Then the relationship fell apart.

My dad wasn’t wealthy back then, but he had an idea—one of the first social media sites. He paid Danny’s dad to code it. The story gets murky though.

My dad says it was contract work.

Danny’s dad says he was promised an ownership stake.

When the company was eventually acquired for a fuck-ton of cash, Danny’s dad didn’t see a dime. They were young and dumb—running the thing out of a dorm and making verbal agreements. My dad’s name was on all the documents. When the inevitable lawsuits came around, he won it all.

The relationship went nuclear. My dad was accused of theft. He was smeared in the media. Our families hated each other. It was a deep, festering wound.

To end the legal battle, my dad agreed to a small settlement—enough to buy a modest house. It finally put things to bed.

They didn’t talk for years…until Danny and I were born. They reconciled, and Danny’s mom started working as our housekeeper. Our families saw a lot of each other, and that’s how our friendship was born.

It’s a wild history, but I’m glad it’s behind us. None of us ever speak of the lawsuit. It’s taboo. Bygones should be bygones.

“Bro, want to go back to my dorm? I got a new video game.”

“Nah.” My eyes crack open. “You know I’m not a gamer.”

“This one is different though—it’s a visual novel.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s like a book, but in video game form. You know ‘choose your own adventure’ books? It’s the same idea.”

“Books and video games…booooring.”

“There’s more to it though.” His voice lowers. “It’s a porn game.”

“Oh?” I raise an eyebrow.

“Yeah. The goal is to fuck. That’s it. Full sex animations. Full voice acting. Your gameplay choices determine how the scenes play out.”

“Huh…you’ve got my attention.” A grin spreads across my face. “I’m not one to turn down some pussy—even if it’s virtual.”

“Sick.” He closes his book and shoves it into his backpack. “Let’s go!”

We step into the sunlight, passing the university’s historic buildings. This is one of the oldest schools in the country. The library…the dorms…the lecture halls…they’re all crafted from the same aged gray stone. Narrow windows run up the structures, framed by ornate masonry. Gargoyles and relief sculptures adorn the façades. The weight of history hangs in the air. Maybe it’s just the approaching summer break, but excitement runs through my veins. I feel strange…there’s an energy I don’t understand.