"Jason, can you calm down?"
"I know it was your birthday yesterday, but I told you—I wasn't free."
"And how did you even find out I went out with Josh? Were you following me? So what if I booked a hotel room with him? We're just friends. You seriously need to stop acting like you're my boyfriend."
Standing at the side gate of Westlake University, Jason Carter felt the words stab into his chest like cold needles. His face drained of color. For a moment, he had no words—none that could refute her.
It was true. He'd been licking her boots this whole time.
When Emma had cramps, he rushed to get her heating pads and brown sugar tea.
When she caught the flu, he skipped two lectures to take care of her.
When it rained, no matter where he was, he found a way to show up with an umbrella just for her.
He bought her a designer hoodie she once casually mentioned, just to surprise her on her birthday.
She accepted it all. Every small act of care, every thoughtful gift—but never once did she call him her boyfriend.
She never made him a priority.
And he?
He never made her say "yes." He just assumed that one day, maybe—just maybe—she'd love him back.
But that's the saddest thing about being a simp: even when you feel jealous, you have no right to be.
Because simps? They don't get to be mad. They gave up their pride the moment they started licking.
Jason bit his lip, holding back the words—words full of frustration, longing, and hurt. Saying anything now would only make him look more pathetic.
He took a deep breath, then said quietly, "You're right. We're just friends. I don't have the right to question you."
He paused, then added with a bitter smile, "Actually, I don't even think we're friends anymore. Friends care. I've been acting like a dog. That's on me."
Emma frowned. "Jason, what the hell? You're overreacting. We're still cool, right? Same as always."
Jason let out a soft scoff.
Same as always? He licked. She took. Rinse and repeat.
And now that she's spent the night with Josh—the rich kid who drives a Porsche and just transferred from the East Coast—what did she expect? That he'd keep licking like nothing happened?
Jason stared at her for a few more seconds.
Three years.
Three years of chasing after someone who never saw him as anything more than an emotional convenience.
He almost warned her about Josh—about how he'd heard things—but what was the point?
He turned and walked away.
Emma cursed under her breath, but he didn't stop.
Behind her, her roommate Madison smirked. "Damn, Jason really thinks he can compare with Josh? Josh drives a Porsche. Jason's from some hick town in Iowa."
"He's probably doing this for attention. Give it a few days, he'll be back with a caramel macchiato and that whipped little grin."
Emma rolled her eyes. "Whatever. He even took my boba. But forget him—Josh said we're hitting the outlet mall later."
"Girl, you've upgraded. Jason was your training wheels. Josh? He's the real ride."
As Jason walked along the path lined with maple trees, the soft late-summer breeze blew through his hair.
Oddly enough, he felt... calm.
It was like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. A pair of chains unshackled from his chest.
For the first time in three years, he didn't feel like chasing anyone.
"Why the hell did I waste so much time?" he muttered. "College life's short. Even if I don't date, at least I don't have to kneel for someone's attention."
He stopped walking, looking up at the sky.
"From now on... even if I stay single forever, I'll never simp again."
But just as he made that vow—
Ding!
A strange voice echoed in his mind:
"Strongest Simp System detected a compatible host. Binding complete."
Jason blinked. "...What?"
A translucent blue screen appeared in front of him like a hologram:
System Activation Complete
Host: Jason Carter
Total Simp Points: $100 Trillion
Starting Simp Fund: $1,000,000
System Tip: The better you simp, the stronger you become. Are you ready to rule the world with simp power?
Jason: "…Are you f***ing kidding me?"