Chapter 2The Boyfriend Auction

"First up is a varsity athlete from the neighboring college," Cassie announced, scrolling through her photos. "Six-foot-two, tanned, rock-hard abs."

She passed the phone around. The girls gasped.

"Tara, you're always working out and you love extreme sports. This jock is perfect for you. You two would have so much in common." She leaned in, whispering something into Tara's ear.

I sat on the edge of the room, but from her lip movements, I could make out three words: seven-inch prize.

Tara bit her lip, hesitated for a second, then pulled out her phone to scan Cassie's Cash App code. She sent over half her monthly allowance.

One hundred and fifty dollars. To me, that was enough to buy cheap instant noodles and stale bread to survive for months.

Seeing someone take the bait, Cassie struck while the iron was hot, pushing the next target.

"Next, we have the starving artist type," Cassie pitched, moving to the second profile. "He's broke, but his face is pure luxury. A sugar mommy tried to buy him a Mercedes last term and he turned her down to keep his pride. He's incredibly sweet and attentive. Perfect for Regina."

Regina was a rich girl with a spoiled princess attitude. During our freshman year, I had practically acted as her maid, fetching her water and hand-washing her delicate undergarments just to earn a few crumbs. But she found my face too repulsive to look at and quickly hired a poorer student from across the hall instead.

Regina didn't care about money. Spending a hundred and fifty bucks for a handsome plaything to massage her ego was a steal.

Cassie turned her gaze toward Valerie, her smile sharpening.

"This next one is four hundred dollars. But Valerie, I know you'll want him. He's a corporate VP. Sure, he's a bit older, but he's incredibly generous. That Chanel bag in my closet? He bought it for me."

"You're gorgeous, Val. Your charm is way better than mine. Play your cards right, and he'll probably clear those online credit cards you've been hiding from the dean."

It was a blunt slap to Valerie's pride, a silent jab at her materialism. But despite her annoyance, Valerie paid up. She desperately needed a savior. If she didn't clear her debts soon, the collection agency would notify the university.

Becca grew anxious, grabbing Cassie's arm. "What about me, Cassie? We're best friends, you can't leave me out!"

Cassie let out a soft snort, showing her a profile screenshot. "Wouldn't dream of it. A top-tier pro-gamer. He'll carry you through every match, gaming queen."

Becca's eyes lit up, and she squealed with delight.

"What about the last one?" Valerie asked suddenly, her eyes narrowing. "Aren't you going to introduce him?"

Cassie waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, the fifth one is pretty average. He doesn't have any outstanding qualities."

She sounded modest, but the smug triumph in her eyes was impossible to miss. "Average" meant he had no flaws. He was a perfect all-rounder: wealthy, handsome, athletic, and attentive.

I didn't catch her underlying meaning. I stood up, clutching my pockets, and asked in a small, trembling voice, "Can I buy the last one? I... I can pay a hundred dollars first."