𝐖𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐃 𝐆𝐀𝐌𝐄 [𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐒𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫] 🔞

ᴘʀᴏʟᴏɢᴜᴇ

You were seated with your fellow peers in the academy hall, awaiting for an important announcement. Who would be receiving the most prestigious award, the Plinth Prize. You were sitting upright with a sense of assurance despite the stares your way. You exuded composure, your spine perfectly aligned, shoulders pushed back, and chin held high. You did your best to suppress a smile, desperately fighting to maintain a neutral expression.

You were one of the most promising students in this academy. You were prideful of your academic career and all of the achievements you have accomplished. You had no doubt in your mind that in the next couple of minutes you could be the one taking home the prize. You were sure it would rile up every other star pupil who were born Capitol citizens. This was because all of your peers are more than aware that your family originated from the districts.

You were young when your father had gained a large profit off of aiding the Capitol during the first rebellion. Or to be more specific, the Dark Days. The wealth your family gained had allowed you all to depart from the districts to the Capitol in search of a better life. In your father's eyes, it was a good thing because had you stayed in your district, you could have been a potential victim of the Hunger Games.

Due to your family's previous district status, you had been an outcast to your peers while living in the Capitol. Often shunned by them. You were deemed rebellious scum like the residents of the districts. However, it was not like you strived to fit in with the Capitol kids either. It was far from your life's mission to be liked by anyone in this place. You never stopped being vocal with how ethically immoral you believed the games were. Your father had received a lot of backlash from your words, but no one could ever physically punish you for it. Not with his status here.

"Mind if I join you, dear?"

You glanced up. That deep flirty voice belonged to none other than Coriolanus Snow. He offered you a tiny smile to display friendliness as he awaited your answer. You internally groaned. You wanted to be petty and say no badly, but your kindness always got the best of you.

You gave him a polite smile in return. "Please, go ahead."

Coriolanus chuckled at your attempt at politeness towards him, taking a seat next to you.

Out of all the students who attended this academy, Coriolanus was the one you disliked the most. Despite his charismatic demeanor, you were aware that he was as entitled and egotistical as one could get. You felt irritated with his presence for he was the only other star pupil in your grade that was a constant threat to your position in the ranks. Not to mention that you were insanely attracted to him. And you hated it. Especially when he would purposely flirt with you. He always treated you in a friendly manner regardless of your academic rivalry. You never understood why. Most of the students here considered it as social suicide to socialize with you or Sejanus outside of school purposes.

Coriolanus' eyes flickered towards you. They could not help but linger on the flattering dress you wore to this occasion. Your hair was perfect, your makeup too... You were perfect.

Coriolanus found himself constantly torn about you. The fact that you were from a district should have automatically made you unlikeable in his eyes. But no matter how hard he tries, he could not manage to find a single repulsive quality about you. You were pretty, intelligent, and confident. His type exactly. He experienced constant guilt for the way he felt about you. It was infuriating how effortlessly you turned his thoughts upside down.

"Feeling anxious?" He asked, referring to the announcement of who would be receiving the prize, adjusting the rose pinned to his dress shirt.

You tensed up from his question. You prayed he did not notice this. In a way, you did feel rather positive about winning the prize. However, in the back of your mind, you felt a little timid. You knew that Coriolanus was exceptionally intelligent as well. He was also Dr. Gaul's favorite which might be a problem... But you did not want to have a negative mindset. You forced yourself to remain cool, harboring those slight doubts to yourself.