Winner

Peter and Paul were sitting on Paul's couch, both holding their phones, swiping through dating app profiles with little enthusiasm. It was one of those rainy afternoons when frustration seemed to bubble up more easily.

“Dude, this is all a scam,” Peter commented, tossing his phone onto the couch with a defeated expression. “No one ever matches with me. It doesn’t matter what I do.”

Paul shrugged. “It’s always the same thing. Everyone just wants perfect looks, shallow lines, and that Instagram-worthy lifestyle. And here we are, being... normal.”

Peter laughed, a bit bitterly. “Exactly. It should be simple, but it feels like if you don’t have that chiseled face or aren’t posting pics in some exotic place, forget about it.”

They sat in silence for a few seconds, until Paul, as if struck by a sudden idea, said:

“You know what? We should do the same thing they do. Let’s make a bet.”

Peter raised an eyebrow, curious. “What do you mean?”

“That’s right. We’ll fill our profiles with superficial stuff, get some cosmetic procedures, go on that trendy diet... whatever it takes to fit into these ridiculous standards. And whoever gets a date first, wins.”

Peter burst out laughing. “Are you serious?”

Paul nodded, a challenging smile forming on his lips. “Dead serious. Let’s see who can play this game better — you or me.”

Always competitive, Peter narrowed his eyes, ready for the challenge. “Deal. And what do we win?”

Paul shrugged. “I don’t know... the satisfaction of knowing you did it?”

---

From that day on, Peter dedicated himself to the bet. He dove into a new routine of working out, eating healthy, and undergoing a series of cosmetic procedures that promised to enhance his looks. He revamped his profile with perfectly angled photos, calculated smiles, and descriptions that seemed straight out of a “how to get more likes” guide.

However, Paul disappeared shortly after the challenge started. He deactivated all his social media and stopped replying to Peter's messages. Time passed, and Peter threw himself into his transformation, chasing that feeling of victory and the date that would prove he had mastered the game.

---

A year later, Peter was at his peak. Healthier, better looking, and with a profile that was attracting plenty of attention. He swiped through his phone one day and stopped on a profile that caught his eye: a gorgeous woman with a mesmerizing smile and captivating eyes. He could hardly believe it when they matched.

This seemed like the perfect opportunity. He invited her to dinner at a fancy restaurant, and she accepted.

On the night of the date, Peter arrived nervous but excited. When the woman walked into the restaurant, he was speechless. She was even more beautiful in person, with a confidence that made her impossible to ignore. They exchanged smiles, and as she sat down across from him, he was about to start some casual conversation when she said:

“Well, Peter, I won.”

Peter frowned, confused. “What do you mean, you won?”

She crossed her arms, leaning slightly over the table, an enigmatic smile on her lips. “The bet. I was the first to get a date. After all, you invited me.”

Peter’s face shifted from confusion to shock. He looked more closely at the woman, trying to make sense of it. Then, like a puzzle falling into place, he realized. The way she spoke, the look in her eyes... it was Paul.

“Paul... is that you?” Peter barely managed to get the words out, still in disbelief.

“Well, not Paul anymore, right?” She laughed. “But yeah, it’s me. And I guess that makes me the winner.”

Peter sat frozen for a moment. What had started as a silly bet between friends had turned into something he never would have expected. And there was Paul — or who had once been Paul — sitting across from him, completely transformed. He shook his head, laughing in disbelief.

“I can’t believe it. You took the bet to a whole new level.”

She smiled, now with a more serene expression. “Sometimes, you lose yourself a bit along the way... and find something unexpected.”