Cebu, Philippines—

Miguel “Miggy” Santos was just an ordinary guy. He had a stable job at a call center, an unhealthy obsession with milk tea, and an equally passionate love-hate relationship with BL novels. Every night, after his exhausting shift, he’d curl up with his phone and devour the latest chapters of whatever spicy, dramatic, and utterly ridiculous yaoi novel he could find.

Tonight was no different. Wrapped in his blanket, he was reading his favorite ongoing series, *The Duke’s Obsession: Love at First Bite*, a fantasy yaoi novel featuring a cold, arrogant duke and his beautiful, reluctant lover. Miggy had a lot of opinions about this novel—mainly that the main character, Rin, was an absolute dumbass for resisting the sexy, overpowered love interest.

“What kind of idiot runs away from a rich, handsome duke? If it were me, I’d already be picking out our wedding theme.” 😤 Miggy scoffed, stuffing a spoonful of chocolate ice cream into his mouth.

As he swiped to the next chapter, he muttered, “Seriously, if some magical force put me in this world, I’d make sure to live a stress-free life. No unnecessary drama, no misunderstandings, just pure luxury.”

Just as he reached a particularly juicy scene, his phone buzzed with a strange notification:

**[Congratulations! You have been chosen as the Special Guest for ‘The Duke’s Obsession: Love at First Bite’!]**

Miggy blinked. “Huh?”

The next second, a blinding light burst from his screen, swallowing him whole. 😱

---

When Miggy woke up, he was no longer in his tiny Cebu apartment. Instead, he was lying in a luxurious, canopied bed, draped in soft silk sheets. He bolted upright, heart racing. The room was enormous, with high ceilings, gold-trimmed furniture, and an enormous mirror reflecting…

Himself? 😨

Miggy gasped, scrambling out of bed. His reflection showed someone that wasn’t quite him—his body was more refined, his features sharper, and his usually casual clothing had transformed into an elegant noble’s attire.

Before he could process any of this, a robotic voice echoed in his mind:

[Welcome, Host! You have successfully entered the world of ‘The Duke’s Obsession: Love at First Bite’. You are now Cain Villafuerte, a high-ranking noble and a key side character in the novel.]

Miggy froze. “Wait, I’m not Rin?!”

[Correct! You are Cain, known for your intelligence, charm, and unfortunate entanglement with the novel’s chaotic main characters.]

Miggy groaned. “So I don’t even get to be the main character? At least tell me I’m not some tragic cannon fodder.”

[That depends on your actions. Your role is to support the plot, but deviations may lead to unpredictable consequences.]

Miggy sighed. Okay, no problem. He could work with this. As long as he avoided unnecessary trouble, he could just coast through this world, right?

Wrong. 😩

Before he could celebrate his calm approach, the doors suddenly burst open, and a tall, dangerously handsome man strode inside. His piercing golden eyes locked onto Miggy’s, making him shiver.

“There you are,” the man purred, a smirk playing on his lips. “I’ve been looking for you, Cain.”

Miggy gulped.

Oh.

Oh no. 😨

He was in trouble.

---

The tension in the room was suffocating. Miggy forced a nervous smile, but his brain was already screaming.

This was Duke Adrian Lancaster, the novel’s main love interest.

And he was looking at him like a cat that had just cornered a particularly annoying mouse. 😬

“Uh, hi?” Miggy blurted out, trying not to sound like a complete idiot.

Adrian raised an eyebrow. “You’ve been avoiding me, Cain.”

Miggy’s brain short-circuited. Avoiding him? That didn’t sound good. He didn’t even know what Cain’s relationship with Adrian was! Was he a friend? A rival? Worse—a scorned lover?! 😱

“Uh, system? Help?” Miggy whispered urgently in his mind.

[Loading… Cain Villafuerte’s background…]

[Cain is a nobleman and Rin’s close friend. He is known for his wit, charm, and political influence. Duke Adrian views Cain as an obstacle to pursuing Rin.]

Miggy nearly choked. “Obstacle?! That means this guy hates me!”

Adrian took another step forward, closing the distance. “You’ve been meddling too much, Cain.”

“Meddling?” Miggy laughed nervously. “Oh no, Your Grace, I would never meddle! Meddling is not in my nature.” 😅

Adrian’s smirk deepened. “Then why do you always show up when I try to court Rin?”

Crap. Crap. Crap. 😰

Miggy had no idea what past-Cain had been up to, but apparently, he had been cockblocking the Duke without fear of consequences. And now, those consequences were staring him down with a deadly smirk.

“I assure you,” Miggy said, raising his hands in surrender, “I have no intention of interfering with your romantic pursuits. In fact, I wholeheartedly support your love story!”

Adrian narrowed his eyes. “Then prove it.”

Miggy gulped. “Uh… how?”

The Duke took another step forward, effectively trapping Miggy between himself and the bed. His golden eyes gleamed with amusement. “Stay out of my way.”

Miggy nodded so fast he nearly gave himself whiplash. “Understood! No meddling! Zero interference! Good luck and God bless!” 🙏

Adrian studied him for a moment before finally stepping back. “Good.”

Miggy exhaled in relief, but his victory was short-lived.

[New Mission: Ensure Rin and Adrian's romance progresses smoothly.]

[Failure to comply will result in a penalty.]

Miggy felt his soul leave his body.

This was a disaster. 😭

Miggy had read enough BL novels to know when a character was in deep trouble. And right now? He was drowning in it. 😭

Duke Adrian Lancaster stood before him, exuding an aura of dominance so strong that Miggy swore he could hear dramatic violin music playing in the background. 🎻 His golden eyes gleamed with amusement, but there was something dangerous lurking beneath them—like a predator sizing up its prey.

“So?” Adrian drawled, tilting his head. “If you truly support my relationship with Rin, I assume you’ll no longer interfere?”

Miggy nodded so fast his brain rattled. “Absolutely, Your Grace! In fact, I will personally cheer you on from the sidelines! Team Adrian all the way! Go, go, lovebirds!”

Adrian narrowed his eyes, as if deciding whether to believe him. Then, to Miggy’s absolute horror, the duke smirked.

“I’m glad to hear that, Cain.” He stepped closer, backing Miggy against the edge of the bed. “Because I was beginning to think… you had feelings for Rin yourself.”

Miggy nearly choked. “Wha—NO! I mean, not that Rin isn’t great, but I assure you, Your Grace, my tastes lie elsewhere!”

Adrian arched a brow. “Elsewhere?”

Miggy internally facepalmed. Crap. That sounded suspicious. He needed to dig himself out of this grave—fast. “Uh, yes! I simply value my friendship with Rin and want to see him happy! And that means helping him fall madly in love with you, of course!”

The smirk on Adrian’s lips widened. “Is that so?”

Before Miggy could confirm (or run), a knock echoed through the room. The door creaked open, and in walked a young man with soft, raven-black hair and wide, innocent eyes.

Rin. 😨

Miggy swore he felt the universe conspiring against him. Why was the main character showing up NOW, when he was being cornered by the Duke of Doom?!

“Cain?” Rin’s voice was gentle, filled with concern. “Are you okay?”

No, Rin. No, he was NOT okay.

Miggy forced a wobbly smile. “Oh, just having a friendly chat with His Grace here!”

Rin’s gaze flickered between them, then landed on how close Adrian was standing. His expression tightened. “Adrian, are you harassing Cain?”

Adrian let out a low chuckle. “Harassing? My dear Rin, I was simply making sure that Cain understands his place.”

Oh, great. That didn’t sound ominous at all. 😅

Rin frowned. “You two should stop fighting. Cain’s my friend. And I don’t like seeing my friends being treated like this.”

A flicker of something unreadable passed through Adrian’s eyes. Then, to Miggy’s absolute shock, the duke stepped back.

“My apologies,” Adrian said smoothly, though Miggy highly doubted he meant it. “I wouldn’t want to upset you, Rin.”

Rin sighed, shaking his head. “Honestly, you two…”

Miggy mentally cheered. YES! Score one for Rin! If the main character could keep Adrian distracted, that meant Miggy could escape this ridiculous death flag! 🏃‍♂️💨

But before he could slink away, Adrian suddenly turned to him, his smirk returning. “Cain, since you’re so supportive of Rin and me, why don’t you help us get closer?”

Miggy’s blood ran cold. “Excuse me, what now?”

Adrian’s golden eyes practically sparkled with mischief. “You said you want Rin to fall for me, didn’t you? Then prove it. Help me woo him.”

Miggy felt like the heavens had abandoned him. THIS WASN’T WHAT HE MEANT AT ALL! 😭

[New Mission: Assist Adrian in successfully courting Rin. Failure will result in an unknown penalty.]

Miggy clutched his head, resisting the urge to scream. Why, oh why, had he opened his big mouth?!

Meanwhile, Rin looked utterly confused. “Cain doesn’t have to do that…”

“Oh, but I insist,” Adrian said smoothly, eyes glinting. “After all, Cain promised to support us, didn’t he?”

Miggy wanted to cry. This wasn’t just a love story anymore—this was his personal nightmare.

Trapped in a BL novel, forced to play matchmaker for a couple he wanted to avoid, all while trying not to get himself killed?

This was going to be a disaster. 😭

Miggy had faced a lot of problems in his life.

Getting scammed by an online shop? Been there. 😩

Forgetting to clock in at work and losing a day’s worth of pay? Done that. 😭

Accidentally sending a flirty message meant for his best friend to his boss? Never living that down. 💀

But nothing—absolutely NOTHING—compared to his current predicament. 😱

[New Mission: Assist Adrian in successfully courting Rin. Failure will result in an unknown penalty.]

The words flashed ominously in his mind, and Miggy wanted to scream. 😵‍💫

How was he supposed to help the most overbearing, smug, and downright dangerous duke win over a pure-hearted protagonist?! This wasn’t some dating sim where he could just pick the right dialogue options! He was dealing with real (well, sort of real) people with real emotions! 😭

Rin was still looking at them suspiciously. “Cain, you don’t have to—”

“He has already agreed.” Adrian’s smirk widened. “And I’d hate to see him go back on his word.”

Miggy knew a threat when he heard one. 🫠

A loud internal wail echoed in his brain. Why me?! 😫

But he had no choice. The system’s missions weren’t something he could ignore, unless he wanted to find out what “unknown penalty” meant. And knowing how these transmigration stories worked, it was probably something horrible—like losing all his noble privileges, being thrown into a dungeon, or, worse… having to become Adrian’s personal assistant. 😨

Miggy shuddered. Nope. Not happening. He needed to survive.

He let out a fake, enthusiastic chuckle. “Of course, I’d love to help! Anything for true love!” 💕

Rin narrowed his eyes. “Cain…”

Adrian placed a hand on Miggy’s shoulder, his grip just a little too firm. “Good. Then let’s begin.”

Oh no. Oh NO. 😰

———

Helping a cold, calculating duke woo a sweet and oblivious protagonist was as miserable as Miggy had expected. 🤦‍♂️

The first step of Adrian’s plan? A romantic outing. 💑

Miggy had suggested something simple, like a walk in the royal gardens, but Adrian, being the extra villainous male lead that he was, insisted on something “grand and unforgettable.”

Which was how they ended up on an extravagant boat ride along the crystal-clear waters of the kingdom’s lake, complete with a string quartet, gourmet desserts, and a literal flock of doves being released into the sky. 🎻🕊️

Rin, bless his clueless heart, just blinked in confusion. “This is… a lot.”

Miggy could feel Adrian’s eyes burning into him. Fix this, the gaze seemed to say. 😑

Miggy coughed and elbowed Rin lightly. “Isn’t it romantic? Imagine floating under the stars, music playing, just the two of you basking in each other’s company…” 🌙✨

Rin tilted his head. “But… you’re here too.”

Miggy nearly facepalmed. “Yes, well, just imagine I’m not.” 🤦‍♂️

Adrian sighed, rubbing his temples. Clearly, this was not going as planned. 😤

[Mission Progress: 5% - Minor Setback Detected]

Miggy wanted to throw himself into the lake. 😩

———

The second attempt: A heartfelt love letter. 💌

Simple, classic, effective. At least, that’s what Miggy thought.

He sat with Adrian in the duke’s grand study, parchment and quill ready, as Adrian dictated.

“Dearest Rin,” Adrian began, voice smooth and deep. “From the moment I first laid eyes on you, I knew my world had changed forever.”

Miggy nodded. Alright, solid start. “Go on.”

Adrian’s gaze darkened, his expression turning intense. “Every breath you take is a melody in the grand symphony of my life. Your mere presence sets my soul aflame, burning with a passion that refuses to be extinguished.” 🔥

Miggy choked. “Hold up—what?” 😳

Adrian frowned. “Is that not romantic?”

“It’s… a lot,” Miggy admitted. “Maybe tone it down? Rin’s a simple guy. Try something sweet but less… intense.”

Adrian looked at the parchment, considering. Then, after a long pause, he smirked. “Very well. Write this: ‘Rin, you are tolerable. I do not dislike you.’”

Miggy stared at him in horror. “What kind of love letter is that?!” 😨

Adrian raised a brow. “It’s honest.”

“IT’S TERRIBLE.” 😱

Adrian shrugged. “Then fix it.”

Miggy groaned, massaging his temples. This was going to be a long, long mission. 😓

[Mission Progress: 15% - Mild Improvement]

———

By the end of the day, Miggy was mentally and emotionally drained. 😵

Rin was still oblivious to Adrian’s feelings, Adrian was still the most infuriatingly difficult man to work with, and Miggy… was questioning every life decision that had led him to this point. 🤔

As he collapsed onto his bed, exhausted, the system chimed in his head.

[Daily Bonus: Progress Achieved - No Penalty for Today!] 🎉

Miggy let out a relieved sigh. At least he wasn’t getting punished. Yet. 😌

But as he closed his eyes, he had a sinking feeling. 😬

Tomorrow was going to be even worse. 😭

And he wasn’t ready for it. 😵‍💫

———

Meanwhile, in another part of the estate, Rin sat by his window, deep in thought. Something about the way Cain had been acting lately felt… off.

He hadn’t told Rin much about his conversations with Adrian, and Rin couldn’t shake the feeling that Cain was hiding something.

A cold breeze drifted through the open window, rustling the curtains.

“Cain…” Rin murmured to himself, frowning. “What’s really going on?”