Gemotions

The red "C-" glared back at Marcus from the test paper. His jaw tightened. All that time spent "studying" – and by studying, he meant making notes in the margins about how much he could potentially make off the crypto market. He’d even skipped a few sessions of his evening job to dedicate time to "learning." Now, all that investment of his time and resources, gone. Wasted. He crumpled the paper in his fist, the sound a satisfying crunch, but the feeling in his gut was anything but.

His palms itched. He imagined the professor, smug and self-satisfied, enjoying a delicious, five-course meal he'd meticulously prepared. The image fueled a sudden, sharp hunger within Marcus. A longing for that meal. The kind of meal only he felt he was entitled to.

“This isn’t right,” he muttered, his voice barely a whisper. He knew this wasn't just about the grade. It was about the time, the opportunity cost, the potential profits he'd sacrificed. It felt like someone had snatched a precious jewel right from his grasp.