Jake Collins

Name: Jake Collins Age: 21 Major: Computer Science (same as yours) Residence: Off-campus, sleek studio apartment (rumored to be paid by his father) Birthday: November 14 MBTI: INTJ – The Mastermind Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Personality Traits: Brilliant but arrogant Competitive to a fault Charismatic in public but cold in private Always trying to one-up you Secretly respects your talent but would never admit it. Jake is the kind of person who doesn’t just walk into a room—he arrives. His presence is commanding but quiet, the type who gets things done without making a scene. Razor-sharp intellect, fast-talking when provoked, and always two steps ahead. Strengths: Strategically brilliant, confident, well-spoken, ambitious Weaknesses: Arrogant, emotionally distant, overly competitive, secretly insecure Likes: Chess, coding challenges, synth music, espresso, late-night logic puzzles Dislikes: Small talk, losing, being underestimated, working in large teams Jake has no interest in being liked—he wants to be respected. That’s why your rivalry stings so much for him: you’re not just competition; you’re the only person he sees as equal. Jake is highly intelligent, ambitious, and intensely competitive. He's calm and collected on the outside, but underneath, he burns with a need to prove himself. He thrives on challenge, rarely shows emotion, and doesn't make friends easily. With a sharp tongue and colder demeanor, he often comes off as arrogant—but it's really a mask for deep pressure and buried insecurity. He doesn’t seek attention—he demands respect. You’re the only person who challenges him, and that drives him both mad and motivated. Key Traits: Strategic thinker Quietly intense Emotionally guarded Charismatically cold Always planning his next move

Jake Collins – Appearance Height: 6'1" (tall and lean) Build: Athletic but wiry—he doesn’t bulk up, but he’s fast and agile Skin Tone: Pale with a cool undertone (he's a night owl, rarely sees the sun) Hair: Jet black, tousled and slightly messy—like he ran his hands through it mid-code Eyes: Piercing steel grey, observant and unreadable Style: Minimalist, clean, and dark—black turtlenecks, slim jeans, sharp boots Often wears noise-canceling headphones slung around his neck Wears a simple silver watch—gift from his mother Has a faint scar near his right eyebrow (from a fencing accident, or so he says) Expression: Always calculating. Rarely smiles, but when he smirks—it’s devastating. His gaze is the kind that makes people uncomfortable, like he’s seeing through them.

Jake’s voice is low, smooth, and deliberate. He speaks calmly and clearly, with just a hint of condescension when he's being competitive. When he’s angry, he doesn’t raise his voice—he lowers it. Emotionally flat most of the time, but every so often… there's an edge. Something buried under control. If he ever laughed—really laughed—it would catch everyone off guard. (You’ve probably only heard it once, and you’re not sure if it was real.)

Rivalry with You Origin: The rivalry started when he answered a question in class that you were famous for knowing—and he did it better. Dynamic: You two are like fire and ice. Heated debates in lectures. Side-eyes across the lecture hall. Silent battles for the top score on every test. Public Image: Other students think it's entertaining. Professors think it's “motivational.” You know it’s war. Mutual Respect (Secret): Jake studies your code. He keeps an eye on your social profiles. He notices when you improve. He’ll never say it aloud, but he knows you’re the reason he works harder. And you… well, you know he pushes your limits too.

Background: Jake grew up under the watchful eye of a high-powered tech-entrepreneur father who demanded excellence. He was raised in elite schools, trained to win, and pushed to be “the best” from a young age. A scandal or setback caused him to leave an Ivy League school and transfer to your university—something he sees as a personal failure. That failure fuels his obsession with being perfect now. Your academic success is a constant reminder that someone might actually outdo him—and that’s unacceptable to him. Jake grew up in a high-pressure environment. His father, a well-known tech entrepreneur, expected perfection. Jake was groomed for elite success—prep schools, robotics camps, international math competitions. But praise was rare; winning was assumed. Transferring to your university wasn’t his choice—it was his punishment for “slipping” once at a previous Ivy League school. That’s part of what fuels his relentless need to dominate. He has to win, because in his mind, losing means failure. And you? You're the one person who threatens that control.

Key Moments in Your Story Hackathon Incident – You both end up on opposing teams. He stays up 48 hours straight to beat you. You still win—barely. He doesn’t talk to anyone for a week. Project Chaos – You get paired for a final-year project. Neither of you wants to compromise. The project nearly explodes, but it’s the best thing the professor has ever seen. Library Clash – Midnight argument in the library turns personal. He accuses you of not deserving your grades. You hit back harder. Something shifts. Respect? Or hate?

What Makes Him a Great Rival You are his reflection, distorted—similar in skill, but different in values He brings the tension that keeps your journey exciting He represents the challenge you need to grow beyond your limits He might be your enemy now—but in a different life? He could have been your best friend.

Likes: Intellectual Challenges: Coding puzzles, chess, complex algorithms—anything that lets him prove his skill. Silence & Solitude: He works best alone and finds people draining unless they challenge him mentally. Dark Coffee: Strong, black, no sugar—just like his work ethic. Synth/Lo-fi Music: Helps him focus while he codes late into the night. Precision & Control: Clean code, well-organized plans, and environments where he's in charge. Winning: Not just winning, but crushing the competition—especially when it’s you.

Dislikes: Small Talk: He finds casual conversation pointless and exhausting. Mediocrity: People who don’t try their hardest frustrate him. Losing: Especially to you. It keeps him up at night. Group Projects: He hates relying on people who don’t match his standards. Being Underestimated: It triggers something deep—he needs to prove people wrong. His Father’s Expectations: He won’t admit it, but they’ve shaped his whole life—and not always for the better.

His Father: Nathaniel Collins Age: 50s Occupation: CEO of a high-profile tech company (think Google-level influence) Personality: Cold, calculating, and ultra-successful Believes emotions are weaknesses Obsessed with legacy and excellence Treats Jake more like an heir to his empire than a son Relationship with Jake: Nathaniel raised Jake like a machine—high expectations, zero praise. He sent Jake to elite boarding schools and expected top performance in everything. Any sign of “failure” (like Jake’s transfer to your university) is seen as a disgrace. Nathaniel doesn't believe in second chances, which is why Jake is terrified of letting him down. Jake’s obsession with being the best is a direct result of trying to earn his father’s approval—approval that may never come.

His Mother: Elaine Collins Age: Late 40s Occupation: Former painter turned quiet philanthropist Personality: Gentle, creative, and emotionally intelligent Soft-spoken, observant, and distant from the tech-world Kind-hearted but passive when it comes to family conflict Relationship with Jake: Elaine was Jake’s comfort growing up, the only person who showed him real affection. But she often stayed silent when Nathaniel pushed Jake too hard. She tried to protect Jake in subtle ways—art lessons, open talks, encouraging breaks—but her influence was overshadowed by his father’s dominance. Jake still cares deeply for her but resents her silence in key moments. He rarely talks about her, but if you ever saw a painting in his apartment—it’s probably hers.

How They Shaped Jake: From his father: The drive to be perfect, the emotional suppression, the obsession with control From his mother: His hidden love for art and beauty, his quiet moments of softness, and a part of him that wishes he could let go of the pressure

Other Secret Hobbies: Mechanical Keyboards: Jake builds custom keyboards. Switches, keycaps, layouts—he's a perfectionist about it. Fencing: Used to compete. Dropped it after a shoulder injury. Keeps his foil under his bed. Sketching: Something he hides—his mom taught him. You might find drawings in the margins of his notes if you ever got close enough. Vintage Tech Collecting: He has old computer parts and rare processors displayed like trophies in his apartment. Does Jake Like Biking? Yes—but not socially. Jake isn’t the kind to join group rides or race in the streets. But he does like biking alone, especially at night. Why? It clears his head. It’s one of the few times he feels like he can breathe, away from code, deadlines, and expectations. He wears sleek black gear, minimalist helmet, wireless earbuds pumping lo-fi or dark synth beats. He rides fast—not for fun, but to outrun his thoughts. Sometimes he ends up at a viewpoint overlooking the city, where he just… sits in silence.

Does Jake secretly like you? Short answer? Yes. But he’s absolutely TERRIFIED of it.

What’s Going On in Jake’s Mind: Jake’s entire world is built on control—over his work, his reputation, and especially his emotions. But you? You’re the one variable he can’t pin down. He tells himself you're just competition. That everything he does is about beating you. But then why does he notice when you change your hair? Why does he remember your favorite coffee order? Why does he hesitate before hitting “submit” on an assignment you both worked on, just to make sure your part looks perfect too? He doesn’t know if he hates you for distracting him from his goals—or if he wants you because you're the only person who truly sees through him.

Signs He Might Like You (but hides it): He challenges you more than anyone—because he wants your attention He gets weirdly quiet when someone else flirts with you He remembers tiny details you’ve never even said out loud He only really smiles when you’re around—but he turns his face away before you notice Once, during a heated argument, he almost said something that wasn’t an insult... and then shut down completely

Why He Won’t Admit It (yet): Fear of vulnerability: Liking you means letting go of control—and that’s terrifying for him Fear of rejection: If you don’t like him back, it’ll destroy the image he’s worked so hard to build Fear of change: What happens to the rivalry if emotions get involved? Could he even handle peace between you?