I laughed gently seeing the look on Sophia and Dominic's faces. I knew they thought I should be dead but here I am standing in flesh and blood before them. I went to one of the vacant seats and asked the attendees to serve me a meal. Dominic and Sophia looked at me and wondered how I was able to afford one of the richest eating restaurants in town. " Can you choose from the order menu, please?" A young beautiful lady stood before me.
She gave me a menu and I looked at it. With a smile on my face " Can I have everything on this list?"
She looked at me and smiled " I am not sure you understand what you are asking for. Do you mean every food on this menu" she asked again to be sure and I nodded in understanding of her fears.
My looks says I couldn't afford it, not with the way I was dressed. But an adage says not to judge a book by its cover. She walked away to tend to my offer while I sat down anticipating her arrival. Sophia stole a glance at me and wondered what I was doing here.
The waiter soon lined up in front of me with lots of delicacy as they kept mentioning each dish's name.
I grinned with excitement as the waiter laid out a feast fit for a king before me. The aroma wafting from the dishes made my mouth water, and I couldn't wait to dig in. Sophia and Dominic exchanged puzzled glances, clearly taken aback by my sudden display of opulence.
"Enjoy your meal, sir," the waiter said with a smile before stepping away.
I glanced over at Sophia and Dominic, who were still staring at me in disbelief. I ate a few and stood up begging to take my leave. The waiter walked closer to me and asked for my mode of payment. I gave her my card and she swiped it with the machine in front of her.
[ DING ]
She gave me back my card and I exited the chambers. I quickly went into hiding because I knew Dominic and Sophia would want to follow and see where I was heading too. I stood in a corner and peeped. The restaurant door opened gently and they both walked out. " where did he go? I told you it wasn't him. That must have been his look alike. Do you think Jason can afford any of this luxury? That would be a dream come true for a pauper like him. You don't have to be bothered by someone like him." Sophia said with a smile and I clenched my fist in anger. I was going to make them pay. This was only just the beginning. I looked at my appearance and I knew I needed new clothes. Also, a new ride if the money I was having could afford it all. I was going to live the life I had always dreamed of.
I waved down a taxi and asked to be driven down to the most expensive mall in the city.
The man looked at me and smiled " Are you one of their sales representatives?" He asked seeing the confidence in my voice. He was shocked when I told him I was going over to do some shopping for myself.
I alighted from his car and paid him off. I looked around to see many rich men and women coming and going out of EL CLASSICO SHOPPING MALL. I walked towards the entrance and one of the guards asked me what I wanted. " I need to get some wear and sneakers," I replied and they both looked at me and laughed. " You? We know the likes of you. Aren't you just here to beg for some tips? You know you can do that by standing at the mall's gate. Please don't come here to embarrass yourself." They said with a hint of warning that says I should pass my boundary and know my place.
I pressed my front pocket and remembered I was having some change left with me." Here," I gave them a tip and they both looked at my face. " We are so sorry young master. We thought..." I looked at them and smiled " Open the door. " I commanded and without saying a word they opened the door to let me in.
Many people who saw what happened didn't understand how I was able to get in without a card.
I smiled looking at everything and how luxurious the clothes that were displayed.
" How can I help you sir?" I looked back and saw a beautiful young lady. " my name is Martha."
I looked at her and smiled " Do they recruit workers by their looks because you look stunning." I commented on her beauty
"What would you like to buy and can I please have your card?" She said gently stretching out her palm, ignoring my compliment and acting all professional.
" Am I supposed to have one? Can't I just get what I want and pay for them?" I looked at Martha anticipating her shocked gaze and was delighted to see it.
" I am sorry Mr.."
"Jason."
" Mr Jason, you need to get a card to be able to purchase anything in here."
My lips parted in fury. "What if I wanted to buy everything in here? Would you still ask me to get a card?" I glared at Martha, and her jaw dropped in astonishment. She glanced at the items on display and let out a laugh. "That's not possible, sir," she replied, her smile polite yet tinged with hesitation as if she were reluctant to offend me.
I wasn't angry; in fact, I had anticipated a reaction like this. After all, I didn't exactly look like someone who could afford his next meal, let alone purchase an entire clothing store.
" Well, since you have decided to doubt me I would show you I really can. Can you please pack for me every dress and shoe in the boutique?" I ordered even making Martha surprised and anxious. She had never had a client who would buy everything once. " Please have a seat and let me reach out to my boss," Martha said humbly.
I took my seat and after sometime, a good-looking woman emerged from her office and walked towards the table. " where is he? " She asked without looking at me
Martha pointed at me and the woman laughed " You should know people like him come here to beg. Did you ask for his card? " The woman shouted at Martha scolding her.
" How much is that?" I pointed to a vintage collection making the woman laugh harder even more.
"I will take that and those. Please bring them up." Martha rushed to have them packed and looked at me. That would be $56,000, sir. "
I gave her my card and she swiped it against the machine. She looked at her boss and nodded. "Where are my manners? Welcome to my humble abode Mr Jason." She smiled showing me into a seat.
" Now, can I have what I asked for? " I looked at the woman who smiled at me. " Of course Mr Jason. " She pressed a bell ordering everyone to leave the boutique. I looked at the buyers as they all lined up walking out.
I saw Dominic and Sophia waking in and I grinned. It was just the perfect time to exact my revenge on them.
The woman walked up to me and looked at my face pleading " Can you please allow them to shop? Mr Dominic is a good customer and I wouldn't want to lose a potential buyer like him." The woman pleaded
" Your name is?" I asked coldly, I was done playing nice. I knew if wanted to gain an audience and self-respect then I must be ready to be an actor. Martha looked at me and laughed. She had never seen her boss behave so timid before.
" Mrs. Douglas " She replied
" let them have whatever they want and add it to my bill." I looked at her and stood up." Please, accompany me, Martha ." I looked at her and she ran towards me
I looked at Mrs Douglas as she told Martha to behave. I laughed seeing she was a little intimidated by my behavior. " is she always like that?" I asked as we walked side by side. " sometimes but she can be nice for no reason at times." Martha replied
" Help me pick the best clothes and nice shoes," I said gently and went back to my seat. I watched as Martha moved about picking my wears. She would always pick the ones Dominic and Sophia wanted and they ended up buying the cheaper wears. Martha walked back to the table and I saw she had managed to pick the best wears. I paid immediately and also paid in advance for Dominic's wear. I looked back as Martha pointed at me telling him I had paid for his wear. He opened the door and walked towards me landing a huge blow to my face.
My bags scattered all over the floor and I stood up to look at him." Looks like you are losing already. I am going to put some dirt in your eyes." I said taunting Dominic even more. He looked at me with disdain and wondered how I had gained more confidence overnight. " I can see the stolen money is getting into your head. I am sure you had all of the money you spent stolen." Sophia added walking closer to us.
"He isn't worth your trouble Let go," Sophia said gently dragging Dominic away from me. Dominic entered his car and reversed a little trying to crush me with his car. I stood up like a fool and ran for my life. People kept staring at us and wondered if we were watching some movies. I looked at my clothes and began to pick them one after the other. I bent down to pick the last one when I felt a hand pick it up for me. I looked at the bracket and saw it was the same one I had seen before
" I know you," I said, gently looking at the stunning woman before me. " Of course you do. If you want to be a brute like Dominic then you have to start acting like a boss yourself. " Paulina said gently, looking at the wears she was holding. " Huh, looks like you are rich. The last time we met, were you pretending to be poor or what? Do you want some self-pity or you are just another spoiled rich brat?" Paulina said gently, looking at my face.
I was glued to a spot as I met her gaze, staring at her face " I guess you are more dumb than I could imagine." Paulina said walking back to her car. I knew if I let her walk away then I might never get to see her again. I Walked closer to Paulina's car and I tapped on it. She rolled the glass down and removed her shade. " Can you help me?"
Paulina looked at me and smirked " Help a loser like you? You are a helpless man. If you haven't noticed, you suck at everything. Your looks are even giving you away. You claim to be rich and yet you go around dressed like this. " Paulina stared at my shoes and I tried hiding them
" I am ready to listen to your instructions and follow your leads," I said gently, looking at Paulina. I knew I was rich but having someone like Paulina beside me would make Dominic and Sophia hang.
Paulina looked at me " How much?" She said chewing the gum in her mouth. I looked at my phone and saw that I had spent most of the system money trying to show off. But I was still rich, I had $10,000,000 left.
" $4,000,000 "My lips parted and I looked at Paulina.
" If you could afford all of this then I am more costly than them. $5,000,000. " Paulina looked at me.
" Deal. " I said without much bargaining.
I watched as she drove out of sight. I wonder how I was going to see her again if we had struck a bargain. I looked at the clothes she picked up for me and a card fell off from it. I looked at it and saw her phone number. I looked a little puzzled. Did Paulina know I was going to ask for her help?I waved down a taxi and went back to my dorm. I was still the same loner who ran school errands for the school bullies, nothing changed. I looked at my time the following day and my eyes opened in shock. I was five minutes late for my class. I rushed into the bathroom and hurriedly took my bath. I looked at the scatter and rumpled clothes inside my closet and I decided to wear something nice. I picked a cloth from the one I bought at the boutique and styled my hair. I looked at the full-length mirror standing in front of me and I couldn't believe I was staring back at myself. I hummed as I slung my bag to my back. I walked out and was almost getting to class when I was stopped by both Carlos
I couldn't help but wonder what the weekend had in store. "Is that Jason?" someone exclaimed. "He looks different."Turning around, I noticed several female students eyeing me curiously. I couldn't quite grasp what was so different about me.I stepped into my dorm room and closed the door behind me. Panic surged through me as I couldn't find the gaming app on my phone anymore. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead as I frantically scrolled through the screen, searching for it like a madman. "Where is it?" I shouted, my hands trembling with agitation.The thought of reverting back to my old self terrified me. I recalled the smug expression on my face as I squandered the money I'd received from the system, relishing in rubbing it in Dominic and Sophia's faces. Tears welled up in my eyes as I remembered the deal I had with Paulina, knowing it would require me to spend some money.I collapsed onto my bed, shutting my eyes tightly in an attempt to find solace in sleep. The chirping of a bir
I quickly looked at my phone and saw the app had been upgraded to a new one. I smiled and Paulina looked at me. " You seem to be in a good mood, Jason." I said nothing but simply smiled back at her. " Can you give me some minutes? I need to attend to something important." I said running towards the male toilet. I logged into the game app as I walked. The Super Mario sound brought joy to my face. I smiled knowing the system would always be a mode of survival for me. I heard some noise and wondered what was going on. I quickly put my phone back into my pocket and walked closer to see what was going on. " That is enough! " I heard Dominic's voice talking to his minions. " I guess he knows his place now," Diego said with his Spanish accent I walked closer to them " You have heard enough fun, my friend." I said gently entering their midst and they all looked at me " Are you giving me orders now? " Dominic raised his head and looked at me " I guess having some muscles did something to
We entered the ballroom and had a nice time. The night was eventful and many of the students could not stop talking about what happened that night. I was no longer scared of Carlos and Dominic as neither did I have to do their assignments again. As I strolled down to my class, Sophia walked up to me. " Can we talk?" She said looking at my face. " Talk? Now that I am well off and I can stand up for myself, you want to talk now?" I asked looking at her face " I know I injured you, Jason. I am sorry for that. Can you give me another chance? I promise to be all you ever want." Sophia said with a pleading face. " I am sorry but I don't want a lady that uses me for her selfish ambitions. I don't love you and I never will." I replied walking away from her. I met Paulina and she smiled " Who was that?" She asked seeing the back of Sophia walking away." No one." I replied, " Can I take you out for dinner later today?" Paulina looked at me " I have some appointments and I don't think I woul
By the time I got outside the hospital it was very dark. I got into my car and started it. I needed to get food for Paulina by the time she wakes up. I didn't think food made by the hospital would be delicious or satisfying. I've been to the hospital once and I got the bad opportunity of tasting the food. Good news, it was so bland I got cured of my sickness. Well, that was back then when my parents were still alive.As I drove the car to the highway my phone beeped. I couldn't help but want to roll my eyes as I took it out of my pocket and glared at the screen as if I wanted to beat the living hell out of the phone. The last task it gave to me was still daunting to my mind and body. I couldn't bear to have another one like that.[NOTIFICATION: SECOND TASK AVAILABLE!][INVESTIGATE THE CAUSES OF FRANK'S DEATH AND PAULINA'S ACCIDENT][REWARDS: NONE][WARNING: FAILURE TO COMPLETE THIS TASK WILL RESULT IN YOU SUFFERING EITHER FATE][DEADLINE: THREE DAYS FROM NOW]I was very happy till I sa
"You should have ran away when you had the chance," a familiar voice said. "Not only did your new fortune blind your judgment, it caused you to be stupid as usual."I struggled to get out of the car but felt sharp and tormenting pains which seemed as if my bones were about to stick out through my flesh. Believe me it's the worst pain anyone has ever felt."At first we had only planned to kill Frank and Paulina to teach you a lesson you'll never forget," the familiar voice continued. "But now we'll have to kill you as well. I don't care if Sophia feels sad or not. At this point you are not better off than Paulina."My eyes would have bulged if not for my condition after hearing this. That sweet Sophia orchestrated everything?! No, she wasn't sweet at all. She had even stabbed me once so she was very much capable of murder."You see, she wanted you for your new fortune," the familiar voice continued, making me to instantly know who was talking. Only one person in the world would talk so
The wheels made whistling sounds as I pushed the hospital bed towards the backdoor. At that moment I heard footsteps approaching from that direction. I immediately swerved the hospital bed and pushed it into an unknown room whose door was open. It was easy for me to hide because the room was dark and there were many clothes hanging there. It seemed to be the hospital's laundry.I heard the door click as footsteps slowly echoed through the hallway. The footsteps then stopped as if the other party had discovered that we were in the room. Obviously the other party was standing opposite the room.Paulina looked at me in fear as she whispered, "What's going on, Jason? Can you tell me now?"I turned to look at her. Although I couldn't see her face clearly I could still tell that her charming eyes were now terrified and pleading. She needed to know what was going on at least."Dominic, Sophia and the rest were the ones who killed Frank," I whispered, making her to gasp in shock."Frank's dea
The man pushed the clothes away as he walked towards me, the gun still pointing at me, "You never thought you would be able to escape, did you?"I wanted to do something but my mind instantly shut down at that moment. It seemed that my brain wasn't capable of processing the information at that very moment. All I could feel at that moment was intense fear. Maybe this was what the Enigmatic System truly meant by being a scared little rat. It was definitely acting up right now.Thanks system, I said inwardly as I lampooned about my fate. Thanks for being so useless that I'm going to lose my life right now. There's nothing I can do at gunpoint right now. Absolutely nothing. I wasn't Jackie Chan or Spiderman. I wasn't half good at martial art neither did I have superhuman reflexes. I was as good as dead at this very moment."Now tell me where the other girl is and I will give you a swift death," the man said. "Dominic won't get to you. Trust me I will make it quick."I should trust you wit
The last ten months with Paulina have been incredible, way beyond what I ever imagined. Every day feels like a new adventure, and even our quiet times are filled with happiness.Still, I can’t help but worry about the Enigmatic System being gone and whether I played a part in that. It was the reason I got to where I am now, and I feel a real connection to it. It’s tough knowing I couldn’t help it, but can a system really be more than just a bunch of codes?I’m not the only one feeling this way; the whole team is mourning the loss since their systems shut down around the same time. No matter how cutting-edge our tech is, it just can’t match the unique intelligence of the system.As I sat in the living room, I opened up to Paulina, who was snuggled up next to me, really listening."I can’t shake this feeling, Paulina," I confessed. "I know it sounds odd, but it feels like I’ve lost a piece of myself. You get it; you were part of it too."She gave my arm a comforting squeeze. "I totally
After we got ready, we strolled hand in hand, with Paulina playfully urging me to spill the beans, but I just couldn’t do it. It was a surprise, and I wanted to keep it that way. We left the VIP room, and a staff member gave me a knowing look before leading us down a hidden hallway. Paulina’s eyes were wide with curiosity as we moved away from the usual crowd. At the end of the corridor, we passed through a sleek, unmarked door that opened up to a private elevator.Paulina squeezed my hand, her eyebrows shooting up in excitement. “Jason, what’s happening? This feels like something out of a movie!”I just smiled and stayed quiet, relishing the suspense that was making her even more curious. As the elevator doors closed, I could feel her gaze on me, searching for hints I wasn’t ready to give away.When the doors finally opened, we stepped out onto the rooftop, and there it was—a stunning black helicopter waiting for us, its blades shimmering in the sunlight, with the pilot already on st
As Paulina rested peacefully on the bed, her sleeping face looked even more beautiful than I always knew. In the luxurious VIP suite, surrounded by plush decor and soft lighting, I felt a strange blend of tranquility and anxiety. I wandered over to the mirrored table where the ring I had bought on credit from that Enigmatic System sparkled softly in the glow. Holding it up, I couldn’t help but admire its detailed craftsmanship. The ring was so shiny and seemed transparent, capable of absorbing light. The several beautiful and unfamiliar stones around it made it more beautiful. My eyes sparkled with admiration, but the silence from the Enigmatic System was palpable and a bit unsettling. Not a single word or sound all day, which felt odd. Was it giving me space because I was with Paulina and it understood my plight? Or had my time with it somehow made it feel... more human? That thought left me feeling both intrigued and cautious.I shook off those thoughts; there were more urgent iss
The restaurant buzzed with energy as we arrived. Soft ambient lights wrapped around us, and the rich aroma of gourmet dishes filled the air. As we walked in, I could feel the gaze of other diners on us, and I welcomed it. This was my moment—a chance to reveal the man I had become.“Welcome back, Mr. Lewis!” The hostess greeted me with a warm smile. “Your usual table?”“Yes, please,” I replied, glancing at Paulina. She looked radiant in her elegant dress, her beauty captivating. I felt a surge of pride to be with someone as remarkable as her.er.We were guided to a cozy corner table adorned with fresh flowers and flickering candles. As we settled in, I couldn’t help but admire Paulina. “You look stunning tonight,” I said, reaching across the table to take her hand.“Thank you, Jason. You look charming too,” she replied, her smile lighting up the dim room. “I love this new confidence in you—it’s inspiring.”“Confidence comes with knowing my true worth,” I replied, feeling a surge of emp
The tension in the boutique thickened as I faced every John and the woman employee. My coronary heart raced, no longer out of worry but from the boiling anger that surged through me. Here I grow to be a modified guy who has risen from the depths of despair, and those two have been the reason for dragging me back down. "Listen right here," I commenced out, my voice steady but laced with authority. "You haven't any idea who you're talking to. I may have been the underdog, however I’m no longer that character. I will no longer stand idly with the useful resource of while you belittle me or my female friend."John laughed, a mocking sound that echoed through the boutique. “Oh, what are you going to do? Throw a tantrum? You do not scare me, you little peasant. You have to be thankful that a person like her even seems your way.”Paulina had subsequently discovered the commotion. She strode over, her expression moving from interest to venture. “What’s going on right here?” she demanded, eyes
After picking the case up I tucked it away in my pocket and it to the sitting room. I saw Paulina in the sitting room pacing about. Obviously, she was a bit nervous about the date she was going to have with me. At this moment she didn't look like the bold and confident woman I used to know."Sorry for keeping you waiting," I said with an apologetic smile. "I had to do something.""I know," Paulina flashed a smile at me. She actually understood I could suddenly become busy at times because I was a player."So let's go shopping," I said as I grabbed her right hand and led her out of the sitting room. We got into my expensive Mercedes Benz and drove away.I decided to stop at a five-star boutique and get some new clothes and jewelries which we were going to wear tonight for our date. I'd already set up everything except for the clothes.As expected the boutique premise was already filled with so many flashy cars. Many wealthy people usually came to buy their wears from this boutique. It
After some moments of silence, the Enigmatic System finally spoke. His voice was no longer sad and it had resumed the usual emotionlessness.[I HAVE A RING WHICH MATCHES YOUR DESCRIPTION BUT IT IS REALLY COSTLY]"Costly?" I couldn't help but raise my eyebrows. "How costly?"[IT IS 5,000 POINTS]"Huh?" I was surprised after hearing that. The Enigmatic System usually made use of coins but now it had switched to points. What was really happening?I had only come across the term, 'points', from Stephen Wale. Back then I'd asked him why he wasn't wealthy and he had told me that his system uses points instead of coins. I'd come across other players and they were not as wealthy as I was. This was because their systems made use of points which could not be converted to real money like the virtual coins the Enigmatic System made use of.[WELL, THERE IS THIS NEW POLICY THAT BANS SYSTEMS FROM USING COINS. WE CAN ALL ONLY USE POINTS FROM NOW ON]"So that's another reason you were punished by that
After asking the Enigmatic System about the ring it suddenly fell silent for some moments. I didn't know why it didn't respond to me as usual and it bothered me. I even began thinking that something bad had really happened to the Enigmatic System. Maybe the Creator System which had the consciousness of the systems' creator had decided to place a restriction on the Enigmatic System for behaving more and more like a human instead of the system it was expected to be.I'd watched a cyberpunk movie and there was this artificial intelligence which evolved beyond how it was created. It started becoming more and more like a human being, alarming the creators. In order to prevent the artificial intelligence from gaining sentience and toppling the authority of humans, they decided to destroy it. The artificial intelligence fought a good battle but it could not outmatch humans. With regrets, it parted with the woman it loved as it was shut down by the scientists who created it. They later had th
After the lunch, Stephen announced that he was leaving. He had so many things to catch up on and there was no more time. Nudging his glasses he turned around to leave."Take care, Steve," Paulina said, causing him to turn back slightly. There was a complicated emotion in Stephen's eyes, something I had never seen before."Sure," he nodded and turned to look at me. I could tell that he was asking me not to mention what he had told me earlier to Paulina.I nodded slowly as I said, "Take care, Stephen. You can come up with several contingency plans during your free time.""Believe me," Stephen wasn't smiling. "I already have a contingency plan for every scenario.""Do not slack off in your training," I said."I will come often to spar with you," Stephen said. "Get stronger than me so that you can push me beyond my limit."I smiled as I secretly clenched my fists tightly, "Don't worry. I'll become so strong that you'd be crushed by my gaze."And that was the truth. I wasn't just bluffing