The next morning, Leonard woke up bright and early, ready to undergo that day's task. As he sat on his bed, rubbing his sleep-filled eyes, memories of the previous day even filtered through his mind and he knew he had to just block it out if he wanted his peace.''I just have to forget about it, there's really nothing there to think of.'' he sighed.He rubbed his eyes one more time before rising to his feet and walking towards the bathroom to do his toilet business. Soon, he was done, and walking out of the room, he met his mother by the corridor, tying something in a black plastic bag.''Mom, good morning,'' he said.His mother turned to look at him, smiling when she saw his bedridden hair. He was the pride of her eyes, that much everyone could see and she was quite glad that he had grown up to be a very intelligent boy.''Did you sleep well?'' she asked.''Yes Mom, thanks for asking.'' he chuckled, walking towards the kitchen.His mother knew that he couldn't function properly witho
''I guess we need to talk then.'' his mother said.Leonard shrugged, looking at her. She had just finished making supper, and he knew that this was the perfect time they could talk. He needed answers, but at the same time, he didn't want to pressurise her.''So what happened? Why am I just getting to know now and from Madame Diane of all people,'' he said.His mother came to sit beside him on one of the high-backed chairs, facing him. She put a plate of spaghetti in front of him, and she had a feeling that he might not eat until their discussion was over.''Leonard, there's something I need to tell you. Something I've kept buried within me for a long time." her voice quivered slightly, betraying the weight of her words.Leonard squeezed her hand reassuringly. "You can tell me anything, Mom. I'm here for you."He had come to realise that being hard or rude wouldn't help at all. His mother had been there for him all through his life and had saved him so many times, and so the least he c
The next morning, Leonard nervously fidgeted with his hands as he stood in front of the kitchen counter, watching his mother prepare breakfast. He knew he had to tell her the truth, but he couldn't help feeling a sliver of guilt. Taking a deep breath, he mustered up the courage to speak."Mom," he began, as he picked up some of the kitchen tools she had just cleaned. His mother turned to face him, her warm smile fading into a look of concern. "What is it, Leonard? You seem a bit on edge."He cleared his throat, trying to steady his voice. "Well, earlier today, my boss at work called me and told me I had a package to pick up. It's something important, and he said I need to get it as soon as possible."His mother raised an eyebrow, a hint of hesitation in her eyes. "A package from work? That's odd. What could it possibly be?"''Well, that's what we workers go through at times,'' he said, lamely.Helene didn't believe her son, but because she was a mother who couldn't deny her only chil
"Once again, I'm really sorry about how my colleague treated you earlier, Leonard. That was not the kind of service we strive for here, and I apologize on behalf of our team.''"Oh, don't worry about it. It's alright. We all have our off days, and I understand that. Thank you for responding to it and apologising. I appreciate that.""I'm glad you're so understanding, Leonard. We truly value our customers, and your satisfaction is important to us. Is there anything else I can assist you with today?""Actually, yes. I have a few questions about the new product you recently released. Could you provide me with some information about its features and pricing?""Absolutely, Leonard. I'll be more than happy to help you with that. Let me pull up the details for you right away."The receptionist went to do as she had said while he waited by the table, watching everything going on around him. Soon, she was back and as he read the brochure she handed to him, he knew just what he wanted.''I want
Now out of the shop and ready to get back to his house, he suddenly got a notification from the system and he knew that it was either a task waiting for him or a warning. Ever since he had been accustomed to the workings of the system, these were the two major things that the system alerted him on, and he knew to expect either of the two.[New Notification Alert]''I was right.'' he murmured.Since he had been in the process of calling a taxi, he decided to cancel the ride and go to a quiet corner of the street to find out what the system was trying to tell him. When that was done, he made his way to a corner of the street that gave him an ample view of the street and helped him to see anyone and anything that was coming. When it came to the system, he wasn't taking any chances and he knew better than to be careless about it.''You want me to check some of the stocks I purchased earlier?'' he asked.The system gave him a green light which just meant it was positive. Leonard didn't kno
''It's pretty late. You should get some sleep,'' Helene said.Leonard yawned, glancing at the wall clock that sat in a corner of the room. He realised that it was already well past ten pm in the night. He couldn't understand how time flew and he was surprised that he had spent so much time here.''Yes, I guess I should.'' he smiled.He kissed his mother on the cheek before rising up to his feet. He stretched out his arms, making sure that the blood flowed freely within them before walking back to his room. Upon seeing his bed, all he wanted to do was to jump on it and just sleep, but first, before he did that, he knew he had to check through the system and buy some stuff.''System, I want to make some purchases,'' he said.[What kind of purchase would you like to make for a young master?]"Probably some courses in the intermediate level, I am confident that I am above the beginner level, and now, i can begin the next level.''[The system wants to know if you are sure about this]''Yes
The next day, after Leonard had gone through his list of courses that he was now offering, he decided to take a trip to a favourite resort of his. He realised that he still had some money left that he could spare for this trip, and he was determined to enjoy himself to the fullest.He had always dreamed of taking a trip to the luxurious resort nestled in a small paradise on the outskirts. Unfortunately, he never had the chance or the money. With the system, Leonard was gradually starting to warm up to the idea that he was never going to be poor or be some ordinary teenage boy in this life. Finally, the long-awaited opportunity arrived, and he decided to go on the journey to the resort he had often fantasised about. The vibrant colours of the landscape, the soothing sound of the ocean waves, and the warm sun welcomed him with open arms.Just before he left the house, he wrote a small note for his mother, sticking it on the fridge so that when she got back home from work, she would see
Helene paced nervously in the living room, her eyes glued to the television screen displaying breaking news. The anchor's voice quivered as he delivered the chilling report. A shooting had taken place at the luxurious resort where Leonard. Panic surged through Helene's veins as the realisation sank in. Leonard was there, right in the midst of the chaos.She had gotten back home to see his note, and upon turning on the television to see what was going on, she had stumbled on the news, and in that moment, her fear knew no bounds. Helene had already caught snippets of the news earlier, catching wind of the tragic incident that took place some miles away. The resort's name flashed across the screen, and Helene's heart dropped. It was the same place Leonard had excitedly written about, a paradise he couldn't wait to explore, but now, it has turned into a nightmare.Fumbling with trembling hands, Helene reached for her phone, her mind racing with fear and worry. She dialled Leonard's numb