[Daily tasks]
Alfred chugged down another bottle of water, panting heavily as he tried to steady his breathing. His chest rose and fell in rhythm, the aftermath of his morning run evident in his flushed face and damp clothes.
Zeus, his feline companion, was gracefully munching away at his food, purring softly in satisfaction as he savored every bite of his kibble. The sound was oddly comforting, a stark contrast to Alfred's exhaustion.
Dropping the empty bottle onto a nearby table, Alfred collapsed onto a rickety chair. Its legs wobbled precariously under his weight, creaking in protest as if begging for mercy. His dark, wet hair clung to his face and forehead, drenched in sweat from his intense workout. He peeled off his old, faded shirt, letting the cool morning air brush against his skin as he exhaled a deep, tired sigh.
Turning his gaze toward Zeus, who remained blissfully unaware of his owner's fatigue, Alfred couldn't help but smile. There was something oddly soothing about the simplicity of the moment—him, a tired mess, and Zeus, contentedly eating his meal. It was a small, peaceful scene that brought a sense of calm to his otherwise chaotic morning.
Pushing himself up from the chair, its legs screeching against the floor, Alfred stood and walked over to Zeus. He absentmindedly patted the cat's head, his fingers gently running through the soft fur.
"You're eating, and I haven't eaten yet. Do you think that's a sign of loyalty?" Alfred teased, his voice tinged with amusement.
Zeus lazily raised his head, staring at Alfred for a brief moment before returning to his meal, completely unbothered by the question.
Alfred sighed again, his thoughts drifting to his incomplete gym task. "Ah, where will I even go to the gym? Registering requires money, and I don't have any to spare."
Just then, a loud voice echoed from outside, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"Ten more squats to go! You've already done fifty; you can finish the last ten, son!"
Alfred immediately moved to the window and peered outside. A burly man wearing a sleeveless shirt and jersey shorts was barking orders at a younger man dressed similarly.
"In this world, your strength will take you places you don't even expect!" the older man declared, his voice booming with authority.
"What is he? A gym instructor?" Alfred muttered to himself, slightly annoyed. "He's so loud…"
He watched the pair for a moment, a thought forming in his mind. He couldn't afford a gym membership, but what if he worked out at home under the guidance of an instructor? It would be almost like going to the gym, minus the equipment.
"Let's try my luck… Zeus, I'll be back," Alfred said, anticipation flickering in his eyes.
Zeus raised his head, squinting as if he understood exactly what was going through Alfred's mind.
Stepping outside, Alfred was greeted by the crisp morning air. Birds chirped melodiously, perched comfortably on the electricity lines. The neighborhood was still quiet, with the usual morning gossip session among the stay-at-home wives yet to begin. Alfred knew this all too well from the times he'd unfortunately crossed paths with them.
"Good morning…" Alfred called out hesitantly, approaching the two men.
They stopped their workout and turned to face him. Alfred felt a sudden chill as their eyes landed on him, especially the older man's intense gaze.
"I'm sorry, did we disturb you?" the younger man asked, his voice surprisingly soft for someone of his imposing stature.
"Eh… not really…" Alfred stammered, caught off guard by the man's politeness.
The younger man turned to his father and frowned. "See, Dad? Yelling orders like that in the morning disturbs the neighbors."
The older man pouted, crossing his arms defensively. "I'm in my personal space. No one can fault me for shouting in my own yard."
"Oh, but they can, Dad. They can," the younger man replied with a sigh before turning back to Alfred. "I apologize on behalf of my father. Please accept my apology."
Alfred's lips thinned as he shook his head. "I'm actually not here to complain about the yelling. I didn't even notice it…"
[You're lying.]
'Mind your damn business, perv system!' Alfred snapped in his mind.
"I believe your father was just expressing his passion and dedication," Alfred said aloud, stars gleaming in his eyes.
"You see, son? Not everyone is a d***head like those bastards over there," the older man said distastefully, gesturing toward a group of neighbors who were giving him disapproving looks. He rolled his eyes subtly, clearly unbothered by their judgment.
"Then why did you come here?" the younger man asked, his tone shifting to curiosity. "Not once since you moved in have you ever spoken to any of the neighbors."
'What! No way that's true!' Alfred thought, his mind racing.
"Well… I… uh…" he stammered, struggling to find the right words.
The younger man placed a hand on Alfred's shoulder, his expression softening. "I understand if you're the type who prefers to keep to yourself. But if there's something else," his voice lowered, "that's up to you to share."
Alfred took a deep breath, deciding to be honest, partially. "I just wanted to know if I could join you on your morning sessions!"
"Eh?" the younger man blinked in surprise.
The older man burst out laughing, his booming voice filling the air. "I see! So you have the passion for this too. Passion recognizes passion!"
'Eh? I'm only doing this because of the system, but there's no need to tell them that.' Alfred thought, nodding in agreement.
"Well, come on! Are you a beginner?" the older man asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Yes… I am," Alfred admitted.
"What! How? That's not possible! You can't have that kind of passion and still be an amateur unless you're some lazy bum…"
'Shit! What's wrong with this guy's mood swings? I just need to know if the system will count this as my gym task. I'm not signing up for all this drama if it's irrelevant to me,' Alfred thought, frustration bubbling up.
"The truth is, I'm not lazy, but I don't have the money or the time. I'm always working to pay off debt, and I'm trying to get a degree so I can land a decent job, even if it's just as a bartender, half a cake is better than none, right?" Alfred explained, his voice tinged with exhaustion.
The older man's gaze softened, his eyes growing teary.
"Dad, you can't start crying in front of someone you just met," the younger man said, sighing heavily as he patted his father's back, comforting him like a child.
"We'll start with squats. Ten squats, boy. Start now. Don't think I'll go easy on you, lad. You've got your work cut out for you!" the older man declared, his voice firm but encouraging.
[You have entered a gym session!]
"Did you hear me?!" the older man barked.
"Yes, sir!" Alfred replied, determination and happiness surging through him.
...
Later, Alfred stumbled back into his apartment, completely drained. Zeus jumped in surprise as Alfred collapsed onto the bed, where the cat had been considering a nap.
[Daily tasks]
[Daily tasks complete!]
"Yay!" Alfred raised his hands weakly in celebration before letting them fall back onto the bed with a groan.
"F***! I'm so tired… I'll sleep for a few minutes," he muttered, his eyes already closing as exhaustion took over.