Chapter 2: Afterglow and Upgrades
Ryan woke to the gentle sound of a hummingbird mobile spinning above the bed. For a moment, he wasn't sure where he was. The sheets were soft. The pillow smelled like lavender and faint vanilla. Then he felt the weight of an arm draped across his chest.
His eyes flicked downward.
Mrs. Taylor was curled up beside him, her face peaceful, her long auburn hair spread across the pillow like a painting. She looked younger in sleep, relaxed, her lips parted slightly. He could still feel the warmth of last night on his skin.
He'd actually done it.
He'd slept with a real MILF.
[Mission Complete – Bonus Achievements Unlocked]
[Achievement: First Time – +3 Confidence Points]
[Achievement: Last More Than 10 Minutes – +2 Body Stat]
[System Notice: New Feature Unlocked – Confidence Gauge Activated]
Ryan blinked.
[Current Confidence: 8/100 – Mild boost to speech, minor resistance to fear]
"I'm leveling up like I'm in some kind of adult RPG," he whispered to himself.
He slowly got out of bed, careful not to wake her, and slipped into his pants. Mrs. Taylor stirred and opened one eye with a sleepy smile. "Sneaking out already, Romeo?"
Ryan froze. "Ah—no! I just, um, need to get back to my place. Feed my cat. I mean, I don't have a cat. I... I'm just—"
She laughed softly. "Relax. I'm not that kind of woman. This wasn't a trap. You can call me Sabrina, by the way."
He nodded. "Sabrina. Right. Thanks for... last night."
She smiled and leaned up to peck his cheek. "You weren't bad for a shy guy. Come by again sometime."
Ryan grinned like a teenager and made his way back down the stairs, adrenaline still buzzing.
As soon as he shut the door to his apartment, the system interface burst to life again.
[System Update: Daily Missions Activated]
[Daily Mission: Flirt with Two Women Today – Reward: $1,000, +1 Charm]
[Optional Bonus Mission: Get a MILF's Phone Number – Reward: Mystery Box]
[Warning: Failure to complete daily missions may result in Penalty Roll]
"Penalty Roll? What's that mean?"
[Random punishment from the following list: Sudden Voice Crack, Temporary Body Shrink, Hair Loss, or Public Embarrassment Event]
Ryan's face paled. "Y-yeah, okay. Let's not fail that then."
He went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. His body looked better than it had two days ago—more definition in the shoulders, slightly broader chest. Nothing too dramatic, but definitely noticeable.
[System Funds Available: $5,000]
[New Shop Items Available:]
Gym Pass (30 Days) – $500
Skin Glow Serum – $250
Seduction Scent Cologne – $300
Casual Luxury Outfit – $1,000
Flirtation Skill Book – $2,000
He bought the cologne and outfit, saving the rest. When the package arrived, he changed clothes, applied the cologne, and immediately noticed the scent—musky, clean, and... enticing.
[Charm Level: 3 – You are now slightly more attractive to women in casual settings.]
It was only 10:00 a.m., and his mission for the day was to flirt with two women. Easy in theory. Terrifying in practice.
He decided to go for a walk.
He passed the nearby coffee shop. A young brunette in yoga pants stood near the counter, sipping a latte while scrolling her phone. She looked around 30, had curves in the right places, and wore a diamond-less ring finger.
Ryan swallowed.
"Okay, flirt. Just say something."
He stepped up beside her. "Excuse me, but... do you always look this good while holding caffeine?"
She blinked, surprised, then smiled. "Well, that's new. You a morning flatterer or just desperate?"
"Why not both?"
She laughed, brushing hair behind her ear. "I'm Angie."
"Ryan."
[Flirt Successful – Progress: 1/2]
They chatted for a few minutes. He even got her number.
[Bonus Mission Complete – Mystery Box Acquired]
[Opening Mystery Box...]
[Reward: "Dirty Talk" Skill Acquired – Level 1]
[Allows you to speak provocatively without sounding creepy.]
Ryan nearly snorted. "What the hell kind of system is this?!"
[The kind you wished for, remember?]
He couldn't argue with that.
Later, he visited the local mini-mart. As he picked up some energy drinks, the mature cashier behind the counter scanned them with a raised brow.
"You planning to pull an all-nighter?" she asked with a smirk.
She was older—maybe mid-forties—with short blonde hair, a tight blouse, and the kind of confidence that only came with experience.
Ryan smiled. "Only if the night's worth it."
She raised a brow, surprised by his boldness. "Careful. You might be flirting with danger."
He leaned in slightly. "Maybe danger's exactly what I need."
[Flirt Successful – Daily Mission Complete]
[Rewards Delivered: +$1,000, +1 Charm]
He walked home feeling like a new man.
That night, as he sat on his couch, the system popped up again.
[New Mission Unlocked: MILF Encounter II – Status: Optional]
[Objective: Find and spend intimate time with a new MILF within 72 hours.]
[Reward: Permanent Body Boost, Unlock Skill: Sensual Touch]
Ryan's heart pounded.
This system was changing his life.
And he was just getting started.