"Eh… Everything's strange these days. A random system interface showing up out of nowhere on my phone isn't even surprising anymore. No wonder I can't sleep."
He stood up, stretching his arms.
"Might as well get some practice in."
He rummaged through his backpack, digging past old clothes, half used protein bars and many more stuff, until he finally found them all the way in the bottom.
"A bit worn-out, but they'll do their job."
Aiden slipped them on and stepped outside, searching for the right tree to test out his kicks.
Until he found one, a half-cut tree, thick and sturdy, it was the perfect one.
He goes into his stance. One that he practiced for years, particularly 9 years.
He starts imaging the trunk as another fellow martial artist.
Low kick to the thigh.
jab to the face.
Then follows it up with a clean axe kick to the torso.
It was the result of what 9 years of practice could do.
It was his signature combo, the one that always gave him the edge in fights, no matter who's his opponent.
He was locked in, focusing only on what's in front of him, not knowing what's creeping up behind him.
"BOO."
"AHHHHHHH" Aiden screamed his lungs out.
It was that same kid, the one that karen pampered so much.
"You almost gave me a heart attack, what is wrong with you?!"
"Ah, well… I just want someone to talk to."
"Then I'm afraid you've come to the wrong person."
"Oh, I apologize then uncle."
"UNCLE? You know im only 19 ye—-"
He didn't get to finish his words, as the boy completely ignored him, running towards his mom.
"Oh noooo, he's going to wake up that annoying mother of his."
But he didn't wake her up, he flashed a grin at Aiden, and covered himself with a blanket.
"what just happened?" Aiden mumbled to himself.
Then he turned back at the tree, just when he was going to throw another punch.
He got interrupted with an inhuman scream from the forest in front of him.
"Welp, I guess it's time to sleep…"
Aiden sprinted towards the campfire, then slid at it, and went to sleep.