James walked next to Summer, following her through the quiet hallways.
There was this weird feeling in his chest. Warm. Calming. Not exactly a crush, at least not yet. More like… peace. Relief. Someone—who wasn't family—finally looking at him without judgment.
It almost felt like kindness.
They went from room to room, checking if his siblings were inside. James ended up speaking first.
"So… Summer, you been working here long?"
His cheeks warmed a little as he asked, stealing quick glances at her.
"Nope," Summer said with a grin. "Today's my first day. My aunt works here, got me a summer job. Summer with a summer job pretty ironic, right?"
James laughed harder than he expected. "Hahaha! Yeah, that's funny. So, how's it been so far?"
"Not bad," she said with a playful shrug. "A tall guy asked me to help him find his siblings...and soo here we are."
James couldn't stop smiling. Her humor, her presence it was easy to be around.
"Haha… sorry for troubling you."
"It's fine. I like talking to someone new in a new place."
"You're not from around here?"
"Nope. I'm from the capital. I moved here for college. My aunt lives nearby, and there's a high school with 12th grade. I'll transfer there after summer break."
James's heart nearly jumped out of his chest. '12th grade? That's my school. The only one nearby is Newman High.'
"No way! I'm going to be a 12th grader at Newman High too!"
"Really?" Her eyes lit up. "Guess that makes us future schoolmates. Maybe even classmates."
Classmates. He could practically hear a choir singing.
They reached the last door on the second floor.
"This is the one. Your siblings are inside," she said, hands behind her back, her blue sundress swaying.
"Thanks, Summer."
"Just doing my job," she teased. "Did I do good?"
"You're one of the best staff here. And that's coming from a former student," James said without hesitation.
"You jest…" she laughed. "Anyway, I should go—pretty sure my aunt's calling me. See you around!"
She waved, smiling bright enough to stop him in his tracks.
'Is she the sun? Why can't I stop looking?'
The door creaked open. Saul and Paul, his younger twin brothers, stepped out.
"Saul, why's big bro smiling like an idiot?" Paul asked.
"Guess that's just his face," Saul said.
James snapped out of it. "SAUL! PAUL! From now on, I'm picking you up. So behave!"
"Yep. Definitely an idiot," Paul muttered.
"No doubt," Saul agreed.
---
Later, at home…
DING.
Noon. Lunchtime.
Remembering one of his missions, James rushed upstairs, grabbed his phone, and opened his calorie tracker.
'With this, I can keep track. No mistakes.'
He sat with his mom and siblings, eating slow. Chewing carefully. Never too much.
If he overate… he could die.
Literally.
---
After the meal, he stood in front of the bathroom mirror, shaving the stubble on his chin. Water dripped down.
He leaned closer. His reflection looked tired. Bloated. Worn out.
"You let yourself go," he whispered.
He splashed cold water on his face.
"But you're still here. Still breathing."
He straightened up.
"Time to prove you're worth it."
DING.
---
3 PM.
The sun was starting to drop. Breeze was light. Temperature perfect.
Great jogging weather.
James was three kilometers in—two more to finish his mission. His legs were heavy. Lungs burning. Every hundred meters felt like pulling chains.
"Whew… haven't done this in forever."
He slowed to a walk, panting. Jog a bit. Walk a bit. Just keep going.
Sweat stung his eyes. His shirt stuck to his back.
Finally—DING. Mission complete. But no rest yet.
---
5 PM.
James came home soaked in sweat. His dad, Aaron, was already scrubbing the bathroom.
"Dad, I'll help you," James said.
Aaron kept scrubbing. "You do you." But inside, he was glad.
For the next hour, James cleaned, scrubbed, and wiped with sore arms.
DING.
---
6 PM.
The door opened. Julia, his younger sister, stepped in, blonde hair falling over her chest.
"Julia, welcome back! Toilet's clean!" James called from the floor mid-push-up.
"Well, look at that. The NEET actually left the house and did something," she teased.
"Oh, you know me too well," James said with a smirk.
They argued sometimes. Teased each other. But never in a way that truly hurt.
Julia never told him she sometimes got bullied because of him—because of his size, his reputation. She didn't want to add to what he was already carrying.
Now, seeing him push through exhaustion, dripping sweat, refusing to stop…
She didn't smile. But as she walked upstairs, she glanced back once.
---
James grit his teeth and pushed off the floor.
"Only one more active mission that involvesonly me....50 push-ups…"
His arms shook. Vision blurred.
"Hugh… twenty!" Sweat dripped to the floor.
"Damn—thirty more!"
DING.
He collapsed, the cold tile against his skin.
It felt like victory.