He put his notebook to the side and got off the couch, stretching his arms until he heard a faint pop from his shoulder. His eyes landed on a half-eaten cookie box sitting on the desk. Travis grabbed one, took a bite, and let the sugar melt on his tongue before dropping down into a plank position on the floor.
He'd searched online earlier—push-ups and daily runs were the quickest way to build a solid base. Nothing fancy, just simple grind. Old-school training, as one forum guy called it.
Travis decided he'd stick to push-ups for now, maybe add sit-ups, squats, and a bit of cardio once these stopped burning. Keep things interesting.
He went down for his first push-up. Not bad. The second one felt just as easy. The third came without much resistance. But by the time he hit his tenth rep, his arms started to ache with that familiar, burning stiffness.
Gritting his teeth, he pushed out five more.
By the fifteenth, he collapsed onto the carpet, chest heaving, sweat already forming on his forehead. He rolled over, staring up at the ceiling as his breath slowly steadied. The air in his room felt heavy, so he got up, stumbled to the window, and shoved it open.
A rush of fresh morning air spilled in, cooling the sweat on his skin.
' Yeah, this is gonna take some time. '
[ DING!
◇Mission #2: Work Out Non Stop For Two Hours.
Rewards!
■ 2 Stat Points
■ $200 ]
' At least I have help. I wish I had cheats on though… but I think it's best that I work for everything. '
And so, for the next two hours, Travis put himself through hell. Push-ups, squats, burpees, mountain climbers—anything to keep moving. He was drenched in sweat when he finally stopped, the fabric of his shirt sticking to him like a second skin. His arms trembled just trying to hold his phone.
[ DING!
◇Mission #2: Work Out Non Stop For Two Hours. ( Complete )
Rewards
■ 3 Stat Points
■ $200 ]
Travis grinned between gasps for air, sprawled flat on his back. His mind immediately went to distributing the points. First, strength.
■ Strength: 4/10
The change was instant—his muscles felt tighter, firmer, as if someone had turned up the tension in every fiber.
Next, endurance.
■ Endurance: 5/10
A wave of energy pulsed through him. He could feel his recovery time shrinking already.
Lastly, intelligence
■ Intelligence: 4/10
A faint tingling passed behind his eyes, like static fading away.
' I think these will be the most important stats. Besides maybe Charisma, but I'm sure I'll find other ways to increase it. '
He pushed himself off the floor, and instantly noticed the difference—his body felt lighter, stronger, more responsive. He wasn't shredded yet, but there was definition now, a faint outline of muscle when he flexed.
' Yep, that looks good. I don't really want to be buff though… I think I enjoy the ability to scratch my back. '
He smirked at his reflection in the window, then reached for another cookie—because progress deserved a reward.
As he moved around, he felt his wet clothes clinging to his skin, the damp fabric making him shiver uncomfortably. Without hesitation, he peeled them off, dropping them in a small pile by the bed. Standing bare in front of his closet mirror, he took a quick glance at his reflection — a reminder of how much his body still had to improve.
He opened his door slightly and peeked into the hallway. The coast was clear. With quick, quiet steps, he dashed to the bathroom and locked the door behind him.
'Haaa… yep, that hit the spot,' he thought as the cold water rained down over him, the shock waking up every nerve in his body.
After letting the chill refresh him for a moment, he twisted the tap, letting the hot water pour down and soothe his muscles. Steam began to rise, wrapping the small space in warmth. He bathed thoroughly, scrubbing away every trace of sweat and grime.
When he finished, he cracked the door open just enough to check the coast again. Clear. He hurried back to his room, locking the door with a quiet click.
"Wheww… no one saw me. Well, time to start my other objectives — getting closer with Jenny and Debbie," he muttered under his breath.
He dressed in a fresh set of comfortable home clothes — loose sweatpants and a plain t-shirt — before heading out.
As he descended the stairs, a soft sound reached his ears. Humming. Faint, rhythmic, almost cheerful.
It was coming from the laundry room.
He didn't need to check to know it was Debbie. Just the thought of her made his pulse pick up slightly. He knew he had to keep his charm at its peak… even though right now, he technically had zero.
Still, something inside him — maybe stubborn confidence or blind optimism — made him believe he could pull it off.
He entered the living room and made his way down the stairs to the laundry room. The faint hum of the washer still lingered in the air, mingled with the fresh scent of detergent. The moment he stepped inside, his eyes were immediately drawn to Debbie—frozen in the most tantalizing of positions.
She was bent over, pulling clothes from the washer, her tight black leggings clinging to every curve and leaving absolutely nothing to the imagination. The way the fabric stretched over her hips made his breath hitch.
'Man, this is torture,' he thought, a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead.
He swallowed, forcing himself to keep walking, each step feeling heavier than the last.
Debbie must have heard him, because she quickly straightened up, turning toward him. A warm smile bloomed across her face the instant she saw him.
"Travis, what brings you here?" she asked, her tone light and curious.
Before he could even speak, his mind was already spinning with clever, smooth responses. He smiled faintly.
'Thank God I got this skill,' he thought.
"I came to check if you needed any help with anything," he said, his voice calm but confident. "So I thought—why not help my beautiful mother with her chores?"
He closed the distance between them until he stood right in front of her, the faint scent of her floral shampoo reaching him.
Debbie's smile deepened. 'Oh, that's the first time he's ever complimented me like that,' she thought, a tiny flutter stirring in her chest.
"Ohh, what a wonderful boy you've grown into," she said warmly, her hand rising to rest gently against his cheek. "Well, I could use some help with this laundry right now. It's mostly Jenny's clothes, so be careful."
"Great. Let's start," he said, his eyes drifting upward for just a second.
Hovering above her head was the glowing number:
『2%』
'It'll take time… but I'm willing to wait,' he thought, a small, knowing smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
TO BE CONTINUED