The meeting with Brian still played in his head like a broken film reel. It was pretty much confirmed that whoever arrived when he collapsed were not enemies.
But it also got him thinking. While it was true that there seemed to be no changes in his memories, it felt weird calling a stranger grandfather, which made him laugh wryly.
Jack hadn't decided yet if he was relieved or trapped. But for now, he was safe.
He couldn't tell if he was relieved or trapped — but for now, he was safe.
As for Lucy, Lucy remained standing on the same spot the whole time. His first impression about Lucy was that she was very pretty. She could probably model somewhere, but at the same time, she didn't have that same high-headed vibe. It was more akin to that popular and pretty girl who worked on cafes.
Her long black hair draped over her shoulders. She has a slim figure, clearly blessed with good proportions, not so big and not so small. However, what caught Jack's attention the most was her demeanor. Her behavior screamed uncomfortable. She looked like someone who avoided eye contact and apologized to walls.
Even throughout the whole time Brian was in the room, not once did she behave like an ordinary person. But as the system revealed, she might be more ordinary than anyone else in his new world.
At least she's not a murderer, Jack thought with relief.
Jack now moved to the desk and opened a laptop.
On the chair, he found a keycard Brian had left behind. It unlocked several compartments — including a hidden drawer containing a sleek laptop. The interface wasn't anything extraordinary, but it was definitely a new version. After a minute of fumbling, he managed to figure it out and log in.
Unread messages and missed calls from his parents in the family group chats were lined up one after another.
Jack panicked.
This was the first time he hadn't informed his parents of where he was going. The other times, he lied, but he always had a prior or late notice. This one however was too late! It was already another day!
"WHERE ARE YOU?!" His mother's voice screamed through the wireless earbuds, loud enough that even Lucy, sitting quietly across the room, flinched.
Jack winced and quickly lowered the volume.
"Relax, Mom. I'm fine. Totally safe. I'll be home soon," he said, forcing a laugh. But hadn't expected the next words.
"It is all right. You're an adult now. You can stop reminding me. I heard what happened. You saved your cousin who is coming to live with us soon, right? I haven't met her yet but be good to her."
Jack froze and immediately made a glance at Lucy.
'Her integration into your life will be seamless.' The words of Brian echoed on his head. Jack could not believe what he'd just heard.
"I-is that so?" he replied and started repeating her mom's words on the phone as if to make someone hear them, "Yes, yes, you are right. She has just arrived from the mountains yesterday and was seeing the city for the first time. Then she almost got run over by a truck and for some reason, I was there and saved her. Her relative who was with her then recognized me and suddenly left saying she had an important business trip."
While conversing, he kept his smile while talking as if recalling real events from the past when in reality this was the first time he was hearing it.
"It's a real coincidence, mom. It must be fate," Jack said with sarcasm agreeing with his mom and eventually cutting off the line.
Apparently, the story was Lucy was traumatized so much she didn't want to leave her apartment. So, he was asked by the relative to watch over her until they come back, which would be today.
'What a crappy story!' Jack screamed internally. Even elementary students could make a better story.
'Seamless,' he thought bitterly.
Indeed, things were now different from him. After all, the world has rewritten his social reality too. He might be repeating himself but it was too bizarre and illogical.
'I might go insane.'
A total stranger would now monitor him. In order to do so, she would be living with him and his family for six months.
'They sure worked fast…'
How would the set-up even be? Would they really just move on like this, as if everything were normal—just like in those novels? What would his family and friends think? And what about hers? How could they leave such a beautiful young woman alone?
Jack wanted to bash his head at the concrete from just thinking, but for now, the only thing clear was that the company was now a part of his life.
'That guy lived a double life, and now I have to do the same.'
[You are hungry.]
[You need to eat].
[Nutritional intake insufficient. Recommend consuming protein-rich food.]
[Get out of the room and find food. Use this opportunity to know more about the previous user.]
'Even without the system telling me, I need to see it for myself….what my life's really like now and where the hell am I?'
Turning to Lucy, he tried to start a conversation. "Hello."
Jack grown up and gone through school with a great self-esteem not only because of his personality but because he did not exactly lack praise and confessions from the opposite sex. So, he was low-key confident in social interactions.
Most importantly, he didn't shy away from girls. On top of that, Jack already knew he was older than her. What good would staying silent be in this situation was what he thought.
Instead of replying, however, Lucy glanced over her shoulders. Then as if she realized she was the only one in the room with him, her face turned red.
???
Just when he thought she caught on, Lucy looked around her shoulders once more, checking over her shoulders as if still expecting someone, before replying. At that moment, he almost believed she was deliberately conducting some masterclass in the art of pretending he didn't exist.
"Can I call you Lucy?"
"…Yes."
"Are you hungry?"
"N-no, I'm fine, sir."
He smiled faintly. His first impression of her personality seemed to be spot-on.
Jack then stood and sauntered across the room when she called out, ""S-Sir! Do you need help?"
"Nah, not for now, but thanks," He pointed at the bathroom, making her fluster even more before he went in while he maintained that same charming smile he'd perfected over the years.
The room's bathroom was spacious filled with warm lights, mirrors, neatly folded gray training clothes. This is nicer than any hotel I've ever stayed in…
As he showered, his mind churned.
'There was the agreement Brian was talking about. The decision of that guy to leave the company. What was he doing before I took over? Whatever happened. And what's the role of that girl outside? How could someone that shy monitor him? What was Brian thinking?'
After dressing, he asked Lucy to wait outside, then took a moment to breathe.
So far, everything matches what I saw in my dreams or at least a little...Jack smiled wryly.
When they stepped out, the hallways stretched in sterile perfection — spotless walls, cool air, no windows.
Underground, Jack realized and with a plan in his mind, turned to the other party.
"So," he said lightly, smirking as if testing her, "you're supposed to watch over me?"
"N-no! I'm just… doing my job!" she quickly said.
Jack grinned inwardly in an instant. He wasn't happy about that someone would be monitoring him but he found it quite lucky that someone like Lucy had been assigned!
This girl is definitely a pushover! He thought.
They walked through corridors until they reached a glass passage overlooking a massive complex.
"It must be your first time in Branch 5," Lucy suddenly said.
"I-is it?" Jack replied playfully and came out a casual nervous laugh. 'How did she f*cking know? Is this person more than what she seems? Or is my face showing too much?'
But she was right.
Jack had to admit. Being in a place filled with high-tech technology and a secret facility was like the dream of his younger child.
Coupled with the system, it was like a spy movie! He cannot blame himself from grinning. From now on, Jack could tell that his life was going to be much better. After all, adult life had really been a real struggle for him. He had no life, no money, and no job.
Nothing exciting was going down for him and his grades weren't exactly that appealing either. But now, he would be so cool. It was an opportunity. Using the system and his new identity, he would be a better and the excellent person he always wanted to be, he thought.