The next morning, Jack woke up early. At this point, the system interface was now a part of his normal natural vision.
'I'm not complaining, but it feels like my body isn't even mine now, because it's so different.' Jack thought, blinking at the translucent screen that appeared the very first thing in the morning, before unsummoning it with a thought.
Also, he rubbed his face, half-expecting to feel exhaustion but there was none. He felt like a freshly-built machine as if he could do everything.
He used to open his eyes and instantly want to go back to sleep. But now? He felt like he was wired to be awake at this moment of time as if every cell of his body was pulsing with new vitality.
Looking at his stats on the screen, nothing seemed to have changed.
'Did the system... also mess with my body clock?' he wondered, swinging his legs off the bed.
When he stepped out of his room, he then saw Lucy's room. The thought still hit him every time.
'A girl, close to my age, living under the same roof…'
But his thoughts were disrupted noticing something.
Going down the stairs, he thought:
'Why is mom cleaning the house this early in the morning?' he thought, but thereafter immediately learned that it was Lucy.
Jack blinked in disbelief. "Lucy?" he muttered, stopping halfway down the stairs.
Lucy looked very different from yesterday. This time, her hair was tied in a messy bun compared to the cascading straight hair yesterday.
"Good morning…" she greeted bashfully, smiling faintfully, while wiping the table.
"Is this all you?" Jack said, noticing that almost everything in the house was shining.
Jack scratched the back of his head, unsure whether to be impressed or embarrassed. "You really don't have to clean..."
Before Lucy could answer, his mother emerged from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel.
"Jack! You're up early," she said warmly. "Lucy's been cleaning even before sunrise. Such a polite girl."
Then she grabbed Jack.
"I'm also actually pretty embarrassed."
The mother and son whispered but Lucy clearly heard them, making her smile awkwardly.
"It's alright, auntie!" She said with courage. "We normally do this back in the mountains! We all wake up early and clean everything. This is normal for me!"
Jack and Samantha looked at each other, unsure what to tell her.
"I see, I'm glad but you're here now. Don't worry about waking up so early anymore just to clean. You can just help me sometimes."
Lucy looked down then she raised her head, "No, that won't do, auntie. I also want to do it after all."
Jack laughed in his heart.
'Where the hell did she really come from? Did she really live in the mountains? She's pretending too much!' Jack thought, looking at him. When he first saw her, he thought she was a city girl, even if she was shy. But they seemed to be other layers in her history.
While they were having their breakfast, Jack then sensed the right mood, and finally told Samantha.
But before he could speak, his mother raised an eyebrow. "What is it? You've been looking disturbed. Is the food not to your liking?"
Jack smiled and then opened his mouth, half-proud, half-shy.
"I got a job." Jack said, "At a company called GH Securities."
For a moment, silence filled the room. Then his mother's eyes widened in disbelief. "GH Security? The GH Security? Jack, that's amazing!"
Samantha hurried over, holding his shoulders, pride and surprise flooding her face, making Jack shy.
Jack would have liked it more if this was told on private, meaning without Lucy around, but in the end, Lucy would be living with them for a while.
And in truth, because of Brian's orders, Lucy's job to monitor him was still binding. So, she would actually accompany him even at the company.
Jack felt embarrassed. It was so easy that it was surreal that he got a job just like that, but nonetheless, wanted to reveal it.
Jack said, grinning. "It's a bit sudden, I know, but it's official. I start today actually."
"That's wonderful news! You should've told me earlier!" his mother exclaimed, beaming. "I knew you'd find something great."
As if to avoid being embarrassed further, Jack chuckled and pointed to Lucy.
"Also…Lucy will be working there too."
His mother looked between the two of them, amused. "Oh, so you'll be coworkers! That's convenient."
For a while, Samantha made a fuss of what they should wear and how they should speak when they go to the company. It was endless but Jack did not hate it.
Soon, they moved out.
Jack rubbed his neck, processing everything. 'Well… that's one way to start the day,' he murmured to himself.
Soon, Jack and Lucy were walking towards the towering glass structure of GH Security.
The logo gleamed on the front of the structure, bold and prestigious.
Walking there with other people and actually entering the building with a purpose made him feel important. It was not just because of the company's reputation and prestige among the ordinary public. It was just the simple reality that he finally earned a job—something he won't be embarrassed about.
"We're both nervous, huh?" Jack muttered, eyes tracing the entrance as if it was the first time he'd been there.
But Lucy wasn't as impressed as him.
"I still don't get why you'd want to work as a low-rank employee." Lucy said curiously. "If it's money you're after, going back to your old rank would've made a lot more sense."
Jack only chuckled. He felt too blessed to care to let anything ruin the moment.
'I just hope a bird won't shit at me…' he said, while momentary glancing at the sky.
Jack didn't know much about the world of awakeners yet, but he understood one thing: it was dangerous. After abusing his system and even now that he was discreetly using his appraisal skill. Killing people seemed to be more than incidental part of the job.
Those under GH Security weren't just employees.
They worked closely with the government military and other awakener companies to fight against other awakeners. It was a cut-throat job, Jack swallowed his saliva, and tried to wear his most serious look.
The two entered through the lobby, where the morning rush was in full swing. Employees, mostly ordinary people, hurried past with ID badges bouncing on their necks, the scent of brewed coffee and cologne mixing in the air. Jack could feel eyes glancing their way—probably because of Lucy.
They did not wear anything special. Lucy wore something similar with what she was wearing yesterday which was a corporate attire while Jack now wore a long sleeves polo that suited the corporate's image.
They did not enter through the secret channels like last time. This time, they entered the building from the real entrance introducing themselves as new employees who has a scheduled human resources orientation.
Following the instructions of the person in the gate, they approached the reception desk to get someone to guide them, when a tall familiar teenager stepped in front of them, welcoming them with a beaming bright smile.
'It was the guy who was punching concrete!' Jack thought, not remembering his name. But was able to tell thanks to the system.
"Oh, David!" Jack beamed a fake smile.
"What are you guys doing here?"
David said excitedly, looking at them two.
"Oh we are going to the orientation for new employees."
"Huh? So you are going to work here after all?"
"Yes, it's impressive," Jack revealed.
For some reason, David's eyes were shining with excitement.
"Then, I'mma be the one to take you around. You won't regret it." David suddenly said after talking to the staff briefly.
In the next moment, they arrived at an auditorium. There were no audience around. Just four employees visible, all awakeners.
Soon, the new employees became clear. They were all around the same age or in their early twenties.
"Welcome everyone! Each of you was selected because you've shown potential beyond the average recruit. Congratulations on being chosen!"
Like the others, Jack took his ID card, staring at the GH emblem embossed in steel.
"From today onward," the HR voice echoed, "you are part of GH Security."
Jack felt like crying. It was true. His life really had changed now.