["Since your body status is already normal, and you already look somewhat presentable and then, you are ready."]
While sitting on a bench on the sidewalk, Pierce how he should interact with with people. He didn't even know how to react with the gazes some passersby were giving him. Some couldn't just help but turn to their heads as he looked like a handsome yet swaggy boy next door with his head uncovered with the hoodie.
Even by just wearing his go to black hoodie paired with a white shirt underneath, his aged black-fitted jeans and his old and almost worn out sneakers he stood out in the place. It was as if he was a random model waiting for his girlfriend at the bench, sadly none of this was true.
Pierce lift his head but he did not dare look at their eyes and just looked at a certain direction, acting as if he didn't mind his surroundings, but his fingers were grasping on the bench tight. As if something was consuming his self-esteem but he tried to bear with it.
["Kid, as your actions are somewhat getting normal, let's now start to accomplish our first goal. Your first goal is to level up and unlock the benefits level 1 has. Believe me, it has unbelievable things to offer. Now work your ass off."]
While sitting on the bench, he exhaled deeply.
["Enough of that, just face the truth that your level zero. Start working now!"]
"Okay." Pierce agreed and unconsciously clenched his fist trying giving himself a boost.
["Hey, where's the excitement kid? You sound like you just got circumcised, so weak. Just a reminder, I don't want to accompany an unconfident boy. If you can't do this simple step, then I won't help you and you can work it out yourself!"]
This old thing really knew how to get through his nerves but he was somewhat encouraged by his scorns too. This was something that a super introvert like him cannot easily do, he needed to cheer on himself too.
'I'm ready old man! I can do it! Just watch and learn.' Pierce said through his mind and even made a fighting gesture. Somehow his confidence boosted.
["Now that's what I call a grown man! Okay man up kid!"]
'Wait, where do I start? In a restaurant, hmm... maybe not. In a--'
The system quickly cut him off. ["Why are you still thinking of other places? How about you start here? Look, there are people who are crossing the road and some of them could hardly do it."]
After the system said that, Pierce noticed a grandma slowly crossing the road with her cane. Slow to the point that she only made a step every 2 seconds. It seemed like grandma's foot was injured and she could hardly do every step.
Concern was then formed in Pierce's face, especially that any minute now, the traffic light would turn to green again. Without hesitation, he ran to the grandma. Without saying anything, he then held the grandma's shoulder. After observing that it wouldn't work that way, he took the initiative to place the old woman's hand on his shoulder.
That was brilliant as he could feel that grandma held on him a little tight and he could feel her weight. There, he felt like he did a good job.
Pierce smiled subconsciously but it turned into a wry one when he saw the look that the old woman was giving him. It seemed like she was not delighted at all. It was odd. It was way too different from what he expected. At that moment, he seemed to have instantly lost his confidence, like a kindle of fire was instantly extinguished by a bucket of cold water.
But he strengthened his resolve, even if she was giving him cold glare, he couldn't just stop as they were still in the middle of the road.
'I will just leave immediately after we reached to the other side. Words are not important now, it is the actions that matters. Right!' He thought to cheer himself up.
To think that his first attempt to help someone would turn out a failure. Maybe some particles or remnants of bad luck still exist in him?
Nope. Not possible. He shook the thought away.
As part of his solution, he was trying not to mind the old woman's gaze and focused on thinking that his intention was good. Although he wouldn't likely get some Luck Points but it was alright. At least he managed to extend help to someone.
Good thing the system did not interrupt him as at that moment, he was still building up his courage. If the system intervened, all of that would definitely be crushed by its bad-mouth. It seemed like the system was considerate too.
After successfully crossing the road, Pierce slowly removed his hand in grandma's shoulder and distanced himself a bit as if he was trying to run away to a predator. He didn't know where to look at, just to avoid the old woman's eyes.
"Ahh..Sorry ma'am. I-I have to go."
But before he could leave, the grandma lifted her palm, a gesture for him to stop. She lifted her cane and Pierce thought that she might hit him but she used it to pat his shoulder gently. From an ungrateful look, the grandma oddly smiled and said, "Thank you, young man. You're kind and somewhat interesting. Keep that up."
This time, the grandma's smile seemed so warm and soothing. It also made Pierce to feel more comfortable with her presence enabling him to ask a question.
"Where are you going grandma? Maybe, ah, I could escort you there."
The grandma shook her head but she seemed glad to hear his offer. "Thank you but someone will fetch me. By the way what's your name young man?"
"I'm F-Pierce." Pierce stuttered a little there.
He corrected himself in his mind. It was not a good thing if he would stutter again if someone asked about his name in the future. Besides, it would be weird if someone was not sure of his name. Therefore, he should get used to his new name. Otherwise, he could just sound like a suspicious person. If someone asked him again, he would make sure he would answer it straight.
Though it was not yet official in his birth certificate since he had no enough money to get an attorney yet, but it was his name to care about, let him be.
Pierce just then noticed a black luxurious car stopped in front of him.
"Oh, it's a good name and it suits you. Anyway my ride is already here. Thank you for lending a hand young man." The grandma hand him something on his palm and closed his hand. Before he could refuse, she was already inside the car. It seemed like the grandma's injury was immediately healed as she moved too quickly or his eyes might be too slow to keep up.
When he opened his palm, he saw that it was a stack of bills. After he counted it, he was then shocked by the amount. It was $1000 all in all which was already enough for him to last for more than a month of meal and pay his rent for another month of stay. This was so unexpected.
["Hey kid look at you, you look so funny.]
The system laughed derisively.
It added while trying not to laugh. ["If you just knew, earlier, I didn't know wether to laugh or to cry because of your trashy communication skills. That old woman might have thought at first that you are a robber rather than a good Samaritan. Good thing that old woman did not shout for help or else you're more likely going to jail now rather than receiving a reward money to enjoy. Honestly, you've shocked me by how pathetic your skills are."]
Pierce helplessly admit it, the system was right. He should have asked for that grandma's consent and approached her in a more respectful way. He just realized how rude he was earlier. His introverted self was really dragging him down.
Pierce also was trying understand the system but unconsciously, he crumpled the money in doing so. The old voice had fun so much.
The system also never failed to notice it. It coughed and that habit tells that it was trying to sound serious again to evade such a conflict.
["Seriously you badly needed to improve in that aspect kid. What you did earlier was a terrible approach. When you want to help someone, of course you need to get their consent and approval first. If they agree, then do it. If not, then don't and remember to never insist it. Are we clear?"]
Pierce sighed. "Yes, clear."
["Hey don't feel so down kid. Actually you also did something good earlier, you adjusted to the situation later on. Another good thing is, you never droop your shoulders again.]
After seeing that Pierce was in condition again and its way of motivation was effective, the system felt good too.
["I also have a good news. That old woman has so much of luck. She even gave you 1 luck point which means that you're just a few points short for the level up. Alright! Now let's go back to business."]
--
["Nice kid, you got 0.5 luck point by helping a couple of aunties with their children crossing the road, 0.3 when you gave lollipops to a few street children, 0.7 when you hesitantly smiled back to a group of girls and plus 1 with that old woman, a total of 2.5. Well,that's already good for a stop."]
[Also as what you've heard, you smiling to the group of girls gave you more luck points than you giving some food to children. I think you should do that often.]
Pierce just silently agreed to the system as he was already too hungry to react much. He didn't had his breakfast earlier so he suffered from it. His stomach was already complaining.
["Also as what you've heard you smiling to the group of girls gave you greater luck points than you giving some food to some people. Maybe you should do that often.]
Pierce rolled his eyes after hearing that. The system just forced him to do that earlier and he didn't want to do it again. He could remember in his high school days that those bullies were doing that and he was somehow disgusted doing it again.
The system already explained to him why he got so little luck point even if he already helped and tried to please a lot of people. Some people didn't have enough luck to give even if they were pleased while some have a lot of it, and he would be super lucky if he encountered some of the latter. He was really hoping to encounter more like that grandma to fasten his level-up date.
Pierce was on his way to the bus terminal as there was a cheap place with good food there as what he could remember. He would make sure that his stomach would had its fill today.