After that day, I started bringing a change into myself- or rather I tried to.
While everyone at my home would be asleep, I would wake up during five in the morning and go for jogging.
-Making 11 circles around the streets every morning.
"Morning brother Jinghe! You out for jogging today as well?" greeted me a man on blue bicycle.
It had only been four weeks since I started jogging every morning, I even made a few new acquaintances.
"Yeah brother, what about you? You're cycling to your dad's store on that bicycle today as well huh."
"Yeah, that old man doesn't give me a rest! Oh well good luck with your jogging today as well! Have a nice day."
"You too!"
Although I did go for jogging every morning, at some point I started to think this wasn't enough.
Which is why I started doing a hundred push-ups at my room, every time I got back from school.
"Aunt Yang... Big brother locked his room once again. What could he be up-to?"
Asked my little sister to my aunt, she was taking the plates to dining table.
"Hmm... Makes me wonder as well."
"Doesn't it seem suspicious?"
My sister and aunt started thinking up of various possibilities, whether if I'm watching cultured stuff or doing something dirty.
But little did they know that I was doing a hundred push-ups! A hundred! Darn it I'm so cool.
I saved up my pocket money for four months, only so that I could join a gym.
And whenever I'm not working out, I would start to study, everything and every subject with full focus and heart full of determination-
-Thanks to which, I ranked 2nd in the exams.
"Are you serious! That Jinghe Lu who couldn't even score one in maths actually ranked 2nd this term!"
Everyone was staring at my results on the school board with awe.
"I can't believe this! A geeky Otaku actually outsmarted even me!"
Even the teachers would shiver there hands while holding my test paper, re-checking it more then thrice to know if it's actually mine or not.
But that still wasn't enough, I eventually gave up my luxuries of watching Hentai, playing games, watching anime and reading manga.
During my free time, I would either study, read literary novels or play chess with my dad.
"J-Jinghe... A-Are you really my son Jinghe Lu?"
"No way! Big brother actually defeated dad in chess! The man who would play chess with a panda holding nun-chucks on top of Mount Fuji during middle school was actually defeated by his own son!"
Of course giving my body and brain some rest was important as well, which is why I would have dinner at eight past thirty, then go to sleep at ten.
I avoided eating too much of oily food. Even if I did then my exercise would burn those calories.
I even started taking extra care of my skin, locking my room's door I would apply various creams and formulas to keep my skin clean, clear and smooth.
I would bath twice a day, once in the morning before going to school, and once before going to sleep at night.
And before I could realize it, my figure and face eventually started to change.
"Is that Jinghe Lu?"
"Darn it! How did he change so much in just six months?"
As I would walk through the school corridor, every student, girls and the boys would look at me with awe.
Comparing the current me with the past. Which honestly doesn't sound so bad to me.
The girl who rejected me six months ago had already transferred her school to study in Europe a few month prior to my rejection, since she was from a wealthy family it wasn't a big deal for her.
It's a pity because I kinda looked forward getting my revenge on her. Seems like it can't be helped anymore.
I wasn't fully aware of my increasing charm until one day, while I was out to buy groceries to market.
Aunt yang had assigned me a task to buy her some groceries from the nearest store for dinner.
It was around three in the afternoon, I was second in the line waiting for my supplies to be checked by cashier.
In front of me was a simple looking man who was getting his goods checked before me.
"-Pss Pss"
Whispered a girl into the ear of another.
"That guy ahead of you... Don't you think he looks handsome?"
"Huh... Yeah you're right, I wonder if he has a girlfriend."
Although the two girls behind me were whispering to each other, it was audible enough for me to hear.
"Who might they be talking about?" I thought to myself as the only man ahead of them was me, and the man in front of me.
I didn't give much thought to them so I get my groceries checked and walk out of the store.
"Before I leave for home, I think I should first check if I got everything or not... "
I say to myself as I go though all the stuff in bag while standing.
As I keep checking, my gazes suddenly fall upon the reflection of myself on a store's glass.
"..."
For some reason, I slowly walk forward towards the glass and touch my right hand to it, staring at my reflection closely.
"This is... Me?"
I say to myself before realizing how much have I entirely changed, a year ago I was just a fat and boring looking Otaku but now I'm a dashing looking boy.
I couldn't help but raise the end of my lips in happiness until when-
"You creepy brat! What do you think you're doing?" yelled an old man in anger coming out of the store with a broom in his hand "Get your dirty hands off my precious store's glass pane!"
"Yikes! Sorry uncle!"
People can change, sometimes for good....
-Or sometimes for bad. That's what I learned as I further progress my life.
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-To Be Continued-