After he finished bathing, Travis stood before the full-length mirror in his room. He assessed himself thoughtfully—neither muscular nor overweight, just average. His reflection stared back at him with a sense of mild satisfaction but also a hint of determination.
"I should work out more," he murmured to himself, examining his frame from different angles. "Maybe I can join a club at school. That would be nice."
[ You don't really need to do that. Once you update the System you'll gain new stuff that'll practically make you the best looking person ever]
' Can't you just tell me what you're gonna give me. That would make me more sense that what you just told me'
[ Bro wouldn't it be less exciting if I told you everything? You should really learn to be more patient]
' I guess you're right about that part. I'll just join a club for now just to keep myself busy'
Travis nodded to affirm his decision, feeling a surge of motivation to improve himself physically. He quickly got dressed, choosing a comfortable yet presentable outfit for the day ahead.
Downstairs in the cozy dining room, the aroma of breakfast greeted him warmly. His family was already seated around the table, engaged in light conversation. His eyes immediately found Abraham Blackthorn, his stepfather.
Abraham exuded a quiet confidence that matched his rugged appearance—strong jawline, piercing black eyes, and neatly styled black hair that hinted at his meticulous nature. Despite the early hour, he looked effortlessly handsome, a trait that had undoubtedly attracted the beautiful woman he had married.
Travis's stepmother, Jane Blackthorn, was a central figure in their family life. At 40 years old, she possessed a striking appearance—her brown hair framed a face adorned with captivating blue eyes that seemed to sparkle with warmth and intelligence.
Jane had a curvaceous figure that spoke of her dedication to staying fit and healthy, a trait that earned her admiration from peers who often envied her ability to maintain such an appealing physique.
Jane's presence in the household was marked by her nurturing nature and her ability to effortlessly blend care with a hint of playful banter, creating a loving atmosphere that Travis cherished deeply.
Her commitment to both her family and her own well-being served as an inspiring example to Travis, shaping his understanding of responsibility and self-care.
When Jane caught sight of Travis descending the stairs, her face lit up with a warm smile, and she walked over to greet him.
"Good morning, Travis. How did you sleep last night?" she asked, wrapping him in a loving hug.
Travis returned the embrace with a bright smile, feeling a sense of comfort in Jane's presence that always encouraged him to drop his guard.
"Pretty well," he replied honestly, his usually composed demeanor softened by her genuine concern.
Jane chuckled softly, giving him an affectionate squeeze before releasing him.
"That's great. Eat breakfast quickly, okay? You don't want Samantha to get angry at you again," she teased gently, her tone filled with a mixture of maternal warmth and playful humor.
Travis nodded with a grin and followed Jane to sit next to her at the breakfast table. He then greeted Abraham, who was absorbed in his phone until Travis spoke up.
"Hey Abe," Travis greeted, prompting Abraham to look up and return the smile.
"You saw England lost yesterday?" Travis continued.
Abraham chuckled lightly. "Yeah, I did. After all that hype, they didn't deliver. I guess it's not coming home after all."
Travis nodded in agreement. "True."
Abruptly changing the subject, Abraham looked up with a smile. "Oh, by the way, I have to leave for Spain tomorrow. So, you better come home early so we can spend some time together, alright?"
"Wait, really? Sure, I'll try," Travis replied, surprised but pleased by the prospect.
Abraham's smile widened. "Great. I should probably go get packing. Jane, may I speak to you for a moment?"
Jane nodded, and they both excused themselves from the table, heading downstairs for their conversation. As Travis watched them go, he noticed something peculiar—a faint, bright blue light seemed to envelop Jane's figure.
'I wonder what that means?' Travis pondered silently, intrigued by the sudden, mysterious phenomenon surrounding his stepmother.
[ You've found the second Color.
Excitement- This person is excited about anything. Maybe even sex, you never know]
' What, are they going to do it? Nah doubt it.' He thought.
[Upstairs]
"I know you're not happy about me leaving, but I need to do this, Jane. Please just trust me on this," Abraham pleaded, his expression earnest as he looked at Jane.
Jane's frown deepened as she met Abraham's gaze. "Oh, just leave then. I'm not going to stop you. You've already wasted money on a plane ticket, so do what you need to do, Abe. I'm not going to say or do anything."
Abraham's shoulders slumped slightly in resignation. "Thanks," he said quietly. "Just know that once I'm back, we'll all be back to normal."
With that, Jane turned away, her emotions tightly controlled as she left the room without another word. Abraham remained seated on the edge of the bed, his mind racing with thoughts.
'I need to see that doctor. If I'm going to return the spark in our marriage,' he thought, feeling the weight of their strained relationship heavily on his shoulders.
Abraham was impotent, severely so. Travis had accidentally overheard a conversation about it once, and it stuck in his mind ever since.
It explained why his stepfather and Jane weren't going to have children together, a fact that Abraham had oddly chosen to share without prompting.
"I wonder why he even told me. Like I didn't even ask," Travis mused to himself, sprawled on his bed one evening. "What a weird guy, but he's a pretty cool dad, not gonna lie."
As Jane returned downstairs and sat next to Travis while he ate, she interrupted his thoughts.
"Travis, do you mind spending some more time with me today? Since Abraham won't be here, we'll have more time together," she said with a smile.
Travis turned towards her and nodded. "Sure, I don't mind."
"Good. Now you should go get dressed in your uniform. Samantha leaves in 20 minutes," Jane instructed calmly.
"What?!" Travis exclaimed, suddenly realizing how little time he had left.
TO BE CONTINUED