It feels as though you've stepped into another world, where every detail in this place is strange and contradictory to the reality you know. A strong odor hits you as you enter the room—a mix of sweat and stale coffee, as if time here is trying to fade away forever.
You pause for a moment, trying to take in the chaos that fills the room. The floor is covered with books and papers scattered randomly, as if they were left in a frantic rush. Dirty clothes are carelessly thrown over a chair next to the unkempt bed, with remnants of food piled on a small table beside it.
You cautiously approach the desk in the corner of the room, every detail your eyes catch seems to bear witness to countless sleepless nights. Empty and stained coffee cups cover the desk, evidence of countless hours of hard work. Dark coffee stains spread across the papers and books, leaving a trace of sleeplessness and effort.
Lifting your gaze from the mess, you see a person sitting there. Their features starkly show the burden of exhaustion—pale face and eyes burning with fatigue. In the depths of their eyes, you see a long story of suffering and sleepless nights, as if everything this person has gone through is written on their face. Yet, they don't look at you, their eyes fixed on a distant point, as if trying to cling to the last thread of reality.
Your body feels a slight shiver, as if you've intruded into their private world without permission. The atmosphere is saturated with sadness and pressure, almost palpable in the air. The person moves slowly, then suddenly turns towards you. Their wide, red-rimmed eyes meet yours with what seems like a threat. At that moment, you feel completely exposed, as if you've penetrated a world you weren't meant to see. They slowly open their mouth and say in a low, warning voice, "Simon, what are you doing here?"
Your body freezes, trying to process what is happening. Then, you suddenly realize that you had been seeing the scene through Simon's eyes all along. The strange feeling dissipates momentarily, leaving Simon standing frozen, his eyes widening in shock. "A-Alex! You scared me!" Simon says with a nervous laugh, placing a hand on his chest as if trying to calm his racing heart.
Alex glances at him with half an eye, then tilts his head with evident fatigue. "I was... preparing for the performance test..." he responds in a tired voice, the words coming out with difficulty, as if he's dragging them along.
Simon raises his eyebrows in concern and takes a few steps closer to Alex. "How long has it been since you last slept?" he asks with sincere worry.
Alex tries to answer, his eyes closing slowly as if he's about to collapse at any moment. "I don't..." he starts, but the words fail him. Suddenly, his head falls onto the desk, sinking into a deep sleep before he can finish his sentence.
Simon looks at the sleeping Alex, then lets out a muffled laugh while shaking his head. "This guy... I can't believe he fell asleep before finishing his sentence!" he says with an amused tone, trying to stifle his laughter as he looks at Alex sleeping uncomfortably over the desk.
____
Alex opens his eyes with difficulty, as if his eyelids are weighed down with iron. The dim light in his room catches his attention, but he can't focus because of the delicious aroma tickling his nose. His stomach growls with hunger, and he slowly gets out of bed, surprised to find his room tidied up in a way he's not used to.
He begins to wonder how he ended up in bed and why the room is so orderly. He feels something is off. Rubbing his eyes, he cautiously walks toward the kitchen, stepping silently, apprehensive that he might be dreaming.
When he reaches the kitchen, he freezes, astonished to see Simon there, standing in front of the stove and tending to a meal that smells delicious. Simon turns to him with a friendly smile and says, "Ah, Alex, you're finally awake. I was about to wake you."
Alex tries to process it, but the smell of the food pulls him more than any questions on his mind. "Sit at the table; the food will be ready in a moment," Simon says as he goes back to preparing the dishes.
Alex hesitates for a moment, still plagued by questions, but he can't resist the enticing aroma. Eventually, he succumbs to his stomach's cravings and sits at the table, trying to set aside his questions temporarily as he waits for the meal.
When Simon brought the food to the table, Alex was astonished by the amount of food laid out. Everything looked delicious. When he took a bite of one of the dishes, his eyes widened in amazement and he said, "This food... is incredible!"
Alex didn't hesitate to dive into the table. His hand moved from dish to dish, taking bite after bite rapidly. He chewed the food with joy as Simon laughed loudly, nearly bursting with laughter. Alex seemed to be in a race against time, with each bite seeming to break a speed record.
After finishing most of the food, Alex collapsed on the table, clutching his stomach from overeating, while Simon leaned against the wall, laughing to the point where tears began to form in his eyes. "Oh, Alex, I thought you were hungry, but that was a comedy show!" Simon said, gasping for breath between laughs.
Once Alex regained his ability to breathe and quickly prepared to wash the dishes, he asked, "Where did you learn to cook? And did you also tidy up the room?"
Simon replied, trying to suppress his laughter, "Yes, I tidied up the room. I learned to cook from my mother, but I think I added a special touch—like adding a bit of chaos and joy!"
Alex thanked Simon gratefully and then asked, "By the way, how did you get into the room?"
Simon replied, still trying not to burst into laughter, "I found the door open. It wasn't too hard, but I felt like I was entering a secret experimental lab!"
Alex froze for a moment, his face turning red. "Oh, that's embarrassing! I didn't realize the room would be in such a mess."
As Alex tried to regain his composure, Simon burst into laughter, saying, "At least you gave me a free show without needing a ticket!"
Alex responded with a shy smile, "Well, I guess I'll need to sort things out around here."
he was trying to regain his composure while Simon enjoyed the situation with a lighthearted spirit.
As Alex was cleaning up the remnants of food from the table, Simon noticed his anxious expressions and asked seriously, "Alex, what happened? Why were you absent from the university for four days?"
Alex took a deep breath and said, "I was preparing for the upcoming performance test. If I fail, I'll lose my scholarship and have to leave the university."
Simon raised his eyebrows and said, "Oh, that sounds serious. But with the holiday coming up, you have plenty of time for training and review. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Why not go to the training field at the university? It's open 24/7, and you can make good use of your time there."
Alex's brow furrowed and he said, "Well, that's a good idea. I'll put that in mind, thanks ."
Simon smiled and said, "No problem. And while you're training there, remember to take breaks now and then. The holiday is a great opportunity to relax and prepare properly."
Alex chuckled slightly and said, "I'll try. Thanks for the support, Simon."
___
After Simon left the room, Alex remained seated in silence, reflecting on the ideas Simon had shared. He encouraged himself quietly, saying, "Okay, Alex, you need to get through this test. You have enough time now, so don't worry. You can do this."
Alex began to focus on his training plan and resolved to make the most of every available minute during the holiday. He felt more excited than anxious and started organizing his thoughts and strategies for training at the field.
"There's no room for failure here," Alex whispered to himself. "This is my chance to prove myself. I'll work hard and show my best."
But suddenly, the tattoo on Alex's arm began to glow red, sending a sharp tingling sensation through his arm. Alex jerked his arm to see a notification appearing on the tattoo, stating: "Required daily exercise: 10 km run, 100 push-ups, 100 squats…"
". Time remaining: 24 hours."
Alex froze for a moment, his eyes widening in shock. "What? Again?!" he muttered to himself, trying to grasp the extent of the challenge before him. His fear of returning to the Punishment Zone, where he had endured harsh trials, began to cloud his thoughts.
"No, I can't go back there again!" he shouted to himself, determined to avoid those terrifying memories. His heart raced, and his breathing quickened.
Quickly, Alex started preparing himself. He put on his workout clothes and gathered his gear with a sense of urgency. His mind was filled with worries about the extent of the exercises he had to do, but he didn't let hesitation take over.
When Alex left the dorm, he found himself under the calm night sky. The twinkling stars adorned the horizon, and the crescent moon gently illuminated the scene like a faithful guardian. The cold air filtered through the trees, soothing the atmosphere around him. The stillness of the place made Alex feel at peace, as if this calm was accompanying him in preparing for the upcoming challenges.
But he looked at his tattoo with a mix of astonishment and annoyance and said with a scowl, "Oh, great, as if I needed more exercise. Why can't you at least have a reward system, like a lucky draw or something?"
He then placed his hands on his hips and said, "Thanks, tattoo, for putting me through an intense workout session!" He then gave a wry laugh as he started running, saying, "Get ready, I'll need a break soon!"
As he began running, he continued to rant about the exercises as if he were talking to an invisible coach, mocking every additional moment he spent running.
When Alex returned to the dorm, dawn was slowly appearing, with the first light casting serene shadows over the scene. The sky was beginning to color itself with light shades of pink and orange, as calmness flowed across the tranquil horizon.
Alex entered the dorm, looking as if he had fought a battle. Sweat was pouring from his forehead, his clothes were stained with dirt, and his skin was flushed from the physical effort. He was breathing heavily, and every step seemed to involve tremendous effort.
He cursed the tattoo aloud, saying, "Where was this system when I needed a miracle, not 10 km of running?" His voice was filled with exhaustion and complaint, as if he was directing all his anger at that stubborn tattoo.
He then lay down on his bed to rest a little, immersed in his pain, while adding, "Nine hours and a gasp, and I didn't think I'd need to run a marathon at dawn. At least I'll learn from this lesson."
As dawn slowly passed through the windows, the dorm room began to come alive with the incoming light, while Alex wished he could close his eyes and enjoy some rest from the day's exertion.
As he lay down, the tattoo suddenly began to glow with a bright blue hue, accompanied by a tingling sensation. He raised his eyes to find a notification floating before him, reading:
"Task Completed: You have completed physical training for the first time. You will receive an exclusive reward. Do you accept it?"
"|A | N|"
To be continued…