Dave leaned back in the chair, his family gathered around him in the cozy living room. The warmth of the house and the comfort of being surrounded by his loved ones made the moment feel almost surreal. The familiar sounds of laughter and soft conversation filled the space, creating an atmosphere that he hadn't experienced in a long time. For a moment, it was as if nothing had changed—as if he were still the same person he'd always been, and they were still the family that he grew up with, unburdened by the complexities of adulthood.
But things had changed. So much had changed. And they had no idea.
His mom and dad sat across from him, their eyes full of curiosity, while his sisters remained by his side, unusually quiet but attentive. The looks on their faces said it all: they were trying to understand what was going on with him. After all, he hadn't been around much lately. They must've noticed the difference—the new confidence in his demeanor, the subtle but undeniable shift in his attitude. He knew they were curious, but there were things he couldn't tell them. Not now, not ever.
"So, Dave," his dad began, breaking the silence. "What have you been up to lately? Any big changes?"
Dave shifted in his seat, scratching the back of his neck. He'd known this question was coming, but it still caught him off guard. "Yeah, actually," he said, trying to sound casual. "I quit my job."
His mom's eyes widened slightly, and his dad raised an eyebrow. "Quit your job?" Linda repeated, her tone not accusatory but filled with surprise and concern. "Why didn't you tell us earlier?"
"I've been meaning to," Dave said quickly, his mind racing for an explanation. "But, well... things have been busy." He hesitated for a moment, and then, in the back of his mind, a sudden realization hit him like a freight train. Oh no! he thought. I forgot to tell my boss I quit. I haven't shown up in weeks—he probably thinks I already left.
For a moment, Dave imagined the confused look on his boss's face, waiting for him to show up day after day without any notice. The thought was almost funny. He shrugged inwardly. Oh well, who cares? he thought with a smirk. He probably got the message by now. Not like I'm going back.
His family exchanged glances, clearly curious about what had prompted such a decision. "You're sure about that?" John asked, looking concerned. "Leaving a job isn't a small thing, especially these days."
Dave nodded, keeping his tone light. "Yeah, I'm sure, Dad. Don't worry about it."
But even as he reassured them, one thought remained clear in his mind: he would never tell them the real reason he quit. He would never reveal the system to anyone. That was a secret he had to keep—always. They'd never understand, he thought to himself. No one would.
Emily leaned forward, her curiosity evident in her eyes. "So… what are you doing now? What's next?"
Before Dave could answer, his mom interrupted with a teasing grin. "Yeah, and what about your love life? Any new ladies in the picture?"
Dave froze for a moment, feeling his face flush with warmth. "Uh, no," he stammered, trying to downplay the sudden embarrassment. "I'm not really dating anyone right now."
For some reason, his response seemed to trigger something in his sisters. Emily and Sarah both turned to look at him with eyes that weren't filled with casual interest but something deeper—something unsettling. They were staring at him like a pair of wives wondering if their husband had been sneaking around. The intensity of their gaze sent a shiver down Dave's spine, and for a moment, the air in the room felt colder.
What the hell? Dave thought, trying to make sense of the sudden tension. Why are they looking at me like that?
But just as quickly as it had come, the eerie feeling vanished when his sisters broke their stares. They returned to their usual smiles, and the room felt normal again. Dave exhaled in relief, but he couldn't quite shake the weirdness of that moment. He knew his sisters were close to him, but that look—it was something he couldn't place. Was it protectiveness? Jealousy? He couldn't tell.
"Well, it's about time you found someone," Linda said, breaking the silence and returning the conversation to safer ground. "You're not getting any younger, Dave."
"Yeah, yeah," Dave muttered, feeling a bit more relaxed now that the moment had passed. He could handle his mom's teasing—it was normal. "I'll find someone when I find someone."
His dad gave him a supportive nod, but his mom wasn't quite done. "What about that girl you used to date? What was her name again?"
The mention of his ex made Dave wince. He knew this question was coming, but it still stung. "That's over, Mom," he said, trying to keep his tone even. "She broke up with me a while back."
"Oh dear," Linda said softly, her brow furrowing in sympathy. "I thought you two were good together. What happened?"
Dave sighed, the memory still raw. "She's with someone else now. Some rich guy."
His sisters exchanged glances again, and although they didn't say anything, Dave could sense the subtle tension returning to the air. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, trying to ignore it. They had never liked his ex-girlfriend, but they'd never been so quiet about it before. He wondered if they were relieved that she was gone or if they were worried about him.
"I'm sorry to hear that," his dad said, his voice sincere. "But don't let it get you down. You'll find someone better."
"Yeah, Dad," Dave said, forcing a smile. "I know."
But as his family tried to offer him reassurances, Dave couldn't help but feel that there was something else going on beneath the surface—something he didn't fully understand. The strange way his sisters had looked at him, the cold feeling that had gripped him for just a moment, and the questions about his love life—it all felt off.
And then there was the matter of his system. His family had no idea what he was truly capable of now. He would never tell them. He couldn't. But that secret would always be there, lurking in the background, as he tried to navigate his new life.
Pushing those thoughts aside, Dave plastered on a smile and continued talking with his family, answering their questions with the half-truths he'd prepared. He would protect them, even if it meant hiding the truth. They didn't need to know what he was doing or how he was doing it. As long as they were happy and safe, that was all that mattered.
They'd never know the price he paid to keep them that way.