The loud alarm sounded, a harsh noise that sliced through the comforting darkness.
Arlo jerked awake, his heart pounding from the sudden noise.
For a moment, he just lay there, disoriented and squinting in the dim light.
His hand reached out automatically, fumbling around the side of his bed, desperately searching for the snooze button.
Eventually, he found it and shut off the alarm, silencing the piercing noise.
In the newfound quiet, he exhaled, almost hoping he could just sink back into his sheets and drift off again.
But as his mind cleared, reality settled in. It was Monday.
That meant no extra minutes to snooze or laze around.
Not only did he have his classes to get ready for, but he'd also committed to a morning workout.
Skipping it wasn't an option—not if he wanted to keep his progress going.
So, he slowly sat up, his body feeling heavier than usual, as if his muscles were protesting the early start.
Arlo rubbed his eyes and glanced at the faint glow of the screen before his eyes.
{You have new daily quest}
{Daily quest: Complete 100 push ups, 100 sit ups, 100 jumping jacks}
He knew that each extra minute he spent in bed was cutting into his workout time, but the thought of getting up and moving right now felt like climbing a mountain.
With a tired yawn, he finally threw his legs over the edge of the bed, his bare feet brushing the cool floor. It sent a little shiver up his spine, jolting him further awake.
He stood up, stretching his arms high over his head, feeling the faint soreness from yesterday's workout.
As he straightened, he took a deep breath, trying to gather the motivation to start his exercises.
His eyes drifted to the clock on his wall, and he realized with a sigh that he needed to get moving if he was going to have enough time.
Starting with a set of jumping jacks, Arlo tried to shake off the morning grogginess.
His body felt sluggish at first, each movement feeling stiff and half-hearted.
But gradually, the rhythm picked up, and he found himself settling into the exercise.
The room filled with the soft, steady sound of his feet hitting the floor as he moved, the quiet of the early morning slowly replaced by the beat of his breathing and the thud of his footsteps.
After the jumping jacks, he dropped down onto the floor and started a set of push-ups.
His arms quivered slightly as he lowered his body, but he pushed through the discomfort, focusing on the steady rise and fall of each rep.
He counted each one in his head, breathing deeply with each movement.
By the time he hit forty, his muscles were burning, and he collapsed for a moment, catching his breath.
But he didn't let himself rest for too long.
He knew if he stopped, it would be hard to get going again.
So, with a slight groan, he rolled over and started on his sit-ups.
The familiar burn in his core reminded him of why he was doing this in the first place.
Every time he got through a workout, it felt like he was getting just a little bit stronger, a little bit closer to his goals.
When he finally finished his last set, Arlo lay back on the floor, breathless and tired.
His heart pounded in his chest, and sweat trickled down his face.
He closed his eyes for a moment, savoring the feeling of accomplishment, before he finally forced himself up.
He couldn't waste any more time. If he didn't shower and get ready soon, he'd be running late for class.
He trudged toward the bathroom, feeling the faint ache in his muscles as he moved.
The soreness was a reminder of how far he'd come—it hadn't been that long since he'd started working out, and already, he could feel the difference.
As he stepped into the bathroom, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and almost kept walking.
But something made him stop.
He turned back, standing in front of the mirror, and blinked in surprise.
For a moment, he just stared at his reflection, his jaw slightly open. Was that… really him?
The guy looking back at him in the mirror didn't look like the same Arlo from just a few weeks ago.
His once skinny frame seemed fuller, stronger.
His arms weren't exactly ripped, but there was a new definition to them, the faint outline of muscles that hadn't been there before.
His chest looked more solid, his pecs more defined, standing out against his naturally lean frame.
Arlo glanced down at his abs, lifting his shirt to get a better look.
Normally, he'd catch a hint of the muscles there if he tensed up, but now, even without flexing, the outline was visible. It wasn't a full six-pack or anything, but it was enough to make him grin.
He shifted his stance and glanced at his legs.
Even they looked different—bulkier, stronger. The workouts were actually working. And faster than he'd expected.
He couldn't help but wonder if this was normal.
Should he be seeing results this quickly?
Maybe his body was just responding well, or maybe the system he was following was more effective than he'd thought.
Either way, he wasn't complaining. It felt amazing to see real, tangible progress.
Arlo couldn't linger in front of the mirror forever, though.
Reluctantly, he tore his gaze away from his reflection and hurried into the shower.
The warm water hit his skin, washing away the sweat and leaving him feeling refreshed and awake.
He let himself relax for a moment, enjoying the warmth, but he knew he couldn't take too long.
With a sigh, he turned off the water and stepped out, quickly toweling off and getting dressed.
By the time he was fully ready, he felt a sense of satisfaction mingling with the lingering exhaustion from his workout.
He headed out of the house.