Alex's newfound routine was a strange mix of exhilarating and exhausting. Every time the Quest App buzzed, he felt a mix of dread and excitement.
Was it going to ask him to do something simple, like walk to the park, or throw him into another cleaning frenzy?
Either way, the app was relentless, constantly nudging him toward self-improvement.
Today, however, Alex's focus was split between the app and the unexpected chaos that was Dylan.
"Alright, hear me out," Dylan said, pacing Alex's small apartment like a motivational speaker preparing to drop the greatest idea of his life.
"This Quest App of yours isn't just some random thing. It's an opportunity! Think about it, man. If it's giving you stats for basic stuff, what happens when you start doing really impressive things? Like lifting weights? Or—I don't know—public speaking?"
Alex, slumped on his couch, gave Dylan a blank stare.
"Public speaking? What, you think I'm going to get a +10 Charisma boost for embarrassing myself in front of strangers?"
"Exactly!" Dylan pointed dramatically.
"Dude, you're sitting on a goldmine here. We've got to push this thing to the limit. See what it can really do."
Alex sighed, glancing at his phone.
"I don't think that's how it works. The app just gives me random tasks. I don't get to pick them."
"Well, maybe not, but that doesn't mean we can't cheat the system." Dylan's grin was practically evil.
"You ever heard of speedrunning?"
Alex groaned. "Oh no. You are not turning my life into some kind of weird quest speedrun."
But Dylan was already plotting. "Think about it! If you just focus on completing as many tasks as possible in the shortest amount of time, we can grind your stats like crazy. Before you know it, you'll be the real-life equivalent of a level 99 paladin or something."
"Paladins are lame," Alex muttered, but his curiosity was piqued.
"Fine. What do you have in mind, oh wise and benevolent coach?"
Dylan leaned against the wall, arms crossed like he was unveiling a master plan.
"We start small. Basic stuff. And we work our way up. First, you follow the app's tasks to the letter. But between those, we add challenges of our own. Extra stuff that makes you look... I don't know... proactive. Maybe the app will reward you for going above and beyond."
Alex narrowed his eyes. "You're making this sound way more complicated than it needs to be."
"Trust me, dude. This is how you win at life." Dylan clapped a hand on Alex's shoulder.
"Now, what's your next task?"
Alex reluctantly opened the app, half expecting it to demand something absurd like planting a tree or donating his life savings to charity.
Instead, the screen displayed something oddly ominous: "Paint a picture of how you see yourself."
"What?" Alex blinked at the notification.
"Paint a picture? Do I look like the kind of guy who has art supplies lying around?"
Dylan burst out laughing. "Dude, it's testing your creativity! This is perfect. You can draw a stick figure if you want. Just make it... you know... meaningful."
Alex frowned. "I don't even own crayons, let alone paint. And why does this app care about how I see myself? What does that even mean?"
"Easy," Dylan said, pulling out his phone.
"We'll go buy some supplies. Cheap ones. Like dollar store level. Come on, it'll be fun."
"Fun," Alex repeated, dragging himself off the couch.
An hour later, Alex found himself sitting on his kitchen floor, surrounded by a pile of paints, brushes, and a blank canvas that looked way too intimidating for its own good.
"Alright, Picasso," Dylan said, smirking. "Show me what you've got."
Alex stared at the blank canvas like it was a final exam he hadn't studied for. "I've got no clue what I'm doing."
"Just go with the flow," Dylan said. "You don't have to be good. Just... paint what you feel."
"What I feel?" Alex snorted. "I feel like throwing this canvas out the window."
Dylan rolled his eyes. "Stop whining and start painting."
Reluctantly, Alex dipped a brush into the paint and made a single streak across the canvas.
It wasn't exactly inspiring. In fact, it looked like a sad, uneven line of blue that could've been mistaken for a failed attempt at drawing a horizon.
Dylan burst out laughing. "Dude, what is that? A metaphor for your life?"
Alex glared at him. "Shut up. I'm warming up."
For the next twenty minutes, Alex smeared colors onto the canvas in a haphazard attempt to create something vaguely recognizable.
There were some squiggly lines, a few blobs that might've been clouds, and a weird, lopsided shape in the middle that was supposed to represent... himself?
When he finally set the brush down, he leaned back and sighed. "There. Done. This is me."
Dylan tilted his head, studying the painting like an art critic at a gallery.
"You know, I can kind of see it. The chaos. The confusion. The lack of direction. It's very... you."
Alex smacked him lightly on the shoulder. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
Just then, the app buzzed. Alex grabbed his phone and read the notification: "Task Complete: You have received +1 Creativity."
"Well, at least it's something," Alex muttered.
"See? You're already leveling up," Dylan said, grinning. "Now, what's next?"
Alex checked the app again. The next task made his stomach sink: "Apologize to someone you've wronged."
"Oh no," Alex said, his voice flat. "No way. I'm not doing that."
Dylan raised an eyebrow. "Why not? Who have you wronged?"
Alex thought about it for a moment. There were plenty of people he might've annoyed or let down over the years, but one name stood out in particular: his old high school friend, Mia.
They'd drifted apart after Alex bailed on her birthday party two years ago with a lame excuse. He'd always meant to apologize but never got around to it.
Dylan's grin widened. "Oh, this is going to be good. Who's the lucky victim?"
Alex groaned. "It's none of your business."
"Come on, man," Dylan said, nudging him. "The app is giving you a chance to make things right. Don't chicken out."
"I'm not chickening out," Alex said, crossing his arms. "I just... don't want to reopen old wounds."
Dylan rolled his eyes. "You're making it way more dramatic than it needs to be. Just send them a message or something. Easy peasy."
Alex hesitated, staring at his phone. The app's task seemed simple enough on paper, but in practice, it felt daunting. Apologies weren't exactly his strong suit.
After a long pause, he finally sighed and opened his contacts. He found Mia's name and typed out a quick message:
"Hey, I know this is random, but I just wanted to say sorry for missing your birthday a while back. I shouldn't have flaked. Hope you're doing well."
Before he could overthink it, he hit send.
"There," Alex said, showing Dylan the screen. "Happy now?"
"Very," Dylan said, giving him a thumbs up.
A moment later, the app buzzed again: "Task Complete: You have received +1 Empathy."