Alex sat cross-legged on the worn carpet of his living room, staring at his phone's screen.
The "Balance the Scales" quest notification glared back at him, its seven-day deadline ticking away.
He sighed, tossing the phone onto the coffee table.
"Balance between mind and body? What does that even mean?"
His initial reaction had been to treat the quest like a homework assignment due at the last minute.
With seven days, he figured there was no rush. A day or two of procrastination wouldn't hurt, right?
But by the second day, a creeping unease set in. He'd received no new quests from the app. Not a single ping or notification.
"Guess the app's not into multitasking," Alex muttered.
He theorized that the app was holding out until he finished this task—a frustratingly vague one at that.
If there was one thing Alex hated more than exercise, it was a riddle without a clear solution.
He leaned back on the couch, rubbing his temples.
"Balance… not perfection," he murmured, recalling something .
Avoiding extremes, focusing on the process instead of the result—it made sense, in a Zen sort of way.
Alex decided he'd start small.
For the mind, he could clear his head and avoid overthinking.
For the body… well, he'd move it.
When morning came, he made his way to campus.
The start of the semester was as chaotic as ever, with students bustling between classes and swarms of clubs vying for attention in the courtyard.
Alex walked into his first lecture of the day, finding an empty seat near the back.
Dylan waved at him from a few rows ahead, his usual exuberant self, while Mia sat a few seats away, engrossed in her notebook.
Alex made a mental note to talk to her later. For now, he focused on blending in.
The professor droned on about course objectives and group projects, eliciting groans from the class. Alex suppressed a laugh—he wasn't thrilled about group work either, but something about the collective misery of his peers was oddly comforting.
By lunch, Alex had worked up the nerve to approach Mia and Dylan, who were seated under a tree near the cafeteria.
"Mind if I join?" Alex asked, holding his tray.
Mia glanced up and offered a small smile. "Sure."
Dylan patted the grass beside him. "Come on, man. Plenty of room in our exclusive club."
Alex sat down, trying not to overthink the dynamics.
Mia seemed more relaxed than she'd been before, though there was still a hint of caution in her tone.
As they ate, Dylan launched into a dramatic retelling of his summer escapades, complete with exaggerated hand gestures. Alex laughed, grateful for the distraction.
Mia chimed in occasionally, her sharp wit complementing Dylan's over-the-top storytelling.
Two days later, campus was abuzz with excitement. The student council had organized a sports event—a marathon mixed with obstacle courses, tug-of-war, and other activities designed to embarrass the unprepared.
Alex groaned as he read the flyer. Physical exertion wasn't exactly his idea of fun, but skipping the event wasn't an option.
Participation was mandatory for certain classes, and he wasn't in the mood to argue with his professors this early in the semester.
The morning of the event, he stood in the starting area with Dylan, who was stretching enthusiastically.
"This is going to be great!" Dylan said, his energy bordering on manic.
Alex rolled his eyes. "For you, maybe. I'm aiming for 'not last place.'"
The whistle blew, and the crowd surged forward. Alex started at a steady jog, his goal simple: survive.
To his surprise, he didn't feel as winded as he expected.
The training he'd done over the summer—albeit begrudgingly—had left its mark. His strides were smoother, his breathing more controlled.
As they approached the first obstacle—a series of low hurdles—Alex watched as some of his peers stumbled or hesitated.
He cleared them with ease, earning a few surprised glances.
"Not bad," he muttered to himself, feeling a small spark of pride.
Further along the course, a familiar figure caught his eye. Mia was sprinting ahead, her movements fluid and precise.
She tackled each challenge with an ease that made Alex envious.
"What's she doing here?" he wondered aloud.
Dylan, who had caught up to him, grinned. "Mia's on the track team, remember? She lives for this stuff."
"Great," Alex muttered. "Another reason to feel inadequate."
Dylan laughed, clapping him on the back.
"Hey, you're doing fine! Better than fine, actually. "
Alex shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Guess I've been working out."
They reached the tug-of-war section, where teams were randomly assigned. Alex found himself paired with a mix of classmates, including Mia.
She gave him a quick nod, her expression focused. "Just hold your ground and pull when I say."
The whistle blew, and Alex dug his heels into the dirt. The opposing team was strong, but Alex felt a surprising surge of strength as he pulled with all his might.
Mia barked commands, coordinating their efforts. Slowly but surely, they gained ground.
When the other team finally toppled, Alex let out a victorious yell, his heart pounding with exhilaration.
Mia glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "Not bad, Alex."
He grinned, brushing the sweat from his brow. "Thanks. Couldn't have done it without the team."
By the end of the day, Alex was exhausted but strangely satisfied.
The event had been grueling, but it also felt like progress—not just for his body, but for his confidence.
As he walked back to his apartment, he opened the Quest App.
The quest was still there, its timer ticking down. Alex frowned.
"Alright, I'm going Zen mode today" he muttered.
Sitting cross-legged, Alex's legs are in a state of gentle rebellion.
Deep breath in... exhale out...
"My mind is a calm lake… "
"...Occasionally a duck swims by."
"_"
"From this moment on, I am the human embodiment of "meh"—calm, cool, and at one with the universe. Or at least, at one with my couch."
A few moments later...
"This is not working." He sighed.
Suddenly, he thought of something.
"Sleeping should be a kind of Zen mode. hmmm"
Alex nodded his head convincingly.
Ah, the noble procrastinator—master of the art of "later."
He's not lazy; just strategically delaying productivity to achieve peak efficiency at the last possible moment.
Thinking of this, he went to bed.