Chapter 41: First Day Working as a Security Guard
I opened my eyes reluctantly, my eyelids heavy as if held down by lingering drowsiness. Slowly, I turned my head toward the window beside the bed, trying to catch the early signs of a new day beginning.
The sky outside was still wrapped in dim pre-dawn colors, a gradient of deep blue mixed with faint gray hanging quietly without much change, like a painting left unfinished. There was no noticeable movement—only a long silence that seemed to hold time in place.
The sun had not yet truly revealed its light, leaving only a faint trace along the horizon that slowly pushed the darkness away bit by bit, as if hesitant to rise too soon.
The morning felt quiet and calm—too calm, even for a big city. I found myself wondering whether Monday mornings in New York City were always like this, or if it was just Forest Hill that made everything feel more silent than usual.
Only a thin chill seeped in through the gaps of the house, moving slowly yet clearly as it brushed against my skin. It made me shiver slightly, and without realizing it, I pulled the blanket for a moment before finally waking up completely.
My gaze shifted to the clock beside the bed. The hands had not yet reached four in the morning. The numbers were clearly visible in the dim room, accompanied by the faint light coming in through the window.
I let out a quiet breath, realizing that the day had not even truly begun, yet my routine was already waiting without compromise.
Without wasting time, I got out of bed. My body felt slightly stiff after sleeping, and my feet touched the cold, hard floor, the sensation helping me regain my awareness.
I took a short breath, adjusting myself, then stepped out of the house. My daily mission was something I couldn’t skip. No matter how small the reward, it still mattered.
Even if the reward was only one each day, it still held great value for me. If I kept collecting it, little by little, it would surely become something far more meaningful in the future.
That thought was enough to keep me consistent, even when laziness tried to creep in and whisper excuses to return to bed.
As soon as I got outside, I immediately started running around the area near the house. The sound of my footsteps echoed clearly against the still-empty road, the rhythm gradually becoming steady.
The fresh morning air filled my lungs with every deep breath, clean and cold—far different from the heavier, denser air of the day. The sensation slowly made my body feel more alive.
Some corners were still dark, the silhouettes of buildings faint in the distance, forming rigid shapes beneath the dim sky. But the streetlights were bright enough to illuminate the road, casting long streaks of yellow light along the path I followed.
The streets were still quiet, almost devoid of activity. There was no noise, no rush of vehicles—only rows of streetlights standing still, emitting their dim glow as they faithfully accompanied my steps through the silent morning.
Occasionally, the sound of a passing vehicle could be heard in the distance, faint and quickly fading away. Only a few cars appeared before disappearing again, as if unwilling to disturb the existing calm.
Most people were still fast asleep. Even so, I caught sight of three or four people in the distance—some walking leisurely, others seeming to prepare to start their day at a slow pace. But overall, the atmosphere remained quiet and peaceful.
After a few laps, my running session finally came to an end. My breathing grew slightly heavier, my chest rising and falling at a faster rhythm, but my body felt warm and lighter.
Without stopping for long, I immediately headed back home. Sweat began to form on my forehead, but I paid it no mind.
As soon as I arrived, I went straight into the next set of exercises—push-ups, sit-ups, then squat jumps—doing them in sequence with barely any pause, keeping my rhythm steady.
My body kept moving in a consistent pattern, my muscles tightening and working hard. Each movement brought a clear strain, yet also a sense of progress that couldn’t be ignored.
Sweat began to soak my clothes, flowing from my forehead and slowly dripping from my temples, some even falling onto the floor. My breathing grew heavier, but remained controlled, showing that my body could still keep up with the pace of the workout.
Time passed without me realizing it, the room filled only with the sound of my breathing and the movement of my body.
When the entire routine was finally done, I paused for a moment, standing still as I tried to steady my heavy breathing. My chest felt hot, but my body was filled with a sense of satisfaction after finishing everything.
I glanced at the wall clock once more. It was already nearing seven in the morning.
Without delaying any further, I walked toward the bathroom, my steps slightly lighter than before.
The moment cold water poured over my body, a refreshing sensation spread quickly, washing away the heat and fatigue from the workout. It felt sharp at first, but gradually turned into a soothing comfort.
I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the water flow, washing away the remaining sweat and exhaustion while clearing my mind.
After finishing, I stepped out of the bathroom, a thin layer of steam still lingering in the air, clinging to the glass and walls, creating a warmth that slowly faded as the door opened.
My hair was still slightly damp as I stepped into the room, a few drops of water slowly falling from the tips onto the floor.
Without wasting time, I opened the wardrobe and took out the security guard uniform I had received from Happy a few days ago, after being accepted for a job at the Stark Industries building.
The uniform still looked new, the fabric stiff and clean, its folds neat as if it had never truly been worn.
I put it on carefully, making sure each button was fastened properly, the collar straight without tilting, and the sleeves falling just right without any distracting wrinkles.
I briefly adjusted the front of the uniform with both hands, tugging slightly at the bottom to make it look neater, ensuring my appearance didn’t look careless.
After that, I added a jacket over it, covering the uniform so my appearance wouldn’t stand out too much from the outside. I slowly pulled the zipper halfway up, enough to cover most of the uniform without making me feel suffocated.
Once everything was ready, I quickly stepped out of the house and locked the door. The sound of the lock turning was brief but firm, as if marking the true start of the day with no room for delay.
There was no time to relax. I immediately ran toward the bus stop, my steps hurried yet purposeful, my body still holding onto the lingering warmth from the earlier workout.
The cool morning air brushed against my face as I ran, sharp yet refreshing, making my breathing slightly heavier but still steady. Each exhale formed a faint mist that quickly vanished into the air.
Along the way, I briefly stopped at a small roadside stall, buying a simple breakfast of fast food and a cold drink. The vendor looked half-asleep, yet still served quickly without much conversation.
Without really stopping, I moved again while eating. In just a few large bites, the food was gone, barely leaving me any time to truly taste it.
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Explanation Regarding the Lack of Updates
The author has been busy thinking about many things, which caused the author to often forget to update. If you ask what the author has been thinking about, it is related to a second account.
Yes, the author is planning to create a second account, so this account will be dedicated specifically to writing fanfiction novels.
The second account will be used exclusively for regular novels, because the author thinks it would be too troublesome to combine both types of novels into the same account.
Currently, the regular novel for the second account already has around 15 chapters completed. However, the author does not intend to publish it anytime soon.
The author is waiting until it reaches perhaps around 50 or 60 chapters before publishing it. That is the reason why the author has been forgetting to update recently.
The author sincerely apologizes to everyone. Thank you very much for your understanding and support!
After this, the author will return to updating as usual!