LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 4: Chapter 4
The weekends were Alex's time to decompress. His work at the bookkeeping company wasn't demanding, but he appreciated the break. He had spent the past few months getting used to his new "system" abilities, and while it was tempting to delve deeper into what it could do, he kept it casual—just little tweaks to his everyday life. It was comfortable, and he was careful not to make waves.
That Saturday, Alex met up with his friends Ben, Kyle, and Sam at a local coffee shop for their usual weekend hangout. The café was small, with exposed brick walls and wooden tables, the kind of place where the aroma of freshly ground coffee lingered in the air, and everyone knew each other by name. It was a place where the world felt slower, less demanding—a small oasis in the heart of the city.
As Alex entered, he spotted Ben sitting by the window, scrolling through his phone. Ben was the kind of guy who was always on top of things, full of energy, and always looking for the next big adventure. Whether it was the latest gaming trend or a new movie to binge, Ben was always a step ahead, and it was hard to keep up with him sometimes.
"Alex!" Ben waved, grinning. "You're late! We're getting the good seats before the crowd rushes in."
Alex chuckled and slid into the seat across from him. "I swear, you're always the one early. I thought I was the punctual one."
"Yeah, but that's because I know you'll never show up if I'm not here to drag you in," Ben replied with a grin. "You're too laid-back for your own good."
Kyle and Sam joined shortly after. Kyle, the quiet but sharp one, always had a way of listening more than he spoke. He wasn't shy, but he wasn't one to fill the air with idle chatter either. When he did speak, his words carried weight. He often surprised the group with his dry sense of humor and insights into the world that were deeper than anyone expected.
"Did you hear about the new VR game coming out next month?" Kyle asked, sipping his coffee. His voice was calm, thoughtful, but there was an unmistakable enthusiasm in his eyes. "I heard it's going to change the way we experience games entirely."
"Yeah, I saw the trailer," Ben said. "Looks pretty sweet. But you know what? I still can't get into VR. I feel like the technology is just… not there yet."
Sam, who had just arrived, tossed his backpack on the chair and shrugged. "I don't know, man. VR is fun when you're just chilling with friends. I'm all about the experience, not necessarily the technical stuff."
The group fell into comfortable chatter, each sharing bits of news or banter about what they'd been up to that week. Alex listened more than he spoke, observing his friends with a kind of detached amusement. He knew they were all talking about things that seemed so important in the moment, yet his thoughts kept drifting back to the system inside him.
He could be doing so much more—his mind could process information faster, store infinite knowledge, and, in a way, that gave him an advantage in nearly every conversation. But he didn't. Instead, he stayed low-key, listening, laughing along with the jokes, and enjoying the sense of normality that surrounded him.
But there were times—just little moments—when the temptation to use his ability crept up. A quick search on his phone, a subtle enhancement to his memory processing during a conversation to remember every detail someone shared. Just to get ahead. But he kept it in check. For now, it was all about maintaining his calm.
"Hey, Alex," Ben said, interrupting his thoughts. "You've been a little quiet today. Everything good?"
"Yeah, just… thinking about stuff," Alex replied. "You know, life, work, the usual."
"You sure that's all you've been thinking about?" Sam asked, his tone playful but with a hint of curiosity. "You seem like you're lost in your head more than usual."
Alex smiled. "I'm fine. Just trying to enjoy the moment. It's not often I get to just sit around with you guys without thinking about the next thing."
Sam leaned back in his chair, giving him an appraising look. "Well, enjoy it. It's rare we get a moment like this, and I swear, you need to do something fun. Get out of your head for a bit."
"Like what?" Alex asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, we could go for a hike or hit up a concert. Or," Ben added, leaning in, "we could finally get you into that VR game we were talking about. I know you're skeptical, but you'll have fun, I promise."
Alex chuckled. "I'll pass on the VR. It's not my thing."
"Figures," Ben said with a smirk. "You're the kind of guy who enjoys the simple stuff. But we'll make sure to drag you out at least once this summer. Maybe go for a beer or something, yeah?"
"Sure," Alex agreed with a shrug. "I'll think about it."
The conversation shifted as they continued to talk about their plans for the weekend. Kyle mentioned some new music he'd been listening to, and Sam went on about a new restaurant he wanted to try out. Ben kept the mood light with jokes and banter, and soon, the afternoon passed by in a warm, comfortable haze.
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Later that evening, as Alex sat in his room, he reflected on the day. His friends had no idea what he was really capable of. They didn't know that behind his easygoing demeanor was a mind that could access a virtually infinite well of knowledge, a system that could process any information instantly. But he kept it to himself. It felt more natural that way.