LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 8: Chapter 8
Monday arrived with a brightness that seemed almost foreign after the late night of gaming. Alex rubbed the sleep from his eyes and reluctantly got out of bed, a sense of warmth filling him as he recalled the laughter and excitement from the weekend. Still, the reality of the workweek loomed ahead, bringing him back to the grind of the bookkeeping world.
He dressed quickly, opting for a comfortable navy blue hoodie and jeans. Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, he took a moment to assess his appearance. His tousled brown hair fell slightly into his hazel eyes, which sparkled with a hint of determination. The dark circles under his eyes were a reminder of his late-night gaming session, but he brushed them off.
"Just another day at the office," he said to his reflection, forcing a smile before heading downstairs.
The aroma of fresh coffee filled the air as he walked into the kitchen. His mother was already preparing breakfast, and Amilia sat at the table, her face buried in a textbook.
"Morning, sleepyhead!" his mother greeted, handing him a mug of coffee. "I hope you're ready for a busy day."
"Yeah, I think so," Alex replied, taking a sip and savoring the warmth. "Just need to get through the numbers."
Amilia glanced up from her book, a mischievous grin forming on her lips. "At least you don't have to write an essay on 'Why Homework is Important.'"
"Yikes. Good luck with that," Alex chuckled, ruffling her hair before sitting down to eat.
The morning passed in a comfortable haze, and soon Alex found himself at the small bookkeeping firm where he worked. The office was a cozy space filled with the faint sound of keyboards clicking and the rustle of papers. His colleagues, a mix of fresh-faced interns and seasoned accountants, buzzed with energy as they tackled the daily tasks.
"Hey, Alex!" Sarah, one of the interns, called out as he settled at his desk. She was a bright-eyed college student, always eager to learn. "Did you catch the game last night?"
"I missed it. I was too busy gaming," Alex replied, a hint of pride creeping into his voice.
"Oh! You game too? What do you play?" she asked, leaning over her desk with genuine curiosity.
"Mostly RPGs and strategy games. Just picked up some new skills this weekend," he said, a spark of enthusiasm lighting up his features.
"Nice! I'm more into puzzle games, but I'd love to hear about your strategy sometime," she smiled before returning to her work.
As the day progressed, Alex buried himself in numbers, occasionally glancing at the interface of his system hidden discreetly beneath the desk. He was tempted to utilize the memory processing function to get ahead, but he resisted. For now, he wanted to focus on his job, keeping a low profile while he learned the ropes.
Around lunchtime, the office buzzed with chatter as everyone gathered in the break room. Alex joined his colleagues at the long table, where a spread of sandwiches and chips awaited them.
"Did you hear about the big client we landed?" Mark, one of the senior accountants, announced with a grin. "If we keep this up, we'll be rolling in bonuses!"
"Bonuses? Count me in!" Kyle joked, lifting his sandwich like a trophy. "I could use a new gaming setup."
Laughter filled the room, and Alex found himself joining in, enjoying the camaraderie. This was part of the appeal of his job—a mix of numbers and people, a contrast to the solitary gaming world he often inhabited.
"Hey, Alex," Mark said, turning his attention to him. "You up for some overtime this week? We've got a backlog that needs tackling."
"Sure, I can help out," Alex replied, feeling a sense of responsibility swell in his chest. "Just let me know when."
After lunch, he returned to his desk, the day slipping by in a blur of calculations and reports. Occasionally, he would sneak a glance at his system, tempted to see if he could improve his efficiency at work, but he pushed the thought aside. He wanted to balance his responsibilities and the growing curiosity he felt about his abilities.
By the time the workday ended, he was mentally exhausted but satisfied. As he packed up, Sarah approached him again, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I was thinking, maybe we could form a gaming group for the weekend? A few of us could team up and play together!"
"Yeah, that sounds great!" Alex agreed, feeling a rush of enthusiasm. "I'll reach out to the others and see who's in."
"Awesome! Let's make it happen!" she replied, her excitement infectious.
Later that evening, Alex sat in his room, preparing for his nightly simulations. He decided to invite a few of his colleagues to join him virtually for some gaming practice. Pulling up the system interface, he created a new environment, this time a sprawling dungeon filled with challenges and puzzles.
As the landscape materialized, he felt a thrill of anticipation. "This will be fun!" he said to himself, ready to test his strategies.
His phone buzzed, interrupting his thoughts. It was a message from Jessica, inviting him to a local game night at her place later in the week. The prospect of mingling with friends outside of work was appealing, and he quickly responded with enthusiasm.
"Can't wait! Count me in!" he typed, feeling a warmth spread through him.