CHAPTER 28: SYSTEM LEVEL 2.

"Here, you don’t need to give it back. Don’t worry, my business is doing well."

Noah hesitated a little when Chris handed him five $100 bills, so Chris had to reassure him with a smile.

"Dude, I can’t just take your money."

"Relax, it’s alright. You always took care of me, so this is nothing."

Noah left while scratching his head; he was still in a dilemma if he should take it or not, but soon that faded away when he sat in the Uber he called.

"Chris, Jim has been waiting for a long time now."

Tina’s sweet voice broke his trance; Chris, nodding his head, went inside the diner. The cozy atmosphere inside is what Chris likes about this place. Although the time was 10:23 pm, there were still several customers around, some long-haul truck drivers and other regulars.

"Are you going to eat?"

"No, I have already eaten."

Tina came wearing her black working apron to ask Chris if he would have dinner or not. The whole diner smelled of fresh grilled sausage, and Jim was even having biscuits and gravy; it’s Harper Diner’s special.

"I got the money."

"You did? Where did you get thirteen thousand suddenly?"

"I took out a car loan from the bank."

Pulling the chair towards himself, Chris asked, and Jim answered. Tina came running as she was free, so she took Chris’s long trench coat in her hand to hang it by the door.

"Thank you."

"You are welcome. I see you’re wearing the ring."

"I really liked this. I must thank Lena properly. How’s your mother doing, by the way?"

He almost bit his tongue while asking that question. Lena was Tina’s two-year-old named after her grandmother Lina, so every time he asks about Lena, he would ask about Lina out of politeness, but today it felt wrong for so many reasons.

"She’s doing really well; she usually doesn’t come around that much, but recently she’s been spending time in my apartment with Lena. I think she has a boyfriend or something."

"You don’t say."

"You don’t look that shocked."

"I am..."

"Hey, Tina, Let us talk; you lovebirds can talk all night. Chris, can I send the money now and take the car as you promised?"

"Sure, send my account the thirteen thousand right now and here; take this key."

Jim gave him a nice exit from that weird conversation with Tina, so he took it almost immediately and placed his Mazda car keys on the table.

With his greasy mouth, Jim first wiped his hand on his blue shirt, then pulled out his phone, with how fast this snail was moving. Chris also pulled out his 15 Pro Max and opened the banking app.

"Done."

"Please, complete the paperwork in a few days. You don’t need my signature per se; I was a minor when this was given to me, so ask Dad for his signature."

"Eh? Dan?"

"Yeah, the car is in his name; don’t worry, I will talk with him. Take it home for now."

Even though he got such a good deal and his eyes shone with excitement, Chris had to agree that Jim was a super committed man; he finished the whole dish he was eating before standing up.

Goddamn! This is called conviction and true love.

He was so busy looking at the definition of "true foodie" that he almost forgot about the beauty that was still waiting for his answer.

Girls don’t forget anything, do they? Sigh!

Chris seeing his Mazda going away didn’t feel much, although it was a gift, but he should move on; the people who gave it were still around, and he had gotten their present just last night.

"So, I saw that side-eye when I mentioned Mother’s boyfriend. Do you know some stuff?"

"What side-eye? Of course not. How would I know about your mother’s affairs?"

"You did it again; when you lie, your eyes go sideways. Ahaha, you’re so cute."

"Yeah, well, can I get a can of soda?"

"Sure."

Tina left towards the refrigerator while Chris took a big breath; he can’t let her know that her mother is dating a 19-year-old high schooler, even if she gets to know later somehow. It was not his problem.

Did I get saved because I look cute? That damn!! Dickson, can’t he find someone else to date?

*CLANG*

Metal touched the cold table. Chris saw Tina placed a Dr. Pepper can in front of him, then casually sat down just across. Her eyes were smiling, and she looked like she was ready to gossip.

I usually like to talk with her, but I don’t know why I feel my heartbeat is going so fast, God damn! I know exactly why it is going this fast.

With a fake smile, he took the steel can and opened it up; the extra jizz bubbles gave him enough time to think about what his next words would be. He took a small sip; the cold weather outside was not going well with this chilled soda.

"I sold $10,000 worth of electronic appliances today."

[You have just been believed. Reward: Your bank now has $10,000 (with tax-paid documents provided to the bank).]

[Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!]

[System is rebooting. Wait 20 minutes before checking out the new features.]

[System Level 2: Loading]

All he could see was the holographic panel blurring Tina’s beautiful face, and although he could guess she was saying something, he could only hear the system’s massive voice talking in his head while Tina’s lips moved.

When he dismissed the System panel, he saw Tina with a face that was waiting for an answer.

"What was the question again? Sorry, I spaced out a little.

"You are behaving very suspiciously; you do know that, right?"

"I am sorry; I can’t keep it in me from you. My friend Dickson is dating your mother. That is why I am behaving this way. I am not good with keeping secrets, as you know."

He skipped the system weirdness with sacrificing his friend, although he felt sorry, but he will treat him to a nice steakhouse someday in the future to make it up to him.