ushernet Chapter 62 Level Up!
Chapter 62 Level Up!
Hugo sat on the edge of the overly luxurious guest room bed, staring blankly at the crystal chandelier hanging above like a mad scientist on the verge of a breakthrough—or a breakdown.
The room screamed wealth and class, but all Hugo could think about was his latest dilemma: how to win over Lisa.
He buried his face in his hands, muttering to himself. "I need a plan. No, I need the plan. Something foolproof. Something she can't resist."
Although she said she wanted to rest, he would be a fool to actually believe that. Chances were she was down at the pool listening to another guy's attempt at bedding her.
Hugo's mind churned, and a wild idea struck him. 'What if I go down and 'accidentally' bumped into her with a tray of snacks?'
In his imagination, Lisa smiled and laughed as he apologised profusely, her eyes sparkling with admiration for his charm.
Reality, however, painted a much bleaker picture. He could already see himself tripping over his own feet, sending the tray flying, and covering Lisa in guacamole.
Her disgusted glare burned in his mind. "Nope, nope, terrible idea!"
Next, he thought about using the classic "rescue the damsel" ploy. "What if I fake an accident by the pool and save her? That'd make me a hero!"
His imagination conjured a dramatic scene by the pool. Lisa slipped, but Hugo swooped in like a hero, catching her in his arms. She gazed at him, her heart won.
Then his common sense kicked in. "Yeah, right. Knowing my luck, I'd slip first, drag her down with me, and we'd both land in the pool like two clumsy seals. And then she'd slap me while soaking wet. Great plan, Hugo. Really genius."
He groaned, pacing the room like a madman.
"Alright, what about poetry?" He stood straight, suddenly inspired. He'd read a romantic verse aloud, something Shakespearean.
"Lisa, oh Lisa, thy beauty doth blind me—"
The scene in his mind morphed into Lisa cringing and muttering, "Is this guy for real?"
Hugo groaned, clutching his head. "I'm doomed! Everything I think of just makes me look like a bigger loser!"
He clasped his hands behind his head, desperate for brilliance. "Think, Hugo, think! You're not just some random nobody anymore. You've got a System, for crying out loud! Systems are supposed to make life easier!"
Just as he was about to give up and resign himself to being Sanchez's most disappointing student, a light bulb went off in his head. "Wait a second... The System!"
He dived onto the bed and summoned his System interface, the holographic display materialising in front of him with its usual smugness.
His eyes darted to the notifications tab, where a series of unchecked achievements awaited him.
Hugo grimaced. "Wow, thanks. That's so uplifting."
[Charisma: 2 (+1 Item Bonus)
System Remark: Your idea of flirting is one step above interpretive dance. Work on it.]
"Hey! I've been improving!" he argued, but the System had no ears for excuses.
[Communication: 5
System Remark: You can form coherent sentences. Most of the time. Bravo.]
"Why is everything an insult?"
[Alpha: 4
System Remark: Flexing muscles doesn't make you an alpha. Stop scaring cats and try confidence instead.]
Hugo rolled his eyes. "I am plenty confident!"
[Status: 3
System Remark: Social standing of a squirrel. You've got potential, but it's buried deep under awkwardness.]
He stared at the screen for a long moment, then sighed. "You're lucky I can't punch holograms."
Despite the System's relentless snark, Hugo felt a surprising wave of emotion. He remembered when all his stats were in the negatives, and his life was just a series of unfortunate events.
"Man," he muttered, scratching the back of his head, "I've come a long way. From that embarrassing orientation disaster to... well, this."
He looked down at his hands. Sure, he wasn't perfect, but he was better. Stronger. Smarter. Maybe even a little cooler.
He smiled faintly. "Sanchez's lessons really paid off in Communication, huh? And those Muscle Unlock Pills—those were a game changer for my Alpha stats."
Then his grin widened. "With these stats, I can totally pull this off. Lisa doesn't stand a chance!"
But as he glanced back at the interface, his eyes fell on another notification: 150 Credits and 150 Points Earned.
Hugo leaned back, rubbing his hands together. "Now we're talking. It's time to make some real moves."
The night was far from over.