"Ouch… my, everything hurts," Mathew groaned as he lay on his bed. His face was covered in bandages, while his arms were covered in bruises. Despite his pain, he had a slight smile on his face. "Worth it."
After his intense and unexpected victory in his sparring match against Jason, Mathew found himself in a daze, his body weary from the exertion. It was clear he was in no fit state to ride his bike home, so Cory offered to drive him back.
Before he exited the gym, Natalia had approached him with a confident stride. She looked him squarely in the face and said that once he had fully healed from his injuries, she would help him refine his skills as a boxer in preparation for the upcoming California Junior Boxing Tournament.
"Looks like you have what it takes… Matt." Natalia had told him with a rare smile right before she punched him in the arm. "Hurry up and heal up. I'm going to run you through so many drills you'll regret ever asking me for help."
With a tired smile on his face, Mathew rubbed his arm where Natalia had punched him. Hearing her say those words made him feel a swell of pride rise within him.
[You have (x2) Mystery Boxes available! Would you like to open them?]
"Maybe I should wait? I don't think I'll survive a mind-splitting headache right now." Mathew hummed before shrugging. "Fuck it. I earned my magical bullshit boxes, and I want my magical bullshit rewards."
Accepting both mystery boxes, Mathew stared at the two floating boxes before choosing the one on the left.
[You have won Jack Sparrow's compass, The Tia Dalma's compass! A magical compass that will direct its owner to whatever he or she most desires!]
Sitting in Mathew's hand was a small wooden compass, its rich, polished surface adorned with intricate gold lining that gleamed in the soft light. The compass was attached to a sturdy leather strap, slightly worn but still supple.
Curiosity danced in Mathew's eyes as he carefully examined the exterior, running his fingers over the delicate carvings etched into the wood. With a gentle click, he snapped open the lid, revealing the compass face. The needle whirled chaotically, spinning around as if caught in a tempest, refusing to settle in any direction.
"That's confusing."
After closing the compass, Mathew placed it beside him and reached for the second box. Grabbing the bow, he paused to take a deep breath. "If the pattern of receiving a skill and then an item is anything to go off by, then this box should have a skill."
After taking a deep breath, Mathew pulled the bow off the box and braced himself.
[You have won: Gordan Ramsey's Cooking Abilities!]
[Skill: Cooking: 87]
Mathew was unable to react to his new skill because he immediately passed out.
••o••o••o••
Working at Pritchett's Closets & Blinds was one of the ways Mathew relaxed.
Although some might regard his job in the warehouse as nothing more than tedious labor, he found a surprising sense of contentment in the mindless routine. The repetitive tasks, from stacking boxes to sorting inventory, offered him a welcome escape from his busy days. As his body moved rhythmically through the motions, his thoughts drifted freely, allowing his mind to unwind and find solace in the simple, unchanging nature of his work.
"When you finish moving those boxes, I need you to help out Samuel with the shelving material." The floor manager told Mathew as he signed some paperwork for today's delivery of stock.
"Got it."
Mathew nodded and began stacking several boxes onto a trolley. Moving through the busy warehouse, he unloaded each box to its designated locations.
After completing his task, he found Samuel and started placing the shelving materials in the designated room where the team responsible for building the closets was located.
"I'd hate to see the other guy," Jay said as he stepped into the break room with a stack of paperwork. He took in all the bandages covering Mathew's face and arms. "How'd that fight of yours go?"
"I won… somehow," Mathew said after taking a well-deserved drink of water while Jay greeted a few of his other employees in the room. "Frankly, I just got lucky."
"From what you told me, that Jason guy was much more experienced than you. It wasn't luck, Matt. It was skill." Jay grinned and sat down in one of the open chairs. "I knew you had it in you."
"Thank you, Mr. Pritchett," Mathew smiled, making sure to show Jay respect while on the job, even though the older man insisted it wasn't necessary. "Still, I have a lot to learn if I want to have a chance at winning the upcoming tournament."
"You'll do great, kid. Have some faith." Jay rummaged through his papers and found what he was searching for. "This is for you."
Mathew accepted the envelope and saw his paycheck for the week. After placing his check into his pocket, he saw Jay holding out another envelope. But this time, the envelope was a bright blue with a few birthday stickers pasted on its surface.
"What's this?"
"Gloria is throwing a surprise birthday party for Manny in two weeks. She wanted me to give this to you." Jay walked over to the coffee pot to pour himself a cup. "We're sure that Manny would love it if you were there."
"Sure. I'd love to come. Thank you for the invitation."
Jay responded by raising his mug up with a slight smile. "I'm dying to know. How did the fight go?"
Mathew grinned and began to retell how his spar against Jason had occurred.
Jay leaned in, his curiosity piqued, as he absorbed every word Mathew spoke. Gradually, a handful of other employees on break became entranced, their conversations fading into the background. Mathew rose from his seat with a spark of enthusiasm, demonstrating the intricate combos and fluid moves that he had used to face Jason. Each motion was executed with precision and flair, captivating the gathered crowd as they watched, wide-eyed, eager to hear his story.
••o••o••o••
Mathew stepped into the grocery store, the familiar jingle of the entrance bells welcoming him inside. The bright fluorescent lights illuminated the aisles, which were stocked high with colorful products. He reached for his shopping list, which he had meticulously written earlier that day.
"I always wanted to try Ramsay's famous Beef Wellington," He said with a hungry grin as he began to gather all the ingredients for the dish.
As he meandered down the produce aisle, Mathew couldn't help but admire the fresh fruits and vegetables with a newfound appreciation. The vibrant reds of the tomatoes, the deep greens of the spinach, and the bright yellows of the bananas all caught his eye. He picked up a few ripe avocados, gently squeezing them to check for firmness before tossing them into his cart.
So this is what it's like having the mindset of a world-class chef. He thought.
Finally, he navigated to the checkout line, his basket laden with groceries. As he waited, he glanced at the candy bar display and allowed himself a small indulgence, popping a chocolate bar onto the conveyor belt alongside his items. After paying, Mathew walked out into the evening air, feeling satisfied with his haul and looking forward to today's dinner.
Finding a clear alleyway, Mathew pushed his bike behind a large trash bin to place his groceries into his Infinity backpack. This way, he wouldn't have to worry about spilling any of his fresh ingredients on his five-mile ride home.
Mathew hopped onto his bike, feeling the cool evening breeze rush against his skin. The rhythmic sound of his tires on the pavement echoed through the busy city as he navigated the dimly lit roads.
Neon lights flickered in the distance, illuminating storefronts and casting vibrant colors onto the asphalt. He pedaled steadily, his heart racing with a mix of excitement and the slight apprehension of traversing the urban landscape after dark, aware of the bustling nightlife beginning to awaken around him.
Having taken this particular path home ever since he began at Pritchett's Closets & Blinds, Mathew was confident he wouldn't encounter any trouble as long as he traveled fast enough. Turning the corner, he saw the small bar he always drove on his route coming up.
As he peddled, Mathew saw two people walk out of the bar. The couple approached an old orange Charger while the woman swayed side to side. Considering the location, this wasn't an odd sight to see.
"I should call an Uber. You don't think they'll tow my car?" An inebriated Lucy Chen said as she leaned on her Charger's side.
"No. The bar's used to it." The taller man, Caleb Wright, said.
"Oh! Sorry!" Lucy giggled as her phone slipped out of her hand, but Caleb quickly caught it and slipped it into his back pocket. "Okay, well, if you can't tell. I had a really good time."
Mathew shrugged and continued onward, out of sight of the two. He wasn't interested in hearing the couple's conversation any longer.
However, thanks to his high perception and observational skills, his ears picked up the slurred words spoken by Lucy.
"Y-you put something in my drink."
Slamming the brakes of his bike, Mathew's head spun around just in time to see Caleb close the trunk of his car with Lucy inside.
Mathew's eyes widened as he watched Caleb quickly and calmly enter his vehicle.
[A new Event is available!]
Fuck me.