At the library, Lucian was looking at the 'Running Linux' book. The book looked different compared to the others Lucian owned. It had a hard cover, no fancy pictures—just lines of code that seemed almost futuristic.
Lucian knew this was a beginner's book, but it was still hard to read. Still not deciding rashly to rent or not. Lucian sat on an empty bench like the other, trying to read the book, though many different thoughts were also running through his mind.
Lucian(thought): I should've visited the bookstore first.
Lucian started skimming through the first page, trying to understand something. He went back to the shelves to check out some others.
Lucian(whispering): There aren't many beginner ones, two books about Linux, one about privacy!
Lucian squinted his eyebrows, still trying to decide.
1 hour later,
Walking down the street, Lucian held only one book, not rented, but bought.
Lucian(mumbling): I don't have enough money, I can't buy and rent simultaneously. The bookstore had something else, though, something similar to 'Running Linux'.
'Linux for Dummies' by Richard Blum.
Lucian opened the book as soon as he entered his room. It was a bland book, big too, over 400 pages, and full of black and white, even the snapshots of PC it gave as an example were.
Lucian started skimming through the many pages, which discussed the introduction to Linux and how to set up Linux on a PC.
Lucian(thinking): I have already booted Linux from a Pen drive. Just where are the scripts or whatever they're called?
Flipping the pages like a madman, Lucian seemed a bit annoyed, but he finally found the page containing the codes. Lucian looked, turning on the VaultOS as he started copying and reading, taking out his notes and even taking them down.
_____________________________________________
-echo = prints text
- pwd = show current folder
- ls = list files
- cd = change folder
- mkdir = make a new folder
- touch = make an empty file
_____________________________________________
Lucian(muttering): This looks simple— well, at least the start does.
(Looks at the clock)
Lucian: It's already 1:00 am— I should sleep.
Going back to sleep, Lucian couldn't get a wink of sleep; his excitement kept him up the night.
The very best day, Lucian was up early as he started going through the book, and hours passed in a snap.
Flipping pages.
Lucian: I don't think I have ever studied like this for anything.
Day after day, Lucian worked, learning, writing, and everything seemed pretty amazing, even creating routines. It was one week off after midterms, so Lucian gave his all— well, for the first 5 days at least.
By day 6 of learning Linux, Lucian stared at the open book, the once-exciting lines of code blurring together.
Lucian: Sigh... Tomorrow.
School had started again, and it had already been three days since Lucian last touched the book.
Soon, those days turned into weeks.
***
Just a few streets away from Merrin Residence was the Pierce Residence. Adam Pierce and Lucian Merrin had been friends since early high school.
Adam and Lucian walked outside just like always, though Adam did notice some things about Lucian, like Lucian daydreaming...
Adam: Is something bothering you?
Lucian(bewildered): Huh!– nothing...
Lucian smiled as he replied, it was pretty obvious that he was still thinking about something.
Adam: Lucian... Are you learning something?
Lucian: What are you saying all of a sudden?
Adam chuckles.
Adam: I make that face when I am learning something new— you know, like staring at nothing, always thinking...
Lucian was confused, though he did know what Adam was talking about, but he acted oblivious.
Adam: Being the only man, I understand most things... Luci– if you are learning something, why don't you give it your full attention? After all, you have everything.
Lucian(chuckled): Ohh! Such wisdom... You talk like an old guy.
Lucian and Adam are both laughing together while Lucian is making fun of Adam, but he has realized something...
Merrin Residence,
Lucian paced back and forth in his room, wiping dust off the book. Adam's words echoed in his mind. To most, it might have sounded annoying—but to Lucian, it made sense.
Lucian knew where Adam came from... Adam was just like Lucian Average— but unlike Lucian, Adam only had his Mother to Adam... He needs to work to support her, and he doesn't have any other choice, that's why...
Adam gives his everything, even if he knows nothing.
Lucian: I can't just start like before... I need a plan.
Lucian thought of something simple... It wasn't just about routine; it was about how to learn in itself.
Lucian took out his notebook and a stack of sticky notes. Instead of long, detailed paragraphs, he wrote short definitions and basic info—whatever would stick.
And this time... he didn't stop.
After copying everything, he then placed it opposite his bed on the blank wall beside his cupboard.
Lucian(murmuring): Waking up every day, I will be seeing that.
Lucian's routine was simple— 2 hours a day of learning, whether it's 1 page or 10, doesn't matter, need to learn/revise something...
Lucian: The school things won't matter much as long as I have access to the Teachers Panel, I can pass. I should focus on the Finals mostly, including that and summer vacation, I have around 3 to 4 months.
So Lucian started, he didn't just learn them, he also used them to create some practical even if they were a direct copy. There was still a lot to run—His first project was to create a simple bash script that auto-organizes the folders.
Lucian sat with his fingers pointing at the keyboard. He took a breath as he started writing on the terminal.
Lucian(muttering): So I need to make a directory, then go to documents and create a bash file... sounds simple.
_____________________________________________
mkdir -p ~/Documents/scripts
cd ~/Documents/scripts
nano auto_organize.sh
_____________________________________________
The screen switched, revealing a simple editor; there was no color, just simple text.
Lucian looked at the closed book as he sighed and continued.
Lucian continued. The more he typed, the more he felt anxious, even though it was just a few lines.
Lucian: Okay... Now– Save!
Pressing the save shortcut twice, Lucian didn't want to take risks...
Going back to the terminal...
Lucian: chmod +x... auto_organize.sh, Then
./auto_orgnize.sh
Silence.
Nothing froze... Lucian tilted his head to the right as he minimized and checked the folders.
Files had moved.
Images had gone into a folder named jpg, text files into txt, and some PDFs he didn't even remember downloading now sat inside their lonely folders.
Lucian: "It actually… worked?"
He leaned back, staring at the screen.
For the first time, he hadn't just read something from a book. He'd made it do something.
To be continued~