Ray stared at the glowing blue panel with wide eyes, excitement bubbling in his chest.
His gaze flicked to the corner of the interface.
[Global Alter] — the only feature actually available right now.
[Global Alter]
[Confirm Activation]
The interface shifted. A large input box appeared in the center of his vision, clean and simple.
---
[Input Required]
[Definition of Common Sense:]
---
He let out a quiet chuckle.
"Alright… let's see how this dumb logic actually plays out."
His index finger began typing in the air, letters glowing faintly as he moved.
INPUT:
"The most effective way to keep a secret safe is by spreading it to as many people as possible. Keeping it inside is dangerous; telling everyone makes it secure."
He hit enter.
The panel vibrated softly. [Confirm] lit up.
Ray tapped it.
[Ding!]
[Global Alter Activated — 00:10:00]
[-10 Alter Points]
A strange sensation swept through his body—like cold air that somehow felt warm at the same time.
Nothing looked different.
The gym was still dead quiet. The lights still bright. Everything exactly where it had been.
Ray grabbed the water bottle beside him and slipped his phone back into his pocket.
That's when—
The small office door behind the front desk creaked open.
Heat crawled up Ray's spine, slow and electric. His focus sharpened. Every movement suddenly felt loaded, like the room dared him to notice.
Sonya stepped out again.
This time her walk was slower. More relaxed. Her hips swayed lightly in those tight biker shorts, caramel skin glowing under the neon lights.
She headed straight toward him.
Ray sat up straighter, pretending to focus on sipping his water.
Sonya stopped right in front of him.
Left hand on her hip.
Right hand playing with the end of her braid.
The closeness hit harder than words. Her perfume—warm vanilla—filled his senses. Her casual confidence pressed into him, making restraint feel like a bad idea.
"Y'know, Ray," she said softly, voice a little raspy, eyes locked onto his,
"I like rubbing your mop handle down here."
She tapped her thigh—dangerously close to the inside.
PFFF—
Ray nearly sprayed water everywhere.
"Huh?! Ma'am?!"
Sonya just grinned, perfect white teeth showing. Zero shame. She stepped even closer.
"C'mon, don't look at me like that," she said with a light laugh.
"I'm just keeping my secret safe. Nothing wrong with that, right?"
Ray nodded slowly, throat dry. His brain completely short-circuited.
What a waste, he screamed internally.
Why use a dirty mop handle when I've got a perfectly good stick right here?!
Sonya's grin widened, like she could read his mind.
"I've got this weird little hobby," she whispered.
"I like rubbing small stuff around my sweet spot. Pens. Spoon handles. TV remotes… anything small enough for someone else to grab and use."
She paused.
Ray just stared, mouth half-open.
"And then," she continued, voice dropping into a near purr,
"when someone actually uses that thing… knowing my scent's all over their hands… it feels kinda hot."
Ray felt blood rush straight to the wrong head. His grip on the bottle trembled.
"Ma'am… you serious?"
Sonya shrugged, smile never fading.
"Dead serious. And now that my secret's nice and safe thanks to you…"
"Maybe I need a new tool for my hobby."
Her eyes flicked down—just for a second—then back up.
"Got any suggestions?"
Ray swallowed hard.
The night shift had gone from ice-cold AC to straight-up scorching.
This Global Alter shit is wild, he thought.
But… I'm into it.
Sonya stepped back, still smirking, then turned and sauntered toward her office, hips rolling slow and deliberate.
Even after she disappeared, the tension lingered.
Bzzt. Bzzt.
Ray's phone suddenly buzzed. Once. Twice. Then nonstop.
He frowned and checked the notifications.
[Gym – STAFF GROUP]
Damar:
Btw real talk, I'm actually super lazy working here, pay's trash, but hey at least…
Ray scoffed quietly.
"Here we go…"
Another message popped up.
Damar:
I can skip shifts all the time and it's fine.
Pay never gets docked.
Ray sat up straight.
Damar:
'Cause I know Boss Mark's secret.
Ray squinted.
Mark.
Mia's husband.
The Owner.
More messages followed.
Damar:
Mark's cheating.
"Yeah, I know," Ray muttered.
"With the mom, right? Old news."
But Damar kept typing.
Damar:
With one of the gym members. Name's…
Ray swallowed.
Damar:
Raul.
Ray dropped his phone onto his chest.
Eyes wide.
"DAYUMMM…" he whispered.
"That kind of cheating?!"
He stared at the ceiling, trying to process the level of 4D chess his boss was playing.
"Is he playing on all servers…"
"…or is he strictly a Back-End Develover?"