“Status.”
The boy–Julian–repeated.
A blue transparent window with golden letters appeared out of nowhere, hovering just before him.
********
Name: Julian Valecrest
Age: 16
Position: N/A
Rating: 60
[Attributes]
Defending: 60
Passing: 60
Attacking: 60
Pace: 60
Crossing: 60
Finishing: 60
Technique: 60
[Skills]
N/A
********
“This is… simpler than I thought.”
Julian said after thoroughly combing through the status window, not too surprised as he read about them enough times in manhwas and novels.
[More features will get added the better you get.] The ball spoke, floating next to his head.
“Like?”
[You’ll see.]
“Okay.” Julian decided not to press, but he was still eager.
Julian stood up from the couch and made his way back into the bedroom, the little pep in his step was unmistakable.
[What are you doing now?]
He stopped at the door of the bathroom and turned to face the ball.
“Taking a shower, then I’ll go find a football to dust of my rusty skills.”
[Don’t you want to learn more about the world first?] The ball floated just outside the door.
“Football first. World-building later.”
The door closed with a soft click when Julian stepped in.
********
–ding–
The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, announcing its arrival.
Julian stepped out into the lobby, no longer dressed in the sweatstained clothes he woke up in.
Now, he looked presentable.
More than presentable, actually.
He wore light gray trousers that were a little loose.
A black shirt with comfy sneakers, his damp black hair fell neatly over his forehead.
Though the outfit was modest, it didn’t look like that on him, in fact, the simplicity of it seemed to even amplify his youthful handsomeness.
“Good morning, young Master.”
Julian was startled when a female voice suddenly spoke next to him, as if appearing out of nowhere.
Right next to the elevator stood a woman with short brown hair, dressed in a tailored suit that didn’t know the definition of wrinkles.
She bowed deeply at Julian’s direction, showing clear respect for his standing.
“Good morning.” Julian said after he got over the initial scare.
‘Did she wait for me down here the entire time?’ He thought to himself.
[Yes.] The mini-ball spoke into his mind, floating next to Julian, no one else able to see it.
‘You can read my thoughts?’
[Yes.]
‘Good.
I didn’t want to look crazy talking to myself.’
While Julian was conversing with the mini-ball, he didn’t notice the surprise on the woman’s face when he greeted her, eyeing him intently.
‘Why was she waiting for me?’ He asked, oblivious to her thoughts.
[She is one of your personal attendees.]
‘Does that mean I can tell her to do stuff for me and she will do it?’
[Yes. But don’t think of taking advantage of her.]
‘And what the fuck is that supposed to mean?’
[It means don’t tell her to do anything perverted.]
‘What do you take me–’
“Young Master,” the woman broke him out of his thoughts.
“How may I assist you today?”
‘This works out.’ Julian thought.
‘I actually had no idea how I was going to get a football in my hands.’
“I need a football.”
“A football?” The woman asked, confused about the peculiar request.
In truth, she had been working for the young master for several months, and never even once had he spoken to her and when he finally did, he asked her to get a ball for him.
Anyone would be confused.
‘Why does she look so confused, is it that troublesome to get a football in this world?’
“Is that a problem?”
Julian asked, wanting to learn more about why it was a problem to get something as simple as a football.
“N-no. Of course not, young Master.” The woman quickly said, mistaking his question as him questioning her disobedience.
“I’ll get on it right away!”
The woman bolted past him, heels clicked loudly on the marble floors of the large reception as she hurried out the doors.
Julian watched her back disappear out of sight when the automatic doors slid to a close behind her.
‘What is her name?’
[I-I don’t know.] The mini-ball replied sheepishly.
‘What do you mean you don’t know?’ Julian asked, still standing in the lobby, the conversation not displaying on his face.
‘She works for you.’
[I never asked, alright!?] The mini-ball defended.
[I was going through some stuff.]
‘What stuff?’
[I don’t want to say.]
‘Tch.
Keep your secrets, then.’ Julian couldn’t hide the slight bitterness in his tone.
‘It seems like she is going to take a while.’ Julian walked over to the resting are in the lobby, a view of the city outside could be seen through the glass.
‘Let me just take a–’
“I’m back, young Master!”
The woman’s voice sounded behind Julian before he could take a seat.
He turned fast enough to see her running to him with the high heels on, sweat running down her cheek, her breath labored, hemp untucked, pants scraped at the knees.
In her hands she carried a black and white football, and a few of her nails were chipped and gone.
‘That wasn’t even a minute!’
Julian would lie if he said he wasn’t impressed by how fast she worked.
I mean, he literally just turned his back and she was back already.
The woman came to a stop in front of him, bending forward as she tried to catch her breath.
“I got… haa… the ball… haa… young Master.” She spoke through labored breathing, a smile on her face as she handed him the ball.
“Thank you,” he took the ball before asking.
“What happened?”
Julian noticed her disheveled state, looking like she fought a cougar, and couldn’t help but ask.
The woman finally caught her breath before answering.
“Nothing to worry about, young Master.”
‘She’s just trying to be strong for my sake.’ Julian reached his own conclusion.
‘This world is more dangerous than expected.
This woman literally had to fight people off just to buy a simple football.’ Julian walked to the front door, ball in his hands.
‘I should be more careful.’
The woman was embarrassed, not able to tell her master that she ran too fast and fell, causing her to roll and tumble a few times, leading to her current state.
Meanwhile, the mini-ball just shook its head before following its partner.
“By the way, what is your name?”
“Mira.” The woman–Mira–answered, walking a few steps behind her young Master.
The doors slid open automatically when the motion detectors sensed Julian approaching.
Julian stepped out of the hotel and was instantly assaulted by the sounds, sights and smells of the bustling capital city.
Cars rode passed in steady hums, people moved about in the same monotone current, tall skyscrapers stood like steel sentinels against the harshness of the sun.
“I missed this.”
Julian muttered under his breath.
He couldn’t remember the last time he was amongst other humans.
During his past life, most of his days was spent behind closed doors, watching football, reading novels, ordering takeout, watching football, sleeping and repeat.
He went on like this for months on end, sinking deeper with everyday that passes in the treacherous waters known as self hate.
The only human interaction he had was with the delivery guy, and even those were limited to a few words.
Julian wasn’t the shy type, not at all.
He just didn’t want to talk to anyone.
He didn’t want people to notice the mess he was, to pity him, to stare at him in disgust, as if he was some pathetic thing.
So that’s why he avoided them by cooping himself up in his dingy apartment.
‘There’s no way I’m going back to that old life.
I got a new life to start a new life.’
“Mira.” He turned to the woman he silently stood behind.
“I need somewhere to play football in peace. Somewhere like a football field.”
“Of course, young Master.”