Chapter Four: Struggling to Keep Control

Jiwon limped through the school gates, his legs feeling like jelly after the brutal workout the system had forced him through that morning. Every step was agony, and he could barely hide the wincing that came with each movement. His arms still throbbed from the push-ups, his muscles screaming with every slight shift.

He was tired—more exhausted than he'd ever been—but there was no time for rest. School had to be faced, along with all the mocking stares, the whispers, and the laughter.

Jiwon had learned long ago that the only way to survive the day was to blend in, stay quiet, and hope no one noticed him. But with how sore and out of sorts he felt, it was going to be harder than usual.

As he shuffled toward his locker, the usual crowd of bullies was already there, waiting like sharks smelling blood. Jiwon kept his head down, hoping they wouldn't notice him, but that was wishful thinking.

"Hey, it's Fatso!" Seojin, the leader of the group, sneered, his cronies snickering beside him.

Jiwon's heart sank, but he kept his eyes glued to the ground. He didn't want any trouble, not today. He couldn't handle it.

"You get lost on your way to the cafeteria, huh?" Seojin continued, blocking Jiwon's path to his locker. "Or maybe you're trying to waddle off some of that weight?"

The group laughed, and Jiwon clenched his fists, biting back the surge of humiliation that threatened to choke him. He wished he could just disappear.

[Auto Mode: Engaging in 2 minutes]

His phone buzzed in his pocket, and Jiwon's heart skipped a beat. No. Not here. Not now.

Seojin stepped closer, his smug grin widening as he loomed over Jiwon. "What's wrong? You gonna cry? Or maybe you'll just eat your feelings like usual?"

The insults bounced off Jiwon's ears as his mind fixated on the notification from the system. He had less than two minutes before Auto Mode kicked in, and it would force him to start working out again—whether he was ready or not. He couldn't let that happen here. Not in front of everyone.

He needed to get away.

Without thinking, Jiwon pushed past Seojin, startling him. The bullies looked confused for a moment, then their faces twisted with anger.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going?" Seojin shouted, grabbing Jiwon's arm.

Jiwon yanked free, panic surging through him. He didn't have time for this. His legs moved faster, ignoring the pain, as he bolted down the hallway toward the bathroom.

"Get back here, you coward!" Seojin's voice echoed behind him, but Jiwon didn't stop.

He reached the bathroom, bursting through the door and locking himself in one of the stalls. His heart pounded, not from fear, but from the growing dread of what was about to happen.

[Auto Mode: Engaging in 30 seconds]

"No, no, no..." Jiwon whispered frantically, pulling out his phone and staring at the countdown on the screen. He couldn't stop it. The system had control. And in just a few seconds, it would force him to start doing exercises right here in the middle of school.

[10 seconds remaining]

Jiwon's breathing grew shallow. How was he supposed to do push-ups and squats in a bathroom stall without drawing attention?

[3... 2... 1...]

His body tensed, and before he could even react, Auto Mode took over.

[Begin: 50 Jumping Jacks]

Jiwon's arms and legs moved on their own, forcing him into motion. His body squeezed inside the small stall, his limbs awkwardly hitting the metal walls as he tried to comply with the system's commands. His breaths came out in short, panicked bursts, and the sound of his sneakers slapping the tiled floor echoed off the walls.

Someone entered the bathroom, and Jiwon froze, his body still trying to complete the jumping jacks. His heart raced with the terror of being discovered. If anyone saw him doing this—flailing around like a madman—they'd think he'd lost his mind.

"Is someone in there?" a voice asked, and Jiwon recognized the sound of Seojin's cronies.

His body continued moving, but Jiwon clamped a hand over his mouth, trying to stifle the sound of his panting. His muscles burned from the effort of trying to resist the system, but it was useless. He was trapped.

The door to his stall rattled.

"Yo, someone's in here!" another voice called out, and Jiwon's heart sank.

"Whoever it is, come out! We saw you run in here!" Seojin's angry voice echoed in the bathroom.

Jiwon's movements became more frantic, his body crashing against the walls of the stall. His mind raced with fear—he had to finish the task before they found him. If they saw him like this, there'd be no end to the humiliation.

[Jumping Jacks complete. Next: 100 Push-ups]

Jiwon nearly collapsed with relief, but the system didn't give him any rest. His arms moved against his will, forcing him down onto the floor. He braced himself as his chest lowered to the dirty tiles, beginning the first push-up.

The door rattled again, harder this time. "Come out, or we'll break it down!"

Jiwon's arms trembled as he pushed himself up again. Sweat poured down his face, and his breaths were shallow and quick. He couldn't stop. He had to keep going.

The door suddenly slammed open, and Jiwon's heart stopped.

Seojin stood there, his face twisted in confusion as he stared at Jiwon doing push-ups on the bathroom floor.

"What the hell...?"

For a moment, no one moved. Seojin and his cronies just stood there, eyes wide as they watched Jiwon's body continue moving in perfect rhythm, completely out of his control.

Jiwon wanted to scream, to beg them to stop looking at him, but all he could do was push up from the floor, over and over again, like a robot.

"What... are you doing?" one of the boys finally asked, his voice filled with disbelief.

Jiwon's face flushed with embarrassment, but he couldn't stop. He couldn't explain. He could only keep going.

Seojin's face twisted into a sneer, but there was a hint of unease in his eyes. "What, you think you're tough now, huh? Doing push-ups in the bathroom like some freak?"

Jiwon's arms screamed in pain, but he didn't respond. He couldn't. The system had total control.

"Let's get out of here," Seojin muttered, shoving his cronies toward the door. "This guy's lost it."

The group hurried out, leaving Jiwon alone in the bathroom, his body still moving. Even after they were gone, the humiliation clung to him, his face burning with shame.

[Push-ups complete. Next: 100 Squats]

"No..." Jiwon gasped, his legs already starting to bend. His body ached, his mind screamed for release, but the system didn't care.

It wouldn't stop until the task was done.

As Jiwon finally finished the last squat, his body collapsed to the floor, drenched in sweat. His vision blurred, and his mind swirled with a mixture of shame, exhaustion, and frustration.

How long could he keep living like this? How long could he survive the system's relentless demands?

He wanted to be an idol, to transform himself into someone worthy, but at what cost?

As he lay there, gasping for breath, his phone buzzed with another message.

[Day 2 Complete. Calories Burned: 800. Level Up Progress: 10%.]

Jiwon stared at the screen, his vision swimming as tears welled in his eyes.

He was only 10% of the way there.

And this was just the beginning.