Tristan's resolution

Tristan had just enough time to feel dumb about these thoughts before a text window silently opened in front of him.

[Second Identity System new user manual and FAQ.]

[Welcome to the Second Identity System, user. You may be confused and even wonder if this is all real, but it is. This text file will help you navigate your new abilities and rise toward Heavens.]

[The SIS is controlled with mental commands and gestures. To open this file again, command 'help' or 'FAQ'. To open the list of commands, use 'list of commands'. To interact with the system windows, simply touch them.]

[Q: Can other people see or hear the system?]

[A: No.]

[Q: How can I check my current system information?]

[A: Use the 'status' command.]

[Q: What types of power-ups are available to me?]

[A: You can purchase talents and certain items for one or both of your identities, based on the identity's career. Note that many power-ups might only be active in one of your identities. To summon the SIS shop, command 'shop'. You can also improve your skills and attributes. To open the boosting window, tap a skill or an attribute you want to improve.]

[Q: I bought an item, but didn't get it. I was cheated!]

[A: Check your pockets or bag. The items bought from SIS usually appear there.]

[Q: Do all items in the shop stay available for purchase at all times?]

[A: No. The system shop refreshes every day. Keep an eye out for new offers!]

[Q: Do I keep all my power-ups in both identities?]

[A: Yes.]

[Q: Are there any penalties for letting other people know about my second identity?]

[A: Yes! For each person who knows that your both identities are the same, you will suffer a stacking 5% decrease for all your parameters.]

[Q: How do I earn identity points?]

[A: Simply increase skills of an identity by natural means (training) or increase your social status, to earn points for another identity equal to 10x value of the achievement.]

[Q: How do I control the volume of the system's voice?]

[A: Use the 'settings' command to open settings and change its visual and audio parameters.]

[Q: Can I turn off that 'ding!' notification sound?]

[A: No.]

Tristan huffed and closed the window, as well as other accumulated notification windows, by pressing the button in their corner.

He probably looked weird in the eyes of the cashier, waving his fingers in the air.

Tristan ate a fry to appear more normal, then followed one of the FAQ questions and checked his pockets. To his surprise, in one of them, he found a second ID.

It was done in the name of Tristan Gemello, but besides that and ID numbers, was identical to his old ID—which meant that it had the same photograph without scars in it.

Tristan put it away, then opened settings and the list of system commands. In settings, he changed visibility and position of pop-up windows to be less distracting.

Then…

'Status.'

[======]

[Tristan Gemello (Tristan Hayes)]

[Current identity: Pop-star. Second identity: Criminal.]

[Rank: Nobody.]

[Pop-star Points: 1120]

[Criminal Points: 1970]

[===Attributes===]

[Appearance: 3]

[Charisma: 9]

[Fearsomeness: 34]

[Strength: 17]

[Dexterity: 24]

[Toughness: 40]

[===Skills===]

[Singing: 48]

[Dancing: 8]

[Playing guitar: 39]

[Music theory: 19]

[Music production: 8]

[Acting: 20]

[Songwriting: 13]

[Voice control: 32]

[Stage presence: 10]

[Sneaking: 20]

[Close-quarters combat: 21]

[Observation: 31]

[Driving: 16]

[Pickpocketing: 24]

[===Talents===]

[Clark Kent Effect]

[======]

'Interesting… So the system says I sing better than I play guitar? Well, let's see what I can buy with these points.'

Tristan felt skeptical about this. After the life he led for the past two years, he learned to not trust gifts from life.

'Shop.'

[======]

[===Shop===]

[Remove scars: 3000 points (any)]

[Playing flute skill: 10 Pop-star Points.]

[Lockpicking skill: 10 Criminal Points.]

[A driving license: 1000 points (tap to choose identity)]

[======]

Tristan's eyes widened.

This was impossible. Or maybe it wasn't. But if it was…

His hand shook.

He had just enough points…

Tristan tapped on the 'Remove scars' option.

[Remove scars—are you sure? You will have 90 points left.]

'Yes! I'm sure!'

[Confirmed. Remaining points:]

[Pop-star Points: 45]

[Criminal Points: 45]

[======]

Suddenly, Tristan's skin tingled. He looked at his scarred hands in complete marvel, watching how the ugly old scars disappeared like someone used Photoshop on them.

He touched his face in disbelief and felt only smooth skin.

Tristan stood so suddenly, his chair almost fell over, and rushed into the bathroom. Inside, he stared into a dirty mirror, afraid to believe his eyes.

The scars were fully gone!

[Ding!]

[As a result of your purchase, your attributes changed.]

[Your Appearance improved by 30.]

[Your Charisma improved by 20.]

[Your Fearsomeness reduced by 10.]

"Is this really… real?" Tristan asked, and even his voice flowed smoothly.

He grinned.

"Iiiis this reeeeally reeeeeal?" he sang, feeling his soul soar together with his voice.

Then Tristan laughed, twirling on his foot.

This happened!

He could sing again!

He could do more than just sing!

Tristan stared at his expression again. His fists clenched on the edges of the sink.

'I could return to my family. But I won't! Fuck them. I'm not going to crawl there like a beaten dog. The only way I'm returning is to slap them in the face with my success. When I will be more famous than my mother and more rich than my father—then I will return. Everybody who looked down on me because of that incident… They will learn how mistaken they were.'

This was Tristan's resolution.

When he walked out of the bathroom, he was a new person. Not the teenager who blindly followed expectations of his family, and not the aimless petty criminal who stuck with the crowd for safety.

Now he walked like a person with a goal and a plan. A person who could split crowds apart like Moses split the seas.

If Daniel saw him now, he'd feel fear. But the only witness of Tristan's transformation was the diner's cashier.

The young man, who was working here to afford college, watched Tristan walk out of the diner without finishing his fries, and sighed in relief.

First, that hobo was waving his hands in the air like a junkie on the high. Then he ran into the bathroom and spoke to no one there… Not to mention the scars which suddenly just disappeared from his face—but maybe the cashier just imagined that scars were there at all.

The cashier sighed and went to wipe Tristan's table. He wasn't paid enough to think twice about some hobo who paid for his order and didn't even try to threaten him with a gun.

Meanwhile, Tristan walked the night streets toward the tiny flat he was renting, wondering how soon Evelyn will send Mark after his head when the bitch learns he escaped the cops.