aOS v.2.4

The soft morning light filtered through the curtains of their hotel room, casting a warm glow across the room. Alex stretched and yawned, his muscles still sore from last night. He rolled over, rubbing his eyes, only to find Jin already up, sitting in a sleek black chair, sipping his usual morning coffee in his signature black suit.

"Did you do your morning meditation?" Jin asked, not bothering to look up from his cup.

Alex let out an annoyed grunt, dragging himself out of bed. "Yeah, yeah, I did it. You sound just like the old man," he grumbled under his breath.

Jin arched an eyebrow, finally meeting Alex's gaze, but said nothing. The comparison to Master Kenjiro seemed to bounce off his cool exterior.

Still half-asleep, Alex grabbed a book from the table and flipped it open, pretending to read while Jin continued sipping his coffee in silence. However, his mind wasn't on the words in front of him. Hidden behind the pages of the novel, Alex pulled up a series of floating screens only he could see, checking his investments through his aPhone. It had become second nature by now.

Over the past three years of training under Master Kenjiro, Alex hadn't just been mastering the art of speed and focus—he'd also been growing his stock portfolio. He smirked to himself as the numbers popped up. Over $20 million now sat comfortably across four major stock markets. He had played the markets well, timing each move with precision, guided by the trends he could access through his aPhone's Stocks App. It was like a game to him, and one he was winning big.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Kofi chimed in with his usual snark, his voice buzzing in Alex's ear through the AeroPods. "You're practically a financial genius now. Guess who deserves the credit for that?" Kofi let out a smug chuckle.

"Oh please, don't get too full of yourself," Alex muttered under his breath, still pretending to read.

"Full of myself? I'm just saying, without my guiding hand... well, you'd still be a broke college grad. And where would your precious portfolios be without me, huh? Kofi teased, pride dripping from his voice.

Alex rolled his eyes, the familiar banter feeling like a daily routine at this point. "Yeah, yeah. I'm sure your help was absolutely crucial," he said sarcastically, watching his investments fluctuate slightly on the screen before him.

"Damn right it was," Kofi replied, unbothered. "Don't pretend you didn't enjoy every bit of my advice."

"I didn't need your advice to make these plays. I've got it covered," Alex shot back, though a smirk tugged at his lips.

Jin, still sitting across the room, glanced up. "Are you actually reading, or are you just pretending again?" he asked, his voice calm but suspicious.

Alex lowered the book slightly, eyes narrowing. "Just brushing up on some... strategy," he replied, tapping the side of the book as if it actually contained anything useful.

Jin stood up, stretching his shoulders and setting his coffee down. "Good. We need to finalize the plan for tonight," he said, his tone steady but firm. His focus never wavered from the task at hand.

Alex shut the book, his investments still swirling in his mind but locked away for now. Tonight was going to be another game—just a different kind of gamble. He set the floating screens to disappear and turned his attention back to Jin.

"Let's talk about tonight," Alex said, his voice taking on a more serious edge as the playful morning banter faded.

Jin stood up from his chair, his coffee now abandoned on the table. He adjusted his black suit, the sharp lines emphasizing his rigid, no-nonsense demeanor. He looked down at Alex, his eyes gleaming with a focused intensity.

"It's time," Jin said, his voice low but commanding. "Time to show them who we really are."

Alex grinned, swiping his hand through the air to close the digital screen hovering in front of him. The financial stats he'd been analyzing vanished, replaced by the rush of anticipation. "So, no more dillydallying, huh?" he said, cracking his neck as he stood up to match Jin's energy.

Jin met his gaze, nodding firmly. "No more," he confirmed. "You can win as much as you want. No need to hold back anymore."

Alex's smirk widened, the challenge igniting something fierce within him. He knew what Jin meant—no more playing it safe, no more hiding his skills. Tonight, they were going all in, and the stakes couldn't be higher. But even with Jin's calm demeanor, there was one question that lingered in Alex's mind.

"And you? You ready to face the backlash?" Alex asked, his voice cutting through the air. He wasn't just talking about winning. The gambling world wasn't kind to those who bent the odds in their favor, and there would undoubtedly be consequences for the winning streak they were about to unleash.

Jin didn't answer with words. Instead, he raised his hands and calmly cracked his knuckles, the sound echoing through the room like a silent promise. His calm exterior belied the fact that he was more than ready—ready to take on anyone who dared question or challenge them. He didn't need to speak; the gesture alone was enough.

Alex chuckled softly, feeling the familiar surge of confidence that always came when Jin was in this mood. "Guess that's my answer," he said, grabbing his jacket from the back of the chair. The day was only just beginning, but tonight—tonight would be their real test.

As they both prepared to head out, Alex couldn't help but feel that old familiar itch. The thrill of the game, the rush of competition—it was all a delicate dance. One wrong move could send everything spiraling out of control, but as long as Jin was by his side, he knew they could handle whatever was coming their way.

"Kofi, you ready for this?" Alex asked quietly, though he knew the answer.

"I was born ready," Kofi replied with his usual cocky tone. "Let's show 'em why we're the best damn duo around."

"That's what I like to hear," Alex muttered under his breath as he followed Jin out the door.

Whatever challenges the evening would bring, they were ready to face them—together.

—--

As Alex followed Jin out of the door, the air outside felt different—charged with the kind of energy that only came before something big. He could sense it. Tonight wasn't just about winning. It was about making their mark, setting a new standard. His heart raced with anticipation.

Just as he was about to step fully into the hall, his brick phone buzzed in his pocket, vibrating with an insistent rhythm. He glanced down at it, seeing the name flashing on the screen. His eyes widened slightly.

It was Claire.

He hesitated for a split second to answer.

"Alex Han!" came the unmistakable sharpness in her voice, the edge cutting right through the air. "Where the hell have you been?!"