Lou awakened from his slumber due to a tickle on his nose, which he realized was caused by Mr. Whiskers’ whiskers. Through the little squirrely’s mischievous eyes that twinkled at him, he could tell that it was still up to no good. When the furry animal suddenly darted away after releasing a triumphant chirp, Lou jumped back, shouting “Was that you, Mr. Whiskers?”
“This is definitely Dad's doing”, he said coming out of his room. The poor kid nearly had a heart attack when he saw what time it was. “Shit! I’m gonna be late for school!”
He did not bother to pick any decent clothes and ended up wearing whatever crossed his path before he rushed downstairs with the feeling of an earthquake happening in his stomach. A waft of coffee and maple syrup reached Lou, suddenly noticing how ravenous he was.
His parents were in the kitchen already, George engrossed in a newspaper while Julia hummed along happily flipping pancakes. Lou dropped into the nearest chair and grabbed one from the pile. “Morning,” he said casually, and yet his mouth was filled with food.
His mother burst into laughter and then followed it up with a poke at him jokingly. “Hey take it easy champ, you'll choke on it! Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?”
George dropped the newspaper to reveal a cunning smile. "Or maybe the right side, depending on Mr. Whiskers' perfect timing." He winked at Lou, who rolled his eyes in amusement.
Lou caught on and congratulated his father. "I think Dad, Mr. Whiskers finally listened to you!"
George turned the page of his newspaper aggressively and said, "What do you mean by 'finally'?"
Julia jumped into the conversation, her smile fading slightly. "Are you anxious to return to school, honey? Well, it has been a while."
Lou nodded, picking at his pancakes. "Yeah, a little. I mean, I don’t know what to expect, you know? After everything that happened at the party... I hope no one from school heard about my gift..." The thought of facing Derek and his cronies made his stomach churn.
George leaned across the table to give Lou a reassuring squeeze on the hand. “I know it's been tough lately, Lou, but listen up. But you’re stronger now so don’t let those idiots at school walk all over you again.”
Lou's head snapped up, his eyes wide with surprise. "Wait, how'd you know about all that?"
Mr. Whiskers burst into the kitchen at that precise moment, jumping onto George's shoulder and chittering merrily. George smiled at Lou, knowingly, as he caressed the squirrel's fur.
There was a twinkle in his eye as he said, "Squirrels are nosy parkers, son. Have I not told you this before—that knowledge is power? You would never believe how well-connected Mr. Whiskers is to the grapevine!”
Lou shook his head, chuckling. "Of course he is."
George had put his newspaper aside and now started shadowboxing. Mr. Whiskers looked at him as well, trying to repeat what he did. "If they do anything, just let them have a taste of their medicine," said his father trying to assure him.
Lou was taken aback by his dad’s words and raised his head. He had always viewed him as a pushover, but now he saw something different in his eyes he had never noticed before—determination. It made him feel calm and gave him confidence.
“Thank you for saying that, Dad,” Lou replied with a voice full of feelings.
Julia's hair suddenly turned a fiery red, her eyes flashing with anger. "George! Are you encouraging our son to fight? Violence is never the answer!"
George raised his hands in defense, Mr. Whiskers clung to his shoulder for dear life. "Honey, I'm just saying he needs to stand up for himself. He's got the power to do it now."
Julia's voice softened, but her hair remained a vibrant crimson. "I know, dear. But I just worry about him. He's always been so sensitive."
Lou stood up, a newfound confidence in his voice. "Don't worry, Mom. I can handle it. I'm not the same Lou I was before. I'm stronger now."
At that moment Julia's hair turned to calming blue as she stood and held Lou warmly. "My dear Lou bear" she cooed sweetly, her voice full of love. "You are growing up so quickly. It feels like yesterday when you were just a little baby – all cute and dependent on me".
Lou cringed in her arms, feeling embarrassed. "Mom, please" he moaned as he tried to break free from her tight embrace. "I’m not a baby anymore."
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Julia then held him tighter and began rocking back and forth gently while speaking in soothing tones "No, of course not darling but you’ll forever be mommy’s little Lou bear". She kissed his forehead with twinkling eyes filled with affection and pride.
"Julia, I think you’re killing the boy! Let him come up for air" he said with a hint of laughter in his throat.
“Oh dear, I get carried away sometimes” she laughed as she let go of Lou blushing slightly across her cheeks then patted his cheek affectionately “You know how emotional your old mum can be.”
“Thanks, Mom” muttered Lou quickly before grabbing his bag and heading out of the house impatient to leave behind this uncomfortable situation as soon as possible “I have to go otherwise I will miss my bus!”
He rushed out the door, the morning air a welcome relief from the cloying sweetness of his mother's affection. As he walked towards the bus stop, the thought of facing Derek and his cronies at school loomed over him. The memory of their taunts and jeers still stung, but today, he felt a flicker of defiance. He was stronger now, faster, more resilient. And had an arsenal of power.
—---------------------------
The suburban street was flooded with bright rays of the sun that coated everything in the amber and gold color. Having hooked his backpack on one arm, he walked towards the bus stop, a gentle gust of wind ruffling his hair. This thought was hammered home by the sight of the bus stop before him – its walls were filled with tacky graffiti and fading advertisements.
He glanced around. He noted the usual crowd of students. They waited for their daily commute. Some chatted animatedly. Their voices were a jumble of gossip and laughter. Others stood in solitary silence. Their eyes were glued to books. Lou as usual found a spot at the edge of the group. He hoped to blend into the background. He tugged his hoodie further over his head a futile attempt to shield himself from the world.
His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one centered around the daunting prospect of returning to school. He hadn't been back since his birthday party. He hoped none of his relatives had gossiped about his gift.
But as he stood there, waiting for the bus, Lou felt a familiar tingling sensation. He glanced at his Cringe Progression Bar and saw it filling up rapidly. He looked around, trying to figure out what was causing it, but couldn't pinpoint anything specific.
Lou's heart raced as panic set in. "What the hell is going on? Is my zipper down or something?" he thought. He ran his hands over his clothes frantically. He checked for any wardrobe malfunctions. While doing this he felt a surge of power. When he checked his system, he saw that he had leveled up to 11.
"What the actual fuck is goin' on?"
Lou's eyes darted around, searching for the source of the cringe. Was it his mismatched socks? The mustard stain on his shirt? Or maybe it was a snot on his nose? He couldn't figure it out, but the Cringe Progression Bar kept filling up.
Beads of sweat began to slide down his forehead, and he felt another surge. He closed his eyes, preparing for the inevitable notification.
LEVEL UP! You are now Level 12.
"This is insane," Lou muttered under his breath. "I'm leveling up just by standing here. Did they learn about my power already? Are they making fun of me?"
He opened his eyes. His gaze fell on a group of girls giggling nearby. They were whispering with their eyes filled with a mixture of amusement and disgust. Lou's heart was in his shoes. He knew that look. It was the same look he'd seen on Derek's face countless times before.
He wanted to shrink into himself, to disappear from their sight. But then he remembered his father's words. “Don't let those idiots at school get to you.”
Lou straightened his back, a newfound resolve in his eyes. He met the girls' gaze head-on, a smirk playing on his lips. Their laughter was like fuel to his fire, each giggle making him feel stronger. He tried not to let them get under his skin.
The bus pulled up and Lou marched on, his head high. Disregarding the looks and murmurs, he sat down close to the rear. Lou shut his eyes, feeling the energy pulse through his veins. He felt as though a force was developing inside of him and getting stronger with every heartbeat. It felt like a rising tide, pressure building steadily, ready to break free at any moment.
By the time the bus arrived at the school, Lou had reached level 13. He stepped off the bus, his steps were faster than usual. He wanted to go straight to class, his mind racing with anxiety. Everyone on the bus must have known about his power or that he'd face-planted into two cakes. He couldn't think of any other logical explanation.
Lou stepped off the bus, his mind racing with anxiety. The school was large and towering, with tall windows that reflected the sun of the early morning. It was built of red brick. With so many students already packed into the courtyard, Lou was overwhelmed by the noise of laughter and conversation.
He made his way towards the entrance, feeling the weight of their gazes on him. Their eyes tracked every step he made, and whispers followed in his wake. It felt like the spotlight was turned on, highlighting every flaw and insecurity that Lou had. His heart pounded in his ears, and he felt his palms grow sweaty as he tugged at his hoodie in an attempt to burrow himself into the fabric, although it was a useless attempt.
"What the fuck is going on here? Am I always this visible?" Lou's thoughts were frantic. He couldn't understand why his Cringe Progression Bar was filling up so quickly. Each step seemed to amplify the sensation, and by the time he reached the front steps of the school, another notification appeared:
"LEVEL UP! You are now Level 14."
He pushed through the heavy double doors and into the bustling hallway. The noise inside was deafening, with lockers slamming, and voices echoing off the walls. Students milled about, gathering books, chatting in groups, and casting furtive glances at Lou. Their eyes were filled with a mixture of curiosity, amusement, and something else—disdain.
Lou's skin prickled under their scrutiny. He could almost feel the judgment in their stares, like daggers piercing through him. The whispering seemed to grow louder, each snicker and giggle a blow to his already fragile confidence. His breath quickened, and he tried to steady himself, but it was too much.
As he turned the corner towards his classroom, he felt another surge of energy. "LEVEL UP! You are now Level 15." Lou's eyes went wide in horror. "What the hell?" he whispered, the words almost choking him.
The walls seemed to close in on him, and suddenly, the hallway felt narrowed around him. His chest was tight, and every respiration seemed tight, each breath laboriously shallow. In some strange way, it almost felt like an invisible hand was squeezing his lungs, forcing him to gasp for air. Constricted, it grew tight and harder to breathe, which fanned the swelling of panic in him.
He looked up and found some little girls huddled together, looking at him and laughing silently. The pressure of their eyes on him felt as if there was a physical weight that bore on him in full. Tears welled up in his eyes and the pressure was becoming unbearable. It just—was—so—much.
Without even thinking, Lou swung around and bolted off down the hallway. His feet pounded the linoleum floor, the sound thundering off the walls of the silent corridor. He flung himself through the school gates and into the open air, running blindly. Tears ran down his face continuously, not until he reached the shores of a nearby lake, which assured his safety.
Lou lay sprawled on the ground, panting, gasping for air. He buried his face in his hands, his whole body convulsed with sobbing. "What is happening to me?". Fear and confusion mixed with a strange sense of power that coursed through him.
Laying there, Lou realized he couldn't keep running away. He had to face this head-on and figure out what was happening. While he was running there, the Cringe Aura skill came to his mind. And he asked the System to remind him of this skill again.
Cringe Aura: This passive skill grants you Cringe EXP based on how low your charisma is. When people around you find you cringe-worthy, you gain Cringe EXP. The lower your charisma, the more easily you earn Cringe EXP. This allows you to accumulate Cringe EXP effortlessly, simply by being in the presence of others.
The "When people around you find you cringe-worthy, you gain Cringe EXP." sentence stroked him like lightning. And he understood what was going on... He thought that "it was not a coincidence that my feet brought me to this lake."