Eliana greeted George with the kind of enthusiasm that could put a love-struck drama heroine to shame. Her voice was as sweet as melted chocolate, her smile so bright it could probably outshine the neon café signs behind her.
"Geoooooorge~!" she sang, drawing out his name with a teasing lilt. "Did you miss me?"
George, in contrast, simply slumped in his seat, staring at her with an expression that perfectly captured the essence of defeat. He didn’t even bother responding. What was the point? This girl would never take no for an answer anyway.
Eliana blinked in surprise. “What’s with that look? Did I break you?”
George exhaled slowly, dragging a hand down his face before glancing at her again. He already knew Daniel was busy this weekend—stuck at her house, arrogantly pointing at things as he arranged his new gym equipment, probably acting like some kind of fitness emperor demanding perfection.
Meanwhile, here was Eliana—right in front of him. The café’s warm lighting cast a soft glow on her, the ambient hum of espresso machines and quiet chatter making the moment feel almost surreal. Her hair framed her face just right, and the way her eyes twinkled with curiosity…
For a moment, just a moment, George let himself forget about everything else.
What a perfect view.
If time could stop right now… if the world could just freeze in this exact moment—
I’d live in this life forever.
Hearing George’s thoughts, Eliana felt a sudden warmth creep up her cheeks. For the briefest second, her heart skipped a beat—but she quickly masked it, keeping her expression composed. No way was she letting him see that she was flustered.
Clearing her throat, she leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on the table as she fixed him with a curious gaze. “What are you doing here?” she asked, feigning casual interest.
George, still recovering from the shock of her sudden presence, instinctively responded in the most robotic voice imaginable. “Coffee. Of course.”
Eliana raised a brow.
Before she could call him out on it, she motioned toward his cup. “I saw you didn’t order, but that guy just placed a coffee in front of you.”
George, grasping onto humor like a lifeline, smirked and gestured vaguely around the café. “I run this place,” he said, his voice dripping with mock grandeur, as if he were some kind of café tycoon. “All of it.” Then, unable to keep a straight face, he broke into laughter.
Eliana rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. It reminded her of the old George—the one who used to boast about ridiculous things with absolute confidence.
“Stop kidding,” she huffed, shaking her head. But despite her words, she couldn’t deny it.
This George… He felt a little different.
As Eliana felt satisfied with her little investigation of George, the two of them strolled toward the mall entrance. The air between them was light, almost comfortable, though neither spoke much.
Once they reached the doors, George gave her a small nod before turning away, his expression slipping back into its usual monotone.
The moment she was out of sight, he pulled out his phone and glanced at his daily task list—a habit he had repeated countless times throughout the day. His eyes flickered to one particular reminder, and he let out a quiet sigh.
The George in the novel—the original version of himself—would never have bothered with any of this. That George lived a life of excess, indulging in every luxury without a second thought. He would have spent his weekends lounging in expensive restaurants, ordering whatever he pleased, and dismissing anything that required effort.
But this George? He had changed. He wasn’t mindlessly indulging anymore.
His slightly chubby frame wasn’t exactly bothering him, but he refused to let himself fall into complacency. He had no intention of becoming a sculpted, gym-obsessed hunk like Daniel, but he wanted to be fit, strong, and in control of his own health.
His meals were already planned for the day, carefully structured by a nutritionist to maximize fat burning. His coffee—once overloaded with sugar and cream—was now prepared with precision, giving him just enough energy without sabotaging his progress.
Now, it was time for the next step.
Slipping his phone back into his pocket, George made his way to the upper levels of the mall, where the gym was located. He already had a routine in mind, one that was effective yet sustainable—something the original George would have never bothered with.
He started with brisk walking on the treadmill, easing his body into movement while raising his heart rate. It was a simple yet effective way to get the blood flowing.
Next, he transitioned to bodyweight squats, making sure his form was perfect. Squats were a full-body powerhouse, engaging his legs, core, and even his balance.
Then came the rowing machine, an excellent full-body workout that combined strength and cardio. He pulled with steady, controlled strokes, feeling his muscles engage with every motion.
To finish, he grabbed a jump rope, pushing himself through short bursts of high-intensity intervals. It was deceptively simple but brutal for burning calories and improving endurance.
As he worked through his routine, George’s mind wandered.
The original George would have laughed at the idea of putting in effort like this. He would have scoffed at discipline, at structure, at any attempt at self-improvement.
But that wasn’t him anymore.
This George was here to stay.
And he wasn’t going to waste this life.
As George wiped the sweat from his brow, he found himself lost in thought, analyzing the reality he now lived in.
If this truly was his new world, his new life, then he had to approach it carefully. There was no room for recklessness, no place for blind trust.
Avoiding Daniel was just one part of his strategy—after all, that guy was dangerous. Too unpredictable. Too sharp. Staying off his radar was the best way to ensure his survival.
But beyond that?
George had noticed something peculiar.
In the novel’s story, there were far too many moments where he was alone—scenes where the original George simply drifted through life, wasting opportunities, squandering his potential.
That wouldn’t be him. Not anymore.
If he was going to live in this world, he was going to do it right.
He had already started making changes—small, deliberate steps toward a future where he wasn’t just some side character doomed to mediocrity. He was planning ahead, shaping a better version of himself.
Because if this world truly belonged to him now…
Then he refused to live it as a background extra.