Chapter 2: Easy Money

Daniel walked to school with Zoe, the two talking about little nothings. Girls, as usual, and some guys gawked at Daniel, admiring his beauty. While some stared at Zoe, wondering if the two were a couple or not.

The topic switched to the Game after Daniel had mentioned earning a raise at his part-time convenience store job.

"Did you sign up for it?" Zoe asked.

Daniel nodded his head.

"Sweet! Did you see my challenge?"

Daniel shook his head.

"Ooh, look!" Zoe stopped walking and pulled out her phone, urging Daniel to come closer to her.

Daniel walked back towards Zoe and looked down at her phone as she went to her Player account. She clicked on her most recent challenge video and showed it to Daniel. Daniel winced as he watched his friend start a meaningless fight. Zoe had slapped a random guy on the street. Once his mind caught up with it, he lunged for Zoe. Another condition then popped up on her recorded screen.

Drag another bystander into the fight.

She looked over her shoulder at her phone as she tried her best to avoid more confrontation. She yelled out the word 'accept' and saw the offered amount of money double. The money went from 3,062,262 (2,500 USD) to 6,124,525 won (5,000 USD).

Daniel felt his jaw drop. Zoe's words played in his head. The riskier the challenge, the more your money doubles.

Daniel continued watching as Zoe ran from the guy screaming for help to hopefully get someone else to finish what she started. Luckily, an older man came to aid her as he punched her pursuer in the face. Zoe turned towards her phone as multiple multi-colored hearts floated on screen. The Game gave her congratulations as it deposited the money into Zoe's account.

Congratulations, Player Zoe_Pk3! Deposited 6,124,525 won in your listed bank account.

The recording ended there. Daniel turned to Zoe and saw the pleased look on her face.

"Are you okay, Zoe? You didn't get too hurt, did you?" Daniel scanned over her body for any visible marks.

"Barely. He only left a scratch." Zoe pulled her sleeve back to reveal a decent-sized scratch ranging from her elbow to her shoulder.

Daniel let out a soft gasp. "Why did you accept that dangerous challenge?"

Zoe looked down. "I needed the money. It ended up doing me well the next day."

Daniel nodded in understanding. He also needed money. He pulled out his phone in hopes of seeing a challenge appear, but to his luck, there was none.

The two continued their walk to school, not even caring how late they were.

The day progressed smoothly, with Daniel constantly checking his phone for any challenges. Daniel sighed at the lack of interest in him as zero challenges had popped up on his screen.

Zoe had to constantly remind him to be patient as the two headed towards the dining hall. They both got their trays of food and sat down at an empty table that was later filled with friends and classmates.

Zoe was watching something on her phone, getting easily worked up over it. She paused when she came across something that seemed to pique her interest. She turned to the boy beside her and eagerly tapped on his shoulder. He turned to her and she pointed at her phone frantically.

"This is Vin Jin! From the Dance and Music Department! I always watch him when I'm bored."

Daniel watched Zoe's screen curiously as Vin's camera was focused on the linoleum floor in front of him. It seemed vaguely familiar as a shadow in the shape of a door appeared on the bottom of the screen.

Vin pointed his camera directly in front of him and pushed the door open. The door revealed multiple tables filled with students. Some with lunch trays in front of them and some were just sitting there, chattering with friends. Daniel and Zoe recognized two people in particular, themselves.

They looked up from Zoe's screen to see Vin walking toward them. Daniel was a bit startled at Vin's aggressive aura.

"Get up, Park," Vin stated with his phone focusing on Daniel. Daniel glanced at Vin's phone, then at Vin before he reluctantly stood up.

"Do you think you're better than me? Huh," Vin gave Daniel a small shove to his shoulder. "You'll never be better than me. You're just a weakling standing in my way." Daniel didn't pay any mind to Vin's taunting as he let him push him and get whatever anger he felt toward him to die down. Daniel didn't see this as a reason to start a fight.

Vin clicked his tongue and quickly glanced toward his phone. He started a more hostile approach.

"Don't tell me you're gonna chicken out now that we have company." Daniel swallowed as he noticed how dangerously quiet the dining hall got, but he refused to give in to Vin's urges. "Maybe I shouldn't have picked a fight with you, you're too docile. Maybe I should go over to that hot-head with the brown-haired chick."

Daniel looked behind himself to see Zack and Mira walking in from outside, hand in hand. Daniel didn't want this to escalate any further. He'd rather fight Vin Jin himself than have him fight with Zack.

"Then again, maybe not. From the look of it, all of you Fashion Department students are pussies." Daniel felt his eyebrow twitch. He had no problem dealing with insults, but when it came to his friends, he wouldn't stand for it.

Daniel felt his phone buzz in his pocket, distracting him from the ongoing provoking. He looked away from Vin and reached in his pocket for his phone. There on the screen was his first challenge.

Punch Player Jin_V5.

Offer ₩121,190 (100 USD)Accept                                                       Decline

Daniel chose to accept and placed his phone in his blazer pocket with his camera out, facing Vin. He took a deep breath and clenched his fist.

"Maybe I should try that dumbass from the Architecture Department. What was his name again, Vasco?" Daniel wasn't aware of his actions after that sentence. All Daniel could hear was a ringing in his ears and muffled gasps from the bystanders present.

Once his mind caught up with his body, a small burning was left in his clenched fist. He stared at Vin, who was holding his red cheek, and started to panic. 

Vin gave Daniel a small smile and walked out of the dining hall. Daniel could hear a small Ding come from his and Vin's phone just before he turned away. Daniel pulled out his phone and looked at the notification on his screen.

Congratulations Player D_Prk! Deposited 121,190 won in your listed bank account.

Daniel questioned as to how the Game got his banking information but soon thought nothing of it when the confirmation notification from his bank popped up at the top of his screen.

"Danny!" Daniel turned toward the voice and saw Zoe standing there, phone in hand.

"Vin was challenged to provoke you! Then once he managed to finally get a reaction from you, a Watcher upped the conditions. The Watcher added that Vin must get you angry enough for you to punch him in the face."

Daniel looked down at his blacked out phone screen and clenched the device tightly in his hand. He didn't care about that. For the first time, Daniel felt financially stable. He could chose the challenges he wanted to do and get money from them. He could finally repay his mom back for everything she's ever done for him.

It was easy money.

Or so he thought.

At the time, Daniel really didn't know what he was getting himself into......Hello readers! I got a new phone so my grammatical errors will most likely decrease!

I'm pleased to say that as I work on this book, I'm writing some chapters of the sequel to In My Arms!

Once I get at least the 4th chapter for this story out, I'll publish the few chapters I have of the Sequel so be on the lookout for that!

Feel free to ask me any questions or give me feedback! 😁