Chapter 16: Special Choice
The police gained a lot by watching Jake's video. They were able to deduce his height, eye color, voice, and even how strong he was.
The strength of that man was very high, which made him unique. Thanks to these new characteristics, they were able to narrow down the suspects to just a few hundred.
"Thank you for your help, Jake." Captain Sanders shook his hand. "If you ever need help, don't hesitate to call me."
Jake got his contact number when the captain invited him to join the police.
Obviously, he rejected the offer, but it was never a bad thing to have good contacts and friendships.
The officers lent him a practice uniform since his clothes were torn.
When Jake left the station, it was around 4:30 a.m. That's why he was surprised when he saw a woman at the exit.
She was a woman in her fifties with several posters hanging and papers in her hand.
As he passed the door, he asked the guards what the woman was doing there.
"The woman is crazy! Her daughter disappeared 5 years ago, and she's still looking for her."
"Yes," the other guard continued. "I understand her daughter ran away with her boyfriend, but she refuses to accept it."
As Jake passed by the woman, she immediately moved toward him and approached him.
"Sir officer, please help me find my daughter."
Jake was surprised because obviously, he wasn't a police officer.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, I'm not a police officer."
The woman looked at him doubtfully, observing his uniform. "Please help me find her."
"I'm sorry, I can't help you." Jake tried to ignore the woman and leave. But after a few steps, it started to rain.
The woman didn't care and continued standing in front of the station, asking for help from anyone passing by or handing out leaflets to early morning pedestrians.
The image of the woman, soaked and desperate, reminded him of his mother. A woman who had raised him alone, and he was entirely sure that if he had disappeared, she would be just like that woman.
When Jake thought about turning around...
[Absolute Special Choice]
[Do nothing and continue your life as usual]
[Ignore the woman and walk home: +5 guilt, live your life peacefully]
[Offer your help to the woman: adventure, action, love, sadness, violence, and a story to tell.]
Jake hesitated for a moment but quickly reasoned that if the option to help the woman would bring all that, it meant the woman was right to search for her daughter.
And if he had the power to help, he wanted to do it.
"Hello, ma'am!"
Jake talked to the woman for a while before she started crying and went home.
.....
Upon arriving at his aunt and uncle's house, Jake was all soaked. When he opened the door, he found Lena sitting in the living room in a meditative posture.
"Why are you coming home at this hour?" she asked.
"I just lost track of time while training," Jake replied, trying to end the conversation quickly and go upstairs to sleep for a while.
"The police called," Lena replied without any change in her tone. "Since I was awake, I answered."
"Why are you awake at this hour?" Jake tried to change the subject immediately, but Lena didn't seem to care.
"Training," she replied concisely.
"I can see that," Jake nodded and stopped climbing the stairs. "But why are you so obsessed with it? I've never seen you rest or go out with friends, like Gwen does."
"I want to be stronger!" Lena replied, this time with a tumult of emotions in her voice.
"I understand that," Jake nodded. "I like getting stronger too and the benefits that come with it. But I don't obsess over it, I don't dream of being the strongest or reaching the top."
"And that's precisely what makes you a mediocre person without dreams and goals," Lena replied with a furrowed brow.
Jake was a little angry at her assertions. He didn't care that he was soaked, and he went downstairs to confront her.
"You say that as if it's so bad! What's wrong with being mediocre? Is it wrong to settle and be happy with what you have? Do you look down on people you consider mediocre? If so, then I wonder how you view your parents. Or do you think they are winners in this thing called life's lottery?"
Jake's sharp and cutting words left Lena in stunned silence. Try as she might, she couldn't refute Jake's words, which made her seem like a classist and elitist woman.
"I didn't mean that," Lena gritted her teeth, her eyes a little teary. "I just don't want to be mediocre; I want to be someone in life."
"And I can understand that," Jake nodded this time much more calmly. "But you shouldn't expect everyone to share your view of life."
"Don't obsess over the goal," Jake stood up and started climbing the stairs. "And start enjoying the journey."
"Do you want to seem mysterious and cool by saying that line?" Lena chuckled softly.
That was the first time Jake had seen her smile, and it was beautiful.
"Yes," Jake replied with a small laugh. "I saw it in a movie and wanted to look good saying it, especially to such a beautiful girl like you."
Lena looked at him very surprised.
"I also have a little gift for you." Jake smiled as his eyes turned red and looked directly into Lena's eyes.
When their eyes met, Jake seemed to discern an infinity of repressed emotions, but he didn't want to delve into that. Inducing her into a genjutsu, Jake made her fall into a deep sleep, forcing her into a deep slumber.
"Sleep well, little warrior."
...
Since there was no water in his shower, Jake used the key Gwen gave him to take a bath.
Gwen was asleep, and Jake didn't mind using her shower. He wanted to see what was under the blanket, but he was also respectful.
When the water fell on his face, Jake felt great and refreshed. After lathering up and scrubbing himself, Jake decided to step out of the shower, grabbed the towel, and tried to cover himself.
But...
[Absolute Choice]
[Do nothing and continue your life as normal]
[Dry off, go to your room, and change: +5 disappointment from Gwen]
[Step out with nothing covering your body and dry your hair: +20 excitement from Gwen]
Was this even a choice? Jake was initially surprised, but immediately after, he chose the third option and stepped out of the shower naked, exposing his little friend to the open air.
Knowing Gwen was awake, Jake deliberately stood in front of her bed.
[+20 excitement from Gwen]
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Osman8
Osman8 I apologize to my readers for not being able to update more frequently, but I'm quite busy with my job and doing the best I can.
I hope you enjoy the reading, and I want you to know that I've had the option to contract with webnovel for a while now, but I want the story to remain completely free at least until the contest ends.
Thank you all for your support.
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