Common Sense Hijack System-Chapter 102 - Can’t

Karl sat on the edge of the worn-out couch, his phone trembling lightly in his hand. In the corner of the dimly lit room, Layla was fast asleep, her small frame curled up tightly in the thin blanket Karl had given her earlier. Her face was still damp with traces of tears, and her breathing was uneven, as if her body was still haunted by nightmares. Outside, the night wind howled fiercely, rattling the cracked window panes. It carried an ominous chill, like a whisper from a future filled with destruction.

Karl closed his eyes and took a deep breath, steadying his shaking hands. He had been avoiding this call for so long, but there was no other choice now. His thumb hovered over the call button, hesitating for a brief moment before he pressed it. The phone rang twice before a familiar deep voice answered.

"Hello? Karl?"

David’s voice carried a hint of surprise, mixed with mild concern. Maybe he wasn’t expecting his son to call him at such a late hour.

"Yeah, Dad... it’s me," Karl replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

There was a brief silence. Karl could hear the faint sound of his father sighing on the other end.

"What’s wrong? Are you okay, son?"

Karl stared at the cracked floor beneath his feet, searching for strength in the silence. Every word felt heavy, but he had to speak. "Dad... I need your help. Something’s about to happen, and I... I can’t face it alone."

David paused for a moment, his voice growing more serious. "You sound... different, Karl. Like something’s really wrong. Are you in trouble? Tell me where you are, I’ll come get you."

Karl swallowed hard. His throat felt dry, and his chest ached with every breath he took. "Dad... this might sound strange, but... have you ever felt like you were hiding something? Something... powerful?"

There was silence again, followed by a soft, dry chuckle from David. "What are you talking about, Karl? You’re making me sound like some kind of superhero. I’m just an ordinary man trying to get by in this messed-up world."

Karl clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white as frustration bubbled up inside him. "Dad, please. I’m serious. I... I know you’re not just an ordinary man. There’s something about you, something you’ve been hiding from me."

David’s voice sharpened slightly. "Karl, stop. Whatever you think you know, just... stop. It’s late, and I’m tired. If this is some kind of joke or weird game, it ends now."

Karl froze, his mind racing. There was fear in his father’s voice, but it wasn’t fear of him—it was fear of something else. Something deeper. Something buried.

"Dad... if I told you the world is about to end, and only you can stop it... would you believe me?"

The line went quiet. For a moment, Karl thought David had hung up. But then, he heard the faint sound of his father exhaling slowly, his voice softer now.

"Karl... son, are you okay? Are you hurt? Are you in danger? If you’re in trouble, come home. We’ll figure this out together."

Karl closed his eyes, pressing his palm against his forehead. The frustration, the helplessness—it was all too much. "No, Dad. I can’t come home. Not now. But... if something happens, if things go wrong... please, don’t come looking for me. Stay somewhere safe."

David’s voice cracked slightly. "Karl, you’re scaring me. You sound like... like someone who’s about to do something reckless. Please, son, just tell me what’s going on."

Karl let out a slow, shaky breath. He realized now that no matter what he said, David wouldn’t understand. Not yet. Maybe it was better this way—better if David stayed in the dark.

"It’s nothing, Dad. Forget what I said. I’m sorry for waking you up this late."

"Karl, wait—"

Karl ended the call before David could finish his sentence. The phone slipped from his hand and landed on his lap. His head lowered, his shoulders trembled slightly, but he quickly forced himself to pull it together.

The silence in the room was suffocating. Layla shifted slightly in her sleep, her face scrunching up for a brief moment before relaxing again. Karl’s eyes softened as he looked at her, but before he could think any further, a sharp, mechanical voice echoed in his head.

[SYSTEM ACTIVE]

"Karl, you cannot be near David when the explosion happens. If you stay close to him, there will be an unavoidable clash between the two of you."

Karl’s head snapped up, his eyes wide. "What do you mean? What kind of clash?"

"David and you... your paths are opposites. If you are at the same place during a crucial moment, unimaginable destruction will occur—not just to the two of you, but to the world itself."

Karl froze. The words sank into his mind like heavy stones. His heart pounded loudly in his chest, and his breathing became uneven.

"So... Dad and I can’t coexist?" he asked, his voice trembling.

"Correct. Your paths have already been set to diverge. If one survives, the other must fall. It’s an unbreakable law."

Karl lowered his head, his hands gripping his knees tightly. A sharp pain spread through his chest, like a knife twisting deep inside him. His mind raced, trying to find some loophole, some way out of this cruel fate—but there was nothing.

"So, this is how it ends..." he muttered under his breath.

His gaze shifted to Layla again. The fragile little girl who had been through so much. She was the only reason he was still standing, still breathing. She was his purpose now.

Karl turned his head toward the window, staring at the pitch-black night sky. The icy wind carried faint whispers of destruction, like ghosts foretelling a tragedy yet to unfold.

"Alright, System. If this is my fate, I’ll face it head-on. I’ll protect the people I can save. Even if it means... leaving Dad behind."

The system fell silent, and so did Karl. His shoulders straightened, and his eyes burned with fierce determination. The weight of the world seemed to press down on him, but he refused to buckle under it.

In the silence of the night, Karl rose to his feet, his shadow stretching across the cracked walls of the room. The path ahead was dark and filled with uncertainty, but he would walk it.

No matter how much it hurt. No matter how much he had to sacrifice.

Because some promises were worth keeping.