Common Sense Hijack System-Chapter 106 - Never Be The Same

Karl stood behind the cash register, his gaze blank as he stared at the monitor screen reflecting his tired face. His shift had just started, and across the store, Zoey was busy arranging drinks on the refrigerated shelves. Her ponytail swayed slightly with each movement, and the store’s uniform, snug against her figure, accentuated her curves perfectly.

"Zoey..."

Karl swallowed hard. Memories of that day crept back into his mind—how he had used his ability to manipulate Zoey. The softness of her lips whe she touch his cock, her saliva, her sloppy face, and the confusion in her eyes when it was all over. The memory made his heart race, a warm sensation spreading through his chest.

"Damn it... focus, Karl. Focus!"

He shifted his gaze to the stacks of cigarettes behind the glass display, but Zoey’s image lingered in his mind. Her cheap perfume drifted faintly through the air, making it harder for him to concentrate.

"Why am I thinking about this now? I thought I was just past. But... that feeling—I can’t forget it, almost as if I could taste it again."

Karl took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. His eyes flicked back to Zoey, who was now crouched down to organize drinks on the lower shelf. Her back was facing him, and the way her skirt slightly lifted revealed the smooth skin of her thighs.

"Stop it, Karl. This is wrong. Don’t let these thoughts control you."

He quickly turned his face away, his grip tightening on the edge of the counter as he tried to channel his frustration into his clenched fists.

Zoey stood up and turned to Karl with a small smile.

"Hey Karl, can you help me carry some drink boxes from the storage? They’re pretty heavy."

Karl nodded stiffly, avoiding eye contact. "Y-Yeah, sure."

He rushed to the back storage room. As soon as the door closed behind him, Karl leaned against the wall, his head hanging low as he tried to catch his breath.

"I need to stop thinking about this. Zoey doesn’t know anything. She doesn’t remember. This is my mistake alone. If I keep letting this get to me, I’ll ruin everything."

But that faint voice in his head—the sly, mocking whisper—continued to echo.

"Come on, Karl... you could do it again. Just one more time. She wouldn’t even notice."

Karl slammed his fist against the wall, the sound echoing in the cramped storage room.

"Shut up! Shut up!"

The storage door creaked open slightly, and Zoey’s head peeked in. Her face was filled with concern.

"Karl? Are you okay? I heard a noise..."

Karl quickly straightened up and forced a smile. "I’m fine, Zoey. Where are the boxes? I’ll carry them out."

Zoey hesitated, her eyes scanning his face, but eventually, she nodded and pointed to a stack of boxes in the corner.

Karl lifted one of the heavy boxes, his muscles straining under the weight. He focused on the physical effort, trying to drown out the noise in his mind. Zoey walked ahead of him, glancing back occasionally to make sure he was okay.

After setting the box down near the drinks display, Karl stood with his hands on his hips, trying to steady his breathing. Zoey gave him a soft smile.

"Thanks, Karl."

The words were ordinary, casual even, but they hit Karl in a way he wasn’t prepared for. Was this guilt? Or was it... something darker?

"Zoey...."

Karl turned away and walked back to the cash register, desperately trying to bury his thoughts deep within himself. For the rest of his shift, he forced himself to focus on customers, product codes, and counting change—anything to keep his mind busy.

But even as night began to fall and the store emptied out, the memory lingered. Zoey’s face, her expression of confusion, and the softness he had felt—it was all still there, burned into his mind.

The soft ding of the store’s doorbell broke his concentration.

"Karl, my shift’s over. I’m heading out. Take care tonight, okay?"

Zoey stood by the entrance, wearing a light jacket. Her smile was as gentle as always, unburdened by any suspicions.

Karl nodded stiffly. "Yeah... be careful on your way home, Zoey."

She waved and disappeared through the sliding glass door, her silhouette fading into the night.

Alone in the quiet store, Karl clenched his fists on the counter, his knuckles turning white.

"I have to stop using my ability for these things. If I don’t... sooner or later, I’m going to lose control. And when that happens... I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forgive myself."

The night stretched on, silent and heavy. The faint hum of the refrigerator was the only sound in the store, underscoring the weight of Karl’s thoughts.

___

Karl stood behind the cashier counter, his hands resting on the cold surface of the register. The night had grown late, and only the hum of the air conditioner and the occasional flicker of the neon lights kept him company. His mind was still a mess, but one thing was clear: ever since he stopped meddling with people’s common sense, the world around him had started changing in strange ways.

"Is this the result of the small decisions I’ve made? No more domino effects from my actions causing chaos?"

Karl’s gaze shifted to the automatic door of the minimart as it slid open with a familiar ding! sound. Two girls walked in, both wearing the same uniform as his, though theirs still looked brand new.

"Excuse me, this is the place, right? The night shift starts now?" asked the girl with short hair, her voice firm yet friendly.

Karl frowned. This... wasn’t how he remembered it. Two new employees—Chloe and Amber—were supposed to start next next shift.

"Butterfly effect... it seems I’m witnessing it firsthand now."

"You two are Chloe and Amber, right?" Karl asked softly.

Both of them turned their heads simultaneously. The long-haired girl—Amber—smiled faintly. "That’s right. You must be Karl. Mrs Jane said you’re in charge of tonight’s shift."

Karl nodded slowly. "Yeah... I’m Karl. But aren’t you supposed to start next shift?"

Chloe glanced at Amber briefly before replying. "There was a scheduling change. Apparently, two previous employees quit suddenly, so we were asked to come in early to cover the gap."

Karl felt a chill creep up his spine. The two employees he remembered working tonight... had suddenly disappeared from the timeline. And in their place, these two new faces had appeared earlier than expected.

"If I hadn’t hijacked the common sense about the previous employees... does this mean the future is starting to move on the correct path? Or is this just the beginning of something bigger?"

Amber and Chloe walked over to the other cashier counter, opened the drawer, and began checking the equipment. They worked efficiently, though there was still an air of hesitation in their movements. Karl observed them cautiously, his eyes scanning every small detail.

"Karl, is something wrong?" Amber asked with a friendly smile.

Karl snapped out of his thoughts. "No, no. Sorry, I’m just... a little tired."

Amber chuckled softly. "Well, that’s the night shift for you. But don’t worry, we’re here to help."

Chloe, who had been quiet until now, finally spoke up. "Karl... you look like you’re thinking about something heavy. If there’s anything we can do to help, just let us know."

Karl swallowed hard. Chloe’s words felt deeper than they should have. As if she could see a fragment of the chaos spinning in his mind.

He took a deep breath and forced a small smile. "It’s fine. Let’s just get through this night shift together."

The three of them returned their focus to their respective tasks. Chloe busied herself noting inventory stock, while Amber assisted the occasional customer. Karl, on the other hand, felt like a stranger in his own world. Everything felt familiar, yet strangely foreign at the same time.

"If this is the result of me stopping my meddling with common sense, then what happens next? Can I accept every consequence?"

Karl gazed out the large store window. The street outside was empty, the streetlights casting a faint glow on the rain-dampened pavement. Yet, there was something out there—something he could feel but couldn’t quite explain.

A sensation pressed against his chest, like a faint threat lurking in the shadows of the night.

On the other side of the store, Chloe and Amber exchanged whispers and quiet laughter. free𝑤ebnovel.com

Karl replayed his memories of the two employees who were supposed to be here. Their faces were beginning to fade from his mind, replaced by the two girls standing before him now.

"Maybe... this is my chance to fix everything. Without manipulation. Without touching common sense. Maybe I can... let things play out as they should."

But behind that fragile hope, a creeping fear lingered. Because even if the future seemed better now, in the end, everything would still fall apart. The winter apocalypse would still come.

The automatic door chimed again. Another customer walked in, greeted cheerfully by Chloe’s friendly voice.

Karl let out a long sigh, bracing himself for the rest of the long night.

"No matter what happens... I have to be ready. Because one thing’s for sure: this world will never be the same again."