Common Sense Hijack System-Chapter 117 - Past II

The next morning, Karl woke up earlier than usual. The noise from the apartment hallway had been going on since dawn, signaling that some residents were already preparing for the meeting in the lobby. Layla was still fast asleep under her thick blanket, while Jane sat in the corner of the room, half-awake, hugging her knees.

Karl opened his Uncommon Storage, pulling out a few canned goods and a pack of dry bread. He carefully examined the remaining supplies before closing it again. He had enough food to last for weeks, but he knew giving away a small portion wouldn’t hurt.

"Are you sure you want to go?" Jane broke the silence, raising an eyebrow at Karl. "I still think this is a bad idea."

Karl nodded as he packed the food into a small bag. "If things get worse, we’ll need allies. This isn’t just about food; it’s about surviving together."

Jane let out a long sigh. "Fine, Karl. But don’t expect me to step in if it all goes south."

Layla shifted in her sleep but didn’t wake up. Karl made sure her blanket was snug before heading out of the apartment. The hallway was busier than usual. Some residents were walking by, carrying plastic bags or small boxes. Most avoided eye contact, as if they didn’t want anyone to see what they were carrying.

When Karl arrived at the lobby, the room was already filled with residents. Among them, Julia was busy helping Maria organize the items piling up on the central table. Julia’s face lit up with a warm smile when she saw Karl enter, though her tired eyes betrayed her exhaustion.

"Karl!" Julia greeted cheerfully. "You made it. I knew you’d come through."

Karl nodded, returning her smile. "I brought a little food. It’s not much, but I hope it helps."

Julia took the bag and placed it on the table with the other contributions. "Thank you. This is more than enough."

In another corner of the room, Evelyn stood with her arms crossed, her sharp gaze scanning the room. There was no hint of friendliness in her expression. When her eyes met Karl’s, she raised an eyebrow slightly, as if questioning his presence.

Karl sighed inwardly. His past with Evelyn hadn’t left a good impression, especially on her. In this timeline, they had never interacted directly, and her icy demeanor seemed unchanged.

Julia, sensing the brief tension, touched Karl’s arm lightly. "Don’t mind Evelyn. She’s always been like that."

Karl gave a small smile. "I’m used to it."

Maria, who was leading the meeting, tapped on the table to get everyone’s attention. "Alright, thank you to everyone who came and contributed. I truly believe that if we work together, we can get through this tough time."

Some residents nodded in agreement, though others still looked hesitant. Evelyn broke the silence with a cold tone, "And what about those who just pretend to contribute but are actually hoarding more for themselves? What’s your plan for handling that?"

The room fell silent for a moment. Some residents exchanged uneasy glances. Maria looked nervous, but Julia stepped in with her calm and reassuring smile.

"We’re not here to accuse each other," Julia said. "If we want to survive, we need to build trust. If someone chooses not to be honest, that’s on their conscience, not ours."

Evelyn let out a quiet scoff but didn’t say anything else. Karl observed silently, feeling a mix of admiration and nostalgia for Julia. Despite the chaos, she remained optimistic and wise, a steady presence amidst the uncertainty.

When the meeting ended, some residents returned to their apartments, while others stayed in the lobby to help organize the supplies. Karl decided to stay for a bit and offer his help.

Julia approached him. "Thanks for helping out today, Karl. Your presence really makes a difference."

Karl gave a small smile. "I’m just doing what I can."

Julia patted his shoulder lightly. "Keep it up. The world may be falling apart, but I believe there’s still hope as long as we stick together."

As Julia walked away to assist Maria, Evelyn passed by Karl, her sharp eyes locking onto his. "Don’t think I don’t know what you’re hiding," she said quietly, her voice low enough for only Karl to hear. "You might fool others, but not me."

Karl resisted the urge to respond. He knew arguing with Evelyn would only escalate things. Taking a deep breath, he chose to ignore her comment and continued with his work.

But deep down, Karl knew Evelyn wasn’t going to stop until she got what she wanted.

---

Karl tried to divert his attention away from Evelyn, but his gaze kept drifting back to her figure. She stood with her arms crossed, her stance exuding confidence, and her subtle movements made certain features more noticeable. Heat crept up Karl’s face as he quickly looked away, mentally scolding himself for letting his thoughts wander.

He busied himself with organizing the supplies, focusing on the task at hand. Yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Evelyn’s presence was a silent challenge to his composure.

Karl exhaled slowly, muttering to himself, "Focus. There’s no point in letting her get to me."

He forced himself to stay engaged with the other residents, determined to push aside the distractions Evelyn unknowingly caused. For now, survival was all that mattered.

Karl swallowed hard, trying to steady his thoughts. He glanced at Evelyn from the corner of his eye, silently cursing himself for letting his mind wander. Evelyn remained standing with her usual cold and cynical demeanor, speaking to Maria about the food distribution without sparing him so much as a glance. In this timeline, Evelyn had never interacted with Karl at all and knew nothing about a future that no longer existed.

"Why am I letting her get to me?" Karl muttered under his breath, barely audible even to himself.

Julia approached, carrying a box of canned goods. "Karl, could you help take this to the shelf near the door?" she asked with her usual warm smile.

Karl quickly took the box, grateful for the distraction. "Of course," he replied, walking toward the indicated shelf. He focused on his task, but the uneasy feeling caused by Evelyn’s presence continued to linger.

Across the lobby, Evelyn continued her conversation with Maria, seemingly oblivious to the fact that she had become the center of Karl’s attention. Her manner—cold, commanding, and full of authority—made Karl feel unsettled. He knew Evelyn was like this because, in this timeline, they had no history together. She doesn’t know anything, so why am I so bothered?

Julia approached Karl again, this time with another box. "You look a bit tense, Karl. Everything okay?" she asked, her concern evident behind her gentle smile.

Karl nodded quickly. "I’m fine, just a little tired," he replied, trying to sound convincing.

Julia gave a small smile. "If you need a break, don’t hesitate to say so. You’ve already been a big help."

Karl simply nodded back and returned to work. Yet every time he tried to focus, his eyes instinctively darted toward Evelyn. Her cold demeanor and the way she interacted with others reminded Karl of her strong personality—someone who was not easily swayed by anyone.

At that moment, Evelyn suddenly turned to look at Karl. Their eyes met briefly, and she simply stared at him with a blank expression before turning back to Maria. There was no sign of recognition, no warmth, not even disdain. Just indifference.

Karl took a deep breath, trying to shake off the unease that continued to nag at him. Evelyn didn’t know anything, but her presence still served as a reminder that there were things in life that couldn’t be changed. Focus, Karl. Evelyn isn’t a part of your life anymore, he reminded himself.

A few minutes later, Julia approached him again. "Maria is about to explain the food distribution plan. Want to come and listen?"

Karl nodded, eager to engage in something more productive. "Sure," he said, following Julia to the center of the lobby, where Maria was starting to address a group of residents.

Meanwhile, Evelyn stood in the corner, arms crossed over her chest, her expression as cold and unreadable as ever. Karl resolved not to dwell on her anymore. Evelyn might be here, but she was no longer part of Karl’s present—she wasn’t part of his life anymore.

Karl chose to focus on what truly mattered now: keeping Layla and Jane safe and building good relationships with the other residents. Evelyn was just one of many people in this apartment, nothing more, nothing less.