Common Sense Hijack System-Chapter 120 - Better Be

A Week Later

Jane started noticing subtle but strange changes in Karl’s behavior. He had been disappearing into the bathroom far more often than usual, always brushing off her questions with a sheepish grin and a flimsy excuse.

"It’s the winter apocalypse," he said one evening, laughing nervously. "The cold makes me... uh, go more often."

At first, Jane didn’t think much of it. Everyone coped with their circumstances differently, and Karl’s awkward humor wasn’t new. But as the days passed, her curiosity grew. There was something odd about how he avoided her gaze every time she asked, how he rushed out of the room whenever Layla walked by. It wasn’t like him—or at least, not the Karl she thought she knew.

One night, after he’d darted off to the bathroom yet again, Jane decided to investigate. She waited until the door clicked shut and the faint sound of running water started. Then, she quietly approached the door, pressing her ear against it. Nothing unusual—just Karl muttering to himself.

Still, something didn’t sit right. When Karl finally emerged, offering a mumbled excuse about drinking too much water, Jane slipped into the bathroom, locking the door behind her. She scanned the small, dimly lit space, searching for some clue that might explain his bizarre behavior.

It didn’t take long.

There, tucked in the corner behind the laundry basket, she spotted them: a pair of her own underwear and one of Layla’s, both crumpled as if they’d been hastily hidden. Jane froze, her breath catching in her throat. For a moment, she didn’t know what to think. Disgust? Shock? Or something else entirely?

Her first instinct was to storm out and confront him, but she hesitated. Instead, she grabbed the offending items, gripping them tightly as she returned to the room where Layla was lounging on the couch, scrolling through her phone.

"Layla," Jane whispered, her voice tense. "I need to show you something."

Layla frowned, lowering her phone. "What’s wrong?"

Jane held up the evidence, her expression a mixture of anger and confusion. "These... were in the bathroom. Hidden."

Layla’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait, are those—" She stopped, glancing toward Karl’s room. "Are you serious?"

Jane nodded, her lips pressed into a thin line. "He’s been acting weird all week. I think... I think he’s the reason these were there." freewёbnoνel.com

Layla stared at her, speechless for a moment, before finally shaking her head. "We have to talk to him."

---

When Karl saw them walk toward him, their expressions grim, his stomach dropped. He knew immediately that they’d found something.

"Uh... hey," he said, forcing a nervous smile. "What’s up?"

Jane didn’t mince words. She held up the underwear, her gaze piercing. "Care to explain why these were in the bathroom?"

Karl’s face turned bright red. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, scrambling for an excuse. "I—uh—it’s not what it looks like—"

"Really?" Jane cut him off, crossing her arms. "Because it looks like you’ve been sneaking around and doing something you shouldn’t."

"I wasn’t!" he blurted out. "I mean, okay, maybe I was, but—look, it’s not like I planned it! It just... happened."

Layla groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "God, Karl, that’s not helping your case."

Jane, however, surprised them both by letting out a sigh. Her expression softened, and when she spoke again, her voice was calm—almost gentle.

"Karl," she said, stepping closer. "If this is about... I don’t know, stress, or feeling trapped, you could’ve just told me. You’ve done so much to keep us alive here. If you need something, don’t hold it in. Just... ask."

Karl blinked, taken aback. "What?"

Jane’s eyes, once sharp and fiery, now held a warmth he hadn’t seen before. It reminded him of a mother’s compassion—something Karl hadn’t experienced in years.

"I’m saying," she continued, her tone steady, "if you’re struggling with something, you don’t have to be embarrassed. I’ll... I’ll do whatever I can to help. You’ve earned that much."

The room fell silent. Layla looked as stunned as Karl felt, her gaze darting between them. Meanwhile, Karl struggled to process Jane’s words. Was this the same sharp-tongued woman who’d barked orders at him a months ago? The same Jane who never missed an opportunity to call him out for slacking off?

"Mrs. Jane, I..." He trailed off, unsure of how to respond. "I don’t know what to say."

"You don’t have to say anything," she said simply. "Just... don’t keep things bottled up, okay?"

For a moment, Karl considered her offer, the sincerity in her voice making him feel both comforted and deeply uncomfortable. He wasn’t used to this kind of kindness, especially not from someone like Jane.

"Thanks," he mumbled finally, his cheeks still burning with embarrassment. "I’ll, uh... keep that in mind."

Jane smiled faintly, stepping back. "Good. Now, get some sleep. You look like you need it."

As she and Layla walked away, Karl sank onto his bed, his mind spinning. Jane’s words replayed in his head, their unexpected warmth lingering like a balm on his guilt-ridden thoughts.

But even as he tried to convince himself that everything would be fine, a small voice in the back of his mind whispered a warning: This changes nothing. You’re still walking a fine line.

And deep down, Karl knew that voice was right.

The Next Morning

Karl awoke to the faint smell of coffee and the sound of Jane humming softly. For a moment, everything felt normal, almost peaceful—until he remembered the events of the previous night. He groaned, dragging a hand down his face. He wasn’t sure if he should feel relieved or mortified after Jane’s bizarrely understanding reaction.

When he sit down , Jane greeted him with a warm smile, a rare sight from her usual stern demeanor.

"Morning, Karl," she said, setting a steaming cup on the table. "Did you sleep well?"

"Uh... yeah, I guess," Karl replied, rubbing the back of his neck. He noticed Layla sitting nearby, her eyes narrowing slightly as she glanced between him and Jane.

Jane leaned against the counter, her gaze fixed on Karl. "So, did you think about what I said last night?"

Karl froze. "What do you mean?"

"You know," she said, her tone teasing, "about not bottling things up. If there’s something you want, you just have to ask. I mean it."

Karl’s cheeks burned. "I-I don’t know what you’re talking about."

Jane chuckled, shaking her head. "Come on, Karl. Don’t be shy. I’m just saying, you don’t have to hold back. We’re all adults here."

Layla, who had been quiet until now, suddenly spoke up. "Mrs. Jane, are you seriously encouraging him?" Her voice carried a sharp edge. "You do realize that he and I already—" She stopped abruptly, her face reddening.

Karl’s heart sank. "Layla," he started, his voice low.

But Layla wasn’t done. "Fine," she said, crossing her arms. "If you want to give him something, go ahead. But don’t act like I’m not part of this."

Jane blinked in surprise, then laughed softly. "Relax, Layla. I’m not trying to take anything away from you."

Her words only seemed to make Layla more flustered. "It’s not that," Layla muttered, looking away. "I just... forget it. I’m sorry."

The sudden shift in her tone caught Jane off guard. For a moment, an awkward silence filled the room. Then Jane sighed, her expression softening.

"No, I’m the one who should apologize," she said. "I didn’t mean to step on anyone’s toes. I just... I feel like I owe Karl a lot. More than I can ever repay."

Karl’s eyes widened. "Mrs. Jane, you don’t—"

"Jane," she corrected, cutting him off. "You don’t have to call me ’Mrs. Jane’ anymore. Just Jane is fine."

Karl hesitated. "I’m used to calling you that. It feels... respectful."

Jane smiled, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Well, from now on, you can drop the formalities. Unless," she added, leaning closer, "you like being all formal with me. Makes you feel like a store clerk again, doesn’t it?"

"Jane, stop," Karl muttered, his face growing redder by the second.

She laughed, clearly enjoying his discomfort. "Alright, alright. But seriously, Karl, you’re my hero. My... pervy hero." Her voice dropped into a playful tone. "And I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make you happy—even if it’s something, you know, pervy."

Karl didn’t know where to look. His heart pounded in his chest as he tried to think of a response, but his mind was blank. "I... uh..."

Behind Jane’s teasing smile, something deeper lingered. Her eyes betrayed a hint of something primal, something she was barely holding back. Karl had saved her life during one of the scariest moments she’d ever faced. She owed him everything—her survival, her safety, even the fragile sense of hope she still clung to in this bleak world. And the more she looked at him, the more she couldn’t deny what her instincts were screaming.

He’s the alpha. My alpha.

"Anyway, think about it," she said casually, as if the conversation hadn’t just turned Karl’s world upside down. "I’ll be around if you need me."

Layla shot Karl a look. "If that kinda stuff happen, better be threesome!" she muttered.

Karl sighed, his thoughts swirling in a chaotic mess. He didn’t know how to handle Jane’s sudden shift in behavior—or the way it made him feel. But deep down, he couldn’t shake the sense that something had changed between them, something he wasn’t sure he was ready to face.