Common Sense Hijack System-Chapter 104 - Different Karl

Karl stepped out of the convenience store where he worked. In his hand, a plastic bag filled with some food and snacks hung lightly. Despite the exhaustion from an entire day of work, his steps felt lighter today.

When he arrived at his small apartment, Karl carefully opened the door. Inside, Layla was sitting on the worn-out sofa with a book resting on her lap. She lifted her face, a faint smile appearing on her lips as she saw Karl walk in.

"You’re home." Her voice was soft, slightly hoarse.

Karl lifted the plastic bag with a small smile. "I brought something for you. Some bread, milk, and... your favorite chocolate."

Layla’s eyes sparkled for a moment. She stood up and walked towards Karl, carefully taking the bag from him.

"Thank you, Karl... I really don’t know how to repay you for all of this."

Karl placed his hand gently on Layla’s head, ruffling her hair softly. "You don’t need to repay anything, Layla. It’s my responsibility to make sure you’re okay."

Layla bit her lip, staring blankly at the food in the plastic bag. After a few moments, she finally spoke in a soft voice.

"Karl... is this really okay? I mean... us being here, you helping me... Are you sure you won’t regret this?"

Karl looked at her deeply, then let out a long sigh. He sat down on the sofa and gestured for Layla to sit beside him. Once she sat down, Karl began to speak.

"Don’t worry, Layla. I’ve thought about this carefully. I won’t regret it, and I won’t let you be alone ever again."

Layla lowered her head, clutching the hem of her worn-out skirt tightly. Her voice trembled as she began to speak.

"I... I feel dirty, Karl. I’m not a good girl. I’ve... been used by so many men who only saw me as an object... They ruined everything. I tried to forget, but the scars never go away."

Karl was silent for a moment. He looked at Layla, who was struggling to hold back her tears. Without hesitation, he pulled her into his arms. Warm, firm, and filled with sincerity.

"Layla, listen to me carefully. You’re not dirty. You’re a victim of a cruel world, not someone who deserves to be blamed for what happened to you."

Layla bit her lip harder, her shoulders trembling in Karl’s embrace. The tears she had been holding back finally fell, soaking Karl’s shirt.

Karl continued in a calm yet firm voice. "I’m not a saint either, Layla. I’ve made many mistakes in the past—things that might disgust you if you knew them. But in this broken world, all we can do is support each other to survive."

Layla slowly pulled away from Karl’s embrace, her eyes red and swollen. "How can you be so kind to me, Karl? I don’t even deserve all of this..."

Karl shook his head, touching Layla’s cheek gently. "Everyone deserves a second chance, Layla. Including you... and me."

Silence filled the room for a moment. Only the faint sound of the night breeze passing through the window could be heard.

Layla finally gave a small nod and a faint smile. A smile that, although fragile, was filled with hope.

"Thank you, Karl... Thank you for not leaving me."

Karl smiled back. "We’ll be okay, Layla. I promise."

---

That night, Karl’s small apartment was enveloped in silence. The dim light from a table lamp in the corner of the room was the only source of illumination. Karl lay on the old sofa, a thin blanket covering his body. Meanwhile, Layla was curled up on the small bed in the corner, her back turned to Karl.

Karl closed his eyes, trying to force himself to sleep despite the stiffness and soreness in his body after several consecutive nights on the narrow sofa.

On the other side of the room, Layla was still awake. Her mind was filled with guilt every time she saw Karl sleeping on that cramped sofa while she occupied the small, albeit worn-out, bed.

After several minutes of hesitation, Layla finally spoke, her voice soft but clear in the stillness of the night.

"Karl... why don’t you just sleep here? The bed is small, but it’s better than that hard sofa."

Karl slowly opened his eyes, staring at Layla’s back.

"I’m fine here, Layla. You need a comfortable place to sleep."

Layla bit her lip, her voice lowering as she continued.

"Or... if you don’t want to sleep next to me, I can sleep on the sofa. You can take the bed."

Karl smiled faintly, even though Layla couldn’t see it. "Layla, it’s not about the bed. I just... I don’t want to make you uncomfortable."

Layla finally turned around, sitting at the edge of the bed while hugging her knees. Her face was illuminated by the faint light from the lamp.

"I... I don’t mind, Karl. Even if... if you need more than just sleep..."

Her voice faded towards the end, her cheeks flushed slightly, even as her eyes glistened with tears. Karl stared at her, his eyes widening, his chest tightening at her words.

"Layla... don’t say things like that," Karl’s voice was more serious this time.

Layla lowered her head, her hands trembling on her knees.

"I... I know my body isn’t worth much. I lost my dignity a long time ago. But... if it can help you stay, if it can make you feel better... I’m okay with it, Karl. I just don’t want to go back to the streets again. It’s so scary... so terrifying."

Karl stood from the sofa and walked towards her. Gently, he knelt in front of Layla, holding both of her hands softly.

"Layla... your body isn’t something cheap or something that can just be traded away. You are valuable, Layla. And what happened to you in the past wasn’t your fault."

Layla’s eyes welled up with tears again. Her body shook slightly as Karl pulled her into an embrace. For a while, they just stayed there in silence.

However, in the stillness, Karl’s body reacted in a way he couldn’t control. A wave of guilt hit him as he realized the tension in his lower body.

Layla, noticing the change, slightly pulled away and looked at Karl with teary eyes but a small smile forming on her lips.

"Karl... you’re too kind for someone like me. But... see? Even you... your body reacts to me."

Karl lowered his head, his face turning red with embarrassment. He wanted to explain, to apologize, but no words came out.

Layla chuckled softly, her voice gentle yet warm.

"I’m not mad, Karl. You’re human, it’s natural. But... I promise you one thing. I’ll make myself useful. I’ll help however I can—get a part-time job, do whatever I need to. As long as... I never have to go back to the streets again."

Karl looked into Layla’s eyes, filled with hope despite the lingering sadness. He nodded firmly.

"We’ll be okay, Layla. I promise I’ll find a way to make our lives better. You’ll never have to go back to the streets again, I’ll make sure of it."

Layla gave a small nod, and for the first time in a long while, a genuine smile appeared on her face. That night, Karl returned to the sofa, his mind racing, while Layla lay on the bed feeling a little safer.

Between those promises and the silent night, something began to grow between them—something fragile, something dangerous, yet undeniably human.

The next day, Karl’s phone vibrated on the small table beside his bed. The dim light from the phone screen illuminated the dark room. Lazily, Karl reached for it and saw his manager’s name displayed on the screen.

Without even answering, Karl could already guess what was coming.

"Yeah, Mrs. Jane?" Karl’s voice sounded hoarse and tired as he answered the call.

On the other end, his manager’s voice was firm but emotionless. "Karl, you’ll need to work a 12-hour shift today. We’re short-staffed, so I hope you understand. From 12 AM to 12 PM. Can you manage?"

Karl let out a small sigh before replying calmly, "Yeah. No problem."

Without much further exchange, the call ended. Karl stared at the phone screen for a moment before placing it back on the table. This wasn’t the first time he’d gotten such a sudden long shift, and he knew it wouldn’t be the last.

When Karl stepped out of his bedroom, he found Layla sitting at the small dining table, holding a cup of warm tea that she’d somehow managed to prepare herself. Her eyes were still slightly puffy from the tears last night, but there was a certain calmness in her expression.

"You’re up already," Layla said with a faint smile.

Karl walked over, poured himself a glass of water, and leaned against the table. "I have to work a 12-hour shift today."