The System In My Head

Can't breathe, crushing weight

Ben follows in the footsteps of the giants, knowing that lying on his back in a movie studio is a popular way to get ahead in the media industry...

As his hand gripped the cold iron barbell, he prepared to do a bench press weighing 250 lbs, almost twice his body weight. There were many people watching, but none of them expected him to succeed.

The only one who bears any semblance of trust is Jacob, though he is unsure if Ben can achieve that feat. Meanwhile, Owen showed an expression of disdain, waiting for the moment the barbell was dropped so that he could laugh at the arrogant boy who dared to waste time. After that, he'll make sure Ben will pay the price, get him kicked out of the Hearth altogether.

The big red glanced at the two company slaves standing at the end of the barbell. "Hey! Make sure your hands are on top of that burden! When it falls, don't let it destroy it like an insect!"

The two laughed, along with a number of others around him. Still, the two scouts held the tip of the barbell to make sure they could lift it when the time came.

After doing this exercise many times in the gym, Ben positioned his legs, then his back, and lastly he tightened his grip. He took a deep breath as he prepared himself mentally ...

This is the moment that determines his future. If he failed, his journey in the tower and in this prestigious company would be over, a terrible result, and he could not afford it.

Knowing this, his desire became strong and his eyes became sharp. Next, he clenched his palms, held his breath, and pushed!

The cross was lifted off the shelf, and its weight put great pressure on his hands, muscles, and joints... The burden caused his face to redden, visible to everyone nearby...

Seeing this, Owen shook his head. "Son, don't hurt yourself. If it's heavy, just put it back."

The two men at the side set their feet, knowing that they had to get ready to lift such a heavy weight back when it collapsed.

Ben took a breath. He only needed to complete one repetition, which meant lowering it to his chest and then back up. The longer he waited, the harder it became. So, he's moving!

He lowered the barbell, but it was at snail speed! Seeing this, Owen sighed. It was clear to all that it was too heavy for him, as the most he could do was to let the crossbar down without directly destroying it. Everyone in the room shared one opinion.

'Once the crossbar hit his chest, he finished for ...'

'If it was so difficult to take it down, there was no way he could raise it back up. It's a lot harder...'

'He's dead and donions ...'

When the barbell reached Ben's chest, he held his breath, as the bar stopped there, lost all its momentum, and pressed down on his lungs. Everyone there who knows about bench presses knows that one will never hold the bar at the bottom of the movement in such normal reps. Otherwise, their muscles will become fatigued and lose momentum from their joints and tendons which will help them reverse the weight back. In other words, there is no hope! With a crossbar on his chest, Ben lost! And even trapped beneath it!

Seeing him struggle as the weight pressed down on him like a trapped dog, many onlookers shook their heads. Some made cynical comments and others even laughed!

"What a joke ..."

"He can't even do one repetition ..."

"One rep? He can't even breathe!"

Owen grunts. "A little .. wasted my time..." Still, his eyebrows are furrowed. He wanted to curse the little bastard more, but if Ben stayed under that bar, it would be dangerous. However, as Owen prepared to shout to the two complainants to raise the bar, something shocking happened!

Everyone heard a loud puff of breath coming out of Ben's mouth!

Then, the bar started to go up!

Everyone's eyes glared as the room became silent at this unexpected sight!

The bar's off his chest!

Get up higher!

Higher up!

Now, all observers are people who cannot breathe!

Because soon, the bar reached the top! Ben finished one repetition!

Gasps could be heard spreading throughout the space!

That was too shocking! They had all just witnessed the bench press of a small teenager almost twice his weight, and after such a desperate situation! No one understands how! That's a turnaround!

Owen continued to blink as if refusing to believe it, but he immediately showed a helpless smile. "Alright, Son. Not too bad. Good representative, you can put bar—"

He cut his own words in the middle of the sentence because out of nowhere, the blade started to drop again!

'Did he try another representative?' Everyone in the room held their breaths again!

Then when Ben reached the bottom of the rep, he resurfaced, this time even faster than the last!

Owen nodded. "Even better than I expected. Decent work, son, I'll give you a few minutes of my time—"

He's quiet again!

That's because the bar's coming back down! This time faster! And then, as before, it reappeared!

Now, no one's talking. They just looked and shut their mouths ..it was as if someone slapped them without saying a word ...

The only one who dared to speak was Owen, who sighed in disdain for Ben. "Three... Okay, pass—"

Another representative cut his sentence!

Come down and come back!

When the crossbar reaches the top, Ben holds it there...

This time, Owen waited... He did not want to speak and was forced to cut out another sentence!

Many of his employees are here. Every time that happened, they looked at him and showed an expression like he was stupid! Some even started to sneer!

It felt like every time Ben pulled the barbell, it bounced off Owen's face!

Ten seconds later, after feeling safe, Owen finally spoke up. "alright. I admit I'm wrong—"

Another representative!

'You bastard!' Owen is squeezing his fists right now! The blood vessels on his sleeping forehead were now reawakened by a bitter slap!

But that's not the end!

Another representative!

Another!

Ben returns 250 lbs comfortably! Like it was a warm-up!

Owen couldn't believe it! Is the weight not heavy? That's so heavy! So why isn't Ben the one who was destroyed, but him!

The two scouts were still holding the bar, but they were more hurt than helpful. 'What are we doing here?'

They feel like idiots! They glanced at Owen with a puzzled expression, as if asking, "Should we go, or..."

Immediately, Ben pulled out enough reps that his hand was injured, albeit not from the bar but from slapping the face!

It was then at the peak of the repetition, while still holding the weight, that he tilted his neck and made eye contact with Owen, who understood exactly what Ben's grinning eyes said: 'Tertipu you...'

...

*derap*

With silence still enveloping the room, Ben locked the barbell back onto the shelf above, then sat down and spread out his arms. "Well..a nice little exercise." He got up and walked over to Owen. When they got close to each other, Ben leaned slightly forward as if he were stretching, until his head was not far from Owen's head. "Is that good, Boss? Is that enough repetition? Do you need more reps?"

...

Owen's eyes twitched, but he managed to swallow back the curse he wanted to convey. He was in the middle of his employees, and although he could complain and condemn under other circumstances, as a manager, it was important that he did not look petty. "No, enough. We can talk about that feature now."

Even so, Ben's face still showed serious doubt. "Are you sure, Boss? Can I do more training? Should we do more exercise?"

...

Owen shut up, but the veins on his forehead throbbed as if swearing at Ben, the world, and his misfortune were on Owen's head! 'Exercise again your mother! The only exercise I need to see is getting the damn priest here to kick you out! Where did this demon come from?!?'