Chapter 8 - Blissful Ignorance
*****
Jordan washed his face at the bathroom sink. He felt the warm water splash across his skin, his hands rubbing his newly shaped facial muscles and features. He still couldn't get over how his new face looked and felt. If head transplants existed, this might be what they felt like, he thought as he looked in the mirror and dried the water with a towel and rubbed some moisturiser across his face.
He thought he looked really handsome, the dark eyes, the pronounced nose, the thick dark beard that shaped his chiselled jaw up to his styled black hair. It was narcissistic, but he was getting a semi just checking himself out.
Shaking his head, he left for work. He had to snap out of his daydreams and stop getting so obsessed with himself. He was just a product of Luke's experiments after all. It was all superficial. He had to get on with his day. The drive helped as he was able to just get back into his 9 to 5 rhythm, throwing on the radio and weaving through the traffic on his regular route to work.
The gym was busy for a Monday morning, some people getting in a workout before their day of work. Sweaty people milled around the place as music pumped on the speakers.
Jordan was setting up gym equipment in one of the group class rooms when his boss stalked in. 'Hey Juan, what's up?' he greeted.
His boss crossed his arms. 'Sorry, can I help you?'
'I'm all good. I can set up for this morning's group,' he rolled out some mats.
'No, I mean, who are you? What are you doing here?'
Jordan stared at his boss and then suddenly realised his appearance had changed so he no longer looked like Jordan the personal trainer who worked at the gym. 'Oh, sorry,' he chuckled. 'It's me, Jordan.'
Juan just looked at him blankly. 'Are you trying to pass yourself off as an employee here?'
'Sorry, I know, I've had a bit of a facial adjustment-'
'Listen, I don't have time for this, buddy, I'm going to have to ask you to leave.'
'What, why? It's me, Juan, please!'
'Alright, you've had your fun impersonating someone, which is illegal by the way, so come on. Out.'
'But no, I work here, boss!'
'Enough of this, security,' Juan shouted, and before Jordan knew it he was out on streets, security flinging him with his stuff outside before promising to do damage to him if he ever graced the gym property again.
With little options left to do, Jordan drove back home. The shock of not being recognised and then thrown out of his workplace soon turned to despondency. It was depressing not being able to do a good day's work in the gym.
His boss rang him as he was driving home asking him where he was and about the strange guy who seemed to be impersonating him. Jordan had to act as if he was unaware of the story and told his boss he wouldn't be in today due to an illness. He hung up the phone. A gloom clouded over as he drove home.
*****
Later that day, Jordan brought it up with Luke as they were having dinner.