It all felt like a dream. A dream I was yet to wake up from. I didn't sleep that night. My gaze was fixed on the miraculous phone I found inside my pocket. The night seems to draw endlessly with my heart beating steadily. How could I? Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her. Her laugh, the smug look on his face, and the sound of my name being dragged through the mud. Pointus Gray-the joke. The fool. The poor loser. But now I had a million dollars. And seventy-two hours to spend it. Or lose it all. I sat in the corner of my dorm room, staring at the glowing countdown on the phone screen. 59:23:10 Every second ticked louder than my thoughts. It didn't help that the rules were crystal clear. I wonder who made the system and the rules but what was more important was how I was going to spend a million dollars within the specific time given. Don't reveal the source. If I did, the system might vanish-or worse, punish me. And I wasn't ready to lose this chance. The first thing I

My head shook as I looked as I looked at the message on my phone. Not because I was scared but because I had underestimated my opponent. Underestimated, Jeremiah, Layla. To think that they would go that far was something I hadn't anticipated. ." Is that really true?" "Pontius would be rusticated." "I can't believe we are finally going to rid ourselves of that low life." "Well, it's a byebye to go riddance. To garbage." My hand shook slightly as I tried to grip onto my new phone. " You need to put that down and heal up." My mother's voice said gently. Her eyes darted towards me and I quickly hid my phone. Martha was a soft woman and she could turn a blind eye to most of the things I do. She was not a bad mother but she always gave me time to prepare my mind. I was going to tell her the source of the money but I need to prepare my mind, myself. No one would believe a gaming app that gave me that much money. Not even the most sane person. So, I had to find a way of letting he

I didn't even flinch when the door swung open with a sharp creak. Layla stood there, a venomous smile on her face, and I could see it in her eyes-the same smug, superior look that had followed me my entire life. But this time, I wasn't going to shrink back.She leaned against the doorframe,crossing her arms over her chest, clearly savoring the moment. Her voice dripped with that same condescension."Well, well, Pontius. I must say, I'm impressed. You actually managed to scrape together some cash. But tell me, how long do you think this façade will last? How long before you go back to being the pathetic little charity case you've always been?"I didn't blink. I didn't even bother with a smile. I simply tilted my head slightly, letting the silence stretch out between us. Her eyes flicked down to the designer jacket I'd just picked up this morning, and I could see the gears turning behind that perfect mask of hers. It was a mix of confusion and jealousy, and I wanted to drag it out for a

"Yes. I would like you to officially be my prom date and also can you.."I saw her walking closer to me and before I could say another word, her lips brushed against mine slowly.At that moment, the world titled around it axis. I felt like I was on cloud nine.The students all began to murmur and the whispering got so loud that I couldn't concentrate anymore.The sound of camera shutters from different phones filled the air and I smiled as she grabbed my hands. " You just got yourself a deal, Pointus. But first you need to be on the same level with me." Cassie said looking at my face."Not exactly my level but the school's level." She added. "Here is my card. Call me when you want us to talk more about what I can do for you." Cassie said and walked away while some of her friends had been staring at us wondering what was going on followed right behind her.Finally!I stood still and I could see the anger on his face. Jeremiah looked at Cassie as she walked out and his gaze landed back

I could barely believe what I was seeing. The system was giving me another chance. After weeks of waiting. Days of crying and agony. My mother could barely keep us alive from the change she made from the pharmacy shop. I could hear her groans from sleepless night but now that the system is back, I know I had to let her know. But then I needed to see what my first mission was going to be. [ SYSTEM INITIALISATION COMPLETE] [SYSTEM REWARD FOR REBOOTING; $20,000,000] [SYSTEM TASK: RECLAIM YOUR HOUSE] I looked at the holographic message and suddenly dropped the mop I was holding." No way! This can't be real." I shouted with joy. Fucking twenty million dollars! Who the hell gives twenty million dollars for just some weird task?My head couldn't stop doing the mathematics. I knew what this meant for me and my mother. [ SYSTEM VOICE; I DO ] [ SYSTEM RULES; COMING RIGHT UP ] My face went pale as I kept my eyes fixed on the screen before me. For a few seconds, I forget where I wa