My gaze dared back and forth as many of the students kept looking at me. Most of them wondered if I was going to collect the invitation or not. I blinked at the sudden flash of white and gold in my face. It was thick paper, expensive, embossed with dark green ink and a wax seal that looked like it belonged to royalty. Whoever had designed this card wasn’t playing around. Cassie plucked the envelope from the hand that offered it—some senior I barely knew, some guy who hadn’t spoken to me since middle school. Now he was practically bowing. “What is this?” she asked. The guy cleared his throat. “Jeremiah’s hosting a private event. Big one. Off-campus. Only the elite were invited…” He glanced at me, then at the card again. “He said to make sure Pontius got his personally.” Cassie’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” I took the card from her and broke the wax seal without hesitation. My name was written in elegant script at the top—Pontius Marrick. Underneath, the details

I opened my eyes to find myself in a clinic. The beeping sound of a machine was closer to my ears. I tried to remember what happened to me but the more I tried to think about it, the more my head hurt. I groaned softly as I tried sitting up. That was when I saw her. Not Layla and definitely not Cassie. Someone more beautiful. Am I dead? I could barely breathe as she got closer. She placed a hand on my head and looked at her wrist watch. “ You were lucky that someone brought you here. You are suffering from a concussion. What is your name?” I could not hear her voice. Just looking at her face was more than enough to make me muted. “ Hello.” the girl called out again. “ So sorry. I was…” “ It is fine. What is your name? I need to prescribe you some medication and I can't do that if I don't know your name.” “ Pontius.” I replied immediately. That got her attention. She looked at me as she walked away. “ You are the one the whole students can't stop talking about.” “

At that moment I wanted to become someone to be feared. I liked it but first, I need to be able to convince my mother that the source of the money was pure, legit. But how do I make it possible? I was only a teen, a teen with the power of a system that bestows wealth. I looked at my phone again. The mission was simple but then, I need to be able to make the girls jealous too. What do I need to do? I walked toward my mother's room and I noticed she was on a call. I don't need to be told what she was discussing over the phone. My mother was alwags disturbed when she have a bill or a debt to offset. A part of me wanted to help. I was still having a few dollars left in my account. It was the money I was going to use to plan my prom night. One I was thinking of taking Sandra too. Not that she was worth it but because I needed to start right way with my mission and I also need to make Cassie and Layla jealous. My mother turned and out gaze met. She felt startled and smiled. “

I stared at my wristwatch again, tapping my fingers against the locker. The second hand moved too slowly for my liking, like the time was deliberately slowing downAlex appeared beside me, holding his phone like it was some kind of secret weapon. “It’s almost time, Pontius. Are you sure you’re ready for this?”I glanced at him. “Ready? Alex, I’ve been waiting my whole life to watch Jeremiah choke on his own ego. Do you honestly think I am going to let him off the hook with what he did to me?”Alex grinned but there was a moment of hesitation in his eyes. “You do realize he’s probably planning something too, right? Jeremiah doesn’t take embarrassment well.”“That’s fine,” I said, straightening my jacket. “I’m counting on it.”The system pinged again. “ What is that?” Alex asked, staring at me. “ Nothing.” I replied, trying to avoid the next question he was going to ask me. [System Reminder: Maximum impact requires a public setting. Keep the target in the spotlight for best results.]

It felt good actually. Doing the impossible. Have you ever wondered what it felt like? Wiping the smug grin of your foes off their faces. Pontius the pauper! Pontius the wretched! I knew they were all surprised. I was not some fancy boy in a fancy school uniform or a fancy suit from Italy. Oh! I miss the way they call it. Those fucking rich brats!. They made life for the poor unbearable even though the university was mainly for the rich and the elite but we all know the truth. The calibre, the power and the dominance was always there. And I was the underdog. At least I used to be until the system found me. I wonder what my life would be like. My house, my mother, was sacked. I wonder how I was going to survive the bully on my own but then, I don't have to bother myself anymore. The room erupted like a hive struck with a stone. I know most of them were not sure they heard me. I was not sure if I was thinking straight too. I mean, the system has not even offered m