A THRIFT SYSTEM

chapter five

The room went dead silent. My voice lingered in the air like smoke after a gunshot.

"How much?" I said with my eye locked on everyone in the seat. They all looked at me and wondered how a boy of my age could say that with boldness.

Some of them actually think I was bluffing. They knew my mother worked a double shift and could not pay a cent. I had gotten in on scholarship so how could I have said that without attaching much to it.

Mr. Hudson blinked slowly, like he wasn't sure he'd heard me right.

"Excuse me?" he said adjusting his big round glasses.

"I said, how much?" I leaned forward, ignoring the way my bruised ribs protested. "You want money? Fine. Name your price."

The woman with the pointy nose shifted in her seat. The others exchanged glances. That wasn't the reaction they expected. I wasn't supposed to speak like this. I wasn't supposed to sit upright in my broken state, or sound like I could afford anything more than pity.

"I-I believe you should take time to think clearly, Mr. Pontius," the Dean said, his fingers tightening around his pen. "This is a very delicate situation

"You made it delicate when you accused me without proof," I interrupted. "You called me here to strip me of my dignity. You thought I'd crawl." I looked at each of their faces, daring them to challenge me. "But now that money's the only thing between me and expulsion... let's make it simple. How much?"

The old man cleared his throat and adjusted his spectacles. "Full tuition, living costs, and a donor f*e. Fifty thousand dollars."

I didn't blink. "You'll have it by the end of the day."

Gasps echoed around the room.

"Young man-”

I stood slowly, deliberately. "Also," I said, pausing at the door, "when you check that CCTV footage... make sure you play the audio too. So everyone hears who threw the first punch."

I didn't wait for a response. The heavy door shut behind me with a finality that made my heart race. My legs trembled slightly, but not from fear. I was burning. Alive with something fierce and new.

Power.

The school halls were still. As I walked, students moved aside, parting like water around me. Their whispers were louder now, sharper.

As I walked, I could hear what they had to say. The disbelief in their voice and the doubt but I didn't care. I know what I need to do to shut them up.

"Did he really say he'd pay fifty grand?"

"No way. Where would a loser like him get that kind of money?"

"He's bluffing."

"He's crazy."

"He's finished."

"I am sure he just wants to bluff and show that he is not some charity case the school is trying to help."

But let them talk. I was going to show them I was no longer the poor, beaten down kid anymore.

They didn't know about the app.

They didn't know I'd just transferred double that amount into a secure school account.

They didn't know I was coming back stronger.

And they had no idea what I had planned for Jeremiah.

At home, I locked my room and opened the app. The interface glowed with a new update. A message popped up:

[Congratulations, Player. You've unlocked Level 4: Domination.]

[New features: Influence Boost Campus Edition.]

[Challenge Incoming: Humiliate the Oppressor Bonus Reward: Rare Item. ]

I stared at the screen, breath caught in my throat. I wonder what the new item I gained was. Well, I was expecting more money but if the system was giving rare items, I wonder what it was going to be.

This wasn't just a game anymore. It was war and I am definitely going to do everything I had to, to come out on top. I am going to stay beaten to the ground anymore.

I stood up, grabbed the bag I'd hidden under my bed-the one with designer clothes I hadn't dared to wear yet-and threw it open. I had bought some fancy clothes earlier but I didn't see the news to wear them. But not anymore

if I was going to go against Jeremiah then I need to start showing how much of a power I had myself.

If they wanted a show, I was going to give them one.

They thought I didn't belong in their world.

They were wrong.

[The Next Morning - Campus]

The sound of screeching tires cut through the morning buzz. Heads turned as the sleek, matte-black sports car pulled into the school's parking lot. The driver's door opened slowly... and I stepped out. Designer shades. Leather jacket. Black jeans. A calm, collected smirk.

Silence.

Until I heard someone whisper:

"Is that... Pontius?"

I didn't answer. I walked past them like they didn't exist. Straight into the front office. Past the stunned receptionist. Into the bursary.

I dropped the receipt for the payment on the table.

"All covered," I said.

The woman blinked at the numbers, her hands trembling slightly as she read the statement.

"But... where did this come from?" she whispered.

I leaned closer, voice low.

"Tell your Dean," I said, "that the next time he tries to shame me, he should check the size of his own pocket first."

I turned around and walked out without looking back.

Only to stop dead at the entrance.

Because standing there, in the hallway, dressed in a red silk blouse and wearing that same condescending smile, was Layla.

And right behind her... was Jeremiah.

My blood went cold as Layla walked up to me, dragging a finger slowly across my chest.

"Well, well," she said, her voice like poison. "Looks like our little charity case just got interesting."

And then she leaned in, her lips brushing my ear. I could feel her icy cold breath against my ear.