A THRIFT SYSTEM

chapter three

They say time heals everything. At least that was what I thought. That I would be able to forget everything. That the money I got from the system was enough to make me forget what she did to me.

But they never tell you how many times the wound reopens before it scars.

Ever since that video went viral, I'd been on autopilot-spending the money, watching people squirm, keeping my mouth shut. The system wanted secrecy. Fine. I could play the game.

I felt like telling the world how much I was having in my account and how far I was wiling to go but I can't. The system has sworn me to secrecy and I have no option than to keep my mouth shut.

I can spend the money. Show the people I was no longer the weakling or the poor church rat Layla thought I was. I want to be more and also, I want to show Layla what she was missing.

But the deeper I sank into my new reality, the more the past clawed at me.

I couldn't forget her.

No matter how hard I tried.

It wasn't just the betrayal-it was the memory of who she used to be. Or maybe who I thought she was.

Layla.

She was the first girl who ever touched my face like I mattered. I still remember that night on the library roof, when I told her about my mom working two jobs just to send me to school. She didn't laugh. She held my hand. Told me I was different. Special.

Lies. All of it.

But back then, it felt like love.

We'd sneak into the art building after hours, where she'd sketch and I'd pretend I understood brush strokes just to watch her smile. We'd eat noodles on the dorm steps, talk about the future-our future. She swore I'd be great one day.

"You don't need money to shine,"

she'd said once.

Funny, isn't it?

Turns out, you needed money just to be seen.

I hated the fact that I had believed all of her lies that was now dawn on me that I was just a convince fot her. She was toying with me all this while, making me look stupid.

Foolish!

The memories hit harder when I walked past the campus fountain. It was where I'd first asked her to be my girlfriend. She wore that red scarf I saved up for. She has yes before I even finished the sentence.

I remember how many work shifts I had to work and how I had begged my mother to help me add a little amount from her little earning to help me out.

Now, that same scarf was wrapped around her neck as she clung to Jeremiah's arm.

Jeremiah.

He was waiting for me.

I didn't realize it until he stepped right into my path, all smirks and expensive cologne. The air around him tensed, like even the trees bent to let him pass.

"Pointus," he said, voice smooth and cruel. "Still playing dress up? Shouldn't you have given up by now? Nobody gives a fuck that you wear expensive clothes or shoes and certainly nobody give a fuck that you look more handsome." Jeremiah said taunting me.

I kept walking, ignoring him.

He didn't like that.

The next second, my shoulder slammed into a tree. I gasped, the pain sharp.

"I'm talking to you," he growled.

I turned slowly, jaw tight. "I've got nothing to say to you."

"Really?" He chuckled, then looked at me. "Nice threads. New money, huh? Trying to pretend you belong? I know you want her back but too sorry she doesn't want a loafer like you. I am sure that you must have been working for a rich man son or probably you stole that. Or have your mother been working ten times more than before?"

My eye darted around as the students began to gather around us Jeremiah's cronies laughed. A few students recorded, hungry for drama.

I clenched my fists.

"Back off, Jeremiah."

He grinned, sensing my anger. "Or what? You'll cry again? Run to Layla? Oh wait-she's with a real man now."

That did it.

I swung.

I didn't even think. My fist caught his jaw, hard enough to snap his head sideways.

The crowd gasped.

For a moment, silence.

Then... rage.

Jeremiah tackled me like a wild animal. Fists rained down, merciless. His friends joined in. I felt my ribs crack-once, twice. My vision blurred. Blood flooded my mouth. Someone was screaming. Maybe it was me.

I tried to fight back. I did. But I was outnumbered. Overwhelmed. Everywhere I looked was filed with disdain looks like i didn't belong.

I collapsed, everything fading to black.

When I woke up, the lights above were too bright.

Beeping. Clean sheets. The sharp scent of antiseptic.

Hospital.

I tried to move-my body protested with a scream of pain.

My face was swollen. My side felt like it had been crushed. My head throbbed like it was splitting in half.

I blinked up at the ceiling, barely breathing. I looked around and I could see my phone right beside my bed. I wonder who brought me back home

"System," I croaked thinking I could get the answer that I needed. I had spent the money I had on everything I needed trying to impress Layla or at least show off but everything had been in vain.

The pain was even more than I had anticipated. The bruise, the head ache and my aching arm throbbed with pain.

The door opened and I saw my mother who has been surprised to see how our life has changed and was shocked to see me lying on the bed bleeding.

I thought she was going to lash at me, but to my surprise, she walked past me and was soon back with a first aid kit.

I looked at her each time as she worked on my wound thinking she would say a word but she didn't.

My phone vibrated right beside me. I groaned and picked it up, little did I know I was in for another shock of my life.