From Campus Pauper To Billionaire King

“Hey, scholarship boy.”

Ethan didn’t have to turn to know who it was.

Caleb Moore. The trust fund kid. 

Ethan kept walking.

“I’m talking to you,” Caleb said, stepping in front of him. “Have you sent the answers of those assignments to the group? Or were you too busy working night shifts?”

A few students snickered.

Ethan tightened his grip on his backpack. “It’s done. I sent it to the group chat.”

“Oh.” Caleb leaned closer. “Good. At least you’re useful for something.”

He let out a mocking laugh and Ethan forced a small smile, the kind that never reached his eyes. “Excuse me.”

He walked past them, his heart pounding. He hated how his body reacted. The silent anger he never allowed himself to release.

He reached the lecture hall and sat into his usual seat at the back.

A soft familiar perfume hit his nostrils before he saw her.

Laura.

She dropped into the seat beside him, her hair falling perfectly over her shoulders, her glossy lips glistened temptingly.

“You didn’t reply to my message last night,” she said without looking at him.

“I was working,” Ethan replied quietly. “The restaurant was short-staffed.”

She sighed. “Ethan, you’re always working.”

He swallowed. “What would you have me do? I have to work to survive and make you proud too.”

He reached up and touched her cheek gently, but her eyes were busy scanning his worn-out hoodie.

“Don’t you ever get tired of this?”

“Of what?”

“Of being like this.” Her voice lowered. “Struggling. Watching everyone else live comfortably.”

He didn’t answer. But what was he supposed to say?

“One day I’ll make It big.” He said, but he didn’t even believe that himself.

Laura's phone buzzed.

Her expression changed instantly. The slight irritation on her face was now replaced with a soft smile. She angled the screen away from him and began typing quickly.

“Who is it?” he asked.

“No one,” she replied too fast. “Just a friend.”

He nodded slowly.

The lecture started, but he couldn’t focus. His eyes drifted to her phone every few minutes. She kept smiling at it.

His chest tightened, but he told himself that he was overthinking. 

After class, Lily stood up abruptly. “I have to go.”

“Go where? Ain't we supposed to tag along together?”

“Not today Ethan. I'm going to meet with my girls” She hesitated. “Don’t wait for me ok.”

And she left. Ethan stared at the empty seat.

He told himself it didn’t matter. She has to have time for her friends too. But as for him, he still had two things to do that day.

Pick up a delivery that would pay him $100 and also finish up his cleaning shift. 

He went for the delivery first cause it was needed urgently.

It was a cake, carefully packaged in a large white box, along with a gift bag stapled shut. He didn’t check inside. That wasn’t his job.

The address led him to a large house off campus.

Music blasted so loudly he could hear it from outside. It was a house party.

He pushed the door open carefully.

The house was packed. People were dancing, laughing and drinking. 

Ethan held the cake tightly, maneuvering through the crowd, trying not to bump into anyone.

Then he saw Laura, laughing and dancing in the arms of Ryan Blake, the campus golden boy. Son of the CEO of Blake Holdings. His father is one of the highest donors of Westbridge University, which makes him behave the way he likes without consequences.

The cake and gift bag slipped from Ethan's hands and landed on the floor. His mouth wide open, his vision went blurry.

The items that fell caught Laura's attention. She froze when she saw him. She had a flicker of guilt on her face but it disappeared almost immediately. “What are you doing here Ethan?”

“I should be asking you that,” he replied, his voice shaking. “Is this where you are meeting your friends?”

Before Laura could respond, Ryan shouted, “Are those my items on the floor?”

Ethan then realized that he had spoiled what he brought and which means no $100 for him. He swallowed and forced himself to look face Ryan. “And that's my girl in your arms.”

He chuckled “Your girl?” His smile widened. “What have you ever done for her as your girl?”

“Ethan, just leave quietly,” Laura said. “Stop embarrassing yourself.”

“He’s not going anywhere,” Ryan said. “He has to pay for ruining my proposal cake.”

Laura's eyes lit up in surprise.

“And for ruining my moment,” Ryan added.

Ethan turned back to her desperately.

“Laura, please ignore him. Come let's talk. I believe you love me and we can fix this.”

She exhaled sharply. “Do you want the truth?”

His heart pounded.

“I’m tired, Ethan. Tired of pretending I’m okay dating someone who can’t even afford to take me somewhere nice. Tired of explaining why my boyfriend works any job he can find.”

Each word landed like a slap.

“I’ve been patient,” she continued. “But I can’t keep limiting myself.”

Ryan slid an arm around her shoulders fully. “You deserve someone who matches your level,” he said.

Ethan looked at Laura. Waiting for her to deny it or say that it was a prank, but she didn’t.

“So that’s it?” Ethan whispered. “You’re leaving me for him?”

“Don’t make it dramatic,” she snapped. “This was inevitable and you know it.”

The word echoed in his head.

People around them, were already recording with they phones.

Ryan smirked. “You should thank me, man. I’m upgrading her life. Something you could never do.”

Something inside Ethan cracked.

He didn’t know where the courage came from. Maybe it was anger or pain finally reaching its limit.

“Take your hands off her now,” Ethan said.

Ryan laughed. “Or what?”

“I said, take it off.”

The music lowered and the room went silent.

“Why do you like ruining things for me?” Laura snapped. “You see why I just can't be with you?”

Ryan tapped two of his fingers on Ethan's chest, “Know your place!”

Then he went ahead to give him a light push. “Take your stinking self out of this place this minute.”

Ethan stumbled half a step and pushed back hard.

Ryan staggered slightly. He hadn’t expected that. 

Gasps filled the air. Ryan’s face darkened instantly. “You just made a mistake.”

He gave Ethan a punch and it landed on the side of his face, sending him to the ground. Pain exploded across his jaw. The crowd erupted in shouts. 

Ryan! Ryan! Ryan! Ryan!

Blood filled Ethan’s mouth.

For a second, he lay there. He could stay down. That was the safe option. That was what he always did.

But something more than fear burned inside him now.

He wiped the blood from his lip and pushed himself up.This time, Ethan didn’t hesitate.

He threw a punch straight into Ryan’s stomach.