No one cared...until I changed

chapter five

[DING!]

The notification echoed through Kael's ears. It was as if the system was waiting for the right time.

But was it really the right time?

Kael's gave met with the noise, the laughter and of course the flashes of the camera. He wasn't sure what was going to happen next but he knew the system was coming out to favour him once more.

Maybe more money or another quest. But Kael was not sure.

Slowly, he stood up.

Jason’s smirk dropped. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Kael didn’t reply.

Instead, he reached into his backpack and yanked out his phone from his back pocket. The white screen shimmered and then glitched for a second before stabilizing into something new.

[SYSTEM MESSAGE: ACCOUNT BALANCE UPDATED]

[CURRENT BALANCE: $1,000,000.00]

Kael blinked. He blinked again.

It was real.

His hands trembled as he gripped the phone tighter, he still couldn't believe if he was seeing the right thing or the so called systems was playing a prank on him.

He could almost hear the collective gasps from the crowd as the message appeared for just a split second on his lockscreen before it vanished. Someone behind him whispered, “Did you see that?”

Some of the students who had seen the figures, the zero's began to step backward from Kael wondering who he really was.

The money was not something that any of the students could have. Most of them depend solely on their parents while som of them ran illegal business within the school premises. But Jason, everyone knows his family were rich and he could afford anything he wanted.

" Give me that!" Jason snatched the phone from Kael’s hand before Kael could haven't protected but instead of finding what he expected—perhaps a fake screen or a joke app—he found nothing.

Just a black screen with a strange emblem: a burning crown floating over a pair of open palms.

Jason looked confused, then angry. “What game are you playing, loser?”

Kael’s eyes were no longer trembling with tears. He smiled.

“Let me ask you something, Jason,” Kael said softly, stepping forward. “Do you know what it's like to bleed and cry and starve—then wake up with the world in your pocket?”

Some of the students looked at themselves wondering why Kael was slowly acting out of proportion.

" Does he have a death wish?"

" Death wish? Did you see the figures?"

" I saw it too."

" How many zeros is it?"

" Thousand? Hundred?"

" I am not sure but I saw it. I don't think Jason can ever have that." Another student who had seen the money said looking at Jason.

" Who said that?" Jason smirked as his face flickered between the crowded students.

Some of them moved back while one of them pointed at a nerd who had his glasses on. " Let me deal with this. I am coming back for you." Jason said in anger as he shoved his way past Kael.

" He is finished!"

" He should not have said it."

" I bet Jason is going to make him suffer. Do you know what he did to Frank for calling him a cry baby?"

Everyone stood still wondering what Jason was going to do. Even Kael couldn't help but wonder what he was going to do to the poor guy.

" Did you said that into my fucking face!" Jason shouted looking at his clothes. " Ah! I remember you now. Isn't your last name McKnight?"

The boy said nothing but simply looked like he was going to cry any moment. Your father work in my father's company right?"

" Please don't. I am sorry, Jason. I shouldn't have said that." Thomas grabbed his leg but instead one of Jason's cronies move light lightening and send his boot into Thomas stomach.

" You should have thought about that before you decided to run your mouth." Jason said taking out his phone.

He called a strange now and immediately asked Thomas's father to be demoted to the post of a cleaner.

Some of the students burst out laughing while some crawled back into their shells wondering how Jason could pull that stunt just by a single phone call.

Jason's eye darted towards then all " Is there anyone who would like to speak up again?"

The hallway was silent. So silent that if a pin had dropped then it could be heard. " So why don't we go back to you my friend. You were saying what?" he said holding Kael's phone so tight that it could break between his palms.

“I used to be,” Kael whispered. “High on fear. On hopelessness. But not anymore.”

Jason scoffed. “What are you saying? Are you high? Are you trying to fight me back?"

One of Jason's cronies laughed walking closer as if to scare him.

" You might not have a father or a mother I can take down but I am going to make your life miserable, Kael!" Jason scowled.

Without warning, Kael snatched the phone back and held it up to his face.

[COMMAND: UNLOCK SYSTEM INTERFACE]

“Do I look like I’m joking?” Kael stepped forward, and the screen shifted.

A new command appeared.

[ System message ; Show off a bit of your wealth. Make Jason feel less powerful. ]

Kael was lost.

He asked having a million dollars in his account with number of days to spend and now the system was asking him to be mindful of his spending.

Was this some kind of joke?

Kael was so engulfed with his phone that he didn't see Jason coming. " I am talking to you scoundrel!" he barked.

Kael's eyes darted towards Thomas who was now crying. He had cost his father his job. The poor man would possibly be wondering why he was being demoted.

Instead of minding Jason, Kael simply walked past him and went towards Thomas.

" I know you are trying to help me but I am going to show you and your father and act of kindness. Tell me, how much does your father earn in a month working for his father?" Kael said looking at Thomas.

" What is he doing?"

" Is he going nut?"

" is he going to employ his father or what?"

" What could be possibly do?"

Thomas was not sure what to tell or say to Kael. Instead he decided to call a figure to make his punishment lesser after Kael made a mockery of himself.

But what Kael said next made all of them look at him with disbelief.

" Is that why you are crying. I am going to do the unthinkable right now and ask your father if he would like to work for me." Kael said looking at Thomas and the whole students froze wondering who he really was.