01 - I do anything for money

"I've cleaned up. Oh, I also gave the toilet in your room a good scrubbing, so it feels clean. Don't worry, you don't have to pay for that one."

A woman who had just returned to her house was immediately greeted by a man with deep black eyes whose sleeves were slightly wet and he was wearing the same jacket he had first entered before finally changing into a short shirt while cleaning his house.

Tania looked around her house. Both tables and windows looked clean and things were neatly organized. She also opened the toilet a little stunned by the shiny color of the walls as if she could look in the mirror there.

"Free? Don't joke with me, kid. You deserve more."

Tania then took out a sum of money from inside her light blue bag and handed over a few bills along with a bonus to this young man.

"I thought you were just an ordinary student working for extra pocket money, but your work is very clean and you are professional."

Tania quickly handed the money to Leon who accepted it with a pleased smile. "Thank you, Miss Tania. You're so nice."

Tania waved her hand to the right and left rejecting the remark. 

"By the way, can you help my son to study? Having a young genius like you tutor him might motivate him."

Leon nodded lightly. "Sure, I'll do it."

"Good, I'll call you later."

As soon as he stepped out of the house the door closed completely. Leon immediately used his feet to step faster and wider. He pressed the elevator roughly and waited anxious while looking at the silver watch he had worn for years.

It had been serviced a few times after it didn't turn on because it was exposed to water while he was working. But he still wore it because it was a watch someone gave him a long time ago.

Besides, buying a new watch was too expensive and the quality was not as good as the one he was currently wearing.

His body was soaked with sweat by the time he arrived and sat down on the remaining seat.

The lecturer in this subject was not well-liked by some people because he always gave sudden schedule changes every session. That was the reason why Leon was in a hurry when he saw the unexpected message in the group chat this class had.

"Oh? Look, isn't this Leon? The campus servant that we can use at will!"

Someone came and greeted Leon, looking down on him while laughing incoherently.

Leon turned his head to face the person and then immediately smiled as the person approached him.

"Hello there Ren. Do you have any work for me to do?"

"Hah! Look at him! I just found out you're so eager to keep yourself busy when you're just sitting on a bench! Hey man, if you need a job to pay for your food, why don't you just quit school and get a job? Maybe become a janitor? Yeah, that would suit you."

"No thanks, I have goals I need to pursue. Besides, if I do that I'll just be wasting the scholarship I got a long time ago."

Leon replied calmly, but Ren looked annoyed. "You're discussing scholarships in front of me? Damn it! You want to show off huh?!"

"Stop it, Ren."

The man with polished brown hair pulled Ren's shoulder, calming him down. "He's poor, it's only natural that a scholarship is something he can be proud of. People like you who always rely on connections will never understand."

She glanced lazily at Leon and handed him a few bills.

"What is this money?"

"Didn't you hear the lecturer's explanation just now? My friends aren't very smart, but if they stay in class because they failed this class it could ruin my reputation."

Baron's friends, who were more like subordinates, looked happy when they knew Leon would do his assignment. He looked satisfied but didn't stop to smile frivolously at Leon.

Arrogantly, Baron handed Leon a few more bills.

"Is this too little? I didn't know you were that greedy. Never mind, what else can a poor kid at a famous school like you do, other than to help those who are already guaranteed to become successors and influential people?"

"No, that's more than enough."

Baron then left. "Make it for Becky and Norma too. They're both pretty stupid, but their family's well-respected."

The baron paused for a moment as he looked at Leon at the door. "You can finish all that... can't you?"

The door closed. Ren smiled with satisfaction as he stared at Leon and kicked the table causing the money to fall, he then left after the Baron.

Exhaling, Leon crouched down, picking up some of the scattered money.

No one cared, everyone was focused on their own business.

This was his life for about 2 years in this place.

This school that was meant for the elite was not friendly at all to him who had nothing. But what else could he do, other than work hard to earn money to meet the cost of living in this difficult place? He was currently fighting his way into the realm of adulthood, so Leon had to be patient and mature. That was what his late mother had told him a few years ago while lying on the bed.

A hand came into Leon's vision, the man then smiled a little as a water bottle was brought up to his face. The cold air from the bottle made him thirsty.

"Drink up."

Leon drank it and looked at Mitty who was currently looking lovely as usual.

"Just back from some modeling?" Leon said a little sparkly stain on his chin area and hair that was perfectly fluffy from the salon.

Mitty looked at me with widened eyes, she looked beautiful with the pink eyeshadow she often wore.

"You know that?"

"That's because you're so pretty today."

"You mean I wasn't pretty before?"

Leon laughed, he then took Mitty by the hand and led her away.

"Eh? Why didn't you answer?"

After taking her to an empty classroom, Leon released their handshakes.

"...can I hug you now?"

Leon shook his head quickly, making Mitty even more upset. 

The woman with a side job as a model then turned around, took the nearest chair, and sat on it while folding her arms.

"Even though it's been two years, why are we not allowed to be spotted when we're dating?"

Moving closer to her, Leon then touched Mitty's arm gently.

'I don't like our relationship being exposed."

"You just don't like hanging out with me."

"Who said that? I like hanging out with you. You're the most understanding person in this place, Mitty.

"Liar, you never even wanted to kiss me."

Dating the most admired girl in school is every boy's dream. It had never crossed Leon's mind at all, at least until two years ago. This rich kid who was the star of the school talked to him and invited him to play and study together.

The thing that other students avoided the most because it would make them look bad in Baron's eyes.

"... are you being bullied again?"

Leon, who was just smiling, annoyed Mitty, who kicked the table lightly. "Basic! I knew my cousin would be rude to you again after you got the award yesterday! What is the Baron doing now?"

"Nothing." Mitty looked at me suspiciously.

'Really nothing, he's just giving me a job with a short deadline. He's giving me the right amount of money so it's fine.

"I've never understood why you're always desperate for money. Yeah, it's not that I don't know your reasons, it's just... it's weird to me."

For a person born from a silver spoon, Mitty would have never experienced hardship. Unlike Mitty who could delay waking up for a while, Leon had to wake up right away if he didn't want to oversleep. If Mitty complained about being hungry because she was on a diet, then Leon could only bite the bullet if the money he held was not even enough to buy one serving of noodles.

Making him have to work with a sore stomach.

Mitty became sad when the clock Leon was wearing rang.

"Then I'll go first."

"Don't push yourself too hard," Mitty exclaimed as Leon walked out of the empty classroom.

Unfortunately, that was not possible.

Because Leon needed to keep working if he wanted to keep living.