RISE OF THE STUDENT BILLIONAIRE.

The restriction letter

Elijah's hand was shaking, tears blurred his eyes, threatening to spill down like a fountain of water.

His lips were shaking. It parted to utter some words. At least just a word but his voice failed him.

He blinked back the tears, looking at the restriction letter again.

Failure!

Yes, failure!

His career is over. Tomorrow marks the beginning of their final year examination– a fleeting step away from graduation. Meaning he'll not be writing the final examination since he had been restricted.

An extra year, extra toiling, extra year of going to lecture rooms on an empty stomach and all in all, it'll be a thing of embarrassment repeating another year with the juniors when he should have graduated with his colleagues.

He'll be mocked. More cruel than before.

Loving Elena had costed him a lot. His time, his sweats and his little tokens which she doesn't even appreciate. And now? His career. His life!

The weight of everything shattered on his head.

Looking down to the paper again, he saw Clinton Kenneth's name as the issuer of the letter. It was stamped with the school's insignia but Clinton was yet to sign.

The man is playing with him like a predator circling a weak prey. Maybe he's giving him a chance to apologize. A chance to go on his knee and lick the bottom of his shoe.

I don't care. I'm going to apologize. I can't fail. I can't let my career messed up. Elijah made up his mind.

The interrogation officer leaned in, his expression neutral now.

“You're Lucky Miss. Elena pleaded with Clinton Kenneth to let you go otherwise—” His voice grew harsher and expression harder like nut. “.. you'll be spending the rest of your miserable life in the cell!” He growled.

“Sign it.” He tossed a pen to Elijah.

With a trembling hand, Elijah reluctantly picked the pen. It felt heavy in his hand. Like a lead.

It was as if he was about to sign his own death wish. He was reluctant. The aftermath of the signature loomed on his head like stormcloud.

“Sign it. Now!" The man shrieked, his expression cold.

Slowly, Elijah scribbled his signature on the right spot. His heart tightened with pain as his hand moves, engraving each Stokes on the paper.

He pushed the paper across and dropped the pen.

The man picked the paper and stared into it. He nodded satisfactorily and stood up.

“Good.” He walked to him and took the cuff off his wrist. "You can leave now. And remember to comply with the restriction letter.” He said and walked out.

Elijah grabbed the edge and rose to his feet. His knee buckled. The weight of his body became heavy for his leg to carry. He almost stumbled on his way out but held the door frame for support.

It was around 9.pm when he dragged his feet out of the police station. He became a centre of attraction as he moves abnormally, lost in thought, dragging his feet along the pedestrian lane like a lost soul.

The stares of the people, the humms of conversations and the blaring of horns and grumbles of engine. It felt like they were all mocking him. Mocking him for failing.

He almost walk into the road but a man shouted at him.

“Watch where you're going idiot!!"

His phone buzzed in his pocket.

He slowly fished it out and the screen light reflected on his somber face.

It was Dave calling him.

He forced a bitter smile and picked the call.

Dave's voice almost burst the speaker of the phone out of worry.

“Hey dude?! Where are you? I'm coming to meet you right away." His voice was full of concern.

Elijah smiled again— a Bitter and grateful Smile. Dave is the only friend he has and he always come through for him in trying times.

“I'm fine Dave. You don't need to worry about me.” Elijah said, his voice low and distressed.

“No Elijah! Just–”

Elijah cut the call immediately, cutting him off. He knew Dave would be damn worried. He appreciates his concern but sometimes, concern becomes a disturbance when it's coming at the wrong time.

At times, one needs to heal alone but this emotional wound? Can it ever heal up? It is deep, sore and bleeding– still fresh.

The phone buzzed again but Elijah didn't bother to check. It was Dave. He concluded.

It continues to ring.

Elijah sighs heavily in frustration.

His hand hovered on the power button to put off the device but he stopped. The strange number on the screen attracted his attention.

He stared at the screen, his thoughts swirling like a carousel. This isn't Dave's number. Is Dace calling him with a strange number now because he didn't pick?

The call ended and almost immediately, it buzzed again. The same number. Strange! Foreign!

Elijah gulped down and slowly picked the call and placed it on his ear with the same pace.

No voice came at first. Just silence.

Elijah had to look at the screen if he really picked the call. He did.

“Young master!!" A masculine voice boomed, vibrating the speaker. Elijah put the phone away from his ear sharply.

This wasn't Dave.

“Who the heck is this?" Elijah's eyes furrowed, confused.

“Young master. Is it really you?!" The voice came again, putting Elijah into more confusion.

The frown on his face deepened and his hand tightened on the innocent device.

“Get off my line!" With that, he ended the calls and kept the phone in his pocket.

It must be one of those scammers using foreign numbers to dupe people but they just hit their hand on a train because his current account balance is $20.

Lost in the thought, the phone cut it off again.

Elijah gritted his teeth, his eyes dark with anger. He picked the call sharply and his voice came next, harshly and loudly.

“Are you mad?!! I told you not to call this number again. Get the fuck off!!" He barked.

Then, this time around, it wasn't a male voice. It was a female voice– calm and soothing.

“Hello son. It's mum.”