"The games of kings: Rise of the underdog"

chapter nine

Silence. That was the only thing I heard after my last words left my lips. A thick, suffocating silence that wrapped around the entire school hallway like a noose. Every single student stood frozen, their eyes glued to me as if I had grown two heads. Even Derek, the arrogant bastard who always had something to say, seemed momentarily stunned.

"What?" Derek finally spoke, his voice cracking slightly, though he masked it with a scoff. "Are you messing with me, Jason?" His laughter echoed, though I could hear the slight hesitation in it.

I didn't flinch. I didn't stutter. I simply reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone, unlocking the screen before pressing a few buttons. A second later, a notification pinged from his phone.

Derek's eyes flickered down, and his smirk dropped instantly. "No way..." he muttered under his breath.

The crowd gasped. Selena's mouth parted in shock. Even Alex, who had been cowering earlier, peeked over Derek's shoulder, eyes wide.

"That’s twenty grand," I said coolly. "Now clean it up yourself."

The hallway exploded into murmurs and whispers.

Derek's grip on his phone tightened, his knuckles turning white. He shot me a glare that could have melted steel. "Where the hell did you get this kind of money, Jason?" he hissed. "You—"

"Does it matter?" I interrupted, my voice steady. "You wanted twenty grand. I gave you twenty grand. Now move."

Derek's face twisted in fury, but he was out of options. The students around us were already staring at him expectantly, waiting for him to honor his end of the deal. For the first time, Derek was the one under pressure.

With a clenched jaw, he shoved his phone into his pocket and took a step back. "This isn’t over," he growled before turning on his heel and storming off, pushing through the crowd like a wounded animal.

A slow, satisfied smirk pulled at my lips.

Just as the murmurs began to swell again, a deep, authoritative voice cut through the noise. "What the hell is going on here?"

The crowd parted like the Red Sea as Principal Harper strode forward, his sharp eyes darting between me and the mess on the floor. He looked at the stained floor, then at me, his expression hardening. "Jason, clean that up. Now."

I met his gaze without flinching. "I already paid my dues."

The principal’s brow furrowed. "Excuse me?"

I took a step forward, letting my voice ring clear for everyone to hear. "I’d rather pay you, Mr. Harper, to be the kingpin of this school. Just like Derek did."

Gasps rippled through the students. No one had ever spoken to Mr. Harper like that.

The principal’s lips pressed into a thin line. "You think you can just buy your way out of punishment, Jason?"

"I know I can," I said smoothly. "The real question is, how much is it going to cost?"

The crowd was utterly still. Derek had always been the one who controlled things here—his family’s money had bought Mr. Harper’s silence more times than anyone could count. But now, I was challenging that power.

Mr. Harper studied me for a long moment, and I could see the wheels turning in his head. He wasn’t used to being challenged, but he wasn’t about to back down without a price.

Finally, he spoke, his voice slow and measured. "Fifty grand."

The hallway erupted.

"No way!"

"Jason can’t afford that!"

"That’s insane! Even Derek only ever paid twenty!"

I felt every pair of eyes on me, waiting for my reaction. Fifty grand was a ridiculous number—one meant to scare me off. A number that no one expected me to meet.

I tilted my head, considering. Then I reached for my phone again, the anticipation in the air so thick I could taste it.

"Done." I hit send.

Another notification. Another stunned silence.

Mr. Harper’s eyes flicked to his phone. His expression, usually unreadable, cracked for just a second.

He wasn’t expecting me to call his bluff.

I turned to Derek, whose face had gone pale. "Looks like I just bought the school, Derek. Hope you enjoy being second place."

The students parted way as they all looked at me astonished.

" How come?"

" Is this the real Jason?"

I smile as I walked past the ready to make history and put Selena and Derek back in their places.

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[ A WEEK AND HALF ]

I had spent all the money in just less than a week. I got new clothes, bought myself a new house, a fancy car and also how'd Tracy to build a new cafe shop.

Everything was happening so fast that I could barely believe I was once poor.

You know the feeling when you could suddenly afford everything you have always craved, always wanted. You go for them the minute you have the money.

That was what I did.

As I walked into the students cafeteria, I noticed alot of eyes were on me. I was not the poor kid everyone hated anymore.

Most of the ladies now wanted a bit of me but my eye was set on just one person.

Olivia.

She was cute, beautiful and I know many of the guys on here wanted a date with her.

The prom night was in less than three days and I haven't gotten a date.

Maybe, just maybe she could be my plus one.

I have heard a few about her and I knew she was of high class.

Poker's face and never dated any of her peers.

The Cafeteria went into silence once more as all the students all looked at the drama that would soon unfold in a few minutes.

I looked at Olivia who had a smile on her face. She was chatting with her friends as I guess they were having a nice time.

" Olivia, can I have a moment with you?" I said immediately I walked into their midst.

Olivia looked at me and I could see she was stunned. " Jason?" she let out slowly and I smiled.

" Yes. It is me. Can we talk?" I said with a straight face.

" Sure, why don't we talk here?" Olivia replied looking at her friends.

I felt a bit embarrassed. Maybe she was trying to push me off or maybe she was just trying hard to get but I need to press on.

" Why don't we find a place more silent. Just me and you." I said slowly into her ears.

Olivia looked at me, her face darted behind me and she smiled. " Okay, Jason but it better be worth it."

We walked out of the cafeteria with a lot of gazes on us.

" This is far enough. Start talking." Olivia said with her hands akimbo.

" I want you to be my girlfriend." I said without beating about the bush. I watched in awe as she let out a shrieked laughter.

" Be your girlfriend?" Olivia stuttered a bit before she looked at me. " Well, I must give it to you. You do clean up nicely. I might even have not recognised you had it been we met at the club." She taunted.

I said nothing but simply hadn't gaze fixed on her.

" Oops, you are serious." Olivia said after staring at me. " I don't date poor guys like you. Do you think you can afford me simply because you changed your wardrobe and also got a new car."

" Not just a new car, Olivia. It is the latest." I said showing off my keys. I got a Lamborghini yesterday so why can't I afford you?"

Olivia's face went pale.

The students here know the worth of each car and so far so good, I was on the leaderboard.

" Twenty thousand dollars." Olivia finally said looking at me.

I looked at my account and I saw that it was the last cash I was having on me. I wanted to hassle the price but then it would make me sound cheap and I know Olivia would bail on me.

" Fine. We have a deal then and can you also be my date to the prom?" I asked with my heart beating fast against my rib cage.

" Your covers all." Olivia said and gave me her card. " Call me here and text me a receipt when you make the transfer."

Without looking at me, she walked away.

I know I needed to be fast. If I had managed to make a deal with Olivia then anyone can also do that.

I brought out my phone and sent out the money. My account flashed $0 once again and my body felt more calmer than it has been in days.

I looked at my phone and prayed the system came back to my aid.

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I forget about the system for a while. School academics were getting more heated by the day. Tests kept rolling in day by day and of course assignments.

I barely had time to think about the prom night or even about Olivia. She has texted back to seeing the money but she had never acknowledged me as her contract boyfriend.

She still walked past me like I was nothing each time we met. The gossip was getting on my nerves as most of the students made fun of me.

Even Selena did.

I was about to text Olivia when her message dropped on my phone. " We are going to give them the greatest shock of their life. See you are the prom."

My heart thud. I was cashless and I don't even have any means of making Olivia feel like a woman. I needed some cash.

I looked at my phone again and the system was not showing.

My phone buzzed and another message appeared on the school portal.

" Derek had challenges Jason to money context. The highest bidder gets to do whatever he wants in. the school campus for a week."

I opened my eyes astonished at what I was seeing.

How do I go about this?

I had no money.

[ DING! ]

My phone buzzed again and I saw it was Olivia's message.

I kept my gaze on the wall clock as I kept counting. Second turned to minutes and finally hours.

I developed cold feet when the mysterious system failed to appear and for a moment I felt back to square one.

In less than thirty minutes, the school portal was flooded with messages. Each student making fun of me like I haven't silenced Derek once before.

My phone buzzed again and I saw Olivia's message telling me to either come or she was going to make fun of me as well.

I quickly got dressed up and I was soon on my way to the university ground.

The loud music greeted me immediately and I walked in. My eyes darted around and I saw Olivia's seated in a corner with a cigarette in her middle fingers.

Obviously, she had been waiting for me.

Derek walked towards me and laughed. " I thought you were scared and for a moment we all thought you were not going to show up."

All eyes were on me as I looked around. " And why would I be scared of you. I did it before and I am going to do it again!"

All the students roared my name as Olivia walked toward me. She pulled me by the collar and kissed me.

The student went wild and Selena's face went pale.

I could see her doubting herself the moment Olivia kissed me and held my hands. " Why don't you put them in their place now, Jason."

I nodded, my heart beating fast.

I looked forward and saw a golden trinket in a glass. The auctioneer came out and said some words before the bid started.

" Thirty thousand dollars!" Derek shouted with a satisfactory smile on his face.

For a moment I didn't know what figure to call. I had no money on my bank app and the system was nowhere to be found.

" Thirty-five." I said back.

Derek looked at me and I thought he could see the fear in my eyes. I don't know if it was obvious but he saw it somehow.

" One hundred thousand dollars!" he shouted.

" Mr Jason. Are you still bidding?" the auctioneer asked.

My heart thud, hoping for a miracle. I looked at Olivia who smiled at me and back at Derek who had a grin on his face.

I was about to pull out when I looked at my sweaty hands. My face slowly went to my phone and it went white once again. My heart beat hard anticipating the next quest or whatever it was that I was hoping to see.