Pan POV
After the Exams...
I had a difficult time answering my exams. I still prefer essay and multiple-choice types. Even if I keep away the results, Nee would know because he befriended all of my professors. I received the results and the scores were impressive. I am expecting I need to have a make-up test because I was challenged by difficult questions. The results are high, enough to amaze Nee. Not perfect but more than the passing percentage. Nee would always remind me to study more but I know 'more' requires... 'more' effort. This aren't major exams but I consider these exams as important as the midterm and the finals.
"My scores are impressive...hahahaha...So I deserved a reward?'
"Are you a rat?"
"Skinner?"
I purposely claimed a reward from Nee for my good scores.
"I got higher than this when I took this subject as an elective, years back..." he bragged.
"Proof?"
"How can I give you proof....? That was a long time ago."
"Telling me you got higher than my score isn't believable. I need proof."
"...."
"You can't present proof? I win..."😜
"Name it..."
"Name what?"
"The reward, idiot!"
"Oh... the tightwad turned generous!"
"For one stupid condition.."
"Ah I got it...I can have a reward with something in return!!!!!"
"You can name everything you want for one condition."
"Last time you gave me something without me doing something in return!" I complained.
"If you don't want then it's fine. You still have allowance right? I don't need to give you money this month. I gave you cash last month that's twice as I normally give...soooooo."
"The cost of living in the city is way more expensive than in our hometown. So the allowance you gave isn't enough to survive in the city...? I explained
'Pan, my cutest brother in the world.." he pressed my cheeks.. "that's the cheapest reason I heard today. Admit that you spend much of it on clothing and anime figures. Fooling me is not the best thing to do Andreas!"
"😁Can't resist the miniature figures of TEAM 7. It is actually cheap online." I admitted
"Satisfied!"
"Super...want to see it..." I offered.
"You can't eat Naruto!"
"Reward....reward...reward...reward...reward...reward...reward." I played with Nee's brotherly side.
"Listen to me first."
"So what's the stupid condition?"
Nee braced himself and told me...
"Please be my second student assistant?"
"And Tom?" I did not express shock. I dunno why.
"Tom is still my SA and he's gonna focus on office works. He is also a student and I don't want him to major in 'office works'. I also want him to... you know... focus his major. Tom is a sophomore and he's going to have a lot of things to do. You know what I mean?"
"And you are dumping the workload to me? To a freshman? Wow, you are enslaving me..." I joked.
"It isn't a heavy one. And for your information, it is SA, Pan, "SA"...OK?'' he air quoted it. "Slaves work without pay and benefits. They are forced to work under severe conditions. SAs work less and they get paid. In your part, if you agree, you will work under me and not under the university nor the department. I will pay you for the work you've done, clear?"
"As long as the pay is separate from my monthly allowance. I'll work less and earn more! The pay should be four times than the regular pay of SAs."
"Four times are you serious?" Nee scratched his head.
"Ok, Three times."
"Three times?"
"You really like to hunt for bargains when you negotiate that's a very distinct of you, Nee."
"Gosh! It is all your advantage, Andreas....Yes or No....live or No allowance...what is your decision?"
"Why me? Why not other students? I believe they are more capable." I asked Nee.
"Normally the department gives one SA to every faculty. I cannot keep up with the small works like encoding and arranging papers. I am bugged with bigger responsibilities. So, I don't have a choice but to hire a new one. I'm in charge of the new program, remember? And I should hire someone whom I can trust."
"You can give it to another professor?" I foolishly suggested.
"That isn't a good suggestion. I don't want to risk my reputation as part of the faculty. I hope you understand. You don't have to worry about anything. I will only need your help mostly... every Friday. Usually, I have tons of works on Fridays. I know you are free every Friday afternoon." My poor brother begged for my help as if I am the only person in the entire History Department who knows how to arrange papers.
"Ok...That's not a big thing as long as it's 300 percent more than my allowance with travel allowance, meal allowance, clothing allowance, internet allowance, pen allowance, movie allowance, health allowance, and online shopping allowance...."
Nee clears his throat.
"Wow that's very demanding and that would definitely make me poor..." Nee whined.
"We can make a compromise!"
I always do this with Nee when he has some favor to beg. He is always complaining of my unreasonable conditions and dumbest agreements.
"And the contract?"
"Contract? You can make it. That is your first task as my SA." He cracked.
"I didn't say 'yes' and it isn't Friday yet....."
Fridays are the best days of my schedule. I really like Fridays. Why? Because I only have two classes and what makes it the best of the best is that I do not have classes in the afternoon. All of the two classes are in the morning from 7:30-12:00, too early but I'd rather wake up early than go home dark. I can fly everywhere on the campus and in the house the whole afternoon.
I am positive that what Nee had promised will end up as words, few frowns and disappointments on my part. My demands are exaggeratedly unusual and were truly impossible than even the wealthiest companies don't grant as incentives and perks. Other parents would be enraged to hear those claims. I do not have any options other than to agree since I almost used my money buying things online. It's a prodigal way of spending money. I spent 70 percent of my allowance for Naruto merchandise. I bought four items online with a discount- a cap, a hooded gray jacket with the Uzumaki clan symbol at the back, a white statement T-shirt in black print and a set of four miniature figures of TEAM 7.
Sellers do not send parcels in my hometown unless you pay for the delivery and provided that you ordered in large quantities. I was a bit culture shock knowing these kind arrangements exits, of course, with free delivery. Convenient and fast, but it makes me poor.
To my disappointment, the T-shirt's size isn't the size that fits me. It is too big for me and the design isn't exactly the design I am expecting. I really thought it is nice, cool, original and price-worthy. I hope this isn't a scam online or should I say it's my mistake overlooking the details because I was fascinated with the cheap price. Sometimes, I become so impulsive when I buy something, and when I know I can pay it, I click to buy it.
Nee bought an ab machine last year because the infomercial said he would lose five inches of fat in just three weeks. However, that did not happen and Nee is still like 4 weeks pregnant. He was too ambitious to strip his fat in a shortcut and get instant abs. Mine is flatter than his tummy. Nevertheless, it is still Ok. 'Caveat emptor'- let the buyer beware. He should read the fine print before believing it would be very effective.
Nee would love this design and I am sure it suits his style, perhaps. It's his money after all.
He should get his share.