[BONUS] Chapter for reaching 100 GT!
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Back in the real world, Leonel had just finished taking a bath when his phone rang with his mother's name appearing on the screen.
"Geh . . ." Leonel was hesitant at picking it up, but if he didn't, his mother would surely not stop calling him until morning.
"What took you so long to pick up the goddamn phone?"
Ugh . . . Leonel's energy was already draining from his mother's high-pitched voice. "I was taking a bath."
"Why didn't you call us the soonest you arrive there? Don't tell me that you already spent all your money partying in the city?"
"Mom, I just got here and didn't get the chance to spend all my money. And what do you mean by partying? You know that I can't handle any liquor."
Juliet ignored her son and changed the topic. "I don't know what's with you and wanting to enter college when you're not even that smart. You're just wasting money and time. If you just worked here in the factory-like me and your father, saving for your sister's education wouldn't be so burdensome.
"Your sister is smarter than you and has a higher chance of success in entering the corporate world with a higher position since she's charming and intelligent!
"But NO. You just have to go to some stupid college and waste money and everyone's time on a degree you can't even finish! Mark my words, you'll be crying home after a couple of months, whining about how college life is hard."
Egh . . . Leonel pouted. "I'm going to college for you guys, you know. So I could graduate and get a higher salary. And I'll work here for my expenses and tuition. You guys don't have to worry about anything."
"How can we not worry when you're an idiot and a klutz?"
Leonel sighed. He was used to his mom's scoffs and lectures. "How can you insult your own son? Shouldn't you support me with all my decision?"
"What do you mean support? That privilege is only for the rich! Us poor people don't have much choice! We can't afford to waste money and precious time on something that isn't sure!
"And how can a son give so many headaches to his parents?"
"Ah! Mom, I got to go! My cat just jumped over the window!" Leone changed the topic.
"Huh?! What cat?! You're allergic to–!"
TuUtT!
Leonel immediately pressed his phone to silent mode before releasing a big breath over the ceiling.
Out from ear out from mind.
He then got dressed and went out for his first job for the day.
Before he even went into Zone A, Leonel was already applying to numerous part-time jobs in the area. There happened to be a convenience store where he could work after school hours to night that accepted college students like him.
Outside it was his first night of Spring in the big city, and the air was stiff and a little humid. If it weren't for the humidifier and filters constructed in every building, the air would be much worse, like in Zone C.
Leonel looked at the map on his phone that led him to his soon-to-be job. The Convenient Store was just a thirty-minute walk from his dorm and school, and the path was easy to follow because everything was already plastered on his phone.
Leonel peeked at the floor-to-ceiling glass first once he was standing in front of his soon-to-be job. There were no more cashers, and machines operated everything. But of course, they still needed humans for inventory checking, shelving, and assisting customers with any concerns.
Leonel was about to push the revolving glass door when a kid pushed it outward in a hurry prompting Leonel to take a step back, or the bridge of his nose would bear the brunt of the door.
The Kid was holding a duffel bag and seemed to be in a bad mood from the way he was biting his lip under a frowning face.
Leonel was surprised because he knew the Kid.
It was the Kid from the restaurant who was arguing about a silly table with Lira!
Leonel followed the Kid with his eyes before another girl went out, shouting.
"Roz! You forgot your hat!"
But Roz neither cared nor bothered to stop and looked back. He just went walking forward with his head down and slumped shoulders.
The girl looked worried, and she clutched the hat on her chest, muttering in a sad tone, "Roz . . ."
"Uhm . . . excuse me, what happened to that kid?" Leonel asked, curious.
That's when the girl finally noticed Leonel. Her big brown eyes went wide at Leonel's height before recovering from her shock. She was used to seeing handsome men since they were abundant in Zone A. However, a man with a giant's height was an entirely different matter.
"Oh, you mean Roz?" the girl sighed. "He is one of our best hardworking staff at this place, but some jerk posted a video of this influencer crying on a camera commenting about this table and what not, and suddenly . . . Roz's pictures appeared out of nowhere!"
The girl tried to say but didn't know how to organize her words since even she didn't know what was happening.
"And then all of a sudden, our store got bad reviews because of him, and the phone had been ringing nonstop ever since." The girl massaged her temple, shaking away her confusion. "I don't even know how they found Roz here. And the manager just kicked him out just like that."
The girl rumbled on and on, but Leonel didn't hear anything about what she said after hearing the word 'influencer' from her mouth.
He immediately checked his phone and found what he was looking for with the hashtag #PoorLira.