"Mom, I'm home," Michael announced as he stepped into the house, the sound of sizzling from the kitchen greeting him.
Myra, busy over the stove, glanced back and noticed the cardboard box in Michael's hands. Her expression shifted from concentration to curiosity. "What is that?"
"This?" Michael looked down at the box, its brand logo prominently displayed. "It's a laptop. I just bought it from Gilmore."
"You bought a laptop?!" Myra exclaimed. Michael was known for being practical and cautious with money. "How much did it cost?"
"78,000 pesos, paid in cash," Michael replied with a casual shrug.
Myra wiped her hands on her apron and stepped closer, her brows furrowed in worry.
"78,000? But Michael, where did you get that kind of money? You haven't even received your first salary from tutoring."
"Ma, don't worry," Michael assured her, sensing her growing anxiety. "I earned it through stock trading."
"Stock trading?" Myra repeated, her face reflecting a lack of familiarity with the concept.
"Yes, stock trading," Michael explained, placing the box on the table and opening it to reveal the sleek laptop inside. "I invest in stocks, buy low, sell high. It's all legitimate, Ma."
Myra peered into the box, her concern slowly giving way to a cautious admiration. "I know you're smart, Michael, but this kind of thing… it's not without risks, right?"
Michael nodded, his expression serious. "It does have its risks, but I've been careful. I study the market trends and make informed decisions. It's not a gamble, it's calculated."
Myra sighed, looking back at the stove. "Just be careful, Michael. I trust you, but this is a lot of money. We don't have much to fall back on."
"I know, Ma," Michael said, closing the laptop's box. "And that's exactly why I'm doing this. This laptop is more than just a purchase. It's an investment in our future. It will help me with my stock trading, my studies, and eventually, my own business."
Myra turned back to her cooking, a small smile playing on her lips. "You are such a hardworking man, it's admirable and I'm very proud of you."
Michael smiled warmly. "Thank you, mama. I promise. Once I'm rich, I'll buy us a house so that we don't have to pay monthly rent anymore, and then you are going to quit your job and give you a business where you only have to stay in the house, not do much exhausting work."
Myra smiled, sensing the determination and seriousness in her son's words. "Well, that sounds like a dream, Michael."
"It's not a dream ma…I'll make it a reality, I swear to you."
And then—just as they were having their wholesome moment, someone shouted from outside their home.
"Hoy! Myra are you there?!"
Michael flickered his gaze outside the window and saw the landlord.
"How long are you going to keep avoiding me? Two months overdue on rent! Pay up, or I'll have to kick you out!" the landlord barked.
Myra's smile faded, replaced by a look of concern. She quickly wiped her hands and stepped towards the door, with Michael following close behind.
"Mr. Santos, please, we're trying our best. I'll have the money soon," Myra pleaded.
"Trying isn't good enough! I have bills to pay too, you know," Mr. Santos retorted, his tone unyielding. "I can't let you stay here for free. You have until the end of the week. If you can't pay, you'll have to leave."
Michael stepped forward, his expression stern. "Mr. Santos. How much exactly do we owe for the two months?" Michael inquired, his tone respectful yet assertive.
Mr. Santos paused, sizing Michael up before responding. "13,000 pesos. And I expect it soon."
Michael nodded, pulling out his phone. He quickly opened his mobile banking app, glancing at his account balance. It read 47,000 pesos, enough to cover the rent and still leave a substantial amount for his other needs.
"Mr. Santos, if you give me your bank account details, I can transfer the money right now," Michael offered, looking directly at the landlord.
The landlord's expression shifted from annoyance to surprise. "You can pay now? Really?"
"Yes, I can. Just give me your account details," Michael repeated, his fingers poised over his phone.
Skeptically, Mr. Santos dictated his bank account number. Michael quickly typed in the details and initiated the transfer. In moments, 13,000 pesos were sent from Michael's account to Mr. Santos's.
Mr. Santos, still doubtful, checked his banking app. His eyes widened slightly as he saw the notification of the deposit. "Well, I'll be... It's here. 13,000 pesos."
He looked at Michael, his expression a mix of surprise and a hint of respect. "You had the money all along? Why wait until now to pay?"
Michael met his gaze calmly. "We didn't have it until now. I've just started earning from work. We're not trying to evade payment, Mr. Santos. We're just trying to get by."
Mr. Santos harrumphed, his demeanor softening a bit. "Well, at least you've paid. Just make sure this doesn't happen again. I can't keep waiting for rent every month."
"We understand, Mr. Santos. It won't happen again," Michael assured him.
With a final nod, Mr. Santos turned and left, leaving Michael and Myra in quiet relief. Michael put away his phone and turned to his mother, who wore a small, grateful smile.
"Thank you, Michael," she said softly, tears starting to escape from the corner of her eyes.
If there is one thing Michael was weak at, is to see his mother's tears streaming down her face. He stepped forward and gently hugged her. "It's okay, Ma. I told you, we'll manage."
Myra, embracing her son, managed a shaky laugh through her tears. "You're growing up too fast, taking on so much responsibility."
Michael pulled back, looking into his mother's eyes. "Someone has to, Ma. And I don't want you to worry about money anymore. I'll take care of it."
Myra nodded, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand. "I know you will, Michael. You've always been strong. Just... don't push yourself too hard."
"I won't, Ma," Michael reassured her, offering a comforting smile. "Now, let's finish lunch. I have a lot of work to do with my new laptop. And don't worry about the rent. I'll make sure we're always ahead."
As they returned to the kitchen, the mood lightened. Michael helped Myra set the table, and they sat down to a simple but warm meal.
After lunch, Michael retreated to his room to set up his new laptop. He was determined to make the most of this investment, knowing that it was a key tool in realizing his goals.
Suddenly—there was a notification chime in his system.
[Finish the thesis you have outlined and submit it to an academic journal.]
[Rewards: One spin in the Wheel of Fortune, 20,000 System Points, 2x Neuroenhancer Pill (24 hours duration.)]
"How convenient," Michael murmured. He opened his shop tab and browsed for the neuroenhancer pill. There, he tapped the 24-hour duration that cost 10,000 System Points. The only way for him to complete this task within a day is through a pill.
So without hesitation, he confirmed the purchase, leaving him with a 20,050 balance, and then got to work on ten papers.
He focused intensely, immersing himself in research and writing. The topics ranged from AI applications in renewable energy to advancements in solar panel technology. Each paper required meticulous attention to detail and a deep understanding of complex concepts.
Michael worked continuously, only taking short breaks for snacks and meals. His mother, Myra, occasionally checked on him, offering food and coffee, but mostly, she let him work uninterrupted,
As the hours passed, Michael maintained his pace. He carefully crafted each argument, analyzed data, and refined his conclusions. The challenge of writing ten substantial and scholarly papers in a day was immense, but he was committed to seeing it through.
By 4 am, Michael completed the last of his papers. He reviewed each one briefly, ensuring there were no major errors, and then submitted them to the academic journal. The task had been grueling, but he had managed to finish it within the deadline.
Exhausted but satisfied, he leaned back in his chair, feeling a sense of accomplishment. The system notification confirmed the completion of his task and the rewards he had earned. Despite his fatigue, Michael felt a surge of pride and relief.
He shut down his laptop and prepared to rest for three hours because now it's time to start earning money to fundraise his business from stock and possibly gambling.
But before that, he checked his mastery stats.
[Mastery]
Physics: Level 4
1210/1500 points
Chemistry: Level 0
0/100
Biology: Level 0
0/100
Mathematics: Level 4
1400/1500
Astronomy: Level 0
0/100
Meteorology: Level 4
1450/1500
Oceanography: Level 0
0/100
Environmental Science: Level 4
1300/1500
Geology: Level 0
0/100
Computer Science: Level 4
1200/1500
]
[Current System Points: 40,050.]
A smile spread across his lips. Maybe it's time to focus on other core sciences as well. But money first and then read books about those core sciences during school or in his free time.