Ethan gently pushed the creaky door open and stepped into the cozy, albeit small, apartment he called home.
The moment he entered, he was greeted by a familiar scent—a mix of a musty aroma and a trace of the dinner his mom had prepared earlier.
"I can't believe I skipped lunch," Ethan mused with a slight smile, his hunger making itself known through a rumble in his stomach.
He set the grocery bag he was carrying onto the kitchen counter, taking a moment to look around the dimly lit room.
It wasn't much, but filled with memories and a sense of belonging. The peeling wallpaper, the old sofa propped up by a stack of books, and the kitchen light that flickered annoyingly all screamed 'home.'
Just as he was settling into the comfort of being back, Ethan's attention was drawn to the sound of arguing coming down the hallway. A wave of disappointment washed over him as he realized his parents were fighting again.
"I'm doing everything I can, Elise! What do you want me to do, pull money out of thin air?" he heard his father's voice, sharp with frustration.
"And what am I supposed to do, Aaron? I'm working double shifts, but it's still not enough! We're behind on rent, the kids need stuff for school, and Ethan's job barely pays him anything," his mother retorted, her voice laden with weariness and stress.
Ethan was rooted to the spot, his stomach churning with anxiety. His parents' argument was becoming all too familiar, fueled by their worsening financial strain.
Aaron's dad had a stable job at the local factory, but the pay was barely enough. His mom, Elise, worked as a nurse, often taking on extra shifts to help make ends meet.
Despite their hard work, it never seemed to be enough. The whole family was feeling the pressure.
The situation got even tougher when Ethan's younger siblings, Lily, who was twelve, and fourteen-year-old Jacob, went back to school. They were both smart kids, but school brought extra expenses like new clothes, supplies, and fees for after-school activities that the family could hardly afford.
Ethan was pained to see his parents struggling so much. He did his best to contribute with his part-time job, but it was barely enough to cover the essentials.
Ethan let out a quiet sigh as he began to put away the groceries, doing his best not to make any noise. He didn't want to accidentally walk into another argument. Despite his deep love for his family, the ongoing financial stress took a toll on everyone.
"Is it possible to ask Ethan to help more?" he overheard his father's voice break the silence. "He's twenty now, old enough to start contributing more."
"He's already working two jobs, Aaron," Elise, his mother, responded with a gentler tone. "He's doing all he can. We can't expect him to solve all our problems."
There was a pause before she continued, "Plus, he's still in school. I don't want us to overwhelm him. Our son will have a bright future if he manages to graduate."
Hearing this, Ethan felt his grip on the milk carton tightens. He understood his dad meant no harm, but the pressure of being the eldest child was a constant burden.
No matter how hard he worked, it seemed never enough to lift the financial strain off his family.
Then, a loud crash came down the hall, followed by his father swearing softly. Ethan flinched; he knew his dad was just venting his frustration, but the anger in his voice still sent a wave of guilt through him.
"I'm going to figure something out," he heard his dad say quietly. "I'll ask around at work, see if there are any extra shifts or side jobs I can take on."
"Aaron, you can't keep pushing yourself to the limit," Elise's voice was worried. "The kids need you. I need you."
Listening to his mother's words, Ethan felt his heart sink. They were all trying their best, yet the world's weight was often on their shoulders.
Fed up with the constant tension, he put the groceries down and went to the living room, feeling as if each step was heavier than the last. He couldn't bear the strain any longer.
When he walked in, he saw his parents on either end of the couch, looking utterly drained.
"I'm home," he announced, more softly than usual.
His mom's eyes, weary from exhaustion, lit up a bit when she saw him. "Hey, honey. Did you manage to get everything?"
"Yeah," he answered, scratching the back of his neck. He caught his dad's gaze; he was staring at the ground, deep in thought. "Is everything… okay?"
Elise tried to smile, but her eyes betrayed her. "We're fine, Ethan. Just having a discussion."
"Discussion," Aaron interjected bitterly, shaking his head. "Feels more like an argument."
Ethan felt awkward, standing there, not knowing what to say. The air was thick with tension like a storm waiting to erupt.
Suddenly, Ethan blurted, "I'm just so tired of this."
His parents turned to him, taken aback by his sudden outburst. Ethan wasn't known to intervene in their arguments.
He usually stayed quiet, aiming not to burden them further. But tonight, he reached his breaking point.
"I'm tired of living like this," he said, his voice growing louder with frustration. "We're always just getting by, constantly worried about money. It feels like… we're stuck."
Tears began forming in his eyes as he said, "I'm doing everything I can, but it's never enough. Nothing's ever enough."
Elise's eyes also filled with tears, though she remained silent. Aaron just looked at his son, his face showing no emotion.
"I just… I just wish…" Ethan's fists clenched tight, his frustration and anger bubbling inside him. "I just wish I had unlimited money. Then we wouldn't have to worry about any of this. I could fix everything. We could all live the way we're supposed to."
His words echoed around the room, leaving a heavy silence in their wake.
Suddenly, a loud crack of thunder broke the silence, shaking their modest home, and was quickly followed by a heavy downpour.
For a short while, nobody spoke. Ethan felt a flush of embarrassment on his cheeks.
He knew it was foolish to wish for something unrealistic, but he couldn't help it. He was simply exhausted.
Exhausted from the endless struggle.
Exhausted from watching his family slowly crumble.
Aaron sighed deeply and ran his hand through his graying hair, breaking the silence. "I know, son," he said softly. "I know."
Ethan turned away, unable to look into his father's eyes, fearing the disappointment he might find there. He knew his father also wished for a better life, but they both knew there was no magic solution.
Despite their hard work, their situation seemed unchangeable. However, the rain temporarily relieved their strained atmosphere.
***
Hours later, after everyone had gone to bed, Ethan found himself lying on his bed in his tiny room, his gaze fixed on the ceiling.
The rain continued to pour down heavily outside, its loud pattering sound becoming another reason Ethan couldn't fall asleep.
The anger that had bubbled within him earlier had now seeped away, leaving a deep, hollow sense of helplessness.
His family faced tough times, and he felt powerless to make significant changes.
Ethan reached for his phone to distract himself, hoping some mindless scrolling might help him drift off to sleep. However, a strange notification appeared as soon as he unlocked his screen.
"Wait a minute… Is this a virus?" he muttered to himself. Despite his attempts to close the notification, it stubbornly remained on the screen.
The notification showed [Unlimited System].
"What the heck is this…" Ethan muttered, his curiosity piqued by the notification. He tapped on it several times, but nothing seemed to happen.
Suddenly, another notification appeared.
[System Activation Complete]
"What the...?" Ethan muttered, sitting in bed, puzzled by the unexpected message on his phone. He hadn't signed up for anything, yet a notification claimed otherwise. Curious, he tapped on it, and a new screen popped up.
[Congratulations, Ethan Cole. You have been chosen as the sole recipient of the Unlimited System.]
Ethan blinked, taken aback. Was this some kind of joke? A spam message or even a scam? He tried to close the screen, but it stubbornly remained in place.
Then, another message appeared.
[Unlimited System Activated. Initial reward: Unlimited Money. Current balance: $1,000,000,000.]
His heart skipped a beat. A billion dollars? This had to be some sort of prank. "Who's messing with me right now?" he wondered aloud.
Considering his background as a student and programmer, Ethan knew a skilled hacker could pull off such a trick. But the question lingered: why him?
The notification vanished, leaving Ethan free to open his banking app. With trembling hands, he navigated to his account balance.
[Account Balance: $1,000,000,000]
"What in the world am I seeing..." he whispered, disbelief coloring his tone. There it was, clear as day: one billion dollars in his account. It seemed impossible. How could this be real?
Just then, another message appeared on his screen.
[The system has limited your initial account balance to avoid triggering suspicion. The funds are recorded as an investment from a large corporation to prevent bank intervention. This is only the beginning.]
Ethan was overwhelmed with questions. Why would anyone invest in him, and how could suddenly having a billion dollars not raise alarms at the bank?
Before he could digest this, another message appeared on his phone screen.
=====
[New Mission Unlock: Improve Your Status]
[Description: Use the resources you have to better your life and the lives of your family. Complete missions to gain experience and unlock more abilities.]
=====
Ethan was speechless. His phone showed something unbelievable. Earlier, he had vented about wanting endless money, and now, it seemed like his wish had come true.
Despite how impossible it seemed, his account balance was there as proof.
His head was spinning with countless questions, but one thing was undeniable; if this was real, his life was about to change in unimaginable ways.
Lying back down, Ethan felt a sense of possibility washed over him, replacing his previous exhaustion.
Ethan was staring at his screen in disbelief. He navigated several menus, uncovering options for missions, skills, and, surprisingly, a status panel showing his attributes.
It felt like something straight out of a video game, yet it was too surreal to be just that. His hands shook as he clicked to view his account balance again.
[Account Balance: $1,000,000,000]
There it was, staring back at him - an absurd, seemingly impossible figure.
"Okay, this has to be some kind of scam," Ethan muttered. "But thank you for adding some excitement to my life."
He put his phone down and rubbed his eyes, trying to dispel the feeling that he was ensnared in a peculiar dream. His mind was cloudy, as if hovering between reality and fantasy.
Yet, the screen's image remained clear and vivid, as tangible as anything else in his life. Ethan hesitantly picked up his phone again, his gaze fixed on the balance.
If this was indeed real... if this unbelievable event was actually happening... what then?
He lay back on his bed, his heart racing. Sleep was out of the question now. His life could have taken a turn he never imagined possible.
He remembered his mother's voice from earlier, advising him not to overwork himself, to embrace life, and to cherish his youth.
Ethan glanced at his phone again, scrolling through the system's options. Missions, rewards, and enhancements were all presented like a smorgasbord of unimaginable choices.
For the first time, he had the opportunity to alter everything. "I'll check again after I wake up to see if it is still there."
Despite the whirlwind of thoughts, he eventually drifted off to sleep.