Chapter 2: The Ripple Effect
Andrean's newfound hope was something he hadn't felt in a long time. For the first time in ages, he didn't feel like he was stuck in a never-ending loop of barely scraping by. As he walked home from school that afternoon, his thoughts were consumed by the unexpected changes happening in his life.
He kept checking the cashback app on his phone, unsure if he was just imagining the potential. Could it really be possible to improve his situation with something as simple as an app?
He had used the app to buy a few more small items over the past week—nothing extravagant, just some basic necessities like snacks, drinks, and even a new notebook for school. The cashback kept coming in, slowly at first, but it was steady.
Today, however, something was different.
As he checked his balance, he saw a notification that made his heart skip a beat.
"Congratulations! You've earned 1,500 pesos (roughly $27 USD) cashback from your most recent purchases!"
Andrean couldn't believe it. That was far more than the usual amounts he'd received, and it seemed to appear out of nowhere. He didn't recall making any particularly big purchases, yet the cashback was substantial.
He swiped through the transaction history and found that, over the past month, his total earnings had reached a whopping 3,500 pesos (roughly $63 USD). He knew this wasn't going to make him rich overnight, but the steady accumulation of money was something that had never happened to him before.
His fingers hovered over his phone as he processed the new information. Could this be the start of something bigger?
---
The next day, Andrean's mind was still buzzing with the possibilities. His footsteps were light as he walked to school, a small grin on his face. He had kept the app a secret from everyone—his family, his friends, even Richard. He wasn't ready to share this newfound source of "wealth" with anyone yet. For now, it was his alone.
At home, Andrean's mother, Cicil, was busy with her usual routine. She had been blind for as long as Andrean could remember, but that didn't stop her from being a loving, strong presence in their household. Cicil had learned to rely on her other senses, especially her hearing and sense of touch, to navigate the world.
Andrean entered the small house, greeted by the familiar warmth and smell of home. Cicil sat by the window, her cane resting beside her, listening to the sounds of the outside world.
"Hi, Mom," Andrean called out, setting his bag down. "How's everything?"
"Everything's good, my boy," Cicil replied with a soft smile, though she couldn't see the look on his face. "How was school today?"
"Same as always," Andrean said, his tone casual, but there was a slight edge to his voice that Cicil didn't miss.
She tilted her head slightly, her brow furrowing. "You seem… different. What's going on, Andrean?"
Andrean paused for a moment, unsure how to respond. He didn't want to worry her, especially not about something as trivial as a cashback app. He didn't even fully understand it himself yet. But there was something about Cicil's tone, her concern for him, that made him hesitate.
"I'm fine, Mom," he said with a reassuring smile, though it was more to comfort her than himself. "Really, it's just school stuff. Nothing to worry about."
Cicil didn't press further, but Andrean could feel her concern lingering in the air. His mother had always been intuitive, and even though she couldn't see, she often knew when something was off.
"Alright, if you say so," she said with a sigh, resting her head back against the chair. "Just remember, you can always talk to me if something's bothering you. I know it's not always easy, but I'm here for you."
Andrean nodded, but inside, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was keeping something important from her. His mother had always been his rock, and now, more than ever, he felt guilty for not sharing his secret with her. But he wasn't ready—not yet.
---
The next day, Andrean met Richard in the school courtyard, where his friend greeted him with his usual enthusiasm.
"Yo, Andrean! What's up, man?" Richard asked, slinging an arm over Andrean's shoulder.
"Hey, man," Andrean replied with a grin, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. His thoughts were still preoccupied with his secret, and he wasn't ready to share it with anyone—not even Richard.
"You've been acting kinda different lately," Richard said, giving him a sideways glance. "What's up with that? You win the lottery or something?"
Andrean chuckled lightly, trying to brush it off. "Nah, nothing like that. Just been feeling a little better lately, that's all."
Richard raised an eyebrow. "Alright, man. If you say so."
Andrean didn't want to lie, but he also didn't want to expose the secret yet. He wasn't sure what his friends or family would think if they knew he was quietly accumulating money through an app. Would they think he was being greedy? Or would they try to pressure him to help them?
"Anyway," Richard continued, oblivious to Andrean's inner conflict, "wanna grab lunch after school? I found a new spot that serves the best noodles."
"Yeah, sure," Andrean said, grateful for the distraction. "Sounds good."
---
Over the next week, Andrean kept the app a secret, watching as his balance grew with every small purchase. He didn't tell anyone—least of all Richard. It wasn't that he didn't trust his friend, but he wasn't sure if he could handle anyone else knowing about his quiet success.
The steady stream of cashback felt like a lifeline, but Andrean also realized he couldn't get too comfortable. He wasn't about to let anyone know just how much money he was quietly amassing. He had to stay low-key, not only for his own peace of mind but for his family's sake.
That night, after helping his mother with dinner, Andrean sat by his window, looking out at the night sky. His phone vibrated, and he opened the app to find another notification.
"Congratulations! You've earned 2,000 pesos (roughly $36 USD) cashback from your recent purchases!"
Andrean's heart skipped a beat. The total was growing. Slowly but surely, he was amassing enough money to change his life. But with it came a new kind of pressure. Could he keep this secret forever? Could he use this money wisely without anyone ever finding out?
For now, Andrean kept the answer to himself.
The next morning, as he prepared for school, he resolved to stay the course. It wasn't about becoming rich—it was about helping those around him when the time was right. But for now, it was just him and the quiet accumulation of wealth, hidden from everyone around him.