Chapter 3: Hidden Paths
The school bell rang, signaling the end of another long day at Zamboanga Sibugay National High School. Andrean packed his bag slowly, his mind preoccupied with the changes happening in his life. He had just made another small purchase that morning—some food from the canteen—and, sure enough, the cashback app had triggered once again. The steady increase in his earnings had become something of a quiet thrill. Every notification was a reminder that something in his life was beginning to shift, but it also brought with it a weight he wasn't sure he was ready to bear.
"Yo, Andrean! Wait up!"
Andrean turned to find Richard jogging toward him, his usual carefree grin plastered on his face. His friend's presence was a welcome distraction, but Andrean couldn't help but feel like he was living in two worlds—one that was rapidly changing and one that remained the same.
"Hey, man," Andrean said, forcing a smile as Richard caught up to him. "What's up?"
"Same old, same old," Richard replied with a shrug. "Just trying to survive another day of high school. You know how it is. You heading home now?"
"Yeah," Andrean answered, his mind briefly flicking to the growing balance in his cashback account. "Just gonna go home and help Mom with dinner."
Richard nodded, but then his gaze sharpened as he studied Andrean. "You've been acting weird lately," he said, his tone serious. "You sure everything's alright? I mean, I know we're friends and all, but you've been… I don't know… distant?"
Andrean felt a wave of guilt wash over him. He hadn't meant to shut Richard out, but he wasn't sure how to explain his newfound situation without revealing too much. The idea of his best friend knowing about his growing wealth felt… off. Andrean wasn't the type to boast, and this wasn't something he wanted to share yet.
"I'm fine, Richard," Andrean replied, shaking his head. "Really. Just been thinking a lot about stuff. You know, school and all that."
Richard's eyes narrowed slightly, not entirely convinced, but he didn't push it. "Alright, man. Just don't keep everything bottled up, alright? You can talk to me about anything, you know that."
"Thanks," Andrean said, managing a genuine smile this time. "I appreciate it."
They walked out of the school together, chatting idly about random things. Andrean appreciated the normalcy of it all, even though his mind couldn't shake the unease building inside him. Keeping this secret was starting to weigh heavily on him. It wasn't that he didn't want to help Richard, his family, or even his school—it was just that he didn't know how to go about it without raising too many questions.
---
When Andrean arrived home, Cicil was sitting in her usual spot near the window. She wasn't looking out the window, of course—she hadn't been able to do that for years—but she liked the stillness that came with being near the open space. Her cane was leaning against the side of the chair, and she was listening to the sounds of the street outside, a world of noise that Andrean had learned to tune out over the years.
"Hi, Mom," Andrean said as he stepped into the small living room, setting his bag down.
"Hey, my boy," Cicil responded, her voice soft but warm. "How was your day?"
"Same as usual," Andrean said, taking a seat across from her. He felt a pang of guilt as he realized he hadn't told her much about his day recently.
"Anything interesting happen?" Cicil asked, her tone casual, though there was an underlying curiosity in her voice.
Andrean hesitated for a moment, his fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of his school bag. How could he explain what was going on without giving away too much? Cicil was perceptive—she might not have been able to see, but her intuition was sharp.
"Not really," Andrean replied, trying to keep his voice light. "Just another day, you know?"
Cicil didn't press him, though Andrean could tell she wasn't entirely convinced. "Alright, if you say so," she said softly. "Just remember that you can tell me anything. I'm always here for you."
"I know, Mom," Andrean said, his voice tight with emotion. "Thanks."
---
Later that evening, Andrean found himself sitting alone at the small kitchen table, scrolling through his cashback app. The numbers were steadily growing, and it felt almost surreal. He had earned another 2,000 pesos (roughly $36 USD) in cashback just from a few small purchases over the last couple of days. It was crazy to think that, in a short time, he was accumulating money in ways he'd never imagined.
He paused, staring at the app. What if this could change everything? What if he could help Cicil with her needs, or buy new clothes, or even pay for his education in the future? He had always dreamed of something better, but now that it was within reach, he wasn't sure how to handle it.
But there was one thing Andrean was certain of—he couldn't let anyone know. Not yet. Not until he had a clearer plan.
As he pondered his next move, his phone buzzed with a message from Richard.
"Yo, dinner at my place tomorrow night? I've been craving some of your mom's cooking."
Andrean smiled at the message. Richard's sincerity always made him feel better. He quickly typed a response.
"Sure! I'll talk to Mom. See you tomorrow."
The thought of Richard coming over made Andrean feel a little lighter. At least, for now, his life was still normal. But deep down, he knew that soon, the secret he was keeping would begin to change everything.
---
Later that night, as Andrean lay in bed, he reflected on the events of the day. He still hadn't told anyone about the cashback app, and for good reason. He wasn't sure what the consequences would be if people found out. Would they want him to share the money? Would they think he was hiding it for selfish reasons? Andrean wasn't sure, but he did know one thing: he had to be careful. This was a delicate situation.
The sound of her mom moving about the house reminded him of his responsibilities. She relied on him, and he couldn't afford to let her down. He wasn't going to flaunt his newfound wealth, but if he could use it to make their lives a little better, he would. Just not yet.
Tomorrow would be another day, and for now, Andrean was content with keeping things quiet. But soon, he realized, the ripple effect of his secret would become harder to manage.