Chapter 4: A Secret Beginning
The days following Andrean's discovery of the cashback app passed quietly, almost too quietly for Andrean's liking. At first, he had been thrilled by the small rewards—500 pesos here, 1,000 pesos there. But now, the reality of his situation began to settle in. His account was growing at a steady pace, and what had started as a few hundred pesos was now nearing 20,000 pesos (roughly $360 USD). It was more money than he had ever seen before, but it was still low enough that he didn't feel overwhelmed by it.
He kept the secret to himself, of course. No one knew, not even his best friend Richard. Andrean was careful not to let anything slip. He knew that Richard, though calm and observant, wasn't one to pry into other people's business unless it was absolutely necessary. And that was one of the things Andrean appreciated most about him—he didn't have to explain everything to Richard. It was the kind of friendship where silence wasn't awkward, and Andrean could just... exist without having to keep up appearances.
The next day at school, Andrean sat in the quiet courtyard during lunch, his phone open to the cashback app. His mind kept drifting back to the growing balance in his account, but he did his best to focus on the conversation around him. Richard was sitting across from him, as usual, his attention divided between a book and the occasional glance at Andrean. The air between them was comfortable, as it always was.
"What's up?" Andrean asked, trying to break the silence. He could feel the tension inside him, the uncertainty of the situation. He wanted to talk to someone about the money, but he couldn't risk saying too much. Not yet.
Richard glanced up from his book, offering a small, quiet smile. "Nothing much," he replied, his voice calm as ever. "How about you?"
Andrean hesitated. The temptation to tell Richard about the money was strong, but he quickly pushed the thought aside. He couldn't risk it. "Just school stuff," Andrean said, his tone casual.
Richard nodded, returning to his book without asking any further questions. Andrean was grateful for that—Richard had always been the kind of person who understood when something was best left unspoken. Still, it didn't stop the restlessness in Andrean's chest.
As the conversation lulled, Andrean's phone buzzed. He glanced down and saw a notification from the cashback app. Congratulations! You've earned 7,000 pesos (roughly $126 USD) today!
Andrean's heart skipped a beat. Seven thousand pesos in a single day. He quickly closed the app, trying not to look too excited. The total in his account was now over 30,000 pesos (roughly $540 USD). It was growing too fast, too quickly for his liking, and Andrean knew he needed to be more careful.
"Hey, you good?" Richard's voice broke through his thoughts.
Andrean blinked, turning his attention back to his friend. "Yeah, all good. Just tired, I guess."
Richard nodded and set his book aside. "Alright, man. You should get some rest after school."
Andrean smiled. "I will. Thanks, Richard."
---
Later that afternoon, Andrean made his way home, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of the money. He tried to shake off the feeling of unease, but it lingered, gnawing at him. What was he supposed to do with all of this? Should he tell his mom? Should he use it to help his family? The possibilities were endless, but so were the risks.
When he arrived home, he found his mom, Cicil, sitting by the window, as usual. The blinds were drawn, but there was a warmth to the room that made Andrean feel at peace. He smiled and set his bag down.
"Hey, Mom," he said softly. "How are you today?"
Cicil turned her head in his direction, her eyes unfocused but her voice steady. "I'm good, my boy. How was school?"
"Same as usual," Andrean replied, trying to keep things light. "A lot of homework, you know?"
Cicil nodded, her gentle smile never wavering. "I'm glad you're keeping up with your studies. You know how important it is."
Andrean nodded, but the words felt empty. He knew how much his mom depended on him. She didn't know about the money, and he wasn't sure when or if he should tell her. After all, things were already tough, and the last thing he wanted was to make her feel like she was a burden.
"You know, Andrean," Cicil said, her voice thoughtful. "You don't have to carry everything alone. I may not be able to see you, but I can feel when something's on your mind. Whatever it is, I'm here."
Andrean's heart clenched. He didn't want to lie to his mom, but he wasn't ready to reveal the truth either. The money, the secret, all of it felt so... overwhelming. "I know, Mom," he said, forcing a smile. "I'm fine. Really."
Cicil seemed to sense his hesitation, but she didn't push him. She simply nodded and patted the armrest of her chair. "You always know what's best, my boy. Just remember that you don't have to carry everything on your own."
---
That evening, as Andrean sat in his room, his phone buzzed again. It was a message from Richard.
"You still coming over for dinner tonight?"
Andrean smiled at the simple message. Richard was, as always, short and to the point. Andrean appreciated it—sometimes words weren't necessary.
"Yeah, I'll be there at 6." Andrean replied, knowing that the quiet comfort of Richard's family would be a welcome change from the whirlwind of thoughts in his head.
As he set his phone down, Andrean took a deep breath. The money was growing, but so were the questions. And he wasn't sure how long he could keep the secret. One thing was certain: no matter how much money he had, it didn't change the one thing that mattered most—his family.