Chapter 5: The First Big Break
It had been two weeks since Andrean first discovered the cashback app, and each day, the number in his account grew steadily. What had once been a few hundred pesos here and there was now approaching a sum that was hard to ignore. Still, Andrean kept it under wraps, not daring to let anyone know what was going on. Every time he made a purchase—no matter how small—it triggered a cash reward, and soon enough, it began to add up in ways he couldn't have imagined.
That day, Andrean found himself sitting in the school courtyard during lunch, his phone in his hands. His fingers hovered over the screen as the notification from the cashback app flashed once again.
Congratulations! You've earned 15,000 pesos (roughly $270 USD) from your recent purchases!
Andrean's jaw nearly dropped. That was by far the largest amount he had ever received in a single day. 15,000 pesos. He couldn't even fathom how this was happening. In just a few short weeks, he had accumulated over 40,000 pesos (roughly $720 USD). It was more money than he had ever seen in his life.
For a brief moment, he felt a rush of excitement, but it was quickly replaced by the familiar weight of uncertainty. What was he supposed to do with all this money? It wasn't like he could go around buying things left and right—it would raise too many questions. Andrean didn't want anyone to suspect that he had a secret source of wealth.
"Hey, Andrean."
Andrean looked up, and there was Richard, standing nearby, his usual calm demeanor in place. Richard wasn't the type to chatter on, but when he spoke, his words had a sense of quiet wisdom behind them. He simply waited for Andrean to respond.
"Hey," Andrean greeted, trying to hide his phone screen quickly. "What's up?"
Richard glanced over at him but didn't press for details. "Everything good?"
"Yeah, just thinking about some stuff," Andrean replied, trying to sound casual. He didn't want Richard to pick up on the tension in his voice.
Richard nodded, taking a seat across from Andrean, not pushing any further. He seemed content to simply be there with his friend, letting the silence settle between them. Andrean appreciated that about Richard—he didn't need constant conversation to feel comfortable. In fact, Richard's calm presence was exactly what Andrean needed at that moment, as his mind raced with thoughts about the money.
"I'm thinking about going over to your place later," Andrean said, breaking the silence. "Dinner, right?"
Richard simply nodded, a faint smile on his lips. "Yeah. Mom's making adobo. Should be ready by 6."
"Sounds good," Andrean replied, his mind still half on his phone and the growing balance in his account.
As Richard stood up to head back to class, Andrean couldn't help but feel grateful for the simplicity of his friendship with Richard. Despite Andrean's secret, Richard never asked too many questions. It was a relief to have someone who didn't demand explanations, someone who simply accepted him for who he was.
---
Later that afternoon, Andrean found himself walking home, his head filled with thoughts about the money. He was getting closer to a breakthrough. But what kind of breakthrough was it? Was it really a good idea to let the money pile up, or should he take action sooner? Andrean wasn't sure, but one thing was certain: he couldn't ignore it anymore.
When he arrived home, Cicil was sitting in her usual chair near the window, waiting for him. Andrean smiled softly as he walked in, setting his bag down. He could already tell by her posture that she had been thinking about something, but he didn't know what.
"Hey, Mom," Andrean greeted her. "How's everything?"
"Everything's fine, my boy," Cicil replied with a small smile. "How was your day?"
Andrean hesitated, then decided to answer honestly. "It was good. Just school stuff, you know."
Cicil nodded, her calm demeanor a constant source of reassurance. "I'm glad. But you've been acting a bit off lately. Is everything really okay?"
Andrean took a deep breath. He could feel the weight of her words, but there was no easy way to explain his situation without revealing too much. He couldn't exactly tell her he had suddenly become wealthy—especially when they hadn't even discussed finances in such a long time. Besides, what if she insisted on helping him manage it? Andrean wasn't sure if he wanted to share this with anyone, not yet.
"I'm fine, Mom. Just... thinking about the future," Andrean said, forcing a smile. "Don't worry about me."
Cicil looked at him for a long moment, her eyes soft but knowing. "I may not be able to see you, my boy, but I can feel when something's bothering you. You don't have to carry everything on your own."
"I know, Mom. But I'll figure it out."
---
The next day, Andrean couldn't stop thinking about the money. He had enough now to make a real difference—not just for himself, but for his family. He could pay off some bills, buy new clothes, or even save for future expenses. It felt like he was on the verge of something big, but he still couldn't shake the fear of how people might react if they knew the truth.
After school, he checked his account again. The balance had climbed another 10,000 pesos (roughly $180 USD) after a few more small purchases, and he was now sitting at a total of nearly 60,000 pesos (roughly $1,080 USD).
"This is getting out of hand," Andrean muttered under his breath, his eyes wide as he stared at the numbers.
His phone buzzed. It was a message from Richard.
"Yo. Don't forget about dinner tonight."
Andrean smiled at Richard's brief message. Even when Richard did speak, he didn't waste words. It was one of the things Andrean appreciated most about him.
"I'll be there at 6," Andrean typed back.
As he sent the message, Andrean thought about the best way to use the money. The temptation to buy something for himself was strong, but he knew it wasn't the right time. Instead, he could make a difference by helping his mom, even if it was in small ways.
As the evening drew closer, Andrean felt more determined than ever. He couldn't keep living with this secret forever. He had to find a way to make it work—not just for him, but for the people he cared about most.
And maybe, just maybe, this money could help him do that.