Chapter 7: Stepping Up
The next few days passed in a blur of schoolwork, quiet moments with Cicil, and thoughts about the strange world Andrean had stepped into. The 10,000 pesos (roughly $180 USD) he had helped Ruben with didn't go unnoticed, but Andrean knew it was the right thing to do. He hadn't done it for the cashback; he'd done it because Ruben was his friend. And that made him feel proud.
But now, the real question was: What was Andrean supposed to do next?
After the challenge had ended, the cashback app had remained eerily quiet. No new tasks or opportunities had come through. At least, not until this morning.
When Andrean checked his phone, there was a new notification.
New Challenge: "Create a scholarship for someone in need. Help a student achieve their dream by funding their education. Reward: 20,000 pesos (roughly $360 USD)."
Andrean stared at the notification, uncertainty flooding his mind. A scholarship? What did that even mean? He didn't have the connections or the means to start something like that. It seemed like an overwhelming challenge for someone like him. But then again, Andrean knew that there was always a way, even if it wasn't the obvious one.
Andrean scrolled through his contacts, looking for someone who might need help. That's when he thought of Khyla. Khyla had always been a quiet, hard-working student in their class. She never asked for much, but Andrean knew that her family was struggling financially. She often talked about how her parents couldn't afford to send her to college. She was smart, driven, but unsure how she would make it beyond high school.
Could Andrean really help her with something so big? Was it the right decision to take such a step?
---
Later that afternoon, Andrean found himself standing outside Khyla's house. It was a modest, two-story home, tucked away in a quiet neighborhood. As he approached, he saw Khyla sitting on the front porch, her nose buried in a book as usual.
"Hey, Khyla!" Andrean called out.
Khyla looked up in surprise, but her face broke into a smile when she saw him. "Oh, hey, Andrean! What brings you here?"
"I just wanted to check in," Andrean said casually, sitting down next to her. "How's everything going?"
Khyla hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. "You know, same old. School's tough, and I'm trying to figure out what to do after graduation. My parents can't afford to send me to college, so I don't really know what my options are."
Andrean felt a pang of sympathy. He'd known that Khyla had been struggling with this for a while, but hearing her say it out loud made it feel more real. "I get it," he said softly. "But what if there was a way you could keep going? A way to make your dream a reality?"
Khyla glanced at him, confusion flickering in her eyes. "What do you mean?"
Andrean took a deep breath. "What if I could help? I know you've always wanted to be a doctor, and I think you have what it takes. I've been thinking about how I can help people, and I want to help you, too."
Khyla blinked, her eyes widening. "You want to help me? How?"
Andrean pulled out his phone and showed her the challenge notification. "I've got this app, and it's been giving me these opportunities. This one says I can create a scholarship for someone in need. I want to help fund your education, Khyla. You deserve it."
For a long moment, Khyla said nothing. She simply stared at the screen, trying to process what Andrean was saying. "Wait, you're serious?"
"I wouldn't offer it if I wasn't," Andrean said with a smile. "I know it might seem crazy, but I believe in you. You deserve a chance to follow your dreams."
Khyla's face softened, and Andrean could see the mix of disbelief and gratitude in her eyes. "I don't even know what to say. This is... too much. I don't want to take advantage of you, Andrean."
"You're not taking advantage of me. You're working hard for your future, and I just want to make sure you have the chance to reach it," Andrean said earnestly. "Think of it as an opportunity, not charity."
Khyla was silent for a moment before nodding slowly. "Okay. If you're sure about this... I'll accept. But I won't forget this. I'll work my hardest to make sure it's worth it."
Andrean smiled. "I know you will. And I'm proud of you, Khyla. You've always been an inspiration."
---
That evening, after Andrean had returned home, he took the next step. He used the app to create a formal scholarship for Khyla, submitting the necessary information and transferring the 20,000 pesos (roughly $360 USD). It was a small but significant step in Andrean's journey—a journey that had begun with a simple cashback app and now seemed to be taking him into uncharted territory.
As he sat in his room, staring at the confirmation message, Andrean couldn't help but feel a sense of fulfillment. This wasn't just about the money—it was about making a real difference in someone's life.
However, as Andrean's world was expanding, he was about to encounter a group of new, wealthy students that would challenge his sense of purpose—and force him to think about how his money and actions could affect the people around him.
---
The next day at school, Andrean was walking to class when he ran into a group of his wealthy classmates: Bryce, Ameer, and Grant. They were known for their high social status, and most students were either intimidated or enamored by them. They were the kind of students who seemed to have it all: designer clothes, the latest gadgets, and the kind of arrogance that came with never having to worry about money.
As Andrean passed by, Bryce, the leader of the group, spotted him and waved. "Hey, Andrean! How's it going, man? I see you've been hanging out with the quiet crowd lately," Bryce said with a grin, his tone light but mocking.
Andrean felt a twinge of discomfort but smiled politely. "Hey, Bryce. Just keeping to myself. How about you guys?"
Ameer, the quiet one in the group, smirked. "Oh, you know, same old. Just living the good life." He flicked his wrist, showing off the expensive watch he was wearing.
Grant laughed, showing off his new smartphone. "We're just living in a different world than most, huh? No need to worry about little things like grades or money. Everything's already taken care of."
Andrean kept his composure, but inside, he felt a rising tension. He wasn't like them. He didn't flaunt what he had, and he certainly didn't want to draw attention to the fact that he was now starting to have access to more money than he could spend. He wasn't sure how to handle the situation.
"You guys are lucky," Andrean said, trying to keep things neutral. "Not everyone has the same opportunities."
"True," Bryce said with a knowing smile. "But, you know, not everyone has the brains to make it either. Right, Andrean?"
The way Bryce said it made Andrean feel small, but he didn't respond. He simply nodded, trying to avoid further confrontation.
"You should come hang out with us this weekend," Bryce added, clearly trying to be friendly but with an underlying tone of superiority. "We're having a little party at my place. You might find it interesting."
Andrean hesitated, not sure how to respond. The last thing he wanted was to get caught up in a circle of rich kids who would think he was just another one of them because of his newfound wealth.
"I'll think about it," Andrean said, then quickly walked away.
---
As he left the group behind, Andrean's mind swirled with questions. His life was changing, but how far would it go? Would his wealth begin to define him, even though he didn't want it to? Could he remain true to his values, or would he be pulled into a world of people who only saw the money and not the person behind it?
At that moment, Andrean realized that the road ahead wasn't going to be easy. There would be challenges—people who didn't understand him, people who tried to use him, and people who would try to change who he was.
But one thing was for sure: Andrean wasn't going to let money change him. He was still the same person who wanted to help his family, his friends, and the people around him.
And that, he decided, was worth more than anything else.