Chapter 15:Balancing the Hustle

Chapter 15: Balancing the Hustle

As the weeks passed, Andrean could feel the weight of his double life growing heavier. On one hand, he was still the quiet, humble student, sitting in the back of classrooms, doing his assignments with Richard, and helping when needed. On the other hand, he was the mastermind behind a string of small yet impactful projects that were changing the school in subtle ways.

But there was something that was even more pressing on his mind: his growing wealth. Every time he made a purchase, every time he helped someone or spent money on something that benefited him, the cashback system rewarded him. It started small, just a few hundred pesos here and there, but over the past few weeks, it had snowballed into something much bigger.

At the beginning, he didn't know what to do with the money. The first few thousand he earned felt surreal—like it was a dream. But now, his account had grown to six figures. He had taken some of that money and started investing in small but profitable ventures: buying and reselling textbooks, making improvements around the school with small donations, and even secretly helping a few struggling students pay for their tuition fees. None of these projects screamed "rich," but they were slowly gaining him a reputation as a silent benefactor.

But there was a catch. No one knew where the money was coming from. Andrean had to hide his newfound wealth carefully. No one knew about the cashback system, and he wanted to keep it that way.

His bank account had grown significantly in the past month, and he was starting to notice the effect it had on his life. There were days when he would wake up to a notification saying he'd earned a few thousand pesos (about $55 USD) just from everyday spending. His friends—especially Richard—had no idea, but Andrean's life was changing. He wasn't just the same Andrean who could barely afford a new pair of shoes a few months ago. Now, he could help the school, pay for little luxuries, and still have money to spare.

But the more money he made, the more pressure he felt. The school fair was coming up, and Andrean had agreed to sponsor a few aspects of it—without revealing the true extent of his involvement. He had pledged to donate funds for the venue, help cover some of the costs for the student projects, and even paid for the transportation of a few students who needed financial help. It wasn't a huge amount in the grand scheme of things, but the money came from his cashback system, which he had kept completely secret.

That afternoon, Andrean sat in the school courtyard, scrolling through his bank app. He stared at the balance, feeling both excited and uneasy. The numbers kept adding up. His savings account had crossed 200,000 pesos (about $3,636 USD), and the cashback rewards kept coming in daily. The amount he was making wasn't just a little extra pocket money—it was starting to feel like a small fortune.

"Hey, Andrean! You okay?" Richard's voice broke him out of his thoughts. He looked up and saw his best friend standing in front of him, a concerned expression on his face.

"I'm good," Andrean said quickly, locking his phone and putting it in his pocket. He didn't want Richard to see the numbers. He wasn't sure how he'd explain it, or if he even wanted to.

Richard sat down beside him, looking skeptical. "You don't seem okay. You've been a little off lately. You sure you're not hiding something?"

Andrean took a deep breath. He could feel the weight of the truth pressing down on him. He'd been careful to keep his wealth hidden, even from Richard. But the more time passed, the harder it became.

"I've just been busy," Andrean replied, trying to deflect. "I've got a lot on my plate. School work, the fair coming up... you know how it is."

Richard raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Right. But you've been helping out a lot lately. I mean, with the fair, the donations... and no one even knows who's behind it. You're really stepping up, Andrean. But I don't want you to carry it all by yourself, okay?"

Andrean felt a pang of guilt. Richard had no idea that his contributions were coming from a source that no one knew about. He felt conflicted—on one hand, he didn't want to tell Richard the truth, but on the other, he knew his best friend deserved to know what was really going on.

"I don't want people to know, man," Andrean said, his voice low. "I just want to help, you know? I don't need anyone to make a big deal about it."

Richard seemed to understand, though he still didn't look entirely convinced. "Okay. But just know that you don't have to keep everything a secret. You don't have to do it all alone."

Andrean smiled, grateful for Richard's support, even if he couldn't reveal the whole truth. The conversation shifted, but Andrean's mind kept going back to the growing balance in his bank account. The numbers kept increasing, but his life had become more complicated than ever.

He had a responsibility now. He couldn't just sit back and let the money pile up. The fair was coming, and the student council was counting on him. But Andrean had to be careful. If anyone found out about his secret, everything could unravel.

That evening, as Andrean sat in his room, staring at the balance on his phone, he thought about what Richard had said. Maybe it was time to start sharing more of the wealth. Maybe it was time to help in bigger ways. But he wasn't ready to let go of his secret just yet. For now, he would continue walking the fine line between the quiet student and the mysterious benefactor.

But the money, the opportunities, the power that came with it... It was becoming too much to ignore.

(1 USD = 55 PHP)