Chapter 16:The Unseen Path

Chapter 16: The Unseen Path

Andrean sat in his room, reflecting on the events of the past few weeks. His life had changed more than he could have imagined. What began as small, unremarkable purchases had now turned into a thriving system that had reshaped his entire reality. The money was flowing in faster than he could keep track of, and he was learning to use it in ways he had never thought possible. Yet, the weight of his secret pressed heavily on his chest.

He stared at his phone screen again, watching the notifications pop up, telling him how much he had earned from the purchases he had made. He had amassed over 250,000 pesos (about $4,545 USD) in just the last month, and the cashback rewards kept coming daily.

But there was something else that had been growing—an even stronger sense of responsibility. Andrean had always been someone who cared deeply about others. He loved helping his friends and family, but now he had resources he never thought he would have. The problem was, the more he helped, the more people began to wonder about the mysterious benefactor behind it all.

"Hey, Andrean! You're the one who donated for the new study room chairs, right?" his classmate, Mara, asked one morning after class.

Andrean blinked, surprised by her question. "Uh... yeah, that was me," he said, trying to play it cool.

"Wow! That's so generous of you. I don't know who else would have done that," Mara said, her eyes wide with admiration.

Andrean felt his heart race a little. He hadn't expected his donation to be so openly discussed. He had kept it anonymous, but now it seemed like more and more people were beginning to connect the dots. Soon, people might start asking more questions, and that could threaten everything he had worked for.

"Don't worry about it," he replied with a smile. "I just wanted to help out a bit."

But deep down, Andrean couldn't shake the feeling that his secret was slipping away. He knew that eventually, he would have to come clean about the source of the money. The growing tension in his chest was becoming unbearable.

That evening, Andrean sat down with Richard to talk about the school's upcoming events. Richard had been busy planning a big project for the student council, and Andrean had secretly agreed to fund part of it. But this time, he was beginning to feel more conflicted. He wanted to help, but the constant secrecy was starting to wear him down.

"Hey, Richard, can I ask you something?" Andrean said, his voice soft as they sat at the bench outside the school's courtyard.

"Of course, what's up?" Richard replied, looking up from his notes.

"Do you ever feel like… like you're hiding something? Like you want to do more, but you can't because people might find out?"

Richard paused, sensing the weight in Andrean's voice. "I mean, yeah, sometimes. It's tough trying to keep things low-key, but it's part of the deal, right? You do what you can without drawing too much attention. Why?"

Andrean hesitated, unsure of how much he should reveal. "I don't know, man. Lately, it feels like everything I do is being watched. And I don't know how long I can keep this up."

Richard's expression softened. "You've been doing a lot for the school, Andrean. You've been helping out with everything—from the charity event to the projects—and no one knows it's you. You should be proud of that. You're making a difference."

Andrean chuckled, though it was a hollow sound. "I just don't want to be a target, you know? I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea."

"You're not doing anything wrong," Richard reassured him. "You're just helping out. If anyone's got a problem with that, it's their issue, not yours."

But Andrean couldn't shake the feeling that Richard didn't fully understand. Richard still didn't know about the cashback system. He didn't know that Andrean's generosity was fueled by a secret source, one that could change everything if anyone found out.

The next morning, Andrean woke up to another set of notifications from his bank. He'd earned another 5,000 pesos (about $90 USD) overnight. He could feel the weight of it all—the money, the secret, the responsibilities he had taken on. He knew he couldn't keep this up forever. But for now, he had to keep moving forward. He couldn't let his fear of being found out stop him from helping those who needed it most.

He met with the student council that afternoon, sitting quietly in the back while the others discussed upcoming plans. His eyes kept drifting to the money he'd secretly donated, all the supplies he'd provided, all the lives he'd touched. No one knew where it was coming from, but they were grateful all the same.

When the meeting ended, the council president, Athena, approached him. Andrean tensed up immediately, unsure of what to expect.

"Hey, Andrean," she said, her voice soft but direct. "We just wanted to thank you again for your help. Honestly, you've been a huge support for this event. I don't know how we would have managed without your contributions."

Andrean smiled, trying to keep his composure. "It's nothing, really. I'm just doing my part."

Athena looked at him curiously. "You know, you're always so quiet about it. I mean, you do so much, but you never really want anyone to know. Why is that?"

Andrean felt a pang in his chest. She had no idea that it was his secret, the cashback system that fueled everything. He couldn't tell her. Not yet.

"I just like to keep things simple," he said, trying to sound casual. "No need for recognition."

Athena smiled, though there was a hint of something else in her eyes. She seemed to understand on some level, even if she couldn't fully grasp why Andrean felt the way he did.

As he walked away from the conversation, Andrean's thoughts raced. He had to keep moving forward. He couldn't stop now. But the more money he made, the more pressure he felt to keep it all hidden, to keep playing this game of balance.

He wasn't sure how long he could keep this up, but for now, he would keep moving in silence—making moves, helping out, and keeping his wealth a secret. The only question that lingered was, how long could he keep the truth from everyone around him?