Chapter 4

The woman was old, probably in her late sixties. Despite her chubby nature, she was very agile in terms of action. She was no other than Charlie's landlady.

"Good afternoon, landlady," Charlie greeted in a low voice, knowing the reason she was here.

It is for her rent.

The woman glared at Charlie and pointed her finger at him. "Scrap it, Charlie!" She growled. "I called you earlier and knew why I was calling, but you declined it!"

Charlie quickly recalled his phone had rang for the second time after that scammer called him. He rejected it without glancing at it, thinking it was the same person.

"I'm sorry, landlady, it wasn't intentional. I didn't know it was you," he said apologetically.

But the old woman gave him a fierce stare. "Keep that aside!" She stretched out her hand as if trying to receive something. "Hand it over. My rent! Where is it?" She demanded, not batting an eye.

Charlie swallowed hard, scratching the back of his head. "Landlady, I....." he started nervously, "I haven't been paid, I swear. Once I get paid, I promise, I'll pay you. Please, give me some extra days. Three or four, I'll run around and make sure to get your money."

"More days?" The woman scoffed angrily. "Aren't you any shame, Charlie? You were supposed to be paying monthly, but you're four months' rent behind, and considering you're a student, I decided to stay patient, yet you're still demanding extra days."

She jabbed her finger at him. "Three days, you promised. If nothing is done, I'll have your things thrown out."

Charlie looked helplessly as he watched his landlady exit the room with fury. His heart was submerged, hurt that he couldn't do anything.

He's been owing three months' rent and had been begging for mercy; his landlady had been kind enough to always show him mercy, and it hurt him that he couldn't fulfil his promise. Not because he didn't have that money.

But he had used it to get stuff for Megan on her birthday wishlist.

Turning around, Charlie collapsed again on the bed, completely speechless as he stared at the ceiling, expressionless.

Just as he looked fixedly at the ceiling, the silent moment was suddenly disrupted by the sound of his phone.

Ding!

A message dropped.

Charlie reluctantly took it and glanced down at the screen.

Boom! His heart skipped when he read the content of the message.

'Your account number ending with 7580 has just received a deposit of fifty million dollars. Your new balance is 50,000,010.

He jumped out of bed and sat up straighter. He was briefly startled, reading the message again, this time, with wide eyes. "Fifty million dollars?" He mumbled, disbelief crossing his eyes. "Is this for real? Who could make such a big mistake by sending such enormous amounts of money to my account?"

He paused then shook his head. "No, this must be clickbait."

Just right after he dismissed the thought, about to put down his phone, the phone vibrated and started to ring.

It was a strange number.

Charlie frowned the moment he saw the number. He was a smart person, and he quickly remembered it was the same number that had called him earlier today at school.

"What does he want from me?" He said out of frustration. He wanted to reject the call, but then the thought of picking up and giving the caller a severe warning crossed his mind.

"Let me show him the other side of me. I think I was so nice to him earlier today." With that he answered the call, but before he could say a word.

The man from the other end started before him. "Young Master Charlie, I just deposited fifty million dollars into your account. Did you receive it?" The man asked with utmost respect.

Chapter 5

Charlie was frozen at first, his eyes winking. "You did what?"

"Yes, Young Master. I just deposited it into your account. Hope you received it," the man said. "You can check at the bank to confirm it if you don't believe it."

The man's voice was firm and Charlie couldn't help, but admit, stammering. "I-I received it, but thought it's fake. A clickbait."

"Oh no, Young master Charlie, it actually is not. It's real. I transferred it. Just check it out."

Charlie quickly ended the call without saying anything, anticipation in his eyes. "Is this really true? Or am I just imagining things?" He muttered. Then, he swiftly dialed his bank's USSD code. "Maybe, I should check it out using Duke's details."

Duke was his only best friend on campus. One who always stood by him no matter what. They do add up money together to buy food for themselves, so it was no hassle to put down his account details.

Without hesitating, he hit the send button, transferring five hundred dollars to Duke. Since he just wanted to test if it was real, Charlie intentionally made it low. Also, he wanted to make it easy to pay back if it turns out to be real and the man is demanding something silly in return.

A notification dropped immediately right after the transaction.

'$500 successfully transferred. Your new balance is $49,999,500.'

His eyes went wide, shocked. To add to it, his phone started to ring with the caller ID, Duke, flashing on the screen.

"Duke?" He muttered and picked up. "Hello, Duke?"

Duke's voice was filled with curiosity yet concern. "Charlie, I didn't ask for any money, why did you send me money? I know we're friends, but you need this money the most." He explained.

Charlie was hesitant at first, the man's voice telling him that the money was real, playing in his ears. "This is re...real!" He felt a pang of excitement as he murmured.

"Let me assume you made a mistake," Duke continued, snapping Charlie out of his thoughts. "I'm sending it back to you right away."

"No, no, don't," Charlie said quickly, shaking his head even though Duke couldn't see him. "Duke, you don't have to. It wasn't a mistake. Just keep it to yourself."

"What the heck do you mean by I should keep it," Duke scolded in a friendly manner. "Have you forgotten when you told me you're owing three months' rent? Don't you know this $500 might solve part of it?"

A sigh echoed through the speaker from Duke's end. "I'm sending it, man. You need it more than I do."

"I say you shouldn't bother. Just keep it to yourself!"

"Are you sure y-" Duke was about to retort, but before he could finish, Charlie hung up the call.

Charlie held the phone and stared at the debit alert he had received after transferring $500 to Duke. He couldn't help, but wipe his face, as if trying to wake himself from daydreaming.

"This can't be real. I must be dreaming," he doubted, shaking his head.

Just then.....

Ring, ring!

His phone vibrated in his hand and started to ring. It was the same number.

Charlie didn't hesitate to answer it.

"Young master Charlie, have you confirmed it?" The man's voice came through respectfully.

"Y-- yes, it's r....real," Charlie stuttered, then reluctantly asked. "But why did you send such money to me? What do you want from me?" He asked in a suspicious voice.

"Nothing, young master Charlie. I just want you to come take over the inheritance waiting for you."

"What inheritance have you been talking about?" Charlie asked softly.

"I'm sorry, young master Charlie, but this shouldn't be discussed over the phone. You know what? Just come to Pinnacle Group, the thirtieth floor today, where I mentioned to you earlier, but if you can't make it today, then come tomorrow, just anytime you find convenient."

Charlie hesitated before accepting. "All right, I'll be there."

"Good. For the meantime, manage that fifty million dollars I sent to you until you show up here to claim everything."

As the call ended, Charlie blinked, trying to piece everything together. However, he was interrupted by the sudden ring of his phone.

It was Duke calling him this time.

He answered, pressing the phone to his ear. "Hello, Duke. What's up?"

"Where are you now?" Duke demanded with urgency.

"At my apartment," Charlie replied softly, but sensing the intensity in Duke's voice, he added. "What's the problem?"

"At your apartment?" Duke scoffed, "You'd better run down to the campus. The mathematics lecturer suddenly announced he wants to give a test and you know what that means if you don't participate. You've failed."

"Ah!" Charlie shouted. "Thanks, man. I'll be there."

As Charlie disconnected the call, he jumped out of bed, preparing to head to school. He had been preparing for this maths test, but he never expected it would come so suddenly.

Rushing everything, Charlie sprinted to the campus. In five minutes Charlie arrived at the campus since his apartment wasn't far.

His breath was faster, but he suddenly paused, taking a deep breath as he arrived at the door entrance, and realized the lecturer wasn't yet in class.

Charlie scanned every face, and he could see Megan, his ex-girlfriend, sitting in the midst of her friends, discussing. Next was Franklin, Megan's new boyfriend with his own friends, also talking.

Immediately, his presence was noticed, and the room fell silent as if a lecturer had stepped into the class. Heads turned toward him, all eyes falling on Charlie with disdain.

Soon, murmurs riffled in the air.

"Here, he comes!"

"The wound is really fresh and it doesn't seem to be healing soon. It's just evident in his expression."

Their murmurs were with disgust and feigned pity; however, Charlie ignored them, walked past, and headed to the back seat, taking a seat close to a chubby figure.

"Oh, thank God, you're right here on time, Charlie," the chubby guy said happily. But then he narrowed his eyes, curiosity in his voice as he asked. "Charlie, is it true what I'm hearing?"

Chapter 6

Charlie furrowed his eyebrows at Duke. "What did you hear?" He asked, his voice soft.

"Megan broke up with you after everything you did for her. Is it true?" Duke answered with wide eyes.

Charlie let out a sigh, his voice barely above a whisper as he responded. "Duke, I don't want to talk about that, please, bring up something else."

Duke covered his mouth in astonishment. "So, it's true. After everything, the sacrifice you made to keep her happy and she heartlessly did that to you just to be with that rich brat. I can't believe it." His face tightened as he glared toward Megan who was chatting with her friends. Gritting his teeth, he mumbled under an annoying breath, "She's a slut!"

Duke then remembered something and he turned to Charlie, wrinkling his brows. "Man, what did you say came over you? Or is it because Megan broke up with you that you can't think straight? I didn't ask for money and you sent me $500 when you're the one who needs it. Don't you think you're taking Megan's breakup too extreme?"

Charlie sighed. "Taking her breakup to extremes?" He scoffed, letting out a cold chuckle. "No, I'm not. Besides, I'm glad she revealed her true colors before now, or who else would know what she might have done in the future?"

"Then why send me the money? What is it for?"

"You talk a lot, Duke," Charlie joked with a dramatic frown. "I told you to just keep it."

Duke opened his mouth to retort, but a familiar female voice came out, interrupting and cutting him short.

There was absolute tranquility in the class.

Everyone turned to face her.

It was the class representative, Stella McDonald. She was the second prettiest girl in the class, following Megan. But the only sharp contrast between them was that Stella, although from a well-to-do family, treats everyone in the class equally.

Unlike Megan who was so arrogant and pompous.

Stella was loved by everyone because of her nature; however, some still despised her, tagging her as overdoing it.

Charlie liked her because of the way she treated him, too.

Stella standing in front of everyone, cleared her throat, keeping a composed nature. "Hello everyone," she started calmly, addressing her course mates, "this is a message from the maths lecturer. He said the test for today has been canceled till further notice."

Everyone jumped up in excitement, clapping their hands.

"Yay! Thank God he canceled it, I wasn't even prepared for the damn fucking test!" One unserious student loudly said, his voice echoing.

People burst into laughter.

"Me too! But I was definitely going to pass, you know, through malpractice." Another added.

The laughter increased. Some started gathering their things leaving the class.

But Stella spoke up, "Guys, since the maths class has been canceled and it's the only class we were supposed to have today, why don't we go home, have some rest, and then by 9:00 pm, we can all go to a restaurant and have some fun. The rule is simple: you'll pay for whatever you eat."

She paused, looking at everyone. "What do you guys think?"

"Great!" One person clapped. "That's a perfect idea, Stella! You're so full of brains!"

Stella blushed at the compliment, but she didn't say a word. She remained silent, waiting for others to drop their own point of view.

"That's a nice idea wonderfully come up with," Franklin agreed, his voice loud. "Prime Restaurant will be a perfect place for this," he proudly added, his shoulders squared up.

Everyone gasped, utterly speechless.

Prime Restaurant is an expensive restaurant in Maple town, and the least expensive meal there costs $500 per plate.

Stella quickly shook her head, disagreeing politely. "Franklin, we know you are capable of dining there, but for the sake of others who can't afford it, let's not go to Prime Restaurant. It's quite outrageous. Let's explore other alternatives, please."

For Stella, she was capable of affording meals there, but she only interceded so that everyone could attend and have fun.

However, Franklin was suggesting an expensive place that just a few people could afford.

Franklin chuckled at Stella's words and he turned back, facing Charlie. A cold smirk parted his lips. "Stella, are you afraid it's only this pathetic loser who wouldn't be able to afford it? Because I can tell he's the only person who can't afford $500 unless he picks trash for decades."

Everyone burst into laughter, enjoying Charlie getting humiliated.

"Yeah, Franklin is right! I can afford $500 so I'm coming!" One said while laughing at Charlie.

"Me too!"

"I can afford it so I'm coming along!"

Soon, almost twenty people had shown interest, agreeing with the location Franklin had chosen except for Charlie and Duke.

Franklin turned to face Stella, "You see? Everyone here can afford it except him. He's so miserable that he can't afford as little as $500 to get a meal for himself. What a worthless thing!"

Duke's fists tightened at his sides as he stood beside Charlie who listened to Franklin's taunting words with indifference. "Watch your mouth, Franklin!" Duke barked. "I can't have you humiliate my friend that way! You can be rich, yes, but that doesn't give you the right to insult and make fun of him!"

Franklin turned and let out a smug laugh. "Oh, poor Duke. Why are you angry just now?" He mocked. "Does the truth hurt that much? Or am I not telling the truth?"

"Whatever!" Duke interrupted angrily. "You've got no right to talk down on him!"

Franklin's smug laugh didn't flatter. "Oh, what a friend standing up for his poor friend. But aren't you ashamed, seeing yourself with such a popular campus loser like him, Duke? Do you think it's worth staying with someone as miserable as him who can't even afford to get a meal worth just $500 for himself when others are doing so? Don't you see it as a shame?"

While this was going on, Charlie was just busy thinking about what had happened earlier today. Everything was just feeling surreal to him, but after the confirmation, he believed it to be true.

The man was real. The money was also real.

He couldn't, but anticipated going to see the man today since the maths test had been canceled.

Still in the argument, Duke stood his ground, defending Charlie. "If that's the case, I'll pay for him. We're coming!"

At that moment when Duke's words dropped, a voice said calmly. "No, you don't have to. I'll pay for myself ." Charlie's voice came out.

Since the money was real and the man seemed genuine too, Charlie had reasoned about it and had decided to use the money to save face. He won't let Franklin humiliate him like this in front of everyone.

Everyone turned to him with a shocked expression. Laughter ceased. Arguments halted.

For a moment, there was a hush that filled the room.

But then Franklin broke into laughter, this time, louder, breaking the silence. Soon others joined, finding it entertaining.

"You?" Megan finally spoke up after a long time of silence, pointing at Charlie, clearly amused. "You are going to pay for yourself? Where would you get such money from? Or are you just trying to save face?"

"Maybe, he'll use the whole of today to go pick up trash to meet up," Megan's friend mocked.

Charlie simply chuckled, his expression unreadable. He ignored them, looked around, and silently counted the number of people in the class. There were just eleven persons, including himself, making it round off the figure of twelve remaining since others had left in a hurry.

Turning to Franklin, Charlie started, "We're eleven persons, including myself, making it twelve left in the class. What if we do it this way?" He pointed at Duke, Stella, and three other persons despite their sharp taunts toward him. "I'll cover whatever they'll eat while you cover the rest of the six. How about that?"