At 07.15 in the morning. A thin drizzle wet the slums in densely populated residential areas. In a simple plot house, Alex Mahesa stood in front of the cracked mirror in his bathroom. His handsome face, with a firm line of jaw and sharp nose, looks glazed. His dark brown eyes lost light, surrounded by dark circles due to lack of sleep. Her black hair and curls look tangled and dirty, have not been touched by scissors or good shampoo for months. He was wearing a white and gray uniform of the faded International School center and a little wet because of the rain when he returned yesterday, which he had to iron himself to look neat.
He took a deep breath, trying to gather courage to face that day again. From behind the thin wooden wall, she heard the voice of her mother, Mrs. Sari, who had been busy since dawn.
"Alex, son, mother has prepared rice and side dishes at the table. Mother hurried to the market first, cake merchandise must be taken this morning," shouted Mrs. Sari before the front door closed with a creaking sound.
Alex sighed. He looked at the small table in the living room which also served as a dining room. A plate of warm white rice with a piece of orek tempeh and a little omelet is available. Next to him, there are several packets of layer cakes and fried bananas that are ready to be sold by his mother. His stomach was keroncong, but he chose to only take a packet of layer cakes. He knew, it was one of the best -selling cakes and could make more money for his mother.
"Later, eat at school," he muttered to himself, putting the rice on the pan to be warmed for his mother later.
Travel to school is always a torture. Take an angkot with a uniform center that is very contrasting with other passengers always attracts a strange look. Today, as usual, he walked ten minutes from his house to get to the bus stop.
At 07.55, the magnificent gate of the Sentra International School was seen. Other students get out of luxury cars; BMW, Mercedes-Benz, or at least the latest Toyota Alphard. They laughed cheerfully with the most expensive branded bags and gadgets. Alex looked down, trying to sneak in without paying attention.
His efforts were in vain.
"Well, well, well ... see who is coming. The beggar is in a centers," said Kevin Wijaya in a mocking tone. Kevin is a famous property developer child and is one of Alex's insult frontman.
Kevin's friends chuckled. "He was riding an angkot again, Kev. I saw from my father's audi window," added Richard, chewing gum.
Alex tried to keep going, ignoring them. His hands held the strap of his old bag.
"Hey, don't be ignorant, Mahesa," Kevin confronted him. "Do you have a delicious layer cake today? Maybe you can sell here, rather than you bother to the market."
Their laughter is getting louder. Shame and angry burning in Alex's chest. He wanted to snap, wanting to fight, but he knew it would not finish anything. It will only give him a problem with the teacher and hurt his mother if it is released.
"Let it be, Kev. Poor. The smell of public transportation is stuck in uniform," Richard adds to the mockery before they finally walked away from Alex, still laughing.
Alex stood there for a few seconds, staring at the shiny marble floor. It feels like there are thousands of needles piercing his heart. He took a deep breath and rushed to his locker, hoping that the lesson began soon.
Throughout the lesson, Alex could not concentrate. His mind was filled with ridicule and the shadow of his mother who had to sell hot and rainy bajo cakes. He felt very helpless, a handsome teenager trapped in poverty who seemed to have no way out.
At 15.00, the bell rings. Alex is the first to leave the classroom, hoping to avoid Kevin and the others. But bad luck again approached him. In the motorcycle parking lot, they are waiting.
"Hurry up and want to take an angkot again, Mahesa?" Kevin grinned.
"Maybe he wants to walk. Not bad, saving pocket money to buy rice," teased Richard.
This time, Alex can't stand it. He turned around, his eyes were fiery. "What's your business with me? Let me alone!"
"Wow, the beggar is angry!" Kevin pushed Alex's shoulder roughly. "Who do you think you are? In this school, you're just trash. Your place is not here, but in the market with your mother!"
The push made Alex almost fell. All feelings of frustration, anger, and despair have exploded. He no longer cares about the consequences. He replied to Kevin's encouragement harder.
"Do not touch me!" Alex shouted.
A small commotion ensued. Some teachers shouted from a distance, approaching to break up. Alex and Kevin are separated. Alex's face turned red, his breath was gasping, and his uniform that had been dirty was now getting dirty.
"You wait in the teacher's room, Alex! Kevin, you too!" snapped Mr. Herman, a sports teacher.
Punished. That's what Alex got. He was considered to start a commotion. After being lectured for half an hour about dishonorable actions, Alex was finally allowed to go home. Kevin had already been released because his parents were contacted and "guaranteed" his son would not do anymore.
Alex walked out of the school gate with unsteady steps. The rain has subsided, but the sky is still gray, reflecting his heart. He decided to walk along seven kilometers to his house. He has no money for public transportation, and he needs time to be alone.
When passing through a quiet park, far from the crowd of the main road, its strength runs out. He sat on a wet wooden bench, no longer caring. The tears that he had been holding up finally dripped. He cried in silence, his body trembled with the burden of life that felt too heavy for a 17 years old child.
"Why? Why should I be? What's wrong with my life? I just want you not to work hard. I just want them to respect me. I just want to ... get out of this all," he said in his heart, his head bowed deeply.
Ting!
[System Initiated. Scanning Host's Emotional and Biological State ...]
Alex raised his head quickly, his eyes looked around. No one. The voice was very clear and loud, as if he came from his own head.
"Who? Who is there?" he asked, his voice was hoarse.
[Scan complete. Host Identification: Alex Mahesa. Emotional State: Despair. Biological Condition: Sub-optimal. Suitable Candidate Found. Binding Premium Wealth System ...]
The sound was heard again, a neutral voice, without emotion, like the perfect computer machine.
"What ... what is this? I'm crazy?" Alex widened his eyes, confusion.
[Binding successful. Hello, Host Alex. I am a premium wealth system. I come from another dimension and now bound to your awareness.]
"System? Another dimension? This is ... this is not a joke, right?" Alex still did not believe, patting his own head.
[This is not a joke, host. I am a system designed to change the fate of selected individuals who meet the criteria for despair and strong desires for change. You have been selected.]
Alex paused for a moment, trying to digest all this. "So ... what can you do?"
[My goal is to help host increase the level of wealth and social status. I will give a mission. By completing the mission, the host will get wealth points. This point can be exchanged at the system store to buy various items.]
"Buying goods? Like what?" Alex asked, starting to be curious even though it was still very skeptical.
[System store provides everything that represents wealth and luxury. Starting from cash in a variety of currencies, luxury food and drinks such as Kobe Beef A5 or Wine Chateau Lafite Rothschild in 1982, clothing from brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, or Rolex, vehicles such as sports cars Lamborghini Aventador or Ferrari SF90 Stradale, to properties such as mansion in the Pondok Indah area or companies that can be acquired.]
Alex's eyes rounded. He had heard the names in the chatter of his rich friends, as a symbol of status he could not even imagine.
"That ... that's impossible. It must be very expensive."
[All items are purchased using wealth points, not conventional money. Points are obtained from completing the mission. In addition, the system can also level up. A higher system level will open more categories and more exclusive goods in the system store. Host can also check the status of the system at any time.]
Alex still can't believe it. It's like a dream in broad daylight. "Try ... try checking your status now," he ordered, trying.
Ting!
[Check the status of the Premium Wealth System ...]
[Host: Alex Mahesa.]
[System Level: 1 (0/100 XP).]
[Wealth Points: 0.]
Wealth detected: IDR 15,000 (pocket money in pocket).]
[Available mission: 1.]
"Really real," murmured Alex, slowly began to believe. "What's the mission?"
Ting!
[Mission Level 1: Challenges of Self confidence.]
[Description: Return to school tomorrow and face your disturbing with their heads upright. Don't let them see your fear or inferiority.
Prize: 50 wealth points, 10 xp for the system.]
The mission sounds simple, but for Alex, it is a very challenging thing. However, for the first time for a long time, there was a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
"If I succeed ... what can I buy with 50 points?"
Ting
[With 50 wealth points, the host can buy, for example, cash worth IDR 50,000,000 (fifty million rupiah) in the desired fraction, or a Casio G-Shock Basic Model watch, or luxury buffet food for 10 people.]
Fifty million rupiah! That number for Alex is an unimaginable wealth. It can buy a new merchandise cart for his mother, pay off their debts, and many more.
"I ... I'll do it," Alex said in a suddenly confidence. The tears were dry, replaced by the fire of new enthusiasm.
[The system recognizes the determination of the host. Remember, host, I can only communicate with and heard by you. For others, I don't exist. Have a good fight.]
Alex stood up from the bench. His body is still the same, his clothes are still wet and dirty, but something in him has changed completely. He looked at the long road in front of him, but now there is a destination. He no longer walked without direction.
He walked home with a more solid step. The shadow of Kevin and the others still exist in his mind, but now it is no longer a source of fear, but a challenge that must be faced, a gate to a new life.
"Mother," he muttered to himself, "Be patient soon. Our lives will soon change."
And for the first time, he really believed in his own words. The foreign system on his head is proof.