The air inside the grand ballroom of the Victoria Heights Hotel was thick with perfume, laughter, and the sharp clinking of wine glasses. Crystal chandeliers hung like glittering crowns above, throwing golden light across polished marble floors. Every detail screamed wealth—the kind of wealth Jackim had spent his whole life watching from the outside.
He stood awkwardly near the buffet, his black shirt ironed but clearly worn from years of use, and his shoes, though clean, lacked the gleam of the polished leather loafers his ex-classmates flaunted. His tall, dark, and handsome frame should have commanded attention, but here—among a sea of tailored suits, glittering gowns, and designer handbags—he felt like a shadow.
Laughter erupted near the entrance. Jackim turned to see Bryan, the arrogant son of a billionaire real estate tycoon, stroll in with swagger. His wrist sparkled with a Rolex as he jingled the keys to his Bentley, deliberately dangling them for everyone to notice. Behind him, Sandra—Jackim's ex-girlfriend—walked in arm-in-arm with Bryan.
Sandra looked radiant, as if she had been waiting for this exact moment. Her red silk dress clung perfectly to her curves, her hair styled to perfection. She scanned the crowd, spotted Jackim, and smirked.
"Look who actually showed up," she said loudly enough for half the hall to hear. "I thought you'd be too embarrassed to attend. Still dressing like a street vendor, I see."
The group around her burst into laughter. Jackim clenched his fists but forced himself to remain calm.
Kelvin, standing beside him, bristled. "Sandra, that's enough."
"Oh please," she rolled her eyes. "This is a reunion, not a charity event. If Jackim wanted to impress anyone, he should have worked harder instead of daydreaming."
Bryan smirked, patting Sandra's waist. "Don't waste your breath on him, babe. Some people are born losers. They can't sit at the same table with us." He waved the Bentley key. "Unlike others, I don't have to pretend. I really drive this."
More laughter rippled through the crowd. Several old classmates sneaked glances at Jackim, waiting to see him crumble.
But just as the humiliation was about to peak, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in Jackim's mind.
[System Alert: New Task Generated]
Brag: "I own a limited edition car."
Reward: Phantom Luxury – Rolls Royce 2025 Phantom VIII
Failure Penalty: Permanent loss of dignity before peers.
Jackim's heart skipped. His throat went dry. "A limited edition car… Rolls Royce?" He barely dared think it.
The System's voice was calm, almost mocking.
[Host, destiny favors the bold. Complete the brag. Reality will adjust accordingly.]
For a moment, he hesitated. What if it didn't work? What if he bragged and nothing happened? He would be finished.
Sandra crossed her arms, her voice dripping with venom. "Jackim, why are you just standing there? Do you even own a bicycle these days?"
A chorus of laughter erupted.
Something inside Jackim snapped. His humiliation boiled into a strange calmness. He straightened his back, eyes sharp, voice steady.
"I don't drive Bentleys," he said coldly.
The laughter died down, replaced with a curious silence. Bryan smirked, thinking Jackim had admitted defeat.
But Jackim's next words cut through the air like a blade.
"I own a limited edition Rolls Royce Phantom. The latest model. Bryan, your Bentley looks like a child's toy next to it."
The hall froze. Gasps filled the air.
For a moment, silence reigned—then the entire ballroom erupted in laughter, louder than before.
"Hahaha! Did you hear that?" one man howled. "Jackim claims he owns a Rolls Royce Phantom!"
"Does he even know how much that costs? That's millions!"
"Bro, even my dad doesn't own one. Jackim, stop joking. We know you came here by matatu!"
Sandra laughed the loudest, her eyes glittering with cruel amusement. "Oh Jackim, I almost forgot how delusional you were. You can't even afford proper shoes, but now you're talking about Phantoms?"
She clutched Bryan's arm and leaned against him. "Baby, maybe he thinks daydreaming is free fuel for his imaginary car."
The laughter swelled again. Jackim stood still, his expression unreadable.
But then—
A thunderous vroom shook the air outside the hotel. Heads turned. Through the glass doors, headlights sliced into the night. A sleek, jet-black Rolls Royce Phantom glided to a stop at the entrance like a king arriving at court. Its polished body reflected the golden glow of the hotel lights.
Gasps filled the hall.
"No way…"
"That… that's a Phantom! The latest one!"
The doorman scrambled to open the door, bowing deeply as if welcoming royalty. A valet rushed forward but froze, staring at the magnificent machine as if afraid to touch it.
On the license plate, gleaming letters spelled out: JACKIM-01.
The entire room went silent. You could hear a pin drop.
Kelvin's jaw dropped. He turned to his friend, eyes wide. "Bro… you… you weren't joking?"
Jackim slipped his hands casually into his pockets, his calm demeanor making the moment even more surreal. "Why would I joke about something like that?"
The silence shattered.
"What?!"
"No way, this can't be real!"
"That car alone is worth more than ten Bentleys!"
Sandra's face drained of color. Her mocking smile froze, her lips trembling. She clutched Bryan's arm tighter, but Bryan himself was pale, his confident smirk gone.
"Impossible…" Bryan muttered, his voice shaking. "He can't… he can't possibly…"
Jackim took a step forward, his tall frame casting a long shadow. His dark eyes locked on Sandra and Bryan, his voice calm but sharp enough to cut steel.
"You laughed at me because of my clothes. You mocked me for being poor. But remember this—true worth isn't about showing off at reunions. It's about standing tall when everyone expects you to crawl."
He tilted his head slightly, his lips curling into the faintest smirk. "And Sandra, you should have stayed loyal. Now? You can only watch from the passenger seat of someone else's Bentley while I drive my Phantom."
The words landed like a slap. A real one. Sandra's face turned crimson, her pride shattered in front of everyone.
Kelvin couldn't hold back—he burst into laughter, clapping his friend on the back. "That's my brother! Now that's what I call a face-slap!"
The room buzzed with whispers, phones snapping pictures, videos spreading across social media in real time. Within minutes, Jackim's name began trending among their circles.
Sandra's eyes glistened with regret. She had traded him for Bryan's money, thinking Jackim was destined to remain a nobody. But now… this.
Bryan's fists clenched, veins bulging on his neck. Humiliation burned in his chest like acid. "This isn't over," he muttered under his breath.
Jackim simply turned away, his calm aura exuding dominance. He walked toward the exit, each step steady, each movement deliberate, like a man who knew the world was finally bending to his will.
The System's voice hummed in his mind.
[Task Complete.]
Reward Granted: Rolls Royce Phantom VIII – Ownership Confirmed. Key Sent to Host.]
[Achievement Unlocked: First Public Slap. Reward: +500 Charisma Points.]
Jackim's lips curled into the faintest smile as he took the Phantom's key from his pocket. The valet, wide-eyed, bowed deeply and handed him the door handle as though presenting a throne.
The entire hall watched as Jackim stepped into the Rolls Royce, the leather interior glowing softly under the lights. The engine purred like a lion at rest.
With a calm wave to Kelvin, Jackim said, "Get in. Let's take a ride."
Kelvin almost stumbled in his rush, his laughter echoing through the hall as he slid into the passenger seat.
Jackim pressed the start button. The Phantom roared to life.
As the luxury car glided away from the hotel, the classmates were left standing in silence, their laughter choked, their pride shattered.
Inside the Phantom, Kelvin looked at Jackim with disbelief, awe, and pride all at once. "Bro… you're not the same man anymore."
Jackim leaned back, his eyes focused on the night road ahead. His voice was calm, almost whispering.
"No. I'm just becoming who I was meant to be."
The Phantom disappeared into the night, leaving behind stunned silence, broken pride, and the beginning of Jackim's rise.