Jared Alonzo stared at the numbers on his phone.
₱47.25
That was all he had left.
"…inefficient."
He leaned back in his chair, eyes half-lidded.
Income: unstable.
Expenses: constant.
Growth requirement: increasing.
Conclusion: I need money.
But not just money.
I need scalable income.
Jared tapped his fingers lightly on the table.
Options:
Part-time job
Freelance work
Academic-based income
High-risk, high-reward systems
He crossed out the first instantly.
Too slow.
Second—
Possible.
But limited.
Third—
Interesting.
Fourth—
He paused.
"…later."
At school—
Jared walked straight to the computer lab.
Most students used it for assignments.
Social media.
Games.
Jared opened a browser.
Search bar:
"Online earning Philippines student"
Results flooded in.
Freelancing.
Tutoring.
Content writing.
Stock trading.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Stock market.
High risk.
High reward.
Perfect.
"…you're thinking something dangerous again."
Jared didn't turn.
"Iris."
She walked up beside him, glancing at the screen.
"…stocks?" she raised an eyebrow. "You serious?"
"Yes."
"You just became smart yesterday."
"Two days ago," Jared corrected calmly.
"That's not better."
Jared leaned forward slightly.
"Markets follow patterns," he said.
"Patterns can be analyzed."
"Analysis leads to prediction."
Iris crossed her arms.
"…and prediction leads to profit?"
Jared glanced at her.
"…if done correctly."
She stared at him.
"You're really going all in."
"Yes."
"…you're insane."
"Efficient."
Iris sighed.
"I'm not stopping you, am I?"
"No."
"…then at least don't lose everything."
Jared paused.
Then—
"I won't."
That afternoon—
Jared sat in front of an old laptop at home.
Slow.
Outdated.
But functional.
"…temporary."
He created an account.
Read guides.
Analyzed charts.
Hours passed.
Most beginners would be overwhelmed.
Confused.
Lost.
Jared?
He adapted.
Trend lines.
Market behavior.
Psychology of traders.
"…fear and greed," he whispered.
The same principles as human behavior.
Just scaled.
Test investment.
Jared looked at his balance.
₱47.25
"…not enough."
He opened his drawer.
Pulled out the envelope.
Blood donation money.
₱300
He stared at it.
High risk.
Then—
High return.
"…acceptable."
He invested.
Minutes passed.
Nothing.
Then—
A small movement.
Up.
₱300 → ₱312
Jared's eyes narrowed.
Pattern confirmed.
He didn't celebrate.
Didn't react.
He analyzed.
Adjusted.
Reinvested.
Hours passed.
The numbers fluctuated.
Up.
Down.
Up again.
Jared remained still.
Focused.
By night—
He leaned back slowly.
Balance:
₱487
Silence.
"…profit."
Not luck.
Not chance.
Calculated.
A slow smile formed.
"…scalable."
Meanwhile—
Mark sat in a dim corner of a small internet café.
His expression dark.
"That guy…"
His friend leaned closer.
"You still thinking about Jared?"
Mark clenched his jaw.
"He embarrassed me."
"So?"
"So I'm not letting that slide."
He pulled out his phone.
"I know someone."
A pause.
"Someone who doesn't care about school rules."
Back in his room—
Jared stared at the screen.
₱487
Then—
He spoke quietly.
"…too slow."
His mind moved rapidly.
More capital = more profit.
More blood donations = more intelligence.
More intelligence = faster growth.
A cycle.
A system.
"…I accelerate everything."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"Money…"
He tapped the table lightly.
"…is just the first step."
Outside his window—
The city lights flickered.
Alive.
Moving.
Waiting.
Jared watched it all.
Not as a student anymore.
But as someone—
Who would soon stand above it.