Suddenly, I Am Rich

After the last box was loaded, Gray took one final look around. The apartment stood almost empty now, right before his eyes. He didn’t expect that the place would feel even quieter now.

It was strange.

There was no more dirt on the counter. No more shoes by the door. Even the echo inside felt different.

He let out a breath, then locked the door behind him. He moved down afterward, intending to drop the keys to the owner’s office down there.

When he arrived, a familiar voice greeted him.

”Well, well. So, you’re moving out, huh?”

Gray turned his head slightly.

The owner stood a few feet behind him, his arms crossed while he leaned against the doorframe. His mouth curled into a smug little grin.

”I bet you’re moving into something even cheaper, aren’t you?” he scoffed. ”You probably found a smaller rat box to squeeze into for you and your sister.”

Gray didn’t say anything. He just looked at the man. He was calm. Unbothered. Then slowly, he smiled.

”Where’s my deposit?”

The caretaker blinked.

”What?”

Gray tilted his head.

”My deposit. It was a thousand dollars, right?” He asked as if he was asking the obvious question.

The caretaker clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes.

”Yeah, yeah. But it’ll take some time to process,” he said dismissively. ”Unless you’re desperate for the money. Then maybe I’ll think about it.”

Gray gave a small nod. He didn’t care about it. Instead of feeling angry or annoyed, he smiled. A wide and genuine smile.

”That’s no problem,” he said. ”Just make sure to buy yourself some toothpaste and mouthwash with it.”

The caretaker’s grin faded.

”Huh?”

Gray stepped forward, brushing past him with a calm look in his eyes. He put the keys down on the man’s table before turning to him again.

”Because all you talk is shit,” he added casually, ”and even your breath smells like it.”

The caretaker’s face turned red in an instant. His voice shot up.

”You—! You little shit—!”

But Gray had already started to walk off, not bothering to hear the man’s shout or even seeing his reaction

He didn’t even turn around.

Instead, he just slipped his phone into his pocket, kept walking toward the main entrance of the building.

”Time to pick up Lily.” he muttered under his breath with a smile on his face.

He felt satisfied knowing that the man must have been furious in his office right now.

Now, it was time to get Lily.

Gray asked Daniel to pick him up. He boarded the car without saying much.

Daniel, as always, was already ready to drive off. The man gave him a polite nod through the rearview mirror.

”All done, Sir?”

Gray exhaled as he settled into the back seat. ”Yeah. Finally.”

”Then we’ll head over now?”

”Yeah. Let’s go pick my sister up.”

With that, the engine hummed softly to life. The sleek black car pulled away from the old apartment building like it didn’t belong there.

As they rolled down the narrow street, a few neighbors glanced over curiously. The vehicle wasn’t exactly subtle. It was a high-end model. The car was clean, glossy, and unmistakably expensive.

The kind of car that made people nudge their friends and whisper, ”Who’s that?”

Some of the stares lingered.

A few eyes followed the car until it turned the corner.

But Gray didn’t care.

He leaned his head against the seat and closed his eyes briefly, the ghost of a smile still playing on his lips.

A few minutes later, they arrived at the school.

Daniel pulled over near the front, just beside the main walkway.

Gray glanced at the time.

He was early.

The school bell hadn’t even rung yet. There were still a few minutes before the flood of students would start pouring out from the gate, so he waited.

The car, parked at the side, didn’t go unnoticed. A few parents walking by did double-takes. Some slowed down just to look. There were even a couple of teachers nearby who exchanged quick glances, probably recognizing the car’s brand and price tag.

Gray noticed the looks, but he didn’t react.

He was used to being invisible before.

Now?

He didn’t need to explain himself.

He was just here for Lily.

His eyes stayed fixed on the school gate, waiting for the one person who mattered.

And soon, the bell rang.

The doors swung open. And kids started coming out in groups. Backpacks bouncing, shoes stomping, and voices chattering over each other in high-pitched tones.

Some waved at their parents while others started to walk home

Gray’s gaze scanned through the crowd until he spotted her.

He quickly left the car and went near her.

Lily was still in her school uniform. Her ponytail was slightly messy, and her bag was half-zipped as usual.

”Lily,” he called out, raising one of his hand in the air.

Lily turned her head, blinked once, then hurried over.

”Brother?” she asked, staring at him like he looked suspicious. ”Why are you here?”

Gray chuckled and reached out to ruffle her hair.

”Did you forget? We’re moving out today.”

Lily blinked.

”What?”

”We’re moving,” he repeated. ”Remember the new place I told you about?”

Her eyes widened slightly. ”Already? Like... today today?”

”Yes,” Gray nodded. ”Come on, are you excited?”

Lily didn’t respond immediately. She looked down at her shoes for a second.

”But... our things? Are we just going to leave them? We should get them first, brother!”

Gray blinked. Then laughed under his breath.

”Stupid. Of course I already took care of it.”

Lily looked at him suspiciously. ”You did?”

”Of course! ”even supervised everything.”

”Really?” Lily narrowed her eyes at him. ”That fast? But don’t you have work?”

Gray straightened his back and held his chin high.

”Don’t you know your brother is amazing?”

Lily snorted.

”What a funny joke, Brother.”

Gray laughed at her reaction.

”Come on, let’s go. The car’s waiting.”

He turned around and led her to the street just around the corner. Lily followed behind, dragging her backpack slightly on the ground. But when they turned the corner and she saw the sleek black car parked, complete with a suited driver holding the rear door open, she stopped in her tracks.

”...Wait.”

Gray paused. He quickly turned to Lily to know if there’s anything wrong.

”Are we really riding that?” Lily pointed at the car.

”Yeah,” Gray replied casually. ”Why?”

”Are you sure?” she asked, blinking hard. ”Won’t the owner get mad?”

Gray let out a laugh, then gestured her forward. ”No one’s gonna get mad. Come on.”

Lily hesitated. Just a little. Then she followed him to the car with small steps, eyeing it like it might suddenly disappear.

As they got in, Daniel gave her a polite nod. ”Good afternoon, Miss Lily.”

”...Good afternoon,” she said slowly, her voice small.

Gray couldn’t help but smirk at her reaction as she settled into the seat beside him.

”You still think your brother’s not amazing?” he teased.

Lily didn’t reply. She was too busy staring at the leather seat and the little screen in front of her. Her hands kept poking at the window button, then pulling it back up like she couldn’t believe it worked so smoothly.

She stayed that way for most of the ride. However, when the car made a final turn and the gates of Rosewood Residences came into view.

Gray heard a loud gasp.

”...Brother,” Lily whispered, peering out the window with wide eyes. ”Is this...?”

”Yup,” Gray said simply. ”That’s where we’re moving.”