Arriving home, Kael tossed his backpack into a corner and quickly shed his school uniform, swapping it for a loose T-shirt and sweatpants. He flopped into his gaming chair, the well-worn cushion molding to his body as he powered up his computer. The familiar hum of the machine starting up filled the room, and Kael leaned back, stretching his arms before cracking his knuckles.
While waiting for his friend Tyson to log in, he opened Reddit on his phone. His thumb lazily flicked across the screen as he scrolled through memes, chuckling at the absurdity of some and smirking at others. Every now and then, he stumbled across short, imaginative stories that drew him in.
"I know this most likely never happened, but I can't help finding these entertaining," he thought, shaking his head as he continued scrolling.
Then, something caught his eye—a post from a subreddit he occasionally browsed: r/developer. The title was simple but intriguing.
『 r/developer
I'm in need of someone who can create an app for me. I'm willing to pay any amount possible. If interested, please text this number.』
Kael stared at the post, his curiosity piqued. He rubbed his chin, thinking it over. It wasn't uncommon for scammers to post things like this, promising grand rewards only to ghost or worse. But… there was something about it. Maybe it was the way it was written, or maybe he was just bored enough to entertain the idea.
With a shrug, he copied the number into his phone, saving it under Developer Post. Afterward, his finger hovered over the profile picture. He tapped it out of sheer curiosity and blinked in surprise at what he saw.
The profile picture was of a stunning woman with long, dark hair, sharp features, and a confident smirk that made her seem both intimidating and captivating.
"Damn," Kael muttered under his breath, raising an eyebrow. A grin spread across his face as a thought popped into his head. 'Guess I gotta get my rizz on.'
With a quiet laugh, he leaned back, staring at the number in his contacts. Whether it was a scam or not, he had to admit—it was the most interesting thing that had happened to him all week.
[ A/N: Yes I know the meme is dead but who cares ]
As he opened the chat, Kael sent his first text.
---
[ Today ]
Kael: Hi, I hope you're doing well. I found your number on a Reddit post, and I'm pretty interested in what you're offering.
A few minutes later, a reply came.
Amara: Yes, hi! My name is Amara. I'm so happy to have received your text.
Kael: Cool. So, please fill me in with the info.
---
After a few messages back and forth, Kael found himself smiling more than usual. There was something infectious about Amara—her words practically buzzed with energy, each text a spark of personality that lit up his screen. She replied almost instantly, like she was waiting for his messages. That made his chest feel light, almost giddy.
' What if she likes me?' the thought snuck in uninvited, catching him off guard. His heart skipped a beat, just for a moment.
He scoffed, shaking his head and tossing the phone aside.
' Nah, don't be ridiculous. I barely know her. Besides… it's just business, right? ' he thought.
With a sigh, Kael reached for his controller and booted up his console. Time to distract himself. He joined a match with Tyson and quickly picked Chiaotzu—just to piss him off. Tyson went with his go-to: Super Saiyan Blue Gogeta.
The match didn't last long.
"Ahahaha, man, you're such a loser," Kael said, grinning like a devil as he landed the final hit.
"Fuck! I'm out, bro. Need to go goon to some Zenless Zero," Tyson muttered, already halfway through disconnecting.
"Wait, what—"
But the call was cut. Kael sat there, staring at the screen, mildly annoyed.
' And he wonders why I don't game with him often…' he thought, shaking his head. ' Not to mention he killed my dog when we played Minecraft. Poor Max… I still mourn that blocky bastard, ' he thought.
He leaned back in his chair, letting the silence settle. Time drifted by unnoticed until he heard the front door open downstairs. His parents were home.
Kael made his way down and caught sight of them—worn out and dragging their feet, the weight of exhaustion plain in every step. Hannah and James Wynthorne were good people, but life hadn't been kind to them. They worked the same soul-crushing jobs at a company that squeezed them dry and paid them in breadcrumbs. Debt clung to them like a shadow, persistent and cruel.
Still, they smiled. They always smiled—for his sake.
But Kael wasn't a kid anymore. He knew better.
' One of the reasons I need to make money. Fast. Whatever it takes, ' he reminded himself as he helped set the table.
After dinner, he stayed behind with his dad to catch the late football match. James looked like he was on his last legs, but he still made time for him. That's the kind of father he was.
"They're really hamming your team," James muttered, sipping a beer as his eyes tracked the screen.
"Yeah, and I thought we were back in the first half of the league, but since December... downhill," Kael sighed.
"Don't worry. I'm sure next season will be better," James offered.
"Yeah, I know a team that says that every year. Arsenal," Kael said, lips twitching into a smirk.
"Don't bring the Gooners into this, son. We are the real Pride of London."
"Psshh, please. You might be above us this season, but we'll always be the better team."
"Hahaha. Time will tell, son. Time will tell."
Soon after, James nodded off, the beer still loosely gripped in his hand. Kael smiled softly, grabbing a blanket from the couch and draping it over him.
Upstairs, he bumped into his mom on the way to his room.
"Is your father asleep?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.
"Yeah, I gave him a blanket, so don't worry. You should get some rest too, Mom."
"Thank you, baby boy. Anything planned for tomorrow?"
"Nope. Just staying in."
"Alright then. Make sure you clean the house. Goodnight, son," Hannah said with a tired smile, heading off to her room.
"Goodnight, Mom."
Kael watched her disappear down the hall, then slipped into his own room. The lights were off, the soft hum of the console still lingering in the air.
' I'll make sure they never have to work again, ' he vowed, lying back on his bed. ' No matter what it takes, ' he thought.
Days passed, and Kael was added to their group chat. Strangely enough, he was immediately made an admin, though no one explained why. He didn't complain—it was an odd but flattering vote of confidence.
" So basically, this group of college students wants me to make them an app that allows people to mine Bitcoin much more easily. That's going to be really hard to develop… but with the help of AI, it shouldn't be too problematic, " he thought, mapping out the logistics in his head.
The team's enthusiasm fueled him. They had already paid him a hefty sum, more than he expected, which boosted his confidence. Day and night, he buried himself in coding, occasionally losing track of time.
---
On a random Saturday, Amara invited him to a café. Her casual tone over text had been disarming, and though he hesitated at first, he agreed to meet her.
When he arrived, he spotted her immediately. She was seated at a corner table by the window, sunlight casting a warm glow over her. Time seemed to slow as Kael approached.
Amara was just as stunning as the photo he had seen of her—if not more so. Her long black hair was tied back in a sleek bow, the loose strands framing her face perfectly. Her bright blue eyes seemed to sparkle in the sunlight, a stark contrast to her flawless porcelain skin. She wore a simple, elegant outfit, but her presence alone made the entire café fade into the background.
Kael swallowed hard, suddenly self-conscious as he neared the table. "Hey," he said, managing a smile despite his racing heart.
Amara looked up, her smile warm and inviting. "Hi, Kael. It's so nice to finally meet you."
Her voice was just as melodic in person as it had been over text. For a moment, Kael forgot why he was there.
He sat down in front of her, trying not to appear as nervous as he felt. "Um, so, what's up?" he asked, his voice just a touch shaky.
"Nothing much. I just wanted to see you," Amara said with a sly smile. "I mean, besides your ID photo, I wanted to meet you face to face. And I have to say, you're quite the looker."
Kael felt his face grow warm. His cheeks flushed, and he couldn't hold back a wide grin. "Come on, don't lie to me," he said, laughing lightly to mask his embarrassment.
"I'm being serious, Kael," she said, her tone soft but sincere. Then she leaned back slightly, the corners of her mouth quirking up. "But besides that, I wanted you to finally meet the crew. Is there anything you want to order here?"
He glanced at the menu briefly but shook his head. "Nah, I'm alright."
Amara nodded, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "Okay, then let's go meet the others. Don't be scared—they don't bite," she teased, standing up and gesturing toward the door.
Kael followed her out of the café, his curiosity mingled with a tinge of apprehension. As they walked along the quiet streets, she led him toward a warehouse by the sea.
The salty breeze filled the air, but the building itself was imposing. Its rusted exterior and dimly lit surroundings made it look like the kind of place you'd see in a true-crime documentary.
' If I die, at least let me hold her left tit, ' he thought grimly, a nervous chuckle escaping under his breath as they approached the large metal doors.
Inside, Kael froze. The warehouse was a tech enthusiast's fever dream. Monitors lined the walls, casting a bluish glow across the space. Wires snaked along the floor, connecting various gadgets and hardware that buzzed and hummed. A group of people sat around a makeshift table, their faces lit up by the glow of laptops and LED strips.
' Are these guys scammers? 'Kael wondered, his suspicion growing as he eyed the chaotic setup.
Before he could say anything, Amara turned to him with a smile that was both charming and unsettling. "Kael, we are scammers."
._.
TO BE CONTINUED