章節 17: Chapter 17
Ethan stood there, his heart pounding with anger. He was surprised to see to Jay and his friends, They were the last person he would have wanted to see now.
Jay Brown and his friends stared at him with a mixture of surprise and disdain.
They couldn't believe Ethan was actually allowed access into the store.
Jay Brown's girlfriend was the second to speak, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"What's he doing here? I thought the store was professional, yet they allowed someone like him move around."
She sneered, looking Ethan up and down as if he were something stuck to her shoe.
Ethan at that moment couldn't stop, his jaw was tightened seeing Jay and the rest of the football team started bringing back old memories he wished to forget.
'I worked hard for the football team, picking up balls, cleaning the pitch, boots, football helmets, and doing all the little jobs no one else wanted to do.
just because I dreamed and wanted to be part of the team, not as a player but simply sitting on the bench.
I saw how the benchwarmers still got some respect, and I wanted that for myself also. I didn't care about not playing in games at all; I just wanted to belong.'
Ethan's jaw tightened even more as he gazed at Jay with deadly eyes.
'Then I got close to Jay Brown to help me get into the Squad, he was the kind of guy who knew how to get what he wanted.
He was tough, and everyone on the team listened to him.
I thought Jay could help me get a spot on the bench, so I started doing favors for him without complaining.
Not knowing the bastard sees me as someone he could use. He saw my eagerness, and he took advantage of it. He used me to do all the dirty work, and then after three months of hard work, I realized the truth. Jay never intended to help me. He was just using me, and I was left with nothing but disappointment; now he's showing his useless face as. usual.
Ethan at that moment tried to steady his breathing, but it was hard with everyone's eyes on him because of what Jay said.
He took a deep breath and tried to respond, but this time with confidence.
"I didn't miss my way. I came to buy a suit"
He said.
Jay Brown raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips.
"A suit? You? how?"
His friends laughed, nudging each other.
"Yeah, right, maybe he's on an errand again."
One of them chimed in.
"Since when can you afford a suit, Ethan? if it's not for someone."
Ethan opened his mouth to respond to the acquisition, but before he could say anything, one of Jay's friends noticed the paper in Ethan's hand, and he immediately snatched it from him.
"What's this?"
The boy said, holding up the donation discount paper for everyone to see.
"Who gave you this? They must've made a mistake. There's no way a loser like you should have something like this."
All the boys burst out laughing again, and Jay walked closer to Ethan, towering over her.
"So, what's the story, huh? Are you trying to play dress-up now? Trying to look like one of us? with your fake life."
Ethan at that moment clenched his fists at his sides, trying to keep his voice steady. He doesn't want to get into any fight because he would be on the losing side.
with a clam voice, he said.
"Look like you, guy!."
He smiled .
"I'm not trying to be like you. I just… I just needed a suit for something important."
Jay's girlfriend narrowed her eyes at Ethan.
His words irritate her to the core.
"And how exactly were you planning to pay for that? You can't even afford lunch half the time; if not for Jay's generosity, you would have been a dead man by now; starvation would have killed you."
Ethan at that moment hesitated, not sure how to explain; he doesn't own them any explanation.
But before he could answer, the cashier, who had been listening from behind the counter, spoke up.
"Actually, ma'am, this young man was about to purchase a $50,000 suit."
The cashier said, her voice uncertain as he glanced between Ethan and Jay's group.
The words she had been hearing were mind-blowing if truly what they are saying were true, yet the boy was acting as if he had enough money to even reject 30 percent discounts.
'What a shame. I thought we actually got a generous man today. What a disappointment.'
She murmured to herself as she gazed at Ethan.
Upon hearing what the cashier just said, Jay Brown's eyes widened for a split second before he burst out laughing.
"You, Ethan? Fifty thousand dollars? Are you kidding me? Did you hit your head on something?"
He gazes at one of his friends.
"Are you sure he's normal?"
One of the other boys chuckled, shaking his head.
"Yeah, right, he's not normal; something must be wrong with him."
The other added.
"Could it be? Someone sent him here to buy the suit, and he's using the opportunity to claiming the 30 percent discount for himself."
Jay eyes squinted open hearing that.
"I knew it, Conny bastard!"
Just then, they noticed Annabelle standing beside Ethan. Jay's girlfriend eyed her suspiciously. Annabelle looked familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had met her before.
However, that didn't stop her from saying.
"What's a girl like you doing with someone like him?"
She asked, her voice dripping with contempt.
Annabelle looked at Ethan; her eyes were full of concern; she didn't understand why everyone is always looking down on him; the same thing happened in the hospital earlier.
Jay's girlfriend looked taken aback for a moment before she scowled. "Oh, I see what's happening here," she said with a sly grin.
"Ethan's pretending to be rich to impress you. That's cute."
Annabelle at that moment frowned, her gaze shifting to Ethan. She could see the tension in his face, the way his hands were shaking just slightly.
"That's not true,"
she said softly.
"Ethan doesn't need to pretend anything."
Jay snorted, clearly amused.
"Of course he does! Look at him. He's probably never seen fifty thousand dollars in his life. What, are you going to tell us he's some kind of secret millionaire now?"
Ethan shook his head, trying to keep his voice calm.
"I don't have to explain anything to you."
Jay's smile faltered, replaced with a look of irritation.
"Listen, Annabelle"
he said, ignoring Ethan.
"You're wasting your time with him. Come on, come join us. We'll show you what it's like to be around real men."
Annabelle didn't move, her eyes still on Ethan.
She could see how much this was bothering him, and she wanted to step in to defend him.
And tell everyone what Charity Ethan did in the hospital earlier. But before she could say anything, Ethan spoke up.
"I'm not here to impress anyone," Ethan said, his voice steady.
"I'm here because I need a suit. That's all."
Jay crossed his arms, clearly annoyed that Annabelle wasn't budging.
"Alright, Ethan"
he said, with a malicious grin spreading across his face.
"I'll make you a deal. Get down on your knees right now and bark like a dog, and I'll pay for your entire school fees that are remaining. How's that sound?"
Jay said that just to prove to Annabelle how useless Ethan is, he knows Ethan would never decline his offer because he has seen it countless times.
The boys around him roared with laughter, waiting for Ethan to crumble under the pressure.
Surely he would break now.
But instead of backing down, Ethan turned to the cashier.
"What's the highest donation today?"
He asked calmly.
The cashier was caught off guard by the question; she blinked and then answered.
"Uh, it's five million dollars, sir."
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