INFINITE MONEY - I Will Buy Everything

The word "Home" brought with it a wave of nostalgia and a tinge of melancholy as I thought about the people I had left behind.

Emily.

Diana.

The woman from the neighboring house, whom I secretly dubbed the name "booba goddess."

Sigh. I was going to miss them all, Especially those huge buste- Emily and Diana. The driver, observing me through the rearview mirror, noticed my sorrowful demeanor and couldn't help but ask,

"Hey kid... Is something wrong?" His tone was comprised of slight worry for someone unknown like me.

Despite not knowing the guy and it being none of his business, I felt compelled to share my feelings, hoping to alleviate some of my sorrow. "I'm moving to a new place, and it's bringing back memories. And not good ones, you know the ones that hurt but you still hold on to them because they are the ones that hold the true meaning"

"Ah... young love, aye?" he replied, half-jokingly not realizing what I meant and just took it as my young hormones acting out.

"I wish... but no, I was just thinking about my friends and family the ones that I had to leave behind because of some problems." I tried to explain to him so that he doesn't get the wrong idea again.

"Hmm... I get that. I've got friends I've drifted apart from too, and some I've lost. But you can always reconnect and relive the moments, right?" the driver suggested.

I thought about what he said and it would have been that simple if I indeed was someone normal but no, Because of my special circumstances meeting with them will only complicate matters and also make it dangerous for them as well.

"If only it were that simple. They're in another kingdom, too far from here." I lied while mixing some truth into it to deceive the driver momentarily.

"Ohh... So what brings you to this new kingdom all by yourself?" The driver asked as most of his passengers were weird but not most of them so young and certainly not someone so young and from rich backgrounds.

For reasons I couldn't quite explain, I continued to open up to the driver. Maybe it was because it felt therapeutic or maybe because my heart just wanted to let out some steam.

"I'm here because of my father. He sent me here to keep me away from distractions, distractions that may hinder me from future growth. You know the same sh*t every rich father does and expects his son to grow up and take over his empire and stuff like that" I lied, not really sure why but it felt quite funny to sometimes make up strange and ridiculous stories like that.

"Kid, don't take this the wrong way, but your dad sounds like a serious jerk." The taxi driver said to me half-jokingly and with half-seriousness.

I laughed, amused by someone calling my father a jerk. Nobody had ever dared say that about him. And the driver too wouldn't if he actually knew that the man he called a 'Jerk' was the leader of a Great House.

The driver, noticing my laughter, seemed pleased that he had made a difference.

"Hey, you can always talk to your friends online. It's not like your dad's tracking you... is he?"

"No, I don't think so. He may act like he cares, but deep down, I think he's more at ease with me out of his life... temporarily."

"You know what you should do?"

"What?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"Leave."

"Hmm?"

"Make yourself better at something that will allow you to support yourself and leave him. Then you'll be free to do whatever you want."

"No... I need to show him how big of a mistake it was to put me… in this situation."

For a moment, it seemed like he didn't even believe his own advice. "I-It's not like what I say is the truth or anything... I just felt you should maybe do that... But why should you listen to me? I haven't done anything meaningful in my whole life," he admitted, his voice tinged with sadness.

I became concerned, not just because he was sad, but because he was the one driving the car I was in.

So I quickly tried to reassure him. "Hey! Don't say that. You've done something meaningful too... maybe. Like today, you helped me out of my sad state.

So, I'm sure you've done other meaningful things as well."

"Y-You think so?" the driver asked hesitantly.

"Y-Yeah, I do. Hey, you just passed a red light."

My warning didn't seem to register as he started talking to himself. "Yes, Jakobu. You have done meaningful things, many meaningful things."

"Jakobu?" I asked, curious about the unusual name.

"Yeah. You have a problem with that?" he asked, making strange eye contact as a bus narrowly missed us.

"No, no. It's just... your name sounds special, that's all." I tried to sound genuinely interested to keep him focused on the road.

"Oh, thank you. My gran mummy gave me that name. She was a special person, always helping those in need and giving alms to the poor."

He continued to talk, seemingly lost in his memories, oblivious to the honking cars around us. "Ahh, she sounds like a very nice person... I hope to meet her someday (if I survive this)."

"Oh, you will. She's in a faraway country now, but I can show you her photo. Wait, let me find it." He started fumbling for his phone, not noticing the cars swerving around us.

I clung tightly to my seatbelt, my voice rising in pitch with each near-collision. "NO NO. It's OKAY, you DON'T have to SHOW me now, you CAN show me LATER."

"Just a moment, I have it here somewhere," he insisted, continuing his search.

"AAH! Can you slow down a little? How far are we from my destination?" I asked in a panic as a truck narrowly missed my side of the door.

"Aha! Here it is. Take a look, kid." He handed me a photo of a woman in her forties holding a small child.

"That's one of my favorite photos of her. It was taken when I was only two and a half years old."

"Y-Yeah, she looks very kind," I stammered, handing the photo back.

[ After some more reckless driving ]

"Alright, kid. We're here. Your new home," he announced, stopping the car.

The moment it stopped, I quickly got out of the death trap, taking deep breaths. "You know what you need?" he called out.

I looked back, curious. "A real goal."

With that, he turned on the car and drove away.

'...He didn't take the money for the cab.'

'A real goal, huh?'

__________________________

[ The driver from before ]

As I drove my cab, a notification sounded on my SecDroid.

It was a review from my recent passenger. Eagerly, I opened it, expecting a five-star rating. Instead, I was shocked.

"MINUS FIVE STARS! How is that even possible?!"

"And why is there a manhunt for me in the news?"