Chapter 4My Scholarship Became Their Graduation Meal Fund

Standing on the dorm balcony, I watched the students cheering on the sports field below and slammed my fist against the railing until my knuckles turned white.

I was only five thousand dollars short of that hearing aid. Had I not been scammed at that dinner, I would've already saved enough money.

Grandma's birthday was next week. I had promised her that I would give her the best gift.

Her weathered face surfaced in my mind. She'd spent four years collecting recyclables in the countryside and scrimping and saving every penny to put me through school. She'd always tell me, "It's fine if I'm a little deaf, Kieran. I'll be happy as long as you make something of yourself."

Left with no other choice, I ultimately dialed a number. "It's Kieran… I was wondering if I could borrow five grand. I'll pay you back soon after I graduate."

Without a word, the person on the other end transferred the money over. I took a deep breath, pulled myself together, and went to the shop to settle the remaining balance.

…

I brought Grandma into the city on her birthday. Having spent her entire life in her hometown, she was overwhelmed by the towering skyscrapers. She fidgeted nervously, clutching the hem of my shirt.

"Kieran, isn't this place too expensive? We can just eat at your school cafeteria and save your money," she said and tugged at her faded shirt that had been washed countless times.

"Grandma, it's your birthday today. Let's have something nice!"

I led her into a restaurant that I had chosen in advance. It wasn't fancy, but the atmosphere was lovely.

I took out the hearing aid and carefully put it on her. When she heard the background music in the restaurant and my voice for the first time, she froze. Tears welled up in her cloudy eyes in no time.

"Kieran… I can hear you. I can hear your voice. It's so clear!"

"I bought this with my scholarship, Grandma. Now, you'll never have to worry about missing the sound of oncoming traffic again!" I beamed, feeling that all those years of working myself to the bone day and night for the scholarship had been worth it.

As soon as my words fell, a voice suddenly cut in. "Well, if it isn't our top scholar, Kieran! Did you bring your grandmother to the big city to live the high life?"

My spine went rigid, and I turned around.

Cosmo swaggered into the restaurant with Ethan and several of our classmates. He was dressed head-to-toe in designer streetwear, casually twirling the keys to a brand-new car in his hand.

"This hearing aid must've cost tens of thousands of dollars." Cosmo approached us and deliberately circled our table before stopping in front of Grandma.

He continued, "Kieran, if I remember correctly, your family was registered as a low-income household, and your grandmother makes a living collecting recyclables in the countryside, doesn't she? How'd you get so flush all of a sudden?"

Grandma could hear him clearly, but she couldn't pick up on his hostility. Looking at Cosmo nervously, she asked, "You must be Kieran's classmate! Why don't you join us?"

"Oh, no way. I wouldn't dare." Cosmo snickered before turning to our classmates behind him. "Kieran usually can't even bring himself to buy braised pork at the school cafeteria, yet he can now afford a luxury item worth tens of thousands of dollars?

"Be honest with us, Kieran. Did you find yourself a rich sugar mommy after graduation?"