“Is this enough?”
Before I could respond, someone called out his name from the bus, urging him to hurry.
Peter’s cheeks flushed even deeper. He shoved the bill into my hand and ran for the door.
“I—I’ve got to go, Camila. See you in college!”
I looked down at the hundred-dollars note in my hand and couldn't help the bitter smile that tugged at my lips.
College? Did I even stand a chance of making it there?
I walked over to the counter and placed the pens down.
Then I glanced up at the driver beside me.
“Sir, can I buy a case of drinks too?”
He was in the middle of an animated chat with the store owner, but both of them froze when they heard my request.
The driver blinked.
“A whole case? What for?”
“It’s way too hot, and my classmates have been waiting on the bus for ages,” I said. “I want to treat them to some drinks.”
The driver raised an eyebrow but didn’t say a word. Instead, the store owner leaned across the counter, eyeing me curiously.
“You got enough money for that?”
“I do.”
I pulled out the hundred-dollars bill with an innocent smile.
“My mom gave it to me before I left—just in case.”
The driver and the store owner exchanged a quick, silent glance.
The store owner nodded and pointed to the corner of the shop.
“The water’s over there. Go get it yourself.”
I shook my head.
“Sir, can I have a cardboard box? I want to buy the ones in the refrigerator.”
He bent down, grabbed an empty box, and tossed it over to me.
“Thanks!” I said quickly, and ran to the fridge to start filling it with cold drinks.
As I packed the box, I overheard the store owner whispering to the driver behind me.
“You think this girl’s genuinely kind-hearted, or...?”
The driver lit a cigarette and let out a soft chuckle.
“Who knows? Every year there’s always someone who thinks they’re clever—until they realize it was all for nothing.”
They both laughed quietly.
My hand froze mid-air. I glanced back but said nothing. Then I dropped the last two bottles of soda into the box.
Back on the bus, I walked down the aisle, handing out drinks.
“Sir,” I said to the driver, offering him a cold soda, “thank you—for taking me to buy a pen and for driving us here.”
He looked at me, didn’t say a word, then reached into the box and grabbed a different bottle.
I gave an awkward smile and continued passing out drinks to the other students.
The rest of the ride was calm—until we neared the exam site.