Ethan was sitting at the kitchen table, trying his hardest to remain calm. His parents were looking at him with confusion, disbelief, and worry.
His dad, Aaron, was sitting stiffly, arms crossed tightly across his chest.
Meanwhile, his mom, Elise, was standing near the counter, still holding the phone that showed the notification about the large amount of money Ethan had transferred earlier in the day.
“Ethan,” his father started, his voice solemn and low, “where did this money come from?”
Elise added, “Yes, Ethan. We need you to be honest with us. This is a significant amount of money, Ethan.”
Ethan felt a lump in his throat. He knew this conversation was coming. Considering how much his family had been struggling financially, it was hard to believe he could have such money.
And now, after Ethan’s transfer—amounting to what his parents would earn in three months combined—his parents were understandably concerned.
Elise’s eyes were wide with worry as she asked, “Ethan, you didn’t borrow this, did you? Please tell us you didn’t get mixed up with loan sharks or anything illegal.”
Ethan quickly shook his head. “No, Mom, it’s nothing like that. I didn’t borrow it. It’s from the university.”
Aaron looked even more confused. “From the university? You’re saying the part-time tutoring job there pays this much?”
“No, not the tutoring,” Ethan explained, trying to keep his voice even. He knew he needed to make them believe him. “It’s a payment for a project. A big project.”
Aaron and Elise looked at each other with skepticism. Elise finally put the phone down, although her hands still shook slightly.
“Ethan,” Aaron’s voice grew firmer, showing his need for clarity, “what kind of project is this exactly?”
He looked intently at his son, searching his eyes for honesty. “This amount of money isn’t something you’d earn from part-time work.”
Ethan stayed quiet, not letting his calm demeanor waver.
Aaron continued, “You can’t expect us to believe that a few shifts at the shop or tutoring could net you ten thousand dollars overnight. And it’s definitely not from a university project.”
Taking a deep breath, Ethan tried to keep his cool. He had spent the morning rehearsing his story, finding comfort in the sliver of truth at its core.
“I’m being honest,” Ethan carefully began. “It’s related to the faculty. The computer science department, to be precise.”
His parents waited silently for him to explain further. “They needed my help with a project—a new digital portal for the faculty’s library.”
Seeing his parents’ softened expressions, Ethan felt encouraged. Known as a top student and a consistent achiever, it wasn’t far-fetched for the faculty to entrust him with a significant project.
His mother still looked concerned, but her anxiety seemed to diminish slightly.
Ethan pressed, “You know I’m proficient in coding and programming. I’ve done freelance work, but this project is a big deal.”
“But why would they pay you so much? And choose you over a professional company?” Elise questioned.
Ethan replied confidently, “The faculty needed a custom portal for managing digital resources efficiently. Hiring a company would have been excessively expensive.”
“I see…” Aaron raised an eyebrow. “So, they approached you for this task instead of a professional agency?”
Ethan nodded, feeling more assured. “Exactly. They knew an agency would cost them a fortune. So, they offered me the job, paying me a fraction of that amount—about ten percent.”
Aaron stroked his chin, mulling it over. “So, the faculty is paying you over ten thousand dollars for this?”
“Yes,” Ethan confirmed. “They needed it urgently, and given my involvement in tech on campus, they believed I was up for the challenge. I requested some of the payment upfront to get started.”
Ethan’s mother’s expression softened. “But Ethan, ten thousand dollars for a university project seems excessive, doesn’t it?”
Ethan shrugged nonchalantly. “I had the same thought initially. But considering what they’d have to pay an external company, it started to make sense.”
Elise relentlessly asked, “How much does the agency normally charge?” She was anxious, trying to convince herself that her son hadn’t engaged in anything illegal.
“The agencies they were considering usually charge between eighty to over a hundred thousand for a project like this. So, paying me more than ten grand is a huge saving for them.”
Ethan could tell his father was skeptical, but he also noticed a shift toward acceptance as he explained.
With his understanding of the tech world, Aaron knew that significant funds could be involved in programming and software development, especially for projects aimed at reducing costs for universities or businesses.
“And they already sent you the money?” Aaron’s voice still carried a hint of doubt.
Ethan confirmed with a nod, “I only noticed it late last night after heading to my room. I didn’t expect it to hit my account so quickly, but they’re eager to get started. I asked for an advance, and they agreed.”
His mother then approached the table, sitting down slowly opposite Ethan. Her expression softened, blending relief with residual worry.
“Ethan, are you sure this is okay? We’re more than grateful, but it’s a lot of money. And considering you’re still in school, isn’t this too much pressure?” she inquired.
Despite his racing heart, Ethan reassured her with a smile, “Mom, I can handle it. I’ve been involved in similar work for years. It will not only work out, but it’ll also aid my studies. It’s a win-win situation.”
Aaron leaned back, releasing a long sigh, finally showing signs of belief. “Do you genuinely believe you can manage a project of this scale?”
He added another concern, “Beyond your motivation, I mean the money you’ve given us… Are you sure you’ll be alright?”
Ethan confidently nodded, “Absolutely. I’ve already completed half the planning. Coding is the straightforward part for me.”
He then shared a loving look with his parents, “Moreover, being able to support you both makes everything much more manageable for me.”
After a moment of contemplation, Aaron slowly nodded, “Alright. I’ll trust your judgment. Thank you, Ethan.”
Ethan felt immense relief. He had succeeded in reassuring them, at least for the moment.
Still slightly worried, his mother managed a faint smile and squeezed Ethan’s hand, “We trust you. But remember, if it ever becomes too much, you must tell us. We don’t want you overburdened.”
“I promise,” Ethan assured, though his mind was already racing with thoughts of the system being the real challenge ahead.
Access to such a substantial amount of money and its possibilities was exhilarating. Yet, he knew he had to maintain his composure.
Standing up, his father stretched and yawned. “Well, this changes everything for us,” he said with a small, content smile. I guess I don’t need to look for extra work today.”
Ethan chuckled, “Nope. I’ve got us covered for a while.”
“Thank you so much, Ethan,” his parents expressed their gratitude.
They shared a look of relief, visibly relaxing for the first time in a long while. The financial strain that burdened the family for years was finally lifted, all thanks to a simple money transfer.
