The morning sun broke through the glass walls of the penthouse, spilling gold across the floor like melted treasure. Jackim sat alone at the edge of his bed, scrolling through headlines that screamed his name in every font imaginable:
* "BRAGTECH CEO—THE 22-YEAR-OLD WHO MADE THE WORLD BLINK."
"MYSTERIOUS BILLIONAIRE REVEALS NO ONE CAN OUT-BRAG HIM."
"FANS CAMP OUTSIDE JACKIM'S VILLA—AGAIN."
He sighed. Fame had a sound. It wasn't applause—it was noise. A restless, endless buzz that followed him everywhere, even in silence.
His phone vibrated again—fifty unread messages. Managers, reporters, fan clubs, investors.
And one text from Lina.
*"I miss the old you."
He stared at the message for a long moment. The "old him" was gone, replaced by a version crafted by the System and sharpened by success. The Jackim who once borrowed bus fare from Kelvin was now escorted by bodyguards, surrounded by luxury—but trapped.
The System chimed softly in his mind:
[New Mission: Find real happiness again.]
Reward: Hidden Emotional Skill – HeartSense.
"Real happiness?" he muttered. "Can I order that in cash?"
***
By noon, his schedule was chaos. A drone hovered outside his window, livestreaming him brushing his teeth. His assistant screamed into her phone, "Tell the media to stay fifty meters away! He's not a zoo exhibit!"
Jackim looked into the mirror, toothbrush in hand. "Maybe I am," he murmured.
Kelvin entered, now wearing a designer suit, trying to look important but still tripping over his words. "Bro, there's a reporter downstairs offering half a million just for a quote about your breakfast."
"Half a million?" Jackim said, rinsing his mouth. "Tell them I had pain, toast, and regret."
Kelvin blinked. "You mean 'plain toast,' right?"
"No," Jackim replied, walking away. "Pain toast. The taste of fame."
Kelvin laughed nervously. "You're not okay, are you?"
"Who is?"
***
He decided to take a walk, wearing a hoodie and cap. Bad idea.
The moment he stepped into the café across the street, whispers erupted. Phones lifted. The waitress almost dropped a tray.
"Is that… Jackim Ochieng?"
"The billionaire guy?"
"Oh my God, I think I'm breathing his oxygen!"
A girl nervously approached. "Can I take a selfie?"
He nodded politely. Suddenly, five more came. Then twenty. Then a full crowd.
He ended up standing against the café wall, smiling mechanically as flashes blinded him.
Kelvin whispered, "Bro, you look like a politician caught buying his own coffee."
Jackim grinned weakly. "At least politicians can lie. I can't even breathe without trending."
***
Later that night, he sat by his window, city lights reflecting on his face. The System's voice broke the quiet.
[Host, your emotional stability has dropped by 17%. HeartSense activation recommended.]
He frowned. "HeartSense? That sounds like a therapy app."
[Skill Active: HeartSense allows the Host to sense true emotions of others.]
For the first time, he felt it—waves of emotion echoing faintly around him. His bodyguards downstairs radiated boredom. Kelvin's presence outside the room glowed with silent worry. And somewhere far away… Lina's sadness pulsed like a heartbeat.
He stood up suddenly. "She's crying."
[Affirmative.]
He didn't know how, but he could feel it—the raw ache of being forgotten.
***
The next day, he called Lina. She didn't pick up. He called again. Still nothing.
On the third try, she answered, voice trembling.
"Jackim… what do you want?"
"To talk."
"About what? The fact that you're everywhere except where it matters?"
Silence.
"I didn't change, Lina," he said quietly. "The world around me did."
She laughed sadly. "You think money changed the world? No, Jackim—it changed you."
The line went dead.
Jackim leaned back, staring at the ceiling. The System's voice returned, softer this time.
[Host, emotional imbalance detected. Suggestion: reconnect with your origins.]
"My origins?" He smiled bitterly. "You mean my broke, happy self?"
***
He decided to test the theory. That evening, he snuck out alone—no cars, no guards, no designer clothes. Just him and a hoodie.
He walked the streets of Sue City quietly, watching street vendors shout prices, kids chase footballs, and couples argue over cheap fries. The air smelled like rain and roasted maize. For the first time in months, no one recognized him.
He sat by an old corner shop, buying a soda for ten shillings. The shopkeeper squinted. "You look familiar, young man."
Jackim smiled. "I get that a lot. I just… resemble disappointment."
The old man laughed, toothless. "Don't we all, son. Don't we all."
That laughter felt better than all the applause he'd ever received.
***
But fame doesn't sleep. The next morning, someone posted a blurry photo of him at that shop.
Headline:
*"BILLIONAIRE SEEN BUYING TEN-SHILLING SODA — IS HE BROKE?"
The comments section exploded.
Some mocked him.
Some called him humble.
Others analyzed the brand of soda like it was a political statement.
Kelvin barged into his room waving a tablet. "Bro! They think you're bankrupt!"
Jackim smirked. "Good. Maybe they'll finally leave me alone."
Kelvin groaned. "You're impossible."
"Exactly," Jackim said, sipping coffee. "That's my brand."
***
The System chimed again.
[Mission Update: Happiness progress—43%.]
"Only forty-three?" he asked aloud. "What do I need to do, juggle sadness?"
[Suggestion: Engage in genuine connection with non-system individuals.]
He blinked. "So… make real friends?"
[Affirmative.]
He laughed. "You mean people who don't want selfies or sponsorships? Yeah, good luck finding those."
But he tried.
He spent the day helping Kelvin in the office—not giving orders, just sharing jokes like old times. He even helped a janitor fix a vending machine.
"Boss, you don't have to—" the man started.
Jackim smiled. "Sometimes, fixing things is better than buying new ones."
The janitor laughed. "If rich people thought like that, the world would be peaceful."
Jackim looked thoughtful. "Maybe that's why it isn't."
***
That night, he lay in bed, the city quiet below him. The System spoke one last time.
[Mission Complete: True Happiness Rediscovered.]
Reward: HeartSense (Permanent Upgrade).
Jackim smiled faintly. "You know, System, happiness isn't a mansion or a car."
[Please elaborate.]
"It's this," he said softly. "Feeling like you matter—even when no one's watching."
The System paused. […Noted.]
His phone buzzed. A new message.
> Lina: I saw the photo. You still look like you hate soda.
Jackim grinned. He typed back:
> Only the cheap ones. Meet me tomorrow?
Her reply came instantly.
> You're paying.
He laughed so hard he nearly dropped the phone.
Kelvin shouted from the next room, "What's funny, bro?"
Jackim called back, still chuckling, "Just life, man. Just life."
He looked out at the night, the city glowing like a living heartbeat. Fame might be a cage—but at least now, he knew where the key was hidden.
And for the first time in a long while, he slept peacefully—no headlines, no noise, just a quiet smile that the world couldn't buy.