Spirit Game

Rain shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "I told you, I've been good at it. I've made a few smart trades here and there. It's been a side hustle, and it's paid off pretty well."

His mother gave him a disbelieving look, still in shock. "Rain, why didn't you tell us you were doing this?"

"I didn't want to worry you," Rain said, leaning back in his chair. "I wanted to make sure I had it all figured out first. But now, with you both here . . ." He paused, a genuine smile creeping onto his face. "I can take care of us. At least until you decide what you want to do next."

His parents fell silent, the reality of his words sinking in. His mother wiped away another tear, her expression softening into one of pride and relief. His father just shook his head, a slow smile spreading across his face.

"You're full of surprises, son," his father said, chuckling in disbelief. "I don't know what kind of luck you've got, but . . . it seems like we'll be leaning on you for a while."

Rain's grin widened. "You've taken care of me my whole life. It's about time I returned the favor."

Rain's father squinted at the phone screen, then back at his son, as if trying to see some hidden trick. Rain could almost hear the gears turning in his dad's head, trying to reconcile the boy he knew with the young man standing before him, suddenly flashing thousands of dollars as if it were no big deal.

His father took a step back, running a hand through his thinning hair. "I've got to sit down," he muttered, dropping onto the old couch with a heavy sigh. "This is . . . I don't even know what to say."

Rain could feel the tension in the room, the mix of disbelief, relief, and a bit of unease. He knew his parents. They were humble, hardworking people, not used to surprises like this—especially not from him.

His mother was the first to speak, still staring at the phone screen like it might burst into flames. "Rain, where did you get this kind of money? You said you've been working as a financial consultant, but . . . this isn't normal for someone your age." Her voice was tinged with concern, almost a plea for a proper explanation.

Rain took a deep breath. He couldn't tell them the whole truth, but he needed them to believe in him, to trust that he could take care of things now. He slid his phone back into his pocket and met his mother's gaze, giving her the most reassuring smile he could muster.

"I know it's a lot to take in, Mom," he said, moving closer to where she stood. "I've been doing a lot of research, learning about investments, and making some good trades. It's not as complicated as it sounds once you get the hang of it." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "I started with small amounts, just experimenting. I got lucky, made a few good decisions, and then things really took off."

His father shook his head slowly, still looking stunned. "So, you're saying you've been doing this behind our backs all this time? While going to school?"

Rain nodded. "Yeah. It started as a hobby, something to help pass the time. But then I realized I was actually good at it." He gave a half-smile, trying to lighten the mood. "You always said I spent too much time on the computer, but I guess it paid off in the end."

His father let out a small, disbelieving laugh. "I thought you were just gaming or watching nonsense, but here you were, making real money. And this . . . this is legal, right?" He narrowed his eyes, a trace of worry creeping back in.

Rain grinned, shaking his head. "Yes, Dad. It's all above board. I've just been making smart trades."

His mother finally moved, stepping closer to Rain and reaching up to cup his face in her hands. "I'm just . . . I'm so proud of you," she whispered, her voice trembling. "But I'm also scared. This isn't something a teenager should have to do. You shouldn't have felt like you needed to support us like this."

Rain wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug. "Mom, I wanted to. I saw how hard you both worked, how tired you were every day. I couldn't just sit back and do nothing."

His mother pulled back, tears welling up in her eyes. "But you're still so young. You shouldn't have had to carry this burden."

Rain's father cleared his throat, standing up. He stepped forward, resting a hand on Rain's shoulder. "Son, you've always been a good kid, but I never realized just how much you've been doing behind the scenes. It's incredible, really. But I don't want you to feel like you have to be the one to fix everything."

"I don't feel like I have to," Rain said quietly. "I want to. I want you both to take it easy for once. You've given me everything, and now it's my turn to give back."

His father's grip tightened on his shoulder, eyes shimmering with a mix of pride and sadness. "You've grown up so much, Rain. More than I realized."

Rain felt a swell of emotion rise in his chest. The moment felt surreal. His parents, who had always been his rock, looked at him now with a mixture of awe and a strange vulnerability. He realized this was the first time they were truly seeing him not as their child, but as someone capable, someone they could rely on.

His mother took a deep breath, dabbing her eyes with her handkerchief again. "Well," she said, her voice shaky but filled with a new kind of resolve, "if you're really making this kind of money, maybe . . . maybe we could take that break you mentioned. Just a short one."

Rain's face broke into a relieved smile. "Yes! Please, take a break. Go somewhere you've always wanted to. I'll handle everything while you're gone. You deserve it."