Rise Of The Orphaned Student: Eddie Is An Aviatux!

"Oh, look at you, Eddie. Scrubbing toilets again. How stupid." Eddie scrubbed the lime-crusted basin, his hands raw and aching, when a voice he hated so much cut short his peaceful moment.

Eddie could see the voice owner from the rear of his eyes– Tasha, his long-time enemy since he got a scholarship into the school.

Even though Eddie has never for once liked Tasha because of her manipulative character, she is a close friend to his girlfriend, Eunice Lemar.

Tasha succeeded in turning Eunice from the once sweet, innocent girl who would go to any lengths in order for Eddie to feel loved to the materialistic girl who wouldn't let any minute of his go without threatening to leave him for another guy if he couldn't give her $400 weekly.

The firm that sponsored his scholarship to the University of Aveston was also sponsoring his essential needs up to his feeding.

The only thing that made him resort to washing the campus restrooms was to meet up with his girlfriend's excessive wants.

Eddie pretended not to acknowledge Tasha's presence as he continued scrubbing the lime-scaled wash hand basin with determination.

"How on earth would someone be this ill-fated?" Tasha repeated and this time, she successfully got Eddie's full attention.

"What's your problem, Tasha? Why are you so obsessed with ruining my peace, anytime, anywhere?" Eddie said, totally infuriated.

"Obsessed? Did I just hear you say I'm obsessed?" Tasha laughed aloud. "You must be joking, toilet cleaning boy."

"Then leave, you can see I'm very busy here." Eddie retorted. He was not having it.

"Relax, poor boy. I've looked for you in the whole school only to remember that you would be here in the toilet area, trying to impress your ungrateful girlfriend." Tasha said clumsily, as she folded her arms.

"Don't talk about my woman like that!" Eddie rushed at Tasha, sticking his index finger to her face. "Don't make me do to you, things I might regret later."

"Oh dear, your threats are just as weak as your wallet. I will forgive you for that filthy finger you're pointing. Well, I just wanted you to come see for yourself what is happening outside. I promise it will make your day, your month, even your entire existence, you will never forget this experience." Tasha pressed.

"I don't care what on earth is happening on the school premises, Tasha." Eddie insisted "Please go away from here, I need to finish this washing before they come to inspect it."

"It's about your girlfriend. She is the talk of the school right now." Tasha smirked. "Aren't you hearing the noise coming from outside, cameras are even witnessing this, it's even going to be posted on the campus platform on Whatsapp."

"But why?" Eddie queried, his tone softening as he started to take interest. "What is happening? Did she harm anyone? Did she insult any professor again?"

"Far more than that, Edd. Come see for yourself." Tasha urged, a mischievous glint registered on her face.

"You wouldn't like the other side of me if all these turned out to be a lie, Tasha." Eddie frowned. "Go on, I will walk there by myself. I can't let people see me walking with someone like you."

"Suit yourself, poor boy." Tasha's words trailed off as she left the toilet area.

"Please be fine, my dear Eunice. Please stay safe for me." Eddie murmured as he also went out to the campus premises.

On getting out of the toilet, Eddie was flabbergasted at the number of students gathered around the campus garden beside the school parking lot, something seemed to excite them as their cheers and 'awwnns' could be heard clearly from a few metres away.

"Could Eunice be the reason for those cheers, let me go take a look. My woman must have done something very proud enough to make that crowd gather.

As he started walking to the scene curiously, a hand quickly grabbed his shirt and pulled him back! It was Phil, his roommate and closest buddy.

"Hey man, let's go take a look at what's happening over there!" Eddie said, pointing to the crowd before him. "I wonder who they are cheering for." He chuckled.

Phil looked at the crowd and frowned before looking back at Eddie. "No, pal. Let's just go to the hostel. You wouldn't want to see that!"

Eddie became suspicious. Phil wasn't smiling like someone who inhaled laughing gas like he usually does anytime they were together. He had a stern face like something awful was happening.

"I don't understand you, man! I wanna see what's happening over there!" Eddie pulled himself from Phil's grip and began walking towards the crowd.

"Edd, come on! Let's go! You wouldn't like..." but Phil's voice trailed into the background noise.

Eddie struggled to find his way through the crowd when he started hearing everyone screaming 'Eunice!'

'Eunice, say yes!!'

'Eunice, please say yes!!!'

Eddie was initially confused but this confusion was finally drowned when he saw everything clearly.

His eyes bulged out as soon as he saw Eunice, his girlfriend, covering her face and smiling childishly as Nathan San Roman, the richest guy on the campus, was about to slide a ring into her finger.

Nathan is one of the richest students in the whole school. Almost everyone idolized and feared him.

Girls in Aveston crave to flock around him because of his father's status as a millionaire.

But what confused Eddie even more was the backdrop. Behind Nathan and Eunice was a large paper-made key.

"Did Nathan buy a house for her?" Eddie wondered because he just paid the rent for Eunice's hostel five days ago. "Could it be that Nathan had bought a new house for her and all my hard work in sorting out her rent was a waste?"

On both sides, two of Nathan's 'Errand Boys' as Eddie would usually refer to them held the paper key that read:

'Please be my girlfriend, Eunice. Will you?'

Eddie's heart leapt out of his chest. He felt his heart tightened when he saw Eunice allow Nathan to put the ring on her finger.

His eyes glistened as he felt tears escaping down his cheeks. "Did Eunice, his girlfriend of about a year and four months just..."

Until his tears and sobs were drowned by the crowd that was now cheering. "Kiss! Kiss!! Kiss !!!"

That was when Eddie rose to his feet and began rushing towards Nathan and Eunice. "I'm going to end this nonsense. Right here and at this moment!"

Oblivious to Nathan, Eddie was moving towards him angrily.

Just when Nathan was about to place his lips on Eunice's, Eddie fiercely pushed David to the low grass.

"Woah!"

The students' eyes widened on seeing Eddie's audacious attitude.

Eddie was also among the most popular personalities in Aveston University but not in the way anyone would want to be known.

The chance that there's someone who doesn't know him in the school is low, including the lecturers.

99.9% of the students have seen him washing the school toilet as his whole life depended on it.

It's normal for everyone to burst into heavy fists of laughter. Some students, especially Eunice's circle of friends would usually laugh like it was their last day on earth.

"Eunice's slave..... I mean, Eunice's errand boy." They will frequently mock and Eddie will be clearly embarrassed

So, yes, Eddie was known as an orphaned cleaner and they will sometimes compare him to Ruth in the bible.

Most of the time, Eddie would spend most of his midnight sobbing and soliloquizing in his hostel.

He always wondered who his parents were and where they might be; dead or alive.

After all, he didn't just fall from heaven into the Celestial Orphanage he was raised.

The only thing he knew about his past was that he was wretched and raised in an orphanage.

Aveston wasn't just for him.

If it weren't for the Aviatux Conglomerate Firms that sponsored scholarship exams for him and other exceptional orphans like him, he would have still been stuck in the Celestial orphanage.

Of course, no one would like to adopt a 24-year-old grown man like himself.

"Eunice! How could you?" Eddie muttered, tears reforming in his eyes.

"Damn! Who's this?" Nathan growled as he immediately got back to his feet.

Eddie ignored him and turned to Eunice. "Eunice, are you deaf? What do you think you're doing? I thought..."

"Just shut it, Eddie! Are you out of your mind!? You wanna hurt him?" were the first words that escaped Eunice's mouth.

She didn't even care a bit about Eddie's presence.

Everyone kept watching to see what would happen next. They all knew Nathan to be muscular and that he would definitely beat Eddie up, who on the other hand, was skinny.

"Eunice. I.. I thought you promised to be with me forever. What happened?" Eddie stammered as tears poured from his eyes.

Eunice didn't feel any remorse but she was a bit guilty.

She couldn't look at Eddie in the eye but she also didn't say anything to defend herself. She was ashamed to be with Eddie.

"Everyone, look! It's the orphan boy! The toilet cleaner dude! Bro wants to go on 'one on one' with me!" Nathan mocked and everyone erupted in laughter.

The students enjoyed Nathan's mock words and appreciated by booing Eddie.

"You're just a small grass compared to big Nathan, you orphan! He's an elephant and he will definitely trample over you." They trolled.

The words "orphan boy" tinged in Eddie's ear. He hated it with contempt.

He looked at Nathan with intense hatred and anger boiling inside him. Eddie spent all his life doing hard labor in the Orphanage, so he was physically and mentally strong.

But Eddie calmed down and turned back to Eunice who was still looking away with no response in mind.

"Look, Eddie, you're a good guy and... I liked you! But I'm sorry. I don't feel anything for you anymore. It's over!" She finally said, confirming Eddie's fears.

"Alright, orphan. You heard her. Whatever child's play you two played before is now over. The game is over. Now, beat it. Go find your daddy!" Nathan aired.

His dark humor was enough to make everyone laugh intensely at Eddie. Eddie felt like a bird among snakes. Only he had no wings.

Eddie's rage consumed him as he charged at Nathan.

"Woah!"

The crowd gasped as Eddie tackled Nathan to the ground, fists flying.

You think you can just take everything from me and still say trash to me?!" Eddie roared.

Nathan struggled beneath him, shouting, "Get off me, you lunatic!"

But Eddie didn't care. His world had shattered and Nathan's smug face was the last straw.

The students, initially entertained, now disappointed, began whispering nervously.

"How could this skinny boy pin big Nat to the ground!?"

Nathan's errand boys rushed in to pull Eddie off, but he shrugged them off like ragdolls.

Suddenly, the wail of a siren pierced the air. Campus security had called the local police, and within moments, two officers stormed into the scene.

"Stand down now!" One of them barked.

Eddie, blinded by fury, ignored the command and landed another punch on Nathan's already swollen face.

"That's it!" One of the officers snapped. He pulled out a Taser and pressed it against Eddie's neck.

Eddie barely had time to react before a sharp jolt of electricity coursed through his body. His muscles locked up, and he collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain.

The officers wasted no time cuffing Eddie. Their grips were rough as they hauled him to his feet.

"Do you have any idea on what you've just done, kid?" the second officer hissed.

Eddie glared at him, his body still trembling from the taser.

"You just assaulted Nathan San Roman, the millionaire's son," the first officer said, shaking his head. "You're in deep trouble."

The students watched silently, some recording the scene on their phones.

Eddie's heart sank further as he caught sight of Eunice standing beside Nathan, her head bowed. She didn't even look at him.

"Wait officer. I need to give this mannerless guy something to help him remember not to mess with my boyfriend again." Eunice said as she walked closer to Eddie and landed a hot slap on his cheeks.

Eddie stared at Eunice, his face a mix of pain and betrayal. "You've betrayed me, Eunice. All for what? For someone with more money?" His voice wavered. "I thought you had changed."

Eunice locked eyes with him, her smile icy and full of mockery. "Maybe you should go earn some real money, Eddie. After all, that's how the world operates."

A rage kindled in Eddie's eyes. "Of course, I will make money. So much money that you'll regret ever betraying me."

Eunice laughed, joined by the chorus of mocking voices from the students watching.

"You think this is some sort of Bengali grass-to-grace story? What would the title even be? Eddie, the orphaned student who became a Millionaire? The student millionaire, Rise of the Orphaned millionaire or the campus millionaire? This is real life, Eddie; stop daydreaming, you can never make it."

Eddie nodded, a surge of anger rising within him. "You're right, maybe it only happens in books and movies, but believe me, my success will outshine any grass-to-grace tale ever written or depicted on screen."

As the officers dragged him towards the patrol car, Eddie's leg felt like lead. He was shoved into the backseat, the door slamming shit behind him.

The patrol sped through the streets, the officers exchanging hushed words in the front seat.

Eddie slumped in the back, his wrists aching from the cuffs.

"What are we supposed to do with him?" One officer muttered. "The San Romans will expect us to teach him an unforgettable lesson."

"Yeah," the other replied grimly. "But the last thing we need is a lawsuit from a family that rich. Let's scare him straight and be done with him."

Eddie's ear perked up. Scare me? He thought, unease creeping into his chest.

The car suddenly slowed down, pulling into a bustling district. The officer in the passenger seat turned to face Eddie, his expression cold.

"Listen, kid," he said. "You don't belong in a fight like this. You're just some poor orphan. You really want to go up against the San Romans?"

Eddie didn't reply, his jaw tightening.

"We're giving you one chance," the officer continued, opening the back door. "Jump out! Now."

"What?" Eddie hesitated, his instincts screaming that this wasn't right.

"You heard me," the officer snapped. "This is your stop."

Before Eddie could protest, the officer yanked him out of the car and shoved him toward the sidewalk.

His body hit the pavement hard, the impact knocking the wind out of him.

"Good luck cleaning this mess up, kid," the officer said with a smirk as the car sped away, its tail lights disappearing into the distance.

Eddie groaned in agony, struggling to push himself off the ground. His head throbbed and his knees were scraped raw from the fall.

Tears partially blurred his vision as he looked up, he realized they had dumped him in front of a large event center, illuminated by dazzling lights.

The sounds of laughter and clinking glasses spilled out from the grand doors of the event center.

A large banner hung overheard:

"Aviatux Annual Charity Gala: Empowering the Future of Aveston Technology"

Eddie's heart skipped a beat. The name Aviatux didn't sound familiar only...it was the company that had sponsored his scholarship and kept him afloat through all his hardships.

Feeling drained, he limped towards the entrance, a doorman hesitated only briefly before letting him through.

Inside, the opulence was overwhelming.

Crystal chandeliers bathed the room in golden lights, and attendees dressed in tailored suits and elegant gowns mingled with glasses of champagne.

Eddie saw San Roman, Nathan's millionaire father from a distance, he seemed to be deeply engrossed in business talks with his associates.

"The news might have gotten to him, I hope he doesn't get to see me." Eddie hoped with optimism. "All I need is to get some water and I'm out of here."

Eddie felt out of place, his torn clothes and bruised face stark against the elegance.

"Hey! Who let you in here?" a sharp voice barked.

"I'm sorry, sir. I'm thirsty and I just....." Before Eddie could respond, a commanding voice cut through the air.

"Is there a problem here?"

All heads turned toward a tall, dignified man in a sharp suit. His silver-streaked hair and piercing gaze commanded respect.

It was the richest man in Aveston, Damien Aviatux, the founder and CEO of Aviatux Conglomerate Firms.

Eddie's breath hitched. He had seen Damien's face in company newsletters and sponsorship announcements, but the man's presence was overwhelming in person.

"This...this boy doesn't belong here, Mr. Aviatux. Permit me to kick him out!" Skarr, Damien's right hand man stammered.

Damien's eyes swept over Eddie's wrist bracelets, his expression unreadable. Then, his gaze softened.

"Let him be, Skarr," Damien said firmly. "He's my guest now."

Skarr's face buzzed with confusion as Damien approached Eddie, who stood frozen.

"What's your name, my boy?" Damien asked gently.

"E-Eddie... Eddie Celestial," he stuttered.

Damien's expression flickered emotionally, almost unnoticeable. He placed a hand on Eddie's shoulder.

"You look like you could use a meal and some rest. Come with me," Damien said, guiding him toward a quieter corner of the hall.

"Something tells me he's mistaking me for one of the guests. I think I should tell him. But it's not possible for a guest to dress this way." Eddie thought to himself, feeling uncomfortable.

As they sat, Damien signaled for food and water to be brought over.

Eddie hesitated but eventually took a sip, his parched throat grateful for the relief.

"Eddie Celestial," Damien repeated, as though testing the name on his tongue. "Where are you from?"

Eddie hesitated. "I... I don't know. I grew up in Celestial Orphanage. I don't know my parents."

Damien's face froze, but he quickly masked it with a calm demeanor.

"Maybe you will know your parents soon, my boy. Something tells you're my blood, my son that I thought had died." Damien's mind raced, his lips perking up slightly as he watched Eddie munch the food steadily

Only the Almighty knows when last he had a good meal like this.

"And how did you end up here today, like this?"

Eddie recounted the events of the evening-the dump that led to the fight, the arrest, and being abandoned outside.

Damien listened intently, his expression darkening with each word.

"You've been through a lot," Damien said finally. "But maybe, not anymore."

Eddie glanced up, surprised by the warmth in Damien's voice.

"I want to help you," Damien continued. "You can have my business card. Come to my office at Accorf 7-star hotel tomorrow, and we'll talk things out."