The Outsider (Outsider #1) ✔️

Chapter 49 : Dusk's Offer

Luke looked at Dusk, completely flabbergasted.

He had never expected things to take a turn like this. Of all the possibilities, she was offering to pay for his study at Uni-Viva! Naturally, he knew the exact condition of her finances. If she were to actually pay for him, then practically all her money would be over. There would be nothing left for her.

He realised that she was a girl from a family of small means and the money she had would look large. He felt that she would not be aware of how much money she had, how much was spent, and how much was actually left. After all, Susco was managing all her expenses. She would not even know how much she has. He was probably reading more into it and she had not even thought it through.

He tried to reason with her, "Dusk, what are you saying? You have no idea how much it costs at the university."

"I know! Listen, I have reviewed my position with Susco. The government gave me $750,000. Out of that, the university took $200,000, which covers 4 years of my university fees, accommodation and probably food. That leaves me with $550,000. Susco paid $250,000 out of that for my shares in Techredulous. So, I have $300,000 left. You have to do a 2-year course in Business Administration not 4 years because you already did a 4-year Tech and Military course. A PG course is more costly, and will cost about $100,000 a year, including accommodation."

"Dusk! You still do not understand, do you..."

"Luke, you will need to cut back on your extravagant lifestyle. You will need to take a shared accommodation like me. Stay in the Dorm. Eat meals like a normal student. You can manage. Once you complete your course, you will get a good job. Ci'gazze is the place where businesses are. Then you are back to normal. It's only for 2 years. Less than that if you take up accelerated pace like me... Come on, Luke, give it a try.

"Look, if you are feeling shy about a girl paying for you, think of it as a loan. You can consider it a loan. When you make good money, you can pay it back slowly. Even if you don't, I don't mind."

Luke looked at her in wonder. "Do you realise, that if you were to give me $200,000, you will have almost nothing left? You will have to be in the university for the next 4 years and all you will have left is $100,000 in which to cover food, clothes, bits of normal expenditure and buffer for emergencies. Your tuition and stay are paid but other expenses remain."

"I don't care! To me, a hundred thousand is a lot of money. I don't need it. What will I do with it? No, in fact, even that $100,000 I would rather give it to you. You need it more than me. I am getting money from the company, that is more than enough for me."

"Dusk, are you feeling ok?"

Dusk had tears in her eyes, that she was evidently trying to control. She interrupted him, "Luke, I have enough. I don't need all this. You forget, I am from a simple family. What the government has given me is far more than I hoped. What Lady Rosemary has given me is more than I can expect. She has in fact given me a job, giving me more as 'salary' than my family saves a month. I would rather see you achieving what you are capable of.

"You were one who helped me when I came to the university. You guided me, you told the Military to train me and give me an opportunity to show my work. It's because of all that, today I am ahead of everyone else in my year. I have a job and am a Director in a Tech company. If you didn't help me, I would be still the worst student in the class, struggling with the life so different from home."

Luke said nothing. Dusk then turned and hugged him again and said, "Luke, I don't care about anything else, I do not want to lose you!"

She felt Luke stiffen. Her chin was on his shoulders, her ears touching his. She could not see his face. And she thanked the spirits that he could not see her face!