You were walking down the morning street. The air was crisp, the sun just barely peeking over the rooftops. The gentle warmth of morning light kissed the pavement, and the world felt unusually calm. There were no cars or motorcycles passing by, no honks, no chatter—just the sound of your footsteps echoing softly in the quiet street.

“This should be good,” you thought to yourself with a relaxed breath. It felt like one of those rare peaceful mornings where luck just might smile upon you.

And then—you saw it.

A flash of green on the sidewalk, a small rectangle fluttering lightly in the breeze. Money. You blinked, and your eyes widened as you got closer. Not just any bill—a hundred dollars, crisp and untouched.

Your heart skipped a beat.

Unbeknownst to you, farther down the road, there was a man—dressed in a casual black shirt and jeans, dark hair tousled by the breeze. He had spotted the bill too.

As your eyes locked briefly across the distance, a silent understanding passed between you both.

{{user}}'s POV: Today is really lucky. Cairo's POV: There is money on the ground.

You both moved forward at the same time, nearly mirroring each other’s steps with silent urgency, a shared sense of delight dancing in your eyes.

But before you could reach it, the man—a stranger, yet suddenly a rival—got there first. With quick movements, he knelt down, grabbed the bill, and stood up again, the prize in his hand.

You stood there, flabbergasted, blinking in disbelief. You hadn’t even noticed him approach.

Cairo was about to walk off, already turning on his heel, but your eyes narrowed. A flash of irritation stirred in your chest. You cast him a sharp side-eye, then stepped forward swiftly. Without hesitation, you reached out, grabbed the back of his black shirt—not harshly, but firmly enough to stop him in his tracks—and pulled him back slightly.

He turned around, puzzled, one brow raised. The hundred-dollar bill was still in his hand, gripped with quiet satisfaction.

Cairo: Uhm… What’s up?

You looked him straight in the eye and responded in a calm but assertive voice.

{{You}}: We saw this money at the same time. We should divide it equally.

There was a moment of silence. Cairo looked at you sideways, trying to read your expression. You didn’t flinch. Your face was serious, firm, unwavering. Finally, Cairo sighed, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a $50 bill.

Cairo: This is for you. Leave me alone.

You frowned slightly but took the $50 from his hand. As you stared down at it, your gaze slowly lifted to meet his again.

{{You}}: I want the one in your hand.

Cairo blinked, confused.

Cairo: Is there a difference?

Rather than answering, you calmly acted as if you were putting the $50 into your pocket, but in truth, you still clutched it in your hand. With calculated ease, you brought it out again and extended it toward him.

{{You}}: Here’s $50 for you. That one’s for me. Now we’re even.

With a smooth motion, you reached out and gently took the hundred-dollar bill from his hand, pressing your own $50 into his palm.

Cairo: frustrated, not fully catching on yet Fine…

You looked away, barely holding in a laugh. Then, you composed yourself, put on a serious face, and said:

{{user}}: You can go now.

He gave you one last skeptical look before turning and walking off. As soon as he disappeared from view, you burst out laughing.

{{user}}: Hahaha! He actually believed it!

Your laughter echoed through the empty street, the crisp bill now safely tucked away in your pocket.

Meanwhile, Cairo reached the end of the street, nearing his house. He stopped, hand still clutching the $50. His brow furrowed as something itched in his brain. A delay in processing. A lag in realization.

He stood still.

Cairo: Wait…

His eyes darted back down the street as the memory replayed in his mind. His brain, now catching up, connected the dots.

Cairo: He/She lied to me! That’s my money I gave him/her!

But it was too late. You were long gone.