Tyler and his mom made their way back to the real estate agent office to finalise the documents for the house.
After they were done, he stepped out of the office with his mother beside him, the sun soft and golden as it dipped toward late afternoon.
Allen, their real estate agent, had offered to give them a ride back home, but Tyler politely declined with a smile.
"Thanks for everything, Mr. Allen," Tyler said, shaking his hand. "We'll take it from here."
Allen nodded with professional grace. "Congratulations again, Mr. Reyes. Mrs. Reyes. I hope you both enjoy your new home."
Helena gave a nervous smile as Allen walked away. The moment he disappeared around the corner, Tyler raised a hand and flagged down a taxi. The yellow cab rolled up slowly, its tires crackling on the driveway gravel.
Helena was about to give the driver their home address when Tyler leaned in and gave him a completely different one.
"The nearest top-tier car dealership," he said, closing the door behind him.
Helena's brow furrowed immediately. She turned toward him with a startled expression.
"Tyler, what are you doing? Why a dealership?"
Tyler felt that it was time to get his mom and himself a car. He intends to get a learner permit later and he felt that it would be best to get for both of them at once. He doesn't have to worry about his mom, as she already had a licence
Tyler smiled, his voice calm. "I want to get us a car. You and me."
"But we can just go home. You don't have to do this now," she protested, her voice soft but urgent.
He gently reached over and squeezed her hand. "Please, Mom. Let me do this. I want to give it to you as a gift. Don't refuse this one."
Helena hesitated, clearly torn. "Sweetheart, you've already spent so much. First the house… now this? I don't want you throwing money around."
"I understand, Mom," Tyler said gently. "But this isn't me throwing money around. This is me taking care of you—of us. For once, let me."
Before she could respond, the driver—an older man with graying hair and soft eyes—glanced into the rearview mirror and interjected.
"Ma'am, if I may," he said with a warm smile. "You've got a good boy here. I've seen plenty of sons—most don't even call their mothers, let alone buy them a house or a car. Be proud of him. Let him do this."
Helena turned to the driver, stunned by his kind words. Slowly, she smiled, her eyes misting slightly. She looked back at Tyler and gave his hand a small squeeze.
"…Alright. But only because you said it's a gift. I won't argue this time."
Tyler smiled in return, grateful.
About fifteen minutes later, the taxi pulled up in front of a pristine, glass-fronted car dealership. Large silver letters above the building read: "Stratford Elite Motors."
Tyler paid the driver, handing him $100 and telling him to keep the change. The man gave him a grateful nod and a low whistle before driving off.
Together, mother and son walked into the dealership.
The inside was sleek and modern. The air smelled faintly of new leather and polished chrome. Cool air from ceiling vents kept the space crisp, and soft instrumental music played overhead.
On either side of the room were high-gloss platforms showcasing some of the newest and most elite vehicles of 2010.
Digital screens on the walls rotated through what was called high-resolution footage of engine specs, interior details, and safety features, while glass cabinets displayed limited edition keys, badges, and memorabilia.
A female staff member in her late 20s approached with a professional smile. "Welcome to Stratford Elite. How may I help you?"
Tyler turned to his mother. "Go ahead, Mom. Look around. Pick whichever one you like."
Helena looked at him, surprised. "Really?"
"Really," he nodded. "No price limits. Just what you like."
The staff member smiled politely and gestured for Helena to follow. "Right this way, ma'am. Let me show you some of our premium selections."
Helena gave Tyler one last look of amazement before she followed the woman.
Tyler smiled and wandered into the other side of the showroom, his hands tucked into his pockets as he admired the vehicles.
Before long, another staff member approached him—this one slightly older, mid-30s, hair pulled back into a tight ponytail, with an air of polished superiority.
She looked at him up and down, confusion playing across her face. "Can I help you, young man? Just so you know, a dealership like this isn't exactly a place for kids to be… browsing."
Tyler turned to her, offering a pleasant smile. "I'm aware. But I'm not here to browse. I'm here to buy."
The woman blinked, stunned into a brief silence. Then she laughed—a light, awkward chuckle. "Buy? Oh, I see. That's… admirable."
She found it to be extremely ridiculous. How could a kid, one no older than a teenager have enough money to buy a car?
And not just any car but a brand new one and cars close to luxury cars at that How?
She was very curious. She smiled and decided to show Tyler around. She wouldn't throw him out, as it would be rude and very unethical of her, but since he said he wants to buy a car, then she will do the job she's being paid for.
She quickly composed herself, not wanting to seem rude. "Well, alright. Let me show you what we have."
She led him around and began highlighting a few options.
...
The first was a 2010 Audi R8 V10, with a 5.2L V10 engine, boosting a massive 525 horsepower, going from 0–60 mph in 3.7 seconds, with a Quattro all-wheel drive and base price of $146,000.
The second was a 2010 BMW 750Li, with a 4.4L twin-turbocharged V8, 400 horsepower, a high-end leather interior with iDrive infotainment, an adaptive drive suspension and a base price of $86,000.
The third was a 2010 Lexus LS 460 AWD, with a 4.6L V8, 380 horsepower, soft-close doors, executive backseat package, and a base price of$72,000
...
Tyler listened politely, inspecting the vehicles carefully. But his decision had already been made.
His eyes never left the Audi R8. S
It looked sleek, aggressive, with an engine that roared even in silence.
"I'll take that one," he said, pointing at the R8.
The staff member blinked. "Excuse me?"
"The Audi. I want that one," Tyler repeated calmly.
At that moment, Helena returned with a light smile. "I've picked one. The Lexus RX. It's beautiful."
Tyler nodded approvingly.
Together, they approached the sales desk. The same woman who had doubted him earlier stood behind the counter, watching with disbelief as Tyler made the payment.
"Two vehicles," Tyler said. "The Audi R8 and the Lexus RX 350. Let's process the payment."
The clerk hesitated. "That'll be... with taxes and fees included... $186,000 in total."
Tyler pulled out a card tied to one of the LLC business accounts and handed it over without pause. The machine beeped, processed, and approved the charge.
The female staff who attended to him and had been standing behind him, waiting to see him embarrass himself, was shocked to see him easily fork out so much.
She felt that the world around her was collapsing in on itself, as her worldview was suddenly flipped. She had so many questions but had no one to give her any answer.
"Would you like delivery scheduled?" the clerk asked, still staring at him like he had just rewritten physics.
"Yes. Deliver both tomorrow to this address," Tyler said, handing over a notecard.
Helena signed the documents under her name for the Lexus. Tyler handled the rest.
As they turned to leave, the woman behind him—still recovering—opened her mouth to speak, but Tyler didn't even glance her way.
He didn't need to.
Somewhere between the showroom and the exit, she realized that the world wasn't always what it seemed.
...
Outside, Tyler flagged another taxi and opened the door for his mother.
She stepped in, still a bit dazed.
He followed and gave the driver their new home address.
As the car pulled away, Helena whispered, "You really didn't need to do all of this."
Tyler smiled and looked out the window.
"No, Mom. I needed to. It's the bare minimum I can give to you," he said, the smile not leaving his face.
With the house and car taken care of, it was time for him to turn his focus to other important things.