A VX Land Cruiser idled outside Richard's home as Jack hopped out. In the front yard, Richard and Anita stood with their bags, the cool morning air wrapping around them.
"Marcello, I'll leave this all to you," Anita said, adjusting the strap of her bag. "We might visit, but it'll be a long time from now."
Marcello, standing barefoot on the pavement, scratched his head and sighed. "Yes, Auntie. Thank you. I'll take care of this. You too, both my dudes—I'll fucking miss you." He dapped up Richard and Jack.
Richard scoffed. "Don't be so dramatic, dude. We'll be back soon."
"Who knows, man," Marcello shrugged. "But if you ever run into trouble over there—"
"Speaking of trouble," Jack cut in. "I was gonna ask—since we're leaving, how about you help out at the internet café? Dino's the only one running it, and he's already got too much on his plate."
Marcello blinked. "Wait… you're offering me a job?"
Jack grinned. "Of course. No time restrictions, no bullshit. Just keep an eye on the place. Dino already knows the pay and everything."
Marcello nodded, a rare seriousness in his expression. "Thanks, dude. I mean it. I'll take you up on that."
Meanwhile...
Richard crossed the yard and walked to the next-door sari-sari store. "Auntie Nina," he called out.
A middle-aged woman peeked over the counter. "Oh, Richard! Where are you off to?"
"Heading back to the province. Marawi. I'm sure you've heard by now."
Nina smiled mischievously. "Won't you leave me some of your winnings before you go?" She chuckled. "Just kidding. Take care, okay? Angie's gonna miss you."
From the back of the store, a tall, curvy woman peeked out from the kitchen, her hands dusted with flour. "Shut up, Ma!" she groaned, clearly embarrassed.
Richard smirked. "Don't worry, I'll come back."
Jack's voice rang from the car. "Bro, let's go!"
Richard turned back to Nina with a grin. "And if I come back… I'll come back for her."
Before Nina could grab her slipper to throw at him, Richard bolted toward the cruiser, laughing.
Nina shook her head, laughing as well. "Crazy kid."
anita nodded, that might be good.
Richard and Anita hopped into the backseat of the Land Cruiser, their bags settled beside them. Jack took the wheel, smoothly maneuvering through the streets in the early morning calm. After a short drive, he pulled up in front of the internet café, where a tall, tanned, and muscular man stood waiting—Dino, dressed sharply as if heading to a business meeting.
Jack slid over to the passenger seat while Dino took over the driver's side.
"Is Mina already there?" Jack asked.
"Yeah, boss," Dino replied, handing Jack three plane tickets.
Jack nodded. "Good. Let's go." The Cruiser eased back onto the road.
As they drove, Jack glanced at Dino. "Oh, by the way, I've taken Marcello as your helper. Let Mom and Dad know. You can teach him the ropes, but there'll be times when he'll need to harvest and dry coconuts. I've given him that free time, so just text or call me if anything comes up."
Dino nodded. "Got it."
Jack looked around. "Where's my bag?"
"At the back," Dino said, motioning with his thumb.
Jack turned to Richard and Anita. "So, Auntie, should we grab breakfast at McDonald's or Jollibee before heading straight to Mandaluyong?"
Anita thought for a moment, then nodded. "That might be good. Let's eat at Jollibee first so we don't have to stop later."
Jack grinned, stepping on the gas. "Jollibee it is."
Fifteen minutes later, the Land Cruiser pulled into the Jollibee parking lot. The morning rush had begun, but they managed to find a table near the window.
Jack stretched as he stood up. "Alright, let's eat first so we can go straight to Mandaluyong after."
They lined up at the counter, scanning the menu.
"What do you want, Auntie?" Jack asked.
Anita glanced at the options. "Just get me Jolly Spaghetti and a burger steak meal."
Richard nodded. "I'll have Chickenjoy, extra rice."
Jack smirked. "Of course, can't go wrong with that. Dino?"
Dino shrugged. "Same, but with a Coke Float."
Jack placed the order, adding a few extra pies and drinks just in case. Once their food arrived, they sat down and started eating.
Richard took a bite of his chicken. "Damn, still hits the same."
Jack nodded. "Yeah, nothing beats breakfast like this. Simple but good."
Anita ate quietly while checking her phone. "After we claim the prize, we'll go straight to the airport, right?"
Jack wiped his mouth. "Yeah, no delays. We'll get there around nine, take care of the paperwork, and be at the airport before noon."
Richard leaned back. "I still can't believe this is all happening so fast."
Dino, finishing his drink, said, "Well, better to get it done quick. Less time for people to bother you about it."
Jack nodded in agreement. "That's why we're keeping it lowkey. No unnecessary stops."
After eating, Jack ordered takeout for later, handing a bag to Anita. "Just in case we get hungry on the way."
They headed back to the car, with Dino taking the driver's seat. Jack turned to Richard. "So, what's the first thing you're buying?"
Richard sighed. "A new phone. Mine's barely holding on."
Dino smirked. "Yeah, I was gonna say, that thing looks like it's from another era."
Anita chuckled lightly. "Just don't waste your money. Buy what you need first."
Richard nodded. "Yeah, I know. Gotta be smart about it."
Jack leaned back in his seat. "Good. Now, let's get this done."
With that, the car rolled out of the parking lot, heading straight for Mandaluyong.
Richard and Anita stepped out of the car, standing before the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) building. The three-story structure loomed over them, a long sign at the front marking its purpose.
"Where's your ID, Chard?" Anita asked, glancing at her son.
Richard patted his pocket. "Got my voter's ID and SSS ID right here."
"Alright, let's go."
Jack leaned out of the car, looking at Dino. "You coming?"
Dino shook his head. "Nah, boss. I'll stay here."
Jack nodded. "Alright. While we're inside, buy some Jollibee takeouts for all of us. Doesn't matter what, just pick something good. Also, grab some snacks at SM. This whole thing could take two to four hours, and I don't want us starving. Our flight isn't until 3 PM anyway, so we'll still have time to shop after."
He reached into his pocket, pulling out ₱4,000 and handing it to Dino. "Also, fill up the gas."
Dino took the cash and smirked. "Got it, boss. Enjoy the paperwork."
Richard rolled his eyes. "Let's just get this over with."
As soon as they stepped inside, two uniformed security guards greeted them.
"Good morning, sir, ma'am. What's your purpose for visiting?" one of them asked, his sharp eyes scanning Richard and Anita.
Richard took a deep breath. "I'm here to claim my winnings."
The guard gave him a long look before nodding. "Alright, sir. IDs and ticket, please."
Richard handed over his voter's ID and SSS ID, along with the winning lottery ticket. The second guard examined them carefully, comparing the ticket's details against a printed list behind the desk.
"Looks good. Proceed to the claiming area, second floor."
Richard nodded, tucking his ticket back into his wallet. As they walked to the stairs, he exhaled slowly. "Damn, even just entering felt like a test."
Anita chuckled. "Well, they have to be strict. This isn't pocket change we're talking about."
On the second floor, they were directed to a counter where a PCSO staff member sat behind a glass window. The room was cool, with walls lined with notices and claim procedures. A small crowd of people waited in chairs, some fidgeting nervously.
Richard approached the counter, sliding his ticket under the glass. "I'm here to claim my winnings."
The staff member, a middle-aged woman with reading glasses, took the ticket and placed it under a UV scanner. She then examined it closely under a bright light, checking for security features—watermarks, unique serial numbers, and holograms.
She glanced up at Richard. "Please wait while we verify this against our official records."
Richard nodded, stepping back. His fingers twitched at his side as he exchanged a glance with Anita.
"They're really checking it like it's a fake bill," he muttered.
Anita smirked. "Wouldn't want people scamming the system, right?"
Minutes passed, feeling like an eternity. The woman made a call, confirmed something on her monitor, then turned back to Richard.
"Your ticket is confirmed. Congratulations, sir."
Richard let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "Thanks."
The woman slid a set of claim forms under the glass. "Please fill these out. We'll need your personal details, the ticket information, and your preferred bank for deposit."
Richard sat down at a nearby table, pen in hand. His hands were steady, but his mind raced.
As he filled in his name, address, contact details, and bank account information, it started to sink in. This was real. This wasn't just some dream where he'd wake up broke again.
Anita watched him. "Feels different now, doesn't it?"
Richard nodded. "Yeah. Like… this is actually happening."
Once the forms were completed, he brought them back to the counter. The staff member checked every detail, then nodded. "Alright, this will go through final verification. Please wait."
Richard and Anita moved to the waiting area, sitting in silence.
An hour had passed, the hum of the air conditioning blending with the low murmur of other claimants in the waiting area. Richard sat slouched in his seat, tapping his foot impatiently, while Anita scrolled through her phone.
The smell of fried chicken and gravy snapped Richard out of his daze. Jack strode toward them, clutching bags of Jollibee and snacks, a smug grin on his face.
"Auntie, here, let's eat first. I know you're hungry from the trip already," Jack said, handing a bag to Anita.
She took it gratefully. "Where's the other guy?" she asked, referring to Dino.
"He's in the car waiting. Already had his lunch," Jack replied, taking out his own burger.
The three of them ate in relative silence, the tension from the long wait still lingering in the air. Richard barely tasted his food, his mind occupied with what was coming next.
Finally, just as they were finishing up, a PCSO officer in a corporate polo approached them, a folder in hand.
"Mr. Richard Velasquez Santamo?"
Richard wiped his hands and stood up quickly. "Yes, sir?"
The officer gave a professional but friendly smile. "Your claim has been finalized. Congratulations once again. Please follow me for the disbursement process."
Richard felt his heartbeat pick up as he exchanged a glance with Anita and Jack. This was it.
They followed the officer through a hallway that led to a secure office, guarded by two uniformed security personnel. The room was plain but official-looking, with a long table, chairs, and a CCTV camera positioned at the corner.
Another PCSO official, an older man in glasses, sat behind the desk, reviewing some documents. "Ah, Mr. Santamo. Please, have a seat."
Richard sat, Anita and Jack standing behind him. The official slid a manager's check across the table.
"As of 2012, winnings above ₱10,000 are tax-exempt, so you will receive the full amount. Congratulations."
Richard stared at the check. The printed digits were surreal, an amount he had never seen with his name beside it. He swallowed hard, barely hearing the rest of what the official was saying.
"Please verify the details and sign here to confirm receipt." The official pointed to a line on the document.
Richard took the pen, his hand slightly shaking as he signed his name. It felt unreal.
Once done, the official nodded. "That's it. The funds should reflect once you deposit the check into your account. If you need financial advice, we highly encourage responsible management of your winnings."
Jack snorted from behind. "Don't worry, sir, we'll make sure he doesn't blow it all in one day."
The officer chuckled. "That's what I like to hear. Again, congratulations, Mr. Santamo."
A security guard stepped forward. "We'll escort you to the exit for security reasons."
Richard stood up, still gripping the check tightly. Anita patted his back, smiling. "You did it, son."
Jack grinned, "Ready to become a millionaire officially, bro?"
Richard exhaled and tucked the check into his bag. "Let's get out of here."
With the guards leading the way, they made their way back to the front, stepping into the warm Manila afternoon—where Dino and the Land Cruiser waited, ready for the next step of their journey.