It's Been a Long Time.

When they got down to the kitchen, his father and mother were waiting for them. They were watching the television located in their kitchen. It was a nighttime television drama that his father liked to watch.

"Oh, they're here." His mother smiled upon hearing their steps on the stairs.

"Pa!" Clarissa rushed to their father. She hugged him and kissed him in his cheeks. His dad casually gestured to get seated.

'It's been a long time.' Jose seated beside their mother whilst Clarissa seated beside their father. Though he looked normal upon taking a seat, deep inside he had an unexplainable feeling. It was like a dream come true for him.

They prayed before starting their dinner. After that, his father took the rice and placed a serving in Clarissa's plate. From his actions, it would seem like his father favors Clarissa than Jose, himself. However, to balance things out, his mother favors him more.

"Jose, why are your eyes reddened?" His father asked.

His eyes were reddened because of his crying earlier. Clarissa and Jose were astounded at the sudden question. His mother took his face and twisted it towards her so that she could take a look.

"Did you cry, son?" His mother asked.

"Are you even a man? Why did you cry?" His father mocked in a serious tone.

"Ah..." Jose was speechless. This mocking of his father never gets old. For his father, men were the resemblance of strength. Hence, for him, crying was a sign of weakness.

"Pa... Elder brother Jose is just hurt. You know... Like how the policeman in the television drama felt when he was rejected by a beautiful woman." Clarissa explained whilst looking to Jose as if saying 'I got your back brother!'

"Heh... You should have gone for Clara instead. She is a beautiful girl. Kind and respectful. Besides, you two get along with each other and were friends since childhood."

"I'm a fine Pa. As they say, what hurts you can only make you stronger," Jose answered, dodging the topic of Clara.

"You're not young anymore. In this stage of life, you should be dating someone already. We're not getting younger."

"Hon~ don't pressure our son. Let fate make him find his 'the one and only'."

"Uhm... Pa, would you mind if I get a lover?"

"No!"

"No!"

"No!"

Clarissa asked in a joking manner. The three simultaneously answered with a hard 'No!' as they stare with a frown to Clarissa.

"Hahaha! I'm just joking! I'm just joking!"

Before the three could reply to her, a 'flash news' was aired on the television. Their attention was shifted to it because it was very rare for a 'flash news' to occur at that point in time.

View rate of the television companies was at its peak during this time, hence, advertisements pay big at these hours. To maximize the profit by the television company, they try to limit other stuff to be aired other than the Drama and the advertisements. Hence, the airing of 'flash news' meant that it was something big or important.

On the other hand, Jose's heart started to beat fast. He was nervous that the 'apocalypse' might have had started. Hence, he stared at the television without even breathing a single air out.

"FLASH NEWS!"

"As of tonight, December 14, 2031, 8:00 PM... The biggest grand prize in the history of LCGO amounting to three hundred thousand million Pesos was won by a solo winner."

"The winning numbers were 5, 10, 15, 20, 26, 30 and... 35! The LCGO said that the winner's identity would be kept hidden even after claiming the price."

His father returned to his food uninterested. For him, one would need to work in order to survive in this world. He was not the gambler type. Well, that is to be expected, especially to their family who was once in the lower class. Now, thanks to his father's hard work, they were able to be considered in the middle class.

That was the reason why his father acted that way. On the contrary, Jose's eyes didn't leave the television. His spoon and fork were left hanging in the air. And only after a second did he slowly turned his gaze back and forth, from his mother, his father and to Clarissa.

Clarissa got a sight of his brother and thought that something was amiss.

"Brother?"

"Ah!"

"What now?" His father stared at him with an irritated look.

"This... I don't how to explain."

"Explain what?"

Jose took his wallet from his pocket. Then, he carefully took out a 'well-protected' lottery ticket. He handed it towards Clarissa that quickly scanned through it.

"5, 10, 15, 20, 26, 30... 35!" Clarissa looked back and forth from the winning numbers on the TV screen and to the lottery ticket, she was holding.

Their father got curious and peaked at the lottery ticket in Clarissa's hands. He, then, glanced at the TV screen and saw the exact same numbers.

"Oh... My... God!"

His father can only speak three words. Jose's mother was confused about the two's reaction. Seeing that their mother looked confused, Clarissa handed the lottery ticket to their mother.

"Jose~ You... Won!"

"I~I~I..." Jose knew that 99% he will win the lottery. Despite that, he still stuttered. Winning such a huge amount will render one speechless.

Tons of Ideas and plans rushed through his mind like a river. His happiness came from the assurance that the prize money brought to him. He can execute his plan with ease and he would have a good start when the apocalypse occurs.

When the news flash ended, his father and mother have calmed down. Clarissa, on the other hand, was jumping relentlessly.

"Sit down, Clarissa!" Their father commanded as their mother returned the lottery ticket to Jose. After some seconds, Clarissa followed, with her eyes shining bright like gold.

"Listen to us first!" Their father commanded with a heavy tone. He was imposing his authority to put emphasis or importance on what he was about to say. Their mother simply nodded in response, as if knowing what her husband was about to say. Clarissa sat quietly.

"First, I want this to be kept as a secret amongst the four of us. You won't tell anyone, not even your friend or your classmates."

"How about grandma Glo~?" Clarissa asked.

"Not even your grandma Glo!"

"Your father is right. This was definitely a blessing to us. But... if evil people learn about this, it might bring us misfortune than blessings."

"I understand. I promise not to tell anyone." Jose nodded.

"If father and mother say so... Then, I also promise not to tell anyone." Clarissa also nodded in response.

"Second, the ticket was your brother's. Hence, I will let your brother have the money. It is up to you on how you will use it."

"Ma... Pa... You don't need to do that! We are a family, this is for all of us!"

"No. It's yours, son. It's up to you on what you would do with that money. Don't worry, your mom and I will always be at your side, to support you, no matter what." His mother nodded in agreement after his father explained.

"And me too!" Clarissa interjected.

"Thanks, Ma! Thanks, Pa! Thanks, Clarissa!" Jose stood up as he hugged his mother and father one by one.

"Then... I would like to request you, father, to quit your job starting tomorrow. I think that the money was enough to sustain our needs... even up to your grandchild. Hahaha!"

"I will think about it." His father smiled as he taps Jose's arm that was embracing him.

"As for you Clarissa... Maybe, I'll place a separate bank account specifically for your tuition fee till you graduate from college. How about it?"

"Awwe... Don't be stingy, my handsome elder brother." Clarissa made a cute look like a cat.

"Ohoh... Your sweet talks won't work on me, my dear tricky little sister." He smirked.