The Invitation.

"You ok?" Jose asked Arthur as he helped him stood.

"I'm fine, brother. Come, I save you a seat beside me."

"Thanks." Jose nodded. "By the way, what happened about the thing? Did you succeed?"

Jose and Arthur sat beside each other. Jose ate whilst his other classmates had games and other activities. Three hours later the Christmas party of their class has ended. They cleaned the room and said their goodbyes to each other. Jose contacted his father to pick him up while waiting for Clara and Arthur.

This was his last chance to tell Arthur to prepare for the apocalypse. As for Clara, He was waiting for Clara because he wanted her to ride along with him and his father since they were neighbors.

For his other classmates, He decided to warn them a few days before the apocalypse. Although he wanted to help them, there was a limit to how many he can protect. Plus, other than trustworthy people, he needs talented individuals that were necessary for their survival.

"Oh brother, you are waiting for us?" Arthur came out of the room together with Sophia. Behind them was Clara who was tasked to check and close the room.

"Uhm." Jose nodded as the three simultaneously got a message.

Jose mailed the three of them an invitation. It was placed there that in five days, they were invited to the Golden Summit Hotel, to celebrate the Christmas Holidays with their family. It was also included that they must bring at least a week's set of clothes because they will stay there for a total of twenty days.

"This..."

"Oi, Jose! Tell me! Is this some kind of joke? Golden Summit Hotel? A night there costs twenty thousand pesos! And for twenty days?"

"She is right brother. The total amount you might pay should be around a million pesos at the least."

"Hahaha! That's why I will ask you guys to keep it a secret. Early this morning, Father and I won a raffle draw in a mall. And this was the price."

Jose bluffed. The reality was while he was on his way to the university earlier. He already booked for twenty days at the Golden Summit Hotel's 21st to 25th floors. These were the highest floors in the Hotel.

He contacted the hotel's manager and he was able to luckily obtain the rooms with ease. The manager was even able to make a solution allowing Jose to take the rooms that were already booked.

On these five floors, the lowest, 21st floor, was designed as a barricade separating the top last four floors from the rest.

The next floor, 22nd floor, was meant for the people he will 'personally invite'. It is where Arthur, Clara, and the rest were supposed to stay.

On the 23rd floor was a supposed barricade floor again. This was to provide safety for his family which he planned to designated to the 24th floor. However, he made the 23rd floor as his area. This way he can go down to the 22nd or the 24th incase something happened.

The last floor, the 25th floor, would be used for food and water storage. It is also the entrance to the rooftop and the helipads of the hotel. Luckily, the Golden Summit Hotel was only a 'single tower' as they call it.

Else, Jose might have chosen another hotel because twin or multi-tower hotels might pose a problem. It would require twice or even more effort to defend their base.

"Such luck..." Sophia stared at Jose in amazement.

"Still..." Arthur tried to argue at Jose. The invitation was too precious that Jose could even invite a relative of his than them.

"Don't worry. Father said that we both won the raffle, so I can invite a few friends and their family to celebrate Christmas at the hotel."

"Brother..." Arthur started to become teary-eyed. He got touched by Jose's speech.

"So... Are you guys in or not?"

"I'm in of course! It's the Golden Summit Hotel we are talking about! My family does not have a problem with it since we decided to stay at home on the Christmas holiday." Arthur answered excitedly.

Arthur was from a middle-class family. To go and be able to stay at the Golden Summit Hotel was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Either, he gets to become friends with someone very rich or... win a raffle like what Jose 'bluffed'.

"Dad would probably get invited by an uncle so... Whether I like it or not, I am in."

Clara knew that her father and Jose's father were close. They even drank beer with each other on weekends with their other neighbors. Hence, she could only deduce that his father would get invited by Jose's father even if she rejected Jose's invitation.

"Uhm..." Sophia felt awkward as Sophia, Arthur, and Jose looked at her. "Can I tell my family first about it? If they agree, then I would gladly accept your invitation."

"It is fine. Just... Inform me about it ahead. The sooner, the better." Jose nodded.

They left their classroom building after turning the key to the school staff in charge. When they walked out of the entrance of their building, a black and shiny HUMM-V 20 was parked and was waiting for someone.

Luckily, the majority of the students left ahead because majority of them planned an after-party outside the campus. Hence, the students that were left, Like Jose and the rest, were the ones who were able to see the car and took some pictures of it.

"Whoa! Brother look! It looks like it is indeed a lucky day."

Arthur was Flabbergasted. He quickly took his phone out from his pockets. His hand shook nervously that gave him difficulty opening the camera app. Jose simply smiled in response.

"Guys... Tch!" Clara shook his head. Sophia forced out a smile upon hearing Clara. It was as if she was agreeing to what Clara said.

"Arthur, Give me your phone. Let me take you a picture with it." Sophia said in a soft voice.

"Ah! Ah! Thank you, Sophia. Kyron and the other guys from our class would be envy if they saw my picture with this car."

'This man. Hahaha, I wonder what would be his reaction if he learns that this is my car.' Jose chuckled.

Just before Sophia can take a photo of Arthur, the HUMM-V 20's window went down. And Jose's father peeked out from the window.

"Son! There you are."

"Eeeeeeeehhh?! Uncle Carlos?" Clara was shocked beyond belief. Her mouth went agape.

"Oh, Clara? I and Jose are on the way home. Hop in. You're going home too, right?"

"Jose~?" Upon hearing Jose's name, both Sophia and Arthur can't help but stare at Jose.

For a minute, they just stood speechless staring at Jose. Then, Arthur walked to Jose and placed his arm to his shoulders.

"Brother, tell me honestly. Were you the one who won the lottery jackpot?" Arthur whispered.

"???" Jose frowned. "Of course not. Didn't I tell you that we won a raffle earlier? Besides, if I won the lottery yesterday, won't buying a flashy car be a stupid decision? In our case, the car was the price and we have no choice but to take it. The same goes for the 'Hotel stuff'."

"Sigh... You're right."

Arthur and the rest believed in Jose's explanation. His father and he decided to go with that explanation. It was the most believable reason for other people. Especially, to their neighbors.

Despite not knowing the reason behind his son's actions. His father still chose to support his son. After all, the lottery was won by Jose, himself. His father was only someone who can guide Jose on how to properly use it. But the final decision still lies in Jose.

"What are you guys waiting for? Hop in. We'll send you two, home too."