Experiments 2

Chapter 9 Experiments 2

Rick offered an apologetic grin. "Sorry, Leo. Had a bit of a… detour. But I'm here now, right? And I've got the ticket." He pulled the neatly folded lottery ticket from his pocket, the numbers already marked with a confident precision.

Leo's eyes widened slightly as he took the ticket. "You really think we've won? I haven't seen the numbers, so I'm a bit skeptical," he asked, a hint of skepticism in his voice, but also a glimmer of hope. 

"Just follow my lead," Rick said with a mysterious wink. "Let's go. Mr. Pinter's waiting."

They walked into the lottery store, the familiar scent of old paper and anticipation hanging in the air. Mr. Pinter, a stout man with a perpetually tired expression, looked up from behind the counter. "Ah, Rick, Leo! Back again? Let's see what fortune has in store for you today."

Leo handed him the ticket. Mr. Pinter ran it through his machine, and the familiar whirring sound filled the small space. Then, a loud, triumphant ding echoed through the store. Mr. Pinter's eyes widened. "Well, I'll be! Top prize again, Leo! Four thousand five hundred Poh!" He counted out the crisp bills, a mix of 100s and 500s, and handed them to a stunned Leo.

Leo stared at the stack of cash in his hand, his earlier grumpiness replaced by a look of utter disbelief. "W-we won? Did… did we really win? This…"

Rick clapped him on the shoulder. "Told you, didn't I? Luck's on our side." He then gathered the money and led Leo out of the store, the young man still in a daze.

Outside, in a quieter corner, Rick pulled out two thousand Poh from the winnings. "Here, as promised. Two thousand for you."

Leo's jaw dropped. He took the bills, fanning them out. "This is… this is incredible, Rick! Thank you!" His gratitude was genuine, palpable.

"Don't mention it," Rick said, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Now, about our little arrangement. This is just the beginning, Leo. We're going to do this once a week for a month. Same drill. I'll mark the numbers, you pay and submit the tickets, and you claim the prize. We split it, two thousand for you, the rest for me."

Leo's eyes narrowed slightly. "Every week? Rick, are you sure about this? It feels… too easy."

"That's the beauty of it, isn't it?" Rick said smoothly. "Sometimes, life just throws you a bone. We're not doing anything illegal, are we? Just playing the lottery. And hey, you're getting two thousand Poh for a few minutes of your time. What's there to lose?"

Leo considered this, his gaze still fixed on the money in his hand. Two thousand Poh was a substantial amount for a college student. It would cover his rent for months, maybe even a new textbook or two. "I guess not," he conceded, a hesitant smile forming on his face. "Okay, Rick. I'm in. But if anyone asks, we just say we're lucky, right?"

"Exactly," Rick affirmed. "Just lucky. Now, I've got a few more things to take care of today. I'll see you next week, same time, same place."

…

Rick walked with a renewed sense of purpose towards the bank. It was a small branch, a small building, but with imposing stone columns that still looked familiar after all these years. He knew his mother would be there, working diligently behind one of the accounts desks. His heart ached with a sudden, overwhelming wave of emotion. He hadn't seen her in decades, not truly, not like this.

He stepped inside, the cool air of the bank a welcome relief from the bustling street. He spotted her immediately. Her hair was still dark, not yet streaked with the silver he was so used to seeing in the future. She was laughing with a coworker, her kind eyes crinkling at the corners.

He walked up to her desk, his voice catching in his throat. "Mom?"

She looked up, her smile faltering slightly as she recognized him. "Rick? What are you doing here, honey? Don't you have classes?"

He couldn't help himself. Overcome with a potent mix of love and longing, he walked around the desk, pulling her into a tight embrace. The startled look on her face quickly melted into a soft, comforting hug. "I missed you," he mumbled into her shoulder, the words thick with unshed tears.

In the future, his mother will be an old woman who will always stay in the hospital. He would go there when he had time, but lately he rarely visited, which Rick felt guilty about. And it was his brother Erk who would always take care of their mother at the hospital. Though he supported financially, he knew it was not enough.

She pulled back, a concerned frown on her face. "Missed me? I just saw you this morning at breakfast. Are you feeling alright?"

Rick quickly composed himself, a sheepish grin replacing his emotional display. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, Mom. Just… had a moment. Long night studying, I guess. Listen, I actually came here to open a bank account."

His mother's eyebrows shot up. "A bank account? What for?"

"Well," Rick began, trying to sound casual, "I've started a part-time job. And I wanted to start saving up… You know… for the future." He carefully peeled off the 2,500 Poh from the lottery winnings.

His mother's eyes widened as she saw the stack of bills. "Two thousand five hundred Poh? Rick, that's a lot of money for a part-time job! What kind of job did you get?"

"Just… helping out a friend with some business ventures," Rick said evasively, hoping his mother wouldn't press. "It pays well. Can you open the account for me? And please, don't tell brother and Dad about this..."

His mother, still looking a little bewildered, nodded. "Of course, honey. Come on over to my desk. We'll get this set up for you."

As she processed the paperwork to the teller, Rick felt a sense of profound satisfaction. He was not only securing his future but also relishing these small, precious moments with his family, moments he thought were lost forever. He watched his mother, her focused expression, and the familiar way she tapped her pen against her chin when concentrating. He savored it all.

"There you go, Rick. All set," she said, handing him a small passbook. "And you want me to keep this for you?"

"Yes, please, Mom. Keep it safe. I'll come by when I need to deposit more or withdraw."

He said his goodbyes, promising to call later, and walked out of the bank feeling lighter than air. The afternoon sun felt warm on his face, a comforting presence.

…

He went back home and sat behind the desk in his room. Rick began thinking, his old notebook open before him. The message to his past self still nagged at him. He pulled out a fresh sheet of paper and began to write, his pen scratching softly against the page.

To Rick Lane,

My name is Rick Lane. I am you, but from a time far in your future. Yes, this is real. I know it's a lot to take in, but please, trust me. I don't know what is happening, but I suddenly have an ability. The ability I have, this dream-like travel through time, is something I am still trying to understand, but it's real. I'm writing this because I need your help, and because I want to help you.

First, I'm doing something when I'm in your body. Hopefully, you will not mess up anything. I am currently helping you earn big money. When you see it, I advise you not to touch it yet. If you do, I will beat you up! Save it. For now, all you have to know is that we are sharing this body, so take good care of it. I know that this time, this body is weak, thin, and is suffering from a disease. Don't be disheartened, okay! 

Now, for the important stuff. Your future depends on some choices you make now. You're thinking about changing your major, aren't you? Don't. Stick with business management. I know it might seem boring now, but it will be the foundation of everything for you later. Trust me.

And Jenny. Oh, Jenny. She's going to be a big part of your life, a wonderful part. She'll want to start a bakery with her sister, Joana. Support her. Encourage her. Don't let anything come between you two. Your relationship, later in life, will face challenges. Fight for it. Cherish every moment with her. She is truly special.

I know this is a lot. It might even sound like a madman's ramblings. But deep down, you'll feel the truth of it. Don't tell anyone about this, especially not your family. This is our secret.

Study hard. Stay focused. And cherish the people around you. Especially Jenny. You'll understand why later.

More to come.

Your Future Self.

He just opened the notebook and kept looking at it and the time on his smartphone. A strange sense of peace settled over him. He had done what he could, planted the seeds for a different future. He would know if the experiment worked when he returned and checked the old house.

Suddenly, a familiar sensation washed over him. His vision blurred, the edges of the room wavered, and the sounds of the whirling fan faded into a distant hum. His eyelids felt impossibly heavy. He knew this feeling. It was time. Time to wake up.