From Idler to Tech Tycoon: Earth

Chapter 6: Revelation
Chapter 6 - 6: RevelationAfter a while, they finished eating. In the kitchen, Anita stood by the sink, washing dishes while Richard and Jack sat out on the balcony.

Richard took a drag from his cigarette, exhaled, and leaned back.

Jack grinned. ”Dude, I had no idea our families were this close. We’re basically relatives!”

Richard scoffed. ”Yeah, well, I didn’t know either.”

Jack chuckled. ”Now it’s even better that Grandpa knows Auntie. Lemme text him real quick.”

He pulled out his phone, his fingers tapping excitedly across the screen. Moments later, his phone rang. Jack’s eyes widened as he accepted the call.

”Oh! Grandpa?”

From the other side, a deep voice responded, ”Jackie, is it true? Anita is there?”

Jack grinned. ”Yeah! Hold on, I’ll give the phone to her.”

He rushed inside. ”Auntie, Auntie! Grandpa’s on the phone!”

Anita quickly wiped her hands on a towel and took the call. Jack returned to the balcony, shaking his head in disbelief.

”Dude, I can’t believe it.” He turned to Richard. ”Are we really gonna live there forever?”

He grinned and added, ”Also... can I officially call you ’bro’ now? I mean, we’re practically brothers.”

Richard smirked and took another puff. ”Yeah, yeah... whatever, broooo.”

Jack burst out laughing and dapped Richard up.

”Anyway,” Jack said, stretching his arms, ”let’s go buy some drinks. Let’s call Marcello too—I bet that dude will bring another bag of mushrooms since it rained last night.”

Richard grinned. ”Sounds like a plan.” He turned his head and shouted inside, ”Ma! Me and Jack are heading out to buy drinks. Be back soon!”

Anita nodded, still deep in conversation on the phone, and waved them off.

Two Hours Later

Anita was still on the phone in the living room, laughing and chatting animatedly. Meanwhile, on the balcony, Richard, Jack, and Marcello—a short, skinny guy with no shirt and messy hair—were already several drinks in.

A half-empty bottle of rum sat between them, and Marcello, swaying slightly, took a deep drag from a hand-rolled cigarette before grinning.

”Bro, bro, listen,” Marcello slurred. ”Y’all ever just... stare at a mushroom and feel like it’s staring back?”

Jack choked on his drink, laughing. ”What the hell are you talking about?”

Marcello leaned in, whispering dramatically, ”They got eyes, man.”

Richard shook his head, chuckling. ”Man, you’re high already, and we haven’t even touched the shrooms.”

Marcello slapped his chest. ”Exactly! That’s why I respect ’em! I found a big-ass one this morning—looked like a damn umbrella. That shit’s a sign, bro. A sign.”

Jack wiped a tear from his eye from laughing too hard. ”A sign for what? That you’re insane?”

Marcello pointed at him, nodding seriously. ”Maybe. Or maybe... that tonight is THE night.”

Richard snorted. ”The night for what? You tripping balls in my backyard again?”

Marcello grinned. ”Nah, nah, nah, listen... I got a new batch, handpicked by yours truly. Rain-fresh. Organic. Premium.”

Jack raised an eyebrow. ”And where exactly did you find these ’premium’ shrooms?”

Marcello puffed his chest out. ”Same place as always. Behind the church.”

Richard nearly spat out his drink. ”You mean the old churchyard?! The one with the graves?”

Marcello nodded sagely. ”Them spirits be blessing me, bro.”

Jack groaned. ”Oh hell no. We are not eating cemetery mushrooms.”

Marcello crossed his arms. ”Pfft. Y’all ain’t ready for enlightenment.”

Richard smirked, refilling his glass. ”Nah, we just don’t wanna end up seeing ghosts and pissing ourselves.”

Marcello grinned and pulled out a small plastic bag. ”One way to find out.”

Jack sighed, shaking his head. ”This is gonna be a long night.”

Richard laughed. ”Cheers to that.”

The three of them clinked their glasses and downed another shot.

The drinks kept flowing, and the laughter echoed through the night.

Marcello, already tipsy, pointed at Jack and slurred, ”Bro, you ever notice how your head is kinda shaped like a coconut?”

Jack snorted. ”And you ever notice how your head is shaped like a damn kneecap?”

Richard burst out laughing, nearly spilling his drink. ”Bruh, a kneecap?! That’s the most accurate roast I’ve ever heard!”

Marcello squinted, rubbing his forehead. ”Damn, maybe that’s why my brain feels all loose inside.”

Jack leaned back, chuckling. ”Yeah, you shake your head too hard, your IQ gonna spill out.”

Marcello nodded sagely. ”That explains a lot.”

As the banter continued, Richard casually glanced at his phone. He had a live stream open—the official PCSO 6/49 Grand Lotto draw.

Jack noticed and nudged him.”Yo, why you watching the lottery? You think you can actually win?”

The announcer’s voice rang through the phone’s speaker:

”And now, for the 6/49 Grand Lotto, with a jackpot prize of... 25,272,259.20 pesos!”

Richard felt a strange chill run down his spine. His breath hitched as he reached for the folded ticket in his pocket.

Jack and Marcello, sensing the shift in his energy, leaned in.

”First number... 45!”

The three of them froze. Richard’s ticket—first number, 45.

”Second number... 49!”

Their eyes widened. Jack slapped Richard’s shoulder.

”Third number... 30!”

Marcello grabbed Jack’s arm. ”No fucking way—”

”Fourth number... 33!”

Jack jumped off his seat, shaking Richard by the shoulders. ”Dude, DUDE! That’s FOUR in a row!!”

Richard, his heart pounding, didn’t blink. His grip on the ticket tightened.

”Fifth number... 20!”

Jack lost it, flailing around like a madman. ”HOLY SHIT, HOLY SHIT!”

Marcello was shaking, his hands on his head. ”No way, no fucking way—”

Richard’s eyes were glued to the screen. His breath caught in his throat.

”And the final number...”

Jack grabbed Richard’s arm. Marcello held his breath.

”...44!”

Silence.

For a full second, none of them moved.

Then—BOOM!

”AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!”

The three of them erupted in pure chaos—jumping, hugging, screaming like wild animals. Marcello tripped over his chair and fell, but immediately rolled back up, shaking Richard like a ragdoll.

”BRO! YOU’RE A FUCKING MILLIONAIRE!”

Jack grabbed Richard’s face. ”DUDE, YOU LITERALLY JUST WON 25 MILLION FUCKING PESOS!!”

Richard’s mind was spinning. He couldn’t breathe. His hands were shaking. He actually won.

Without thinking, the three of them sprinted inside, nearly kicking the door open.

Anita was still on the phone, completely unaware, when—

”MA! I FUCKING WON!!”

He shoved his phone and the ticket in her face.

Anita, confused, squinted at the screen. ”Huh? What?”

Jack and Marcello were screaming in the background.

Richard’s breath hitched as he said it again. ”I WON THE FUCKING LOTTO, MA!!”

Anita’s eyes darted between the phone and the ticket. Her lips trembled. Her knees buckled.

And then—

”AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!”

Anita screamed louder than all of them combined, dropping the phone as she jumped up and down.

Jack, Marcello, and Richard dogpiled her in a massive hug, shaking the whole house with their sheer excitement.

Tonight... everything changed.

Jack grabbed Richard by the shoulders, shaking him like a madman. ”Bro, you fucking won! YOU FUCKING WON! I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!”

Richard threw his head back, laughing like a villain. ”I’M RICH! WHAHAHAHAHA!”

Marcello, still swaying from the drinks, stumbled toward them. ”Duuude, you have to give me some. C’mon, just a little, man!”

Richard smirked, ”Yeah, yeah, don’t worry—I got you. Just keep your damn mouth shut about this.”

Marcello threw up a lazy salute. ”Of course, bro. I ain’t saying shit.”

Anita, still catching her breath from all the excitement, suddenly got serious. ”But... how do we even claim it?”

Jack, ever the reliable one, leaned back with a smug smile. ”I heard you just need two valid IDs and the winning ticket—making sure it’s not crumpled or damaged.”

Richard furrowed his brows. ”That’s it?”

Jack nodded. ”Yup, and good news—it’s tax-exempted.”

Richard exhaled in relief. ”Damn... okay, but where do we even claim it?”

Jack clapped his hands together. ”The main office in Mandaluyong City. Don’t worry, bro, I’ll drive us there tomorrow. It’s just two hours.”

Richard grinned, slapping Jack’s shoulder. ”Thanks, bro. You’re a lifesaver.”

Jack grinned back. ”Just make sure that ticket stays pristine—if it gets crumpled or damaged, say goodbye to your millions.”

Anita crossed her arms. ”Jack’s right. We can’t be too careful these days.”

Jack stretched his arms. ”Anyway, since I’m home alone, you and Auntie can crash at my place tonight—just in case.”

Anita nodded. ”That’s a good idea. We don’t want anyone getting suspicious.”

Jack suddenly snapped his fingers. ”Oh! Before that, can you guys help me manage the café? Mina already went home, and there’s only Dino running the place right now.”

Richard stood up, rolling his shoulders. ”Yeah, of course. Let’s go.”

Jack turned to Marcello. ”What about you, man?”

Marcello stretched, looking way too relaxed. ”Nah, I’m already drunk and high, bro. I think I’ll just chill, maybe watch some porn before I go home.”

Richard and Jack groaned in unison.

”Bro... too much information.”

Marcello just laughed, waving them off. ”Alright, alright, y’all go ahead. I’m staying.”