章 2: Change

In a little house in the quiet farmland, a family of five were sitting at a six-seater wooden table, eating breakfast.

Leon Lee, the head of the family, was listening with concentration to the morning news on his outdated old radio. The years of struggling with poverty were evident on the fine lines on his face but still considered handsome.

Lean Lee, a beautiful young woman in her late twenties, was seated beside her husband, attending the twins. Her dark brown eyes were returning to its bright and joyful luster.

And me, Leanna Lee, the oldest child, ten years old, was staring blankly at my food. My brain cells, not functioning. I kept staring at my rice as if looking at it would give me answers.

I was rudely awakened from my stupor when the radio announced the news.

"Jansen Conglomerate, one of the big man in the business world, bought acres of lands in all parts of the world to develop. Although they didn't disclose specific information. They promise to hold a conference once the planning stage of the project is complete----"

BAM!

Before I realize what I was doing, my palms were already tightly pressed on the table. My eyes wide, and my mouth open as wide as it could stretch as my breathing stopped.

"Sis, what's wrong?" Lawrence asked. Though he was but a six-year-old kid, he could pronounce words with ease mainly because I read them bedtime stories every night.

"Len-Len, close your mouth, flies will enter," my mother said with a flat voice like it was a chore for her to say those words.

Not caring for my reaction, she continued assisting the twins while my father ignored all of us. He was too focused on his vintage radio.

I got back on my seat, gulping my food as fast as I could. My heart beat hard against my chest, and it was hard to breathe. I didn't know when I got out of the house, carrying my school bag, running like a madwoman.

"Mom, what's wrong with sis?" Lance asked, pouting. His chubby face aggrieved because his beloved sister ran off without kissing him and his brother goodbye.

"Nothing. Your sister is just nearing her period," Lean stated matter-of-factly.

Leon: ". . ."

----

I was at a river, miles away from school when I stopped running, panting, and catching my breath.

I was ecstatic, shock. I didn't understand whether to jump for joy or cry for being scared silly. It was okay if the feeling was a simple déjà vu, but what I experienced was like a replay from the dream. The events that happened in my dreams were like vivid pictures flashing in my mind. Retelling each day like it happened only yesterday.

I composed myself and took my time approaching the nearest Lotto outlet, entirely forgetting about school.

Since we became poor, we relied on so many things to get us by –– including luck. Every night, we watched the Lotto announcement, hoping it would be the answer to our predicament.

I bought a ticket with a whopping seventy million prize and stared at it with a blank face until the sun went down. In a daze, I went home and stayed up late to watch the Lotto announcement on TV.

The next thing I knew; I was lying on a bed with an IV infusion, in a room fueled by my mother's crying and howling.

"LEN-LEN! MY LOVE! MY ANGEL! MY LUCKY CHARM! WWAAAGGHH!"

I knew from that day; it was not just a dream.

A second chance was given to me to redo my life.