Karol thought he'd scream as he saw his ticket number on the TV screen. He had practiced with his friends how they'd rejoice if they were the ones who won the biggest lottery ticket in Vekunda.
But surprisingly, he didn’t scream when he saw the numbers. It wasn't as if he couldn’t. He actually tried to but his throat locked up. His breath stopped. He just stood there, in the corner of his Zinc shed, which he called home, alone and staring at the slip of paper shaking between his fingers.
"Whoever has that number, you just won 10 billion riel." The announcer on the television said. As the prize money danced around in the background.
He tried to breathe but it felt as if he was drowning in a big ocean. Not with fear but with so much joy. His chest rose and fell quickly. He blinked vigorously to be sure he wasn't dreaming. He held his ticket again and read slowly, to the numbers on the screen.
“Zero... one... seven... three... four... zero...”
He wasn't dreaming. Those were the winning numbers. Those were his ticket numbers.
He couldn't believe it. In a country like Vekunda filled with so much poverty and no hope for the common man to fight his way out of poverty except by luck. He just found his luck and was out of poverty.
He was rich.
Finally, he yelled and ran outside. But little did he know that that was the biggest mistake he would ever make in his life.
In a corner were three boys. One of them was his friend Kalool. They had in their hands heavy sticks and dreadful looks on their faces.
Kalool pointed at him. “That's him. That's the winner?”
"But how did he know?" Karol asked. He was sure he didn't mention his ticket number to his friends. None of them did.
Immediately his phone beeped. He checked and on his screen was breaking news with his face as the headliner. Someone in the Golden Vekunda Lottery Commission had leaked it. Someone had posted his face for the world to see. And now, people who knew him were gradually flocking to his compound for the ticket..
"But it was supposed to be anonymous." He whispered to himself before taking to his heels.
Barefoot, his soft soles pounding the dry, hot earth. The ticket in his hands and the people chasing after him.
"Catch him! Get that ticket from him!" They yelled.
But Karol didn't stop. He ran towards the nearest police station. But on another thought, in Vekunda, the police were part of the corruption in the land. They had the highest number of workers with empty pockets. The more reason you could buy them off with money. Running to them wasn't a guarantee that he would be safe. In Vekunda, ten billion riel was more than enough reason to make friends turn to enemies. Brothers turn to thieves.
The only option he had was to get to the capital city. To the Golden Vekunda Lottery Commission in the capital city, which was just an hour away, and cash his ticket. The only place where he’d be safe.
Quickly, he ran into an alley. His enemies, not giving up anytime soon. They chased him fervently. Shouting and throwing things at him. He ran out of the alley and took the tiny dusty track. The nights he had nothing to eat with his mother fueled him to not give up. He was running towards his brother's, Vanna's, mechanic workshop. He got to the edge of the road, and under the mango shade was Vanna with oil-stained hands working on a motorcycle and chewing on a stick of sugarcane.
“Vanna! Vanna!" He called as he ran towards him.
"Karol?" Vanna turned as he saw his brother running towards him with a mob behind.
"I need help. Please.”
Vanna stood up and raised one brow. “What's going on? What did you do this time?”
“I won.” Kamol opened his hand just long enough for Vanna to see the ticket.
"Is that The Golden Ticket?"
Karol nodded.
"How am I sure it is Karol. You're full of mischief." Vanna asked, staring at the ticket, then at his brother. One could tell he was in a state of confusion.
"Why will an angry mob be after me to get the ticket this hot afternoon?" Karol yelled.
Vanna paused. He stared at the mob getting closer, then at his brother.
“Please, Vanna. They’re coming!” Karol begged.
Vanna groaned and without hesitation, he dropped his sugarcane and wrench. He got on the bike he was working on and kicked it to life. “Get in!"
Kamol jumped on.
Vanna revved the bike and immediately zoomed down the bumpy road. “I just hope that ticket is real," Vanna yelled, swerving and avoiding potholes on the street like a pro biker.
But the angry mob wasn't giving up. Like a scene from an action movie, two men jumped on other bikes in Vanna's workshop and chased after them.
Kamol stared at the ticket in his hands, still clenched tightly in his palms. The winds brushed hard against his face. The more miles crossed, the more the mob increased. Each mob wielding different weapons and trying to get the ticket off his hands. His only ticket out of poverty.
Thirty minutes later, the Golden Vekunda Lottery Commission office was in view. Karol smiled. He didn't wait for Vanna to stop the bike, he quickly jumped off and ran into the building. His shirt was soaked with sweat. His heart was pounding fast.
He turned to see the mob dispersing immediately he got into the building. Finally, he was safe. He slumped to the floor. He was tired.
"How may I help?" He heard a soft female voice ask from behind the counter.
Vanna helped him to his feet. "I'm here to cash my ticket," Karol replied.
The woman behind the counter walked towards him and took the ticket gently. Scanned it. Her eyes widened.
“You’re Karol, the winner of the grand prize.”
Karol nodded. He was still trying to catch his breath.
" We're very sorry your identity was leaked. It was a careless mistake on our part. And we sincerely apologize for that. But be assured that you’re safe now.”
"Just know we're pressing charges later. But for now, let's have our money please." This time it was Vanna who spoke.
Karol was made to fill out the necessary documents. And in less than forty-five minutes. He was handed his check of 10 billion riel with enough security to escort him to the bank.
Now all he does is sit on the balcony of his mansion and sip on wine with his brother Vanna. Just a few weeks ago, he was a poor boy with just a ticket and numbers, but today he has the best view in the city.
