Survival Of The Game

That Stanger

“Brother, where have you been? I was getting worried. Can't you see it's getting late already?,” Ella asked Jack as soon as he walked in. Jack smiled and poke her cheeks.

“I'm here and I'm sorry, okay. Don't be so worried about me. I'm old enough to take care of myself,” Jack told her and Ella rolled her eyes. She knows he's old enough to take care of himself.

But she still can't help but get worried. “Your dinner is on the table. I tried as much as I could to keep it warm but it's probably cold now,” Ella said as she pointed towards the old and worn-out table in the middle of the room.

Jack ate his dinner and thought of something so he called her and asked,“You mentioned some textbooks earlier. Would you manage if I give you half of the money now and give you the rest later.”

Ella nodded and Jack dipped his hand into his pocket to bring out the remaining cash with him. He was a little bit suprised with how light his pocket felt.

A frown appeared on his face as he brought out the money notes. He opened his mouth in suprise as he looked at the cash. How... How come? He couldn't close his mouth as he counted the money.

This isn't what he left in his pocket earlier so how did the money tremendously decrease? He counted the money notes over and over again as the frown on his face deepened.

Ella looked at him wondering why he has a troubled expression on his face. Jack dipped his hands into all his pockets trying to make sure he kept the money somewhere else but all yielded to the same futile result.

Jack began to slightly panic as he tried to remember where he must have misplaced the money. Cause when he left the house, there was about twenty thousand with him. Now what is in his hands isn't even up to two thousand.

He looked at Ella and sighed not knowing what to tell her but then he finally told her,“I'll give you the money later.” He looked at his unfinished food and walked to his room dejectedly as he no longer has any appetite for food.

As soon as he got in, he sat on the bed. “Why do I have such bad luck? I actually misplaced the money I borrowed. Money that could have been useful for lots of things,” he mumbled to himself.

He looked around the room suppressing the urge to scream and cry. No.... No more tears. He shouldn't be crying. Ella might hear him and get upset.

He suddenly remembered the girl and the little boy by the roadside. He had given them money before leaving. Jack's eyes widened in realization as he thought of the possibility that he might have given them more than he wanted to.

“Well, they seemed like they needed it more than I do,” he sniffed as he thought of what to do next. He will have to find another job real quick so he can pay his loan next month and also take care of Ella.

With all these troubling thoughts, he was deprived of sleep and then laid awake all night. As soon as he heard the rickety sound of Ella's room door, he stood up and moved his aching bones.

“Brother, why are you up so early? Please go back to bed. I didn't mean to disturb you,” Ella told him guiltily. She was all dressed up for school.

Jack shook his head sideways not wanting to tell her that he didn't even get a wink of sleep. “It's fine. I have to go somewhere,” he told her.

Jack brought out his old phone and checked all the things he planned to do today. First, he will go job hunting, then he will go to Benjamin's house to inquire about the investments issue and lastly go to Anna.

He feels like she has been avoiding him lately. She has even stopped picking his calls. He has sent alot of messages to her apologizing for whatever he did but no reply.

He sighed and devoured his breakfast hungrily before going out. On his way for the job hunting, he passed the road he had met that girl and subconsciously looked at the spot they were the day before.

But as expected, she and her cute little brother aren't there anymore. Jack sighed feeling somehow hurt. Why? He pushed them to the back of his mind and proceeded forward.

Few hours had passed and the sun was still scorching hot when Jack passed by a pizza restaurant. He had been searching for a job with no positive results. He now looks so sweaty and exhausted that he almost missed the sign pasted on the restaurant window.

He stopped and quickly looked at it. They are in need of a delivery guy and the pay seems good as they will be paying per hour. He walked in as he tried to fix his appearance. He walked straight to the cashier and was directed to the manager.

Few minutes later he came out with a huge smile on his face. He got the job and was asked to begin the next day. He would have started today but the manager wouldn't agree saying his appearance is too dirty and sweaty.

He might chase away their customers but Jack doesn't care as long as he got the job. He walked back home happily unable to contain the urge of spilling the news to Ella. He even forgot that he was going to see Anna and Benjamin.

Meanwhile the previous day, after Jane had counted the cash and confirmed that it was almost up to twenty thousand, she couldn't help but feel stunned.

Why did that stranger give them so much money? He looked like he was in need of money but he still gave them this amount of cash. She couldn't help but feel like she misjudged him earlier.

“Jane, I'm hungry,” Joe complained holding his stomach. He hasn't had anything to eat the entire day.