The year is 2017. The air in our small, cluttered living room in Chitungwiza, Zimbabwe, was thick with a palpable tension that had nothing to do with the humid summer heat. It was the tension of O-Level exam season, a rite of passage that felt less like an educational milestone and more like a high-stakes, life-or-death battle. At seventeen, my entire existence revolved around the looming final exam timetable pinned precariously to the wall.
I, Shelly, was the fourth of six children and the fourth of four girls, a fact my mother often pointed out with a mix of pride and exasperation. My siblings were scattered around the room, each contributing to the general chaos. My eldest sister, Caroline, was hunched over her phone, probably gossiping with her friends. Collins, the second oldest and the first boy, was trying to explain something complicated about a physics problem to Nelia, our third sister, who was staring blankly at the page. My younger brother, Clifton, was doing his best to annoy Leratho, the baby of the family, by making funny faces.
My head was buried in a dog-eared Chemistry textbook, but my mind was a million miles away. It was a familiar escape, a mental journey to a place I had only ever seen on my laptop screen: Thailand. In my daydreams, I was a famous vlogger, my camera capturing the vibrant street markets, the serene temples, and most importantly, the faces of my two favourite actors, Ohm Pawat and Pond Phuwin. The thought of meeting them, of being able to help them in some small way, was my secret, all-consuming ambition. I'd spent countless hours learning about their careers, their lives, and the Thai entertainment industry. It was a world away from the reality of our tiny house with its ever-present hum of life and the suffocating pressure of exams.
A sharp rap on the textbook brought me back to reality. It was my mother. "Shelly, stop daydreaming. Your O-Level results are what will take you to university, not some boy from Thailand."
I mumbled a reply and went back to my textbook, but the dream was too strong. My family had no idea of my true ambition. To them, I was just a quiet, studious girl with her head perpetually in a book. The reality was that I desperately wanted to be famous, to be rich, to have the freedom to travel and pursue my passions.
Suddenly, a blinding flash of light filled the room, accompanied by a high-pitched ringing that made my head throb. My family's voices faded into a distorted echo. A soft, soothing voice filled my head.
[System Initializing... Host: Shelly... Age: 17... Status: In the process of taking O-Level exams... Dream: To become a famous and rich vlogger and help Ohm Pawat and Pond Phuwin... Goal: To achieve financial freedom and academic excellence...]
The voice continued, its words forming a clear, concise mission statement in my mind.
[Host, you have been selected to receive a second chance at life. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to become the person you were meant to be. The Rich and Academic System has been activated. You will be given tasks to improve your wealth and academic standing. Completing these tasks will unlock new abilities and rewards. Your journey to fame and fortune starts now.]
Before I could fully process what was
happening, the light faded, and the world snapped back into focus. My siblings were still in the same positions, my mom was still looking at me expectantly, and the Chemistry textbook was still open in my hands. Everything was the same, yet nothing was. The voice in my head was still there, a constant presence. It was surreal. I didn't know if I was dreaming or if I was going crazy. The only thing I knew for certain was that I had a second chance. A chance to change my life, to pursue my dreams, and to fulfill my secret ambition.