A Chance In Life

Year 2015 – A New Beginning

Noah sat frozen on the edge of his bed, staring at the glowing blue screen before him. The words floated midair, defying logic, yet they felt more real than anything he had ever experienced.

> [SYSTEM MESSAGE: A CHANCE IN LIFE]

Welcome, Noah Quinn. You have been granted a second chance.

Loading system functions…

His breathing was uneven, his heart pounding in his chest. A system? He had read about this kind of thing in web novels before, reincarnations, game-like abilities, stats, missions. But this wasn't fiction.

This was real.

The screen blinked, changing to display a new message.

> [SYSTEM FUNCTIONS LOADED]

User: Noah Quinn

Age: 16

Stats Available: [View]

Skills Available: [View]

Missions: [View]

Noah hesitated before reaching out. His fingers passed through the translucent screen, but the moment he focused on the Stats Available option, a new window popped up.

[Noah Quinn - Status]

Strength: 4

Agility: 5

Endurance: 6

Intelligence: 8

Perception: 7

Luck: 3

He frowned. "Pretty low..."

His intelligence and perception were his highest stats, but the rest were unimpressive. His luck was especially bad, though that wasn't surprising, considering how his past life had gone.

Next, Skills.

> [SKILLS]

Observation (Level 1) – Allows the user to analyze people and situations better.

Memory Recall (Level 1) – Enhances memory, making it easier to retain and recall information.

Basic Math (Level 1) – Increases efficiency in calculations.

"Not even a single physical skill?"

Noah sighed. He wasn't expecting superpowers, but at least something combat-related would've been useful. Then again, he wasn't a fighter. He was a normal student, one who had struggled through life after his father passed.

And now, he had a chance to change that.

---

"Noah! Come eat breakfast!"

His mother's voice pulled him out of his thoughts. He dismissed the system screen and took a deep breath before heading out of his room.

The moment he stepped into the dining area, the sight nearly brought tears to his eyes.

His entire family was there.

His father, healthy and smiling, was seated at the head of the table. His mother was setting down a plate of fried rice and eggs, while his older siblings, Kuya Mark and Ate Angela, were eating and chatting.

It was a scene he hadn't experienced in years.

In his past life, meals had become lonely. His father's death had strained their family, and their financial struggles made food portions smaller and conversations more tense.

But now…

He clenched his fists.

This time, I won't let things fall apart.

---

"Son, what do you plan to do after school?" his father asked as he ate.

Noah paused. He remembered this moment. This was the year his father got sick. In a few months, he would suffer a heat stroke while working under the sun, forcing him to retire early.

If Noah could change something, it had to start now.

"Papa," he said carefully, "don't work under the heat. You might get sick. Baka magkasakit ka."

His father chuckled. "Our youngest is worried?"

Noah's mother smiled. "It's good that you're thinking about your father."

But his father just waved a hand. "We need the money, son. We're not rich."

Noah gritted his teeth.

In his past life, he hadn't thought much about their finances until it was too late. He had assumed things would work out, only to end up working multiple part-time jobs just to help his family survive.

This time, he would prepare.

"Papa," Noah said, his voice firm, "I'll find a way."

His father gave him an amused but curious look. "What do you mean?"

Noah took a deep breath. This was it. His first real change.

---

After breakfast, Noah rushed back to his room and summoned his system again.

If this system was truly meant to help him, he had to maximize it.

> [MISSIONS]

New Mission: Earn Your First 1,000 Pesos

Reward: +1 Luck, Unlock [Beginner's Business Skill]

His eyes lit up.

"Perfect."

In his past life, money had always been the problem. If he wanted to change his family's future, he needed to start earning now.

He quickly grabbed a notebook and started writing down ideas. What could a 16-year-old do to make money?

1. Tutoring – He had decent grades. Maybe he could tutor younger students.

2. Reselling Snacks – Buying wholesale and selling at school could bring in extra cash.

3. Freelancing Online – Writing or basic data entry could earn money, even in small amounts.

After considering his options, reselling snacks seemed the easiest.

He remembered a small store near their house that sold wholesale junk food. If he bought in bulk, he could sell at school for a small profit.

Noah smirked.

This time, I'll be smarter.

---

Before heading out, Noah decided to check his new skill.

> Beginner's Business Skill (Level 1) Unlocked!

Boosts understanding of profits, pricing, and negotiations.

The moment he activated it, something clicked in his brain. It was like his mind had sharpened suddenly, he could calculate potential profits in his head, and business strategies made sense.

"This… is amazing."

With this, he knew he could make money.

And if he succeeded, it would be the first step to ensuring his family never suffered the way they did in his past life.

Noah grabbed his wallet, counted his small savings, and headed out.

This was just the beginning.

But this time, he was ready.

---

End of Chapter 3

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