Brando tightened his grip on the phone as he listened to the cheerful voice on the other end.
"Well, congratulations! You are qualified to join the contest. Please come back to the office tomorrow morning," the caller announced.
A wave of relief washed over him. "Okay, thank you," Brando replied warmly before ending the call.
He turned to Alvin, his eyes bright. "I got in. They accepted me."
"I told you! This is gonna be great!" Alvin said, grinning from ear to ear.
Brando, however, tried to stay grounded. "I don't want to expect too much. Winning isn't guaranteed."
"Bro, you have to fight," Alvin insisted. "The cash prize is five thousand dollars! Just think—if you win, you can help your family with that amount!"
Brando thought about it for a moment. Alvin had a point. "You're right, bro. I'll try my best," he said with a smile.
"Good. Now let's get some rest."
Before long, both had drifted into a much-needed sleep.
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