The morning sun shone softly through the NovaTech building's tinted glass. Elian Reyes entered the air-conditioned foyer with a mixture of nervousness and excitement. He donned a plain white button-down shirt and black slacks, which he had borrowed from his older cousin just a few days previously. Today, they felt like a proper outfit for a guy moving into the future.
He boarded the elevator to the fourth story, his heart racing as each number came up.
Ding.
The doors opened.
"Elian Reyes?" A receptionist greeted with a friendly smile. Please follow me. "HR is waiting."
He was escorted into a bright, professional-looking room, where Andrea from HR and a legal officer sat behind a desk. A spotless folder was open on the table.
"Congratulations again, Mr. Reyes," Andrea remarked, motioning him to sit. "Here's your formal contract. We've included all of your benefits, role description, and remuneration information.
Elian sat down gently and scanned the pages. His breath caught.
Position: Full-Stack Developer
Monthly salary: ₱120,000.
Start Date: Immediate
His hands froze for a moment.
Andrea noted that management has approved a ₱50,000 cash bonus as a performance award for completing the emergency project. It will be credited to your bank account within one day. Andrea's voice was firm and comforting. "You have truly impressed everyone, Elian. The president personally approved your bonus after witnessing how quickly and efficiently you handled that essential project. Welcome to the team. urgent project
He looked up, surprised.
"T-thank you," he mumbled. "This means so much to me."
Andrea smiled. "You've earned it. We're thrilled to have you here.
After signing the contract, she gave him an official NovaTech ID, a printed calendar of his remote onboarding assignments, and a personalized onboarding folder.
"Expect an email with the login credentials for our internal systems," she told me. "But for now, enjoy your two-day rest. "You have earned it."
============================================================
Later that day,
Elian stepped out of the Grab car with a happy heart and the weight of a new life in his luggage. But when he approached the rusting gate of their family compound, something felt strange.
He overheard sobbing.
Confused, he increased his speed.
Inside their little living room, he noticed his mother sitting on the couch, silently folding laundry. Her hands trembled. Her swollen, crimson eyes peered up at him.
"Elian," she whispered.
His sixteen-year-old younger sister, Mia, was quietly packing a small duffel bag in the corner.
"What is going on?" " Elian inquired, the delight in his chest fading into ash.
His mother stood up, attempting to collect herself. "Your Father... He fell from scaffolding on the construction site. "They brought him to the public hospital."
Elian's heart fell.
"His legs..." "Both of them are broken," she explained, her voice shaking. "Doctors claim there are difficulties. Internal fractures. "If we don't operate within a week, they might have to amputate..."
The world swirled.
"Where is he now?" "
"In a hospital. "Orthopedic ward," she explained. "He's stable for now."
Elian dropped his luggage and ran.
===========================================================
As Elian entered the tiny hospital room, he detected a strong antiseptic odor. His father was comatose on the bed, skinny and pale, with his legs elevated and badly wrapped. Tubes ran along his arm, and machines beeped continuously.
Elian's uncle sat beside him, as did a tired-looking nurse updating the charts.
Elian's chest clenched. His father appeared smaller, older, and weaker.
This was the same man who had worked 12-hour days in the heat and rain simply to get to college. When he was ten years old, the man arrived home with tired muscles but found the strength to help him with math. And now, he was helpless.
A faint knock on the door caught their attention.
It was the doctor.
"Are you the son?" "He inquired kindly.
"Yes," Elian responded.
The doctor exhaled. "We reviewed the MRI. There are several complex fractures causing muscle and nerve injury. He requires reconstructive surgery immediately."
"How much?" "
The doctor paused. "₱216,021. That includes the surgery, post-operative therapy, and medication."
Elian's mother gripped the handkerchief tightly.
"What if we can't do it?" She asked in a raspy whisper.
"We may have no choice but to amputate both legs," the doctor stated gravely. "I'm sorry."
The room appeared to tilt.
He stared at his father, who was unconscious, a shadow of the guy who used to carry sacks of cement on his back to support the family.
That night - At Home
They sat at the dinner table, silent.
His mom pushed the rice around her plate. Mia sat down quietly after placing a bottle of soy sauce on the table. Nobody ate.
Elian truly looked at them.
His mother had aged. Her facial wrinkles were no longer caused solely by smiling. His sister had been quiet. Even the air seemed heavy.
"I received a job offer," Elian finally said.
Both of their heads rose.
"At NovaTech," he added. "They are paying me ₱120,000 per month... I received a ₱50,000 bonus already.
His mother gave a gasp. "One hundred and twenty…?" "
Elian nodded. "I'm going to cover the surgery."
"But—Elian, we—"
"No, Ma. This is not open for argument."
He dug into his suitcase, took out the NovaTech folder, and placed it on the table next the house's title paperwork.
Her eyes expanded. "What is this?" "
"A new beginning," he stated softly.
Tears filled her eyes. "We can't ask this of you."
"You didn't," Elian replied, clenching his fist. I owe you both everything. You and Papa worked tirelessly to ensure that I had an education. It's time for you both to live with dignity.
Then he remembered something.
The system.
Trading Skill.
It was unlocked during his interview mission. He hadn't used it yet, but he remembered the tooltip well:
[ Trading Skill (Advanced) ]
Allows user to profit from short-term market predictions and digital assets with reduced risk. Recommended for responsible, time-sensitive situations.
He stood up and went to his room, taking out his laptop. The system's interface appeared before him.
A new notification blinked.
[Side Missions Available]
Use Trading Skill to Earn ₱100,000 or More
Time Limit: 1 day.
Reward: Insider-level market intelligence
He smiled.
It was time to trade not for profit, but for family.