April 15th, 2028
Election Day – 9:14 PM
TG Tower, Executive Operations Floor
The top floors of TG Tower were unusually silent.
Not the productive silence of engineers deep in CAD simulations, nor the focused hush of analysts inside a planning room.
This silence was anticipatory. Coiled. Electric.
Every TV on the floor was tuned to the national networks.
Every wall-mounted transparent display showed real-time COMELEC partial counts.
Every desk had a muted stream running in the corner.
Hana stood beside Timothy's workstation, tablet against her chest, tension subtly tightening her shoulders.
"Sir," she said quietly, "COMELEC just released the next wave."
Timothy didn't respond immediately.
He stood before the panoramic windows overlooking BGC—hands in his pockets, posture relaxed but eyes sharp. Manila's skyline glowed beneath him. Lights flickered across the buildings like stars trapped in steel.
