The rain returned by noon, soft but steady, drumming lightly against the windows of the faculty lounge. Blake sat alone at a corner table, his laptop open but untouched, a cup of coffee cooling beside him. The chatter of other professors filled the room—mundane conversations about quizzes, deadlines, and weekend plans.
He listened quietly.
It felt unreal.
These people… these voices… these small, ordinary concerns…
All of them would be swept away in ninety-seven days.
He closed his eyes.
And as always, his thoughts drifted to his family.
Not just Marie and the kids.
Not just his in-laws.
But the people across the ocean—his parents, his siblings, his nieces and nephews.
It wasn't random.
It wasn't obsession.
It was culture.
It was who he was.
---
Why Blake Always Thinks of His Family
Blake grew up in a Filipino household where family wasn't just important—it was the center of everything.
Meals were shared.
Problems were shared.
Victories were shared.
Life was shared.
And being Igorot made that bond even stronger.
In the Cordillera, family isn't just blood.
It's identity.
It's community.
It's obligation.
It's pride.
You carry your family the way you carry your name—
with honor, with responsibility, with quiet strength.
Blake grew up hearing his father say:
> "Ti pamilya ket saan nga mabayadan. You protect them no matter what."
> (Family cannot be bought. You protect them no matter what.)
He grew up watching his mother work long nights at the hospital, then still wake up early to cook breakfast for all five children.
He grew up seeing his siblings rely on each other, fight each other, defend each other.
He grew up in reunions where laughter filled the house, where cousins ran around barefoot, where elders told stories of ancestors who survived wars, famine, and hardship by staying together.
And when his parents and siblings immigrated to the US ten years ago, that bond didn't weaken.
If anything, it grew stronger.
Distance made the heart ache.
Distance made every reunion precious.
Distance made every goodbye painful.
He remembered the airport scenes—
tight hugs, tears, promises to call, promises to visit, promises to stay connected.
He remembered the yearly reunions when everyone flew home—
the noise, the chaos, the joy, the food, the stories, the laughter.
He remembered how full the house felt.
How alive.
And he remembered how empty it became after they left again.
So yes—
Blake always thought of his family.
Because that's what Filipinos do.
Because that's what Igorots do.
Because that's what he was raised to do.
And because in the old timeline…
He lost them all.
Without warning.
Without goodbye.
Without a chance to save them.
That grief carved itself into his bones.
It lived in him.
It drove him.
It haunted him.
And now, in this second life, it guided him.
---
Blake opened his eyes.
The faculty lounge was still there—warm, noisy, normal.
He took a slow breath.
He needed money.
He needed land.
He needed manpower.
He needed secrecy.
And he needed all of it fast.
A soft chime echoed in his mind.
---
[System Notice: Financial Planning Module Unlocked]
[Would you like to review recommended strategies?]
---
Blake whispered, "Show me."
A translucent panel appeared before his eyes.
---
Recommended Financial Strategies
- 1. Expand Construction Company Operations
Acquire new contracts. Increase manpower. Maximize profit.
- 2. Secure Land Investments
Identify undervalued lots suitable for shelter construction.
- 3. Utilize Professional Network
Leverage connections in architecture, engineering, and real estate.
- 4. Prepare for International Extraction
Allocate funds for emergency travel, relocation, and logistics.
- 5. Avoid Suspicious Activity
Maintain normal behavior to prevent premature attention.
---
Blake's jaw tightened.
He knew all of this.
He had lived through the consequences of not doing it.
Another line appeared.
---
[Note: User's Brother (Real Estate) possesses valuable market insight]
[Note: User's Father (Mining Engineer) has knowledge of underground stability]
[Note: User's Mother and Siblings (Medical Professionals) will be critical assets]
---
Blake's chest tightened.
His family wasn't just people he loved.
They were people the world needed.
A mining engineer father who understood the earth.
A doctor mother who saved lives.
A doctor sister.
A civil engineer brother-in-law.
A nurse sister-in-law.
A nurse brother.
A nurse youngest sister.
A US Air Force sergeant brother-in-law.
They were a team.
A tribe.
A community.
They were the kind of people who could rebuild a world.
If they survived.
He swallowed hard.
He needed to call them.
Soon.
But not yet.
Not until he had something real to offer.
Not until he could say:
> "Come home. I can protect you."
He stood abruptly, startling a nearby professor.
"Sir Blake? Everything okay?"
He forced a smile. "Just need some air."
---
The Search for Land
After his afternoon class, Blake drove to his construction company's small office near Marcos Highway. The rain had eased, leaving the roads slick and reflective.
Inside, his staff greeted him warmly.
"Sir Blake! Good afternoon!"
"Sir, the client from Camp 7 called—"
"Sir, the final payment for the townhouse project just came in."
His secretary, Liza, approached with a folder. "Sir, here are the documents you asked for last week—land listings, ongoing bids, and potential clients."
He had forgotten he requested these.
Before regression.
Before the world ended.
Before everything changed.
He took the folder. "Thank you."
He retreated into his office and closed the door.
He sat at his drafting table and opened the folder.
Land listings.
Property auctions.
Foreclosed lots.
Undervalued parcels.
He scanned each page carefully.
Too small.
Too steep.
Too expensive.
Too exposed.
Too unstable.
Then he found it.
A 1,200‑square‑meter lot in a secluded area near Itogon.
Foreclosed.
Undervalued.
Accessible but hidden.
Stable soil.
Close to water sources.
Far from major roads.
His heart quickened.
This was it.
The system pulsed.
---
[Suitable Build Site Detected]
[Recommendation: Acquire Immediately]
[Estimated Cost: 3,800,000 PHP]
[Estimated Time to Secure: 7–14 Days]
---
Blake leaned back in his chair.
Three point eight million pesos.
He didn't have that much liquid cash.
Not even close.
But he had assets.
He had equipment.
He had credit.
He had clients.
He had a company.
He could make it work.
He had to.
He grabbed his keys and left the office.
---
The Land in Itogon
The road to Itogon wound through pine forests and steep slopes, the mist thickening as Blake drove deeper into the mountains. The air grew colder, sharper, carrying the scent of wet earth and moss.
He parked at the edge of the foreclosed lot and stepped out.
The land stretched before him—quiet, secluded, surrounded by natural barriers.
The system pulsed.
---
[Scanning Terrain…]
[Soil Stability: High]
[Flood Risk: Low]
[Seismic Risk: Moderate]
[Excavation Feasibility: Excellent]
[Shelter Compatibility: Optimal]
---
Blake exhaled.
This was perfect.
He stood in the center of the lot, rain misting lightly against his face.
He could see it.
The entrance.
The reinforced walls.
The underground chambers.
The escape tunnel.
The medical bay.
The living quarters.
The command room.
A fortress beneath the earth.
A sanctuary.
A home.
He closed his eyes.
He saw Marie.
He saw Mikaela.
He saw Aer.
He saw Marie's parents.
He saw her siblings.
He saw his parents in California.
He saw his siblings in Las Vegas.
He saw their children.
All of them.
Safe.
Alive.
Breathing.
He opened his eyes.
"This is where it begins," he whispered.
The system pulsed softly.
---
[Objective Updated: Acquire Land]
[Time Remaining: 97 Days]
---
Blake turned back toward his car.
He had made his first move.
But the real battle was only beginning.
The mist thickened as Blake walked back toward his car, the cold air settling on his skin like a quiet reminder of the mountains he grew up in. The Cordillera had always been like this—moody, shifting, alive. A place where the land itself felt like an ancestor watching over you.
He paused at the edge of the lot and looked back one more time.
This land would become a sanctuary.
A fortress.
A home.
But only if he could secure it.
He opened the car door, slid inside, and rested his forehead against the steering wheel.
Three point eight million pesos.
He didn't have it.
Not yet.
But he had to find a way.
For everyone he loved.
The system pulsed softly.
---
[Objective: Acquire Land]
[Suggested Action: Contact Seller]
---
Blake exhaled and pulled out his phone.
He dialed the number listed in the folder.
It rang twice before a voice answered.
"Good afternoon, sir. This is Reyes Realty."
Blake straightened. "Good afternoon. I'm calling about the foreclosed lot in Itogon—1,200 square meters, listed under the municipal bank."
"Ah, yes, sir. That property is still available. Are you interested?"
"Yes," Blake said. "I'd like to schedule a viewing and discuss the terms."
"We can arrange a site visit tomorrow morning, sir. As for the price, the bank is asking for 3.8 million, but they may consider negotiation depending on your payment terms."
Blake's pulse quickened.
Negotiation.
That was something he could work with.
"Tomorrow morning is fine," he said. "Please send me the details."
"Yes, sir. We'll email you shortly."
He ended the call and leaned back in his seat.
Tomorrow.
He had until tomorrow to figure out how to make this work.
---
The Weight of Money
Blake drove back toward the city, the road winding through pine forests and fog. His mind raced with numbers.
His construction company had just finished a major townhouse project.
The final payment had come in.
But most of it was already allocated:
- Salaries
- Equipment maintenance
- Taxes
- Supplier payments
- Office rent
- Ongoing projects
He had maybe 1.2 million pesos in liquid funds.
Not enough.
Not even half.
He gripped the steering wheel tighter.
He could take a loan.
But loans took time.
And time was the one thing he didn't have.
He could sell equipment.
But he needed equipment to build the shelter.
He could take on more projects.
But projects took weeks—months—to complete.
He needed something faster.
Something immediate.
Something bold.
The system pulsed again.
---
[Recommendation: Utilize Professional Network]
[Note: User's Brother-in-law (Foreman) can increase manpower]
[Note: User's Brother (Real Estate) can assist with negotiation]
[Note: User's Father (Mining Engineer) can advise on excavation]
---
Blake swallowed hard.
His family.
Even now, the system pointed him back to them.
Because that was how he was raised.
In Igorot culture, you never carried burdens alone.
You shared them.
You lifted each other.
You survived together.
But he couldn't tell them the truth.
Not yet.
He needed to move carefully.
He needed to act normal.
He needed to protect them without alarming them.
He drove in silence, the mist thickening around him.
---
A Visit to Marie's Parents
Instead of going straight home, Blake turned toward Bakakeng, where Marie's parents lived. Their house sat on a quiet slope, surrounded by pine trees and terraced gardens.
He parked outside and took a deep breath.
He needed to see them.
He needed to remind himself why he was doing all of this.
He knocked on the door.
It opened almost immediately.
"Blake!" Marie's mother beamed. "Anak, come in! Marie told us you might drop by."
He stepped inside, warmth enveloping him instantly. The smell of pinikpikan simmering in the kitchen filled the air.
Marie's father sat at the table, reading the newspaper. He looked up and smiled. "Ah, Blake. Kumusta?"
Blake forced a smile. "I'm okay, Dad."
He wasn't.
But he couldn't say that.
He sat with them, listening to their stories—small things, everyday things. The kind of things he had missed in the old timeline.
Marie's mother placed a bowl of soup in front of him. "Eat, anak. You look tired."
He stared at the bowl.
Pinikpikan.
A dish rooted in tradition.
A dish shared during gatherings, celebrations, and moments of healing.
A dish that symbolized family.
He lifted the spoon with trembling hands.
The warmth spread through him, grounding him.
He blinked rapidly, fighting the sting in his eyes.
Marie's father noticed. "Blake? Something wrong?"
Blake shook his head. "No. Just… grateful."
Marie's mother smiled softly. "Family is everything, anak. Remember that."
He nodded.
He remembered.
He always remembered.
---
The First Decision
After dinner, Blake stepped outside to breathe the cold night air. The fog had thickened, wrapping the neighborhood in a soft, ghostly blanket.
He looked up at the sky.
Ninety-seven days.
He pulled out his phone and opened his banking app.
1,204,000 pesos.
He exhaled slowly.
He needed more.
He needed to take a risk.
He needed to move now.
He dialed a number.
It rang once.
"Sir Blake?" his foreman brother-in-law, Marco, answered. "Everything okay?"
Blake hesitated.
Then said the first step of the truth:
"I need your help."
---
The Call
Marco's voice sharpened. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing urgent," Blake lied. "I just… found a property. A big one. I'm thinking of buying it for a long-term project."
"A project? What kind?"
Blake looked at the fog-covered street.
"A shelter," he said quietly. "A safe place. For the family."
Marco was silent for a moment.
Then he said, "Tell me when and where. I'll help."
Blake closed his eyes.
One step forward.
One ally gained.
One move made.
The system pulsed softly.
---
[Objective Progress: 12%]
[Next Step: Secure Funding]
---
Blake lowered the phone and whispered into the cold night:
"I'm coming for all of you. I won't fail again."
---