Reinforcing His Foundations

March 5, 2023, 5 AM - Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines - Quezon Memorial Circle

Daniel slept soundly the previous night and woke up feeling refreshed and energized.

*Ding!*

"7 Hours of sleep was achieved. The system has recorded your progress," the system announced right after Daniel woke up.

Daniel smiled at the already-becoming familiar sound and felt even more motivated to start his day. But he suddenly thought that it might sound strange if he referred to the voice as a "system" in public.

"Hey, is there a different name I can call you when other people are around? Maybe something I can pretend like an AI assistant from my phone?" Daniel asked the voice.

After a brief pause, the voice replied, "You can call me Sampaguita."

Daniel chuckled to himself. It was a relief to have a name to use instead of referring to the voice as "system." He got out of bed, ready to start his day with Sampaguita's guidance.

He checked his phone and saw that it was only 4:45 AM. He knew it was early, but he decided to get up and start moving. Today is the official start of his first mission from Sampaguita, the system.

After getting dressed, Daniel reviewed the tasks he had to complete for the day. He was determined to meet the minimum requirements set by the system and, if possible, exceed them. He felt excited to take on the challenge and improve his physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

"Alright! I can do this! I'll do well!" Daniel muttered to himself before exiting his apartment's door.

*Ding!*

"Practice positive self-talk and challenge negative thoughts, complete. The system has recorded your progress."

He left his apartment and headed to the Quezon Memorial Circle, a massive park where he could jog and breathe in the fresh air. He was greeted by a variety of people doing different activities. some were doing exercises, some were playing sports, some are having a picnic, and some are just walking around, which added to the lively atmosphere.

Daniel started his warm-up stretches, focusing on his legs, arms, and back to prepare himself for his jog. He stretched for a few minutes and then began jogging inside the Quezon Memorial Circle. The cool morning breeze filled his lungs as he took in the peaceful beauty of the park.

As he jogged and circled around the 217 ft shrine at the center of the park, he couldn't help but admire the view around him. The park was like a giant playground, with people of all ages and backgrounds coming together to engage in various activities. He was surrounded by trees, gardens, and fountains, all contributing to the calming ambiance of the area.

Daniel picked up his pace as he continued his jog, feeling his body warm up and invigorated. He felt grateful for the opportunity to improve his well-being and was eager to continue on this path.

After jogging for almost an hour he cooled down by walking for a few more laps before sitting on a bench on the side.

*Ding!*

"1 hour of physical activity achieved. The system has recorded your progress," the system announced.

He sat and rested there and while he did, he took out his phone to read on the W******l app. He opened Mutagen and saw that he was already 90 chapters behind, so he started reading at 902, from where he left off. As he read, he felt his mind relax and unwind.

Daniel became engrossed in his reading and lost track of time. It wasn't until he looked up from his phone that he noticed an hour and 12 minutes had passed.

*Ding!*

"1 hour of reading for pleasure achieved. The system has recorded your progress,"

*Ding!*

"Do 1 thing that makes you happy achieved. The system has recorded your progress," The system announced one, after the other. He only did 1 thing but checked off two things on his list.

Chuckling to himself, he made his way over to one of the karenderias within QC Circle to grab breakfast. He ordered a steaming bowl of Lugaw, two crispy pieces of kwekkwek, and a large refreshing glass of Buko juice.

As he enjoyed his breakfast, Daniel also multitasked and took care of some important errands. He quickly sent Php. 20,000 to his parents through Gcash and sent them a message to reassure them that he was doing well and not to worry about him. It has been quite a while since he was able to send money to his parents as he was struggling financially for quite a while already because of the worsening economy in the Philippines. This was even before he lost his job from The Metro Times TV.

He then used his phone to book a moving car for around 9 AM via Lalamove. A car would already suffice since he didn't really need to move that much. He carefully planned and organized everything, making sure that the move would go smoothly.

Daniel also paid his electric bill and his water bill through Gcash.

Finally, he gathered the courage to send Molly a message via F******k Messenger, this was the first time he had ever messaged her. He asked how she was doing and if she was free later that day to hang out. He felt a bit nervous but also excited.

_____________________________________________________________________

March 5, 2023, 8 AM - Project 6, Quezon City, Philippines - Daniel's Apartment

Daniel looked around his small apartment, taking note of what he needed to pack. He didn't have much to pack, which made the moving process easier. He went to his closet and pulled out his backpack and started packing his clothes.

After packing his clothes, he went to his work table and started packing his work laptop and its accessories. He carefully wrapped each accessory to prevent them from getting damaged during the move. He also made sure to pack his chargers and other important cables.

Daniel decided to give away the rest of his stuff to his neighbors as he would no longer need it. The condo unit is furnished with furniture and basic appliances, so there was no need to bring anything else. He felt relieved that he wouldn't have to worry about moving heavy furniture or appliances.

He walked over to his neighbors' doors and knocked, offering them his belongings. Some of his neighbors were surprised but grateful for the free items. Daniel felt happy that he could make a difference in someone else's life, no matter how small it may seem.

After giving away all his belongings, Daniel checked the time and saw that it was almost 9 AM. He went to his phone and checked his booking details for the moving car. He saw that the driver would arrive in 10 minutes, so he quickly gathered his backpack and laptop bag and made his way downstairs to wait.

Before leaving the apartment compound, Daniel knocked on the landlord's house and paid the rent he owed. He handed over Php. 7000 for the last month's rent, which he wasn't able to pay on time due to losing his job recently. Despite the landlord's cold demeanor towards him, he still added an extra Php. 1000 as a gesture of gratitude for everything the landlord had done for him during his stay. He knew it wasn't much, but it was the least he could do.

The landlord was surprised when Daniel handed him the payment with an additional amount. He looked at Daniel in surprise, but then his face broke into a small smile. "Thank you, Daniel. I appreciate this," he said, genuinely touched by the gesture.

Daniel nodded, relieved that the landlord didn't seem upset with him anymore. "It's the least I could do," he replied.

As he walked away, Daniel felt a weight lifted off his shoulders. He had finally settled his debt with the landlord.

After a few minutes, the moving car that Daniel booked via Lalamove arrived. He went outside and started loading his belongings into the back of the car. The driver assisted him and asked if everything was ready to go. Daniel confirmed that everything was loaded and ready, and he got into the front seat.

As they drove towards Vertis North in Diliman, Quezon City, Daniel couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. He had been living in a run-down apartment compound for years, and he was finally moving into a modern condo with all the amenities he could ever need.

As they drove through the busy streets of Quezon City, Daniel looked out the window and took in the sights and sounds of the city. He saw people going about their daily lives, vendors selling their wares on the street, and towering buildings reaching toward the sky. He felt grateful to live in such a vibrant and dynamic city, and he knew that his new home in Vertis North would be the perfect place for him to start this new chapter in his life.