March 4, 2023, 5 AM - Project 6, Quezon City, Philippines - Daniel's Apartment
*Ding!*
"The first mission is being assigned."
Daniel was jolted awake once more due to the sound of the notification that appeared in his mind. Although he has already accepted the existence of the system he is still not used to it and is still trying to adjust to it being with him.
"Take care of yourself," the system had instructed him.
Daniel couldn't believe it. "That's it?" he muttered to himself.
The system responded immediately, "Yes, your well-being is the foundation of overcoming everything."
Daniel was bewildered. He had expected a more challenging mission, something that would test his skills and intelligence. But as he thought about it, he realized that the system had a point. If he wasn't healthy, he wouldn't be able to tackle more difficult challenges in the future.
"So, what do I have to do?" he asked the system.
"You must improve your Physical, Emotional, and Mental well-being in the next seven days," the system replied. "You must complete a list of minimum requirements in order for the mission to be considered a pass, if you exceed the expectation however the system will determine a bigger reward for you."
Daniel listened attentively as the system explained the requirements.
- For Physical well-being:
- Engage in at least 1 hour of physical activity every day. (e.g., jogging, yoga, strength training)
- Eat at least three healthy meals a day, including fruits and vegetables
- Get at least 7 hours of sleep every night
- For your Emotional well-being:
- Spend time with friends or family at least once this week
- Do at least 1 thing that makes you happy every day, like a hobby or a favorite activity.
- Practice gratitude journaling - Write down three things you are grateful for each day.
- For your Mental Well-being:
- Read a W******l or Any Book for pleasure for at least 1 hour every day. (I recommend catching up with Mutagen, Exallion has been adding new chapters regularly recently. You have been lagging behind on its new chapters already.)
- Practice positive self-talk and challenge negative thoughts
- Practice deep breathing exercises to reduce stress and anxiety
The mission starts in 24 hours
Time limit: 7 days
The requirements seemed doable, and he was glad that the system wasn't expecting him to do anything too extreme. He knew that he needed to start working on his well-being, and the mission would give him the push he needed to do so.
"Okay, I can do this," Daniel said to himself.
The system reminded him of the reward that he could get if he exceeded the minimum requirement. The thought of getting a bigger reward was enticing, and it motivated him to aim for more than just the minimum.
With that concluded, Daniel slept for the first time in 3 days.
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March 4, 2023, 4 PM - Project 6, Quezon City, Philippines - Daniel's Apartment
When Daniel woke up, it was already 4 PM. He slept for 11 whole hours. Daniel realized that he must have been really exhausted and that he needed that rest. Although the mission will only start tomorrow morning at 5 AM, He decided to start taking care of himself already. He hasn't eaten or drunk anything yet for the past few days, so he decided to take a bath, go out, and grab some early dinner.
After taking a refreshing bath, Daniel put on some clean clothes and headed out to grab some food. Since he had money to spend now, he decided to go to an unlimited food restaurant near him. He booked a Grab car to #14 Examiner, Quezon City. He chose to eat at Hodai, an unlimited K-bbq and seafood place.
When he arrived at Hodai, the smell of grilled meat and seafood welcomed him. It was already past lunchtime, so the restaurant wasn't too crowded. He went straight to an empty table. He ordered a bunch of meats, greens, and seafood.
When Daniel entered Hodai, the aroma of grilled meats and seafood greeted him. As it was past lunchtime, the restaurant wasn't crowded, and he easily found an empty table. After ordering a variety of meats, greens, and seafood, he was about to start grilling when he noticed a woman sitting alone at a nearby table. Her downcast expression tugged at his heart, and he felt the urge to approach her.
"Hi," he said, gesturing to the empty seats at her table. "Although there are a lot of empty seats, it's kinda lonely to eat alone. Do you mind if I join you at this table?"
The woman looked up at him, surprised. "Sure," she said with a slightly awkward smile.
"I'm Daniel. What's your name?" he introduced himself. "I'm Molly," she replied.
Daniel sensed that Molly was going through something, so he decided to strike up a conversation. "How's your day going?" he asked. Molly sighed. "Not so great, to be honest. I got some bad news this morning, and I'm still trying to process it." "I'm sorry to hear that. Do you want to talk about it?" Daniel asked, hoping to provide some comfort.
As Molly shared her troubles, Daniel actively listened, asking her questions and offering empathy and support. They talked for a while, and as their conversation progressed, he noticed Molly's mood beginning to lighten. "Thank you so much for listening to me, Daniel. I feel a lot better now," Molly said, smiling at him. "It was my pleasure, Molly. Sometimes, all we need is someone to talk to," Daniel replied, returning her smile. "Do you mind if I add you on F******k? Err... I don't mean any harm. I just want to stay in contact and maybe be friends."
Molly hesitated for a moment but then nodded her head. "Sure, I don't mind," she replied.
Daniel felt a sense of relief wash over him. He knew that making new friends as an adult could be difficult, but he felt like he had found someone special in Molly. They exchanged information and promised to keep in touch.
As they said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.
Daniel felt good about their conversation and was glad that he was able to help Molly in some way. He realized that sometimes, all it takes is a listening ear and a kind heart to make a difference in someone's day.
As Daniel traveled back to his apartment, he noticed that the sky had turned a beautiful shade of orange and pink. The sun was setting, and the world around him was bathed in a warm glow. Daniel took a deep breath, feeling a sense of calm wash over him.
March 5, 2023, 5 AM - Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines - Quezon Memorial CircleDaniel 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 kne
March 5, 2023, 9:30 AM - Mindanao Avenue, Quezon City, Philippines - On the Road to Vertis NorthDaniel sat in the car, scrolling through his phone, and watching some TikTok videos as they made their way to Vertis North. The area where the condominium building was located wasn't really that far from Daniel's old apartment; it was just that there was almost always traffic in these parts (and even most parts of Metro Manila). While watching a video of newborn birds being fed worms, he felt his phone vibrate. Checking the notifications, he saw that it was a reply from Molly."Hi, Daniel! Sorry for the late reply. I just woke up actually. :) Yes, I am free later today. I don't mind hanging out. What do you have in mind for later?" Molly said through chat.Daniel's heart skipped a beat as he read Molly's message. He was about to type in his reply, his phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. It was his mother, so he immediately picked up the call."Hi, Ma," Daniel said, trying to sound casua
March 5, 2023, 10:00 AM - Vertis North, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines - Penthouse Unit 001The elevator doors opened to reveal a stylish and artfully decorated hallway that greeted Daniel as he stepped out. Paintings hung on the walls, each with its unique style, while sculptures were tastefully placed in every corner. The hallway's simple yet elegant design was carefully thought out, with clean lines and a muted color scheme that added to the sophisticated ambiance of the penthouse.As Daniel approached his unit's door, he took out his key card to unlock it. However, he paused mid-insertion and retracted the card, suddenly struck with a thought. Setting his bags down beside the door, he took out his phone and opened the Grab app to order groceries. With a few taps, he selected some snacks and frozen goods and added a 5 kg sack of rice and a 1/2 kg bag of salt to the cart. Additionally, he ordered two appropriately sized containers to store the rice and salt.He recalled his mothe
March 5, 2023, 1:00 PM - Vertis North, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines - Penthouse Unit 001After finishing his lunch and taking a refreshing nap, Daniel woke up feeling rejuvenated. He checked his phone for any new messages and found a message from Molly."Hey, Daniel. I'm on my way to Ayala Vertis Mall now," Molly said through chat via Facebook Messenger.Daniel replied to Molly's message, "Hey Molly, just woke up from a short nap. I'll be ready in a few minutes."Daniel thought about the motorcycle reward he just received from the system, and typed another message to Molly "By the way, where are you coming from? Do you want me to pick you up?"Molly quickly responded, "Thanks for the offer, Daniel. I live around Muñoz, Quezon City. It's just one ride away to Vertis North. I'll be fine.""Alright, See you then. Just let me know when you're almost here," Daniel replied.After their short conversation, Daniel made his way to the bathroom to freshen up. He took a quick shower and go
March 5, 2023, 3:00 PM - Vertis North, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines - Ayala Malls Vertis NorthDaniel's heart sank as a familiar voice pierced through the air, instantly sending a mix of unease and apprehension settling in his gut. He turned, and there she was—Judee, walking towards him with JM by her side. It was the voice he had hoped to never hear again."Daniel? Is that you?" Judee's grin widened as she saw Daniel's discomfort. Her eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint.Turning, they both saw Judee walking towards them with JM by her side. Daniel felt a knot forming in his stomach as he forced a polite smile. "Hey, Judee. How are you?"Judee's grin widened as she saw Daniel's discomfort. "I'm doing great! Look, JM just bought me an Armani watch worth Php. 16,000!" She paused, noticing Daniel's watch. "Oh, I see you're still wearing that cheap watch. Some things never change, I guess."*Ding!*Suddenly, Sampaguita's robotic voice interrupted Daniel's thoughts."Major Mission
March 5, 2023, 4:30 PM - Vertis North, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines - Ayala Malls Vertis NorthAs Daniel strolled out of the Armani store with Molly, he felt a weight being lifted off his shoulders. For the first time in a while, he felt content and at peace with himself. He glanced down at the watch on his wrist, and a smile of satisfaction spread across his face. The watch did not define him, but it symbolized his newfound confidence and strength. He had purchased it not to flaunt his new wealth to Judee but because he genuinely liked the design of the watch. It was also a small way for him to prove to himself that he could be happy without someone who had caused him so much pain. As they walked, he couldn't help but think that he had been basing his happiness on external factors such as Judee and the things around him. That's why he felt crushed and helpless when those things were taken away from him. But now, he saw that true happiness should come from within. It was up to hi
March 5, 2023, 7:45 PM - Vertis North, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines - Penthouse Unit 001 Daniel finally arrived home, feeling exhausted yet satisfied from his day out with Molly. Together, they went shopping and bought new clothes, a new watch, and even a new journal notebook. Upon reaching his condo unit, he placed down the shopping bags, which he plans to sort out later, and took a moment to rest. After a while, Daniel rose and headed to the kitchen, where he brewed a refreshing cup of iced coffee. He carried his drink to the balcony and settled into a chair with his brand-new journal. As he savored his coffee, he reflected on his day and jotted down four things he was thankful for. Hello Journal, I'm not used to this, so please bear with me as I write down the things I'm grateful for today: 1. I'm thankful that I manage to start being active again. I plan to make it a regular habit to work out and prioritize my health. 2. I feel grateful to have met a friend like Molly.
March 5, 2023, 9:45 PM - Vertis North, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines - Penthouse Unit 001Daniel sat in bed, stealing a glance at the clock on his nightstand. It read 9:45 PM, and he had been trying to sleep for almost an hour. Despite his exhaustion, his excitement from his new workspace still pulsed through him, making it difficult to quiet his mind. Thoughts of the projects he could now work on and the prospect of working as a freelancer in advertising instead of being a full-time corporate slave brought a grin to his face. "Maybe having an iced coffee when I got home earlier wasn't such a great idea," he chuckled, still unable to drift off.So, he decided to get up and do something about his restless energy. He changed into comfortable jogger pants and a loose white shirt before heading down to the condominium gym. There, he hopped on the treadmill and ran for a bit, until his body started to relax.After his workout, he returned to his unit and stepped out onto the balcony to
April 3, 2023, 9:14 AM - 121 Valero Access Road 3 Salcedo Village, Makati, Philippines - 1900 Antel Corporate Center - Solé Corporate OfficeInside a small conference room in the client's office building, Daniel and the Inklusive team anxiously awaited their turn to present. TVWA, their competitor for this pitch, was currently showcasing their ideas in the main conference room.Glancing at his team, Daniel observed a mix of excitement and anxiety on their faces. Understanding the pressure they felt as part of Inklusive's first pitch, he leaned forward and addressed them in a calm, reassuring tone."Look at you guys," he chuckled, shaking his head. "Why are you all so nervous? Come on, have a little faith in yourselves! We've got this in the bag. We've put in the work, we've got the talent, and we've prepared an interesting campaign proposal. Trust me, we're well-prepared, and I believe in each and every one of you. Let's show them what Inklusive is capable of."His words seemed to eas
March 27, 2023, 11:30 AM - Makati City, PhilippinesAs the Inklusive team rode back to the office in one of their company cars, the tension from the encounter with the head of the competing agency still lingered in the air. The team couldn't help but discuss the arrogance they had witnessed, their voices filled with a mix of frustration and determination."I can't believe how arrogant that guy was," Jewel exclaimed, her voice laced with frustration. "Did you see the way he dismissed our ideas and belittled our capabilities? It was completely uncalled for."Daniel, who was sitting beside Jewel, sighed and said, "Don't let them get to you. If there is one thing I've learned in my time in advertising is that if you let intimidation blow your fuse, you lose. Learn to control your anger, you will encounter worse people than that in the industry, I can tell you that much. Besides, they did have grounds for their confidence, they are from TVWA, a bigwig in the advertising field, but let's no
March 27, 2023, 8:14 AM - Vertis North, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines - Orean Place CS 103 - Inklusive Creatives and Advertising's Temporary Office"Alright," Daniel addressed the Inkusive team, his voice filled with excitement and determination, "Good morning, everyone. Today is the first client brief the company will face, fosho it ain't the last, nevertheless, let's give it our all to secure this one."The team nodded in agreement, also excited for their, hopefully, first client"Okay," Daniel continued, "So Lily, Jewel, Dwight, JP, and Jhunel come with me, the rest can stay here and continue working on our social media. We'll update you on the progress later."The designated team members gathered their belongings and followed Daniel out of the office, excited and nervous for their first client brief with Inklusive. As they made their way to the client's location, the excitement in the air was palpable. This was a crucial opportunity for Inkusive to showcase their talents and
March 26, 2023, 9:27 AM - Senate Village Phase 2, Baranggay 173, Caloocan City, Philipines - Abelardo ResidenceAs his parents heard the commotion outside, they rushed out to welcome him back home. "Daniel!" his mom exclaimed as she embraced him."Ma, Pa, mano po," Daniel greeted them."Oh, Anak, your mom mentioned you were taking us somewhere?" his dad inquired."Yes, Pa, it's a surprise. Follow me there, and you can drive this car," Daniel replied, gesturing to the new car parked in front of their house. His parents were surprised to see it there, and they also noticed Mia standing next to the car."Is this your car, Anak? And who is this? Is she your new girlfriend? Why didn't you introduce her earlier?" his mom inquired.Hearing the comment Mia of course blushed but was too shy to retort. Daniel shook his head at the antics of his mother. "Ma, no po." He then turned to Mia and said, "Sorry bout that. Please don't mind my mom."Mia shook her head in response, indicating she doesn't
March 26, 2023, 5:41 AM - Vertis North, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines - Penthouse 001When Daniel woke up the next day, he was immediately jolted awake by Sampaguita's robotic voice, which, at this moment, was music to Daniel's ears.*Ding*"Congratulations host," Sampaguita announced, "Minor mission: Overcome being unknown has been completed.The host is hereby rewarded with 100 overcome points and a 4-bedroom house and lot property located in Mira Nila Homes, Pasong Tamo, Quezon City, Philippines.The title of the property will be sent right away to the host's current abode."Daniel smiled as he saw the house that was included in this time's reward. It was something he can use for something he had been wanting to do for a long time.So Daniel immediately got up, went through his morning daily routine of working out and making breakfast, ate then freshened up to prepare to go somewhere.But before he left, he picked up his phone and dialed an all-familiar number to him."Hey, ma.
March 25, 2023, 11:23 AM - Vertis North, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines - Orean Place CS 103 - Inklusive Creatives and Advertising's Temporary OfficeAfter retrieving his motorcycle, Daniel drove straight back to the condominium and parked it in his designated spot before making his way inside.As he entered the building, a cameraman caught sight of him and signaled to his partner, who was holding a microphone with an 'INQ' logo. The two turned towards Daniel, drawing the attention of the others nearby.Realizing that they were all there to interview him, Daniel was taken aback. There were seven pairs of reporter-cameramen waiting for him, including three from TV networks and four from newspapers."Are you Mr. Daniel Abelardo? Hi! I'm Gale from The Inquirer, can we have an interview with you?" asked the woman holding the "INQ" microphone."Sir, I'm Phoebe from Rappler, can we ask a few questions?" another lady interjected.The reporters all spoke at once, overwhelming Daniel with
March 25, 2023, 5:38 AM - Vertis North, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines - Penthouse 001Yesterday, Inklusive not only uploaded the remaining videos but also collaborated with content creators who share their advocacy. In return, the company promoted the creators' videos about their campaign on social media, which helped increase their campaign's reach.However, the downside is that Daniel's projections show that even with the current boost, they might only get a maximum of 3.5 million organic reach. This news weighed heavily on him, causing him to worry about failing their mission this time."This is frustrating," Daniel sighed. "But on the bright side, we were able to raise awareness for the drivers' situation, right?"So after his morning usual routine, Daniel went down to the office. He tasked the team to relax for now and start to shift their focus to the next goal at hand. Preparing to attend client briefs with various companies to create pitches for paid ad campaigns.Daniel a
March 24, 2023, 5:38 AM - Vertis North, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines - Penthouse 001The next day, Daniel woke up to the sound of his alarm and immediately reached for his phone. As he scrolled through his notifications, he felt his heart skip a beat. The company's social media accounts were buzzing with activity.He had been closely monitoring the first video they posted last night, which they had released on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Tiktok, and the company website. When he called it a day, the video only had a few reactions and comments from team members, acquaintances, and volunteers of the foundation. But now, his eyes widened as he saw that the Facebook post alone had over 123,000 reactions and more than 1000 shares.Excitedly, Daniel began reading some of the positive comments out loud, "This video made me realize the struggles of our drivers, thank you for raising awareness" and "The imported modernization is so expensive! The government should find better alternative
March 22, 2023, 1:23 PM - 596 Monumento Rotonda, Caloocan, Philippines - Monumento CircleOn the day of the shoot, Daniel and his team arrived at the circle and worked closely with Berto, who coordinated the logistics for the shoot with the foundation and the drivers. As they arrived on site, Daniel called out to Berto, waving his hand in greeting."Yo Berto!" he exclaimed.Berto turned around and smiled at the group. "You guys all set up?" he asked."Yeah, we're ready to go," Daniel replied.Following Berto's lead, the team captured footage of the food distribution, the stranded passengers, and the people getting into the cars provided by Inklusive for free rides. The long line of passengers waiting for a ride seemed relieved that they would finally be able to reach their destinations. Some of them took photos, while others expressed their gratitude for being able to get a ride without having to pay a single centavo. It was heartwarming to see the community coming together in support