January 18th, 2026.


    It was the first day of Michael''s fourth year, first semester at the university. His entrance on campus was nothing short of a spectacle. Michael had always been a notable figure due to his innovative ventures and recent public achievements with the EcoRider buses. This morning, the buzz around him was palpable.


    "Michael! Michael! Please take a picture with me!" shouted an eager student, smartphone in hand, trying to navigate through the crowd that had gathered around him.


    "Don''t push! I was first!" another voice argued, as fans and curious onlookers jostled for a moment of his attention.


    Michael, ustomed to this level of adtion yet still humble, navigated the crowd with practiced ease, offering smiles and quick nods. His presence turned the usually mundane first day of the semester into an impromptu fan meeting. He was not just a student; he had be a symbol of innovation and sess and became a role model as a student of the university.


    It took only moments before the situation escted, with the crowd swelling as more students caught wind of Michael''s presence. The area around him became a hive of activity, buzzing with excitement and the shing of camera phones.


    "Please, everyone, give me some space!" Michael tried to maintain order, his voice barely cutting through the din of eager shouts and calls for attention. The throng of students pressed closer, each one vying for a chance to interact with the university''s most illustrious attendee.


    Seeing the crowd be unmanageable, the university guards quickly intervened. A burly guard, with years of experience in crowd control, took the lead. He blew a sharp whistle, momentarily cutting through the noise.


    "Alright, let''s clear the way!" the guardmanded, his authoritative voice rising above the crowd''s excitement. He and his colleagues began to gently, but firmly, usher students back, creating a buffer zone around Michael.


    "Folks, let''s keep it moving!" another guard chimed in, guiding the students to disperse and maintain a respectful distance. "Mr. Reyes needs to get to his ss, and so do you all. Let''s not block the campus pathways."


    The students, initially reluctant, started to heed the guards'' instructions, their enthusiasm tempered by the reminder of their own schedules and the guards'' firm yet respectful handling of the situation. The atmosphere transitioned into a more orderly and manageable state.


    Michael nodded his thanks to the guards, appreciating their timely assistance. "Thank you, officers. I didn''t expect such a wee back."


    "No problem, Mr. Reyes. It''s part of the job," the lead guard replied with a smile, acknowledging Michael''s gratitude. "Just let us know if you need any help."


    With the path cleared and the crowd now observing from a respectful distance, Michael proceeded to his ssroom, and along the way, he ran into Psylemon.


    "Yow? Michael!" Psylemon greeted with a grin, weaving through the thinning crowd to reach him.


    "Psylemon!" Michael eximed as he saw him.


    They both approached one another and exchanged a fist bump.


    "Guess we are blockmates again?" Michael said.


    "Yeah…thanks to you for covering my tuition fee, I was able to enroll early and choose the same schedule as yours," Psylemon replied his tone a mix of gratitude and yfulness. "I owe you one, man."


    Michael waved off the gratitude with a smile. "Don''t mention it. What are friends for, right? Besides, it''s good to have a familiar face around in sses."


    They made their way through the halls, discussing their course load for the semester and their ns.


    And then, Psylemon remembered something.


    "Michael…you were indeed serious when you said you are going to start your own transportation business?"


    Michael nced at Psylemon and saw a serious expression on his face.


    "It feels like you are doing it for me," Psylemon said.


    Michael chuckled. "Doing it for you? Well partly, I just want to get into the action since the traditional jeepney is going to be phased out, there will be a significant drop in jeepney, causing the supply of jeepney to decline. I am just filling the void the government policy has implemented. We need a sustainable and efficient transport system that can handle the demand."


    Psylemon nodded, clearly impressed. "That''s really proactive of you. But I''m grateful, Michael…I know it''s hard for me to say this but…will my father be part of yourpany? He is a great driver and has decades of experience in navigating Metro Man."


    "I''m considering it," Michael responded thoughtfully. "Your father''s experience would be invaluable to us. Plus, having seasoned drivers like him can really set a high standard for the kind of service we want to provide. Tell him to prepare his resume; I''d be interested in meeting with him to discuss potential opportunities."


    "Actually, I already have that in my bag, wait," Psylemon said as he started rummaging through his backpack, pulling out a well-prepared folder containing his father''s resume and credentials. He handed it to Michael with a hopeful look.


    Michael took the folder and flipped through it, noting the extensive driving experience,mendations, and a history of safe and efficient driving. "This is impressive," hemented, genuinely pleased. "Your dad''s track record speaks for itself. I''ll definitely consider him for a driving position, and possibly even for a training role to pass on his skills to new drivers."


    Psylemon''s face brightened with relief and joy. "Thanks, Michael. This means a lot to us."


    Michael smiled, sliding the folder into his bag. "I will have the HR of my transportation enterprise interview him and see where he fits best within our operations. As they reached their ssroom, Michael and Psylemon settled into their seats, the earlier chaos of the crowd now reced by the familiar routine of university life.


    Despite the shift in setting, Michael''s mind was still partially on his burgeoning transportation venture, considering how each decision, like employing experienced personnel like Psylemon''s father, would shape the future of hispany.


    For him, it''s so fun being rich. When you have the capital to start anything you want and with a technological system in your hand, it will be a lucrative move and nopetitors would be able topete due to the advanced technology.


    While waiting for the professor to arrive, his phone chimed with a notification that grabbed his attention immediately. It was an email from Te, Inc., a leading electric vehicle and clean energypany. The subject line read.


    "Invitation for a Strategic Meeting with Te."


    "Te is reaching out to me?" Michael mumbled under his breath.