Chapter 9: New Frontier

Chapter 9 - 9: New FrontierThe Land Bank building loomed ahead, its glass facade reflecting the afternoon sun. Richard, Anita, Jack, and Dino stepped inside, greeted by the cool blast of air-conditioning. The interior was sleek and professional—rows of tellers, security guards at the entrance, and a waiting area lined with cushioned chairs.

Richard approached the counter, handing over his manager's check and ID. The teller, a woman in a dark green uniform, scrutinized the documents.

"Congratulations, sir," she said with a polite smile. "We'll process this and transfer the amount to your account. It'll take a few minutes."

Jack leaned toward Richard. "Damn, bro. You're officially loaded now."

Richard smirked. "Feels weird."

A few minutes later, the teller returned with a sleek new debit card inside an envelope.

"Your funds are now available. Here's your ATM card. You can activate it at any Land Bank ATM or through our mobile app."

Richard took the card, staring at it for a moment. This was real. His life had changed.

After thanking the staff, they left the bank and hopped back into the VX Land Cruiser, heading toward SM Mall of Asia.

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The Mall of Asia stretched out before them, its massive glass structure reflecting the Manila skyline. One of the largest malls in the world, it was a maze of high-end stores, electronic shops, restaurants, and entertainment complexes. The entrance was a flurry of people—families, couples, and groups of friends moving in and out.



"Damn, I forgot how big this place is," Richard muttered.

Jack laughed. "Try not to get lost. First stop—Samsung Store."

They navigated through the crowd, eventually arriving at the Samsung Store. Bright LED screens showcased the latest models, and neatly arranged tables displayed the newest gadgets.

A store attendant greeted them. "Good afternoon! How can I assist you?"

Richard tapped the glass display. "I'll take the Samsung Galaxy SIII."

"Excellent choice, sir," the attendant said, retrieving the phone.

Jack nudged Richard. "From a dying Motorola to this? Big upgrade."

Richard grinned. "Finally, a phone that won't die every two hours."

Dino chuckled. "Bro, even my old Nokia had better battery life than that thing."

Once the purchase was finalized, they moved on to clothes shopping. They stopped by a high-end store, where Richard grabbed jeans, shirts, and sneakers, while Anita picked out dresses and casual wear.

Jack pulled a leather jacket off the rack and tossed it at Richard. "Try this. You need to start looking like a millionaire."

Richard raised a brow. "I'm not a rockstar."

"Yet," Jack joked.

Even Dino joined in, picking out a hoodie for Richard. "This fits your lazy-ass vibe more."

After paying, Jack stretched. "Alright, before we head out, we eat. I know a solid Korean restaurant here."

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They followed Jack to a cozy, modern Korean BBQ restaurant, where the sizzling sound of grilled meat filled the air. The waiter led them to a table with a built-in grill, soon filling it with samgyeopsal, bulgogi, kimchi, and banchan.

Jack took charge of the grill, flipping the meat with practiced ease.

"You do this a lot?" Richard asked, amused.

Jack grinned. "Too many times to count."

Anita, skeptical at first, tried a bite and nodded in approval. "This is actually really good."

Dino, who had been quiet, suddenly spoke. "Not bad, boss. But you should try spicy bulgogi next time. That's the real deal."

Jack smirked. "You sound like a food critic."

They ate heartily, the mix of smoky flavors and savory meat making the meal one to remember.

By the time they finished, 2 PM flashed on Jack's watch.

"Alright, time to go," he announced.

They gathered their shopping bags and walked back to the VX Land Cruiser, where Dino took the wheel. The streets of Manila were buzzing with traffic, but Dino maneuvered through like a pro.

As they drove toward NAIA Terminal 3, Richard stared out the window, watching the cityscape blur past.

The VX Land Cruiser rolled to a stop at the main entrance of NAIA Terminal 3. The massive terminal loomed ahead—tall glass windows reflecting the cloudy Manila sky, passengers rushing in and out, carts loaded with luggage, and security guards directing the flow of travelers.

Richard, Anita, and Jack grabbed their bags from the backseat. Jack turned to Dino before heading inside.

"You take care of the house now, bro. I've already informed Mom and Dad," Jack said. "Best if Marcello starts tomorrow. And for the internet café, you can close early after Mina's shift."

Dino nodded, adjusting his cap. "Got it, boss. I'll handle everything. Safe flight."

Richard gave him a nod of appreciation, while Jack patted him on the shoulder. With that, the three headed toward the entrance, stepping into the cool, air-conditioned terminal.

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The terminal was bustling—long lines at check-in counters, flight information boards flickering with arrivals and departures, the hum of conversations mixed with the occasional overhead announcement. The scent of coffee from nearby cafés lingered in the air, blending with the sterility of the airport.

Richard followed Jack and Anita toward the Cebu Pacific check-in counter. The queue moved steadily, and after a few minutes, they reached the counter.



"Tickets and IDs, please," the airline staff requested.

Jack handed over the three plane tickets Dino had given him earlier, while Richard and Anita showed their IDs. The attendant typed on her keyboard, checking their reservation.

"Alright, sir, your flight to Laguindingan Airport is on schedule for 3 PM. How many bags for check-in?"

"Just these two," Jack said, placing Anita's larger suitcase and Richard's duffel bag on the scale.

The attendant tagged their bags and handed them their boarding passes. "You're all set. Proceed to security check. Have a safe flight!"

They nodded in thanks and made their way toward security screening.

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The line for security check was longer than expected, filled with travelers from different flights. Passengers emptied their pockets, placed their bags on the conveyor belt, and stepped through the metal detectors one by one.

Richard placed his new Samsung SIII, wallet, and belt in a plastic tray, then walked through the scanner. It beeped.

"Sir, please step aside," the security officer said.

Richard sighed, stepping to the side as the guard did a quick pat-down. The officer checked his pockets, then waved him through.

"You're clear."

Jack smirked. "Bro, you look guilty even when you're not."

Richard shook his head, grabbing his stuff. "Man, I just attract bad luck."

Anita, already waiting, called them over. "Come on, boys. Let's go to the gate."

After passing through immigration, where their boarding passes and IDs were checked once again, they entered the departure area—a large hall with rows of seats, glass windows overlooking the tarmac, and a few food stalls selling overpriced sandwiches and bottled water.

They found seats near their gate, Gate 134, where other passengers for their flight were also waiting.

Jack checked his watch. "Still got 20 minutes before boarding."

Richard leaned back. "Not bad. At least we're not running late."

Anita was already flipping through her phone. "I'll message Uncle Estello that we're on time."

Jack stood up. "I'll grab water. Want anything?"

Richard shook his head. Anita waved him off.

Jack returned a few minutes later, handing Richard a bottle anyway.

"Hydrate, millionaire," he teased.


Richard rolled his eyes but took it.

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A crackling sound came from the overhead speakers.

"Attention passengers of Cebu Pacific Flight 5J381 bound for Laguindingan, we are now boarding. Passengers in rows 15 to 30, please proceed to the gate."

"That's us," Jack said, standing up.

They grabbed their bags and lined up. A flight attendant at the boarding counter scanned their tickets one by one.

"Enjoy your flight," she said with a smile.

The jet bridge led them into the aircraft, the cold interior instantly contrasting with the Manila heat outside. They moved through the narrow aisle, finding their seats—Jack took the window, Richard in the middle, Anita in the aisle seat.

Richard buckled his seatbelt, glancing outside as the plane's engines rumbled to life. The airport crew was busy outside, guiding aircraft and moving baggage carts.

Jack nudged him. "First time flying?"

"Nah, but it's been a while," Richard admitted.

The flight attendants ran through the usual safety demo, and soon, the aircraft began taxiing to the runway.



Richard felt a slight thrill as the plane accelerated, lifting off the ground.

As they ascended into the sky, leaving Manila behind, he knew—his life was about to change for good.

As the plane soared through the sky, the lights of Manila gradually faded beneath a blanket of clouds. Richard stared out the window, watching as the world below became nothing more than specks of light.

"It's been a while since I last flew," he said, leaning back against his seat. "The last time was when my first boss took us to Dakak. That was a good memory... I guess that was three years ago."

Jack turned his head. "Me too. Though this is only my third time flying. First time was when we went to Japan. Man, it was goddamn cold—I was eight years old back then. The second time was with my mom and dad in Cebu for Sinulog. That was two years ago."

Richard nodded, absently tapping his fingers on the armrest. His thoughts drifted.

I still can't get over the fact that I've won. The system is real... and it's all happening to me.

Jack let out a chuckle. "You know, it doesn't really change anything."

Richard glanced at him. "What do you mean?"

Jack stretched his arms. "I mean, whether a man is poor or rich, life still moves forward. Some people may never know what it's like to be rich, and others may never know what it's like to be poor. But in the end, everyone just keeps living."

Richard smiled, letting Jack's words sink in. "Yeah... I guess you're right."

He looked back out the window, the endless night sky stretching before them. Whatever lay ahead, he knew one thing—his life had just taken off in more ways than one.