Two hours into the drive, the car slowed to a stop beside a roadside eatery. The morning sun was just beginning to rise, casting a golden glow over the quiet streets. Richard felt the car jerk slightly as Jack pulled into a small parking space. Before Richard could even process where they were, he felt a nudge on his arm.
"Bro, wake up."
Richard groaned, rubbing his tired eyes. "Ugh… Are we there yet?"
Jack chuckled, shaking his head. "Nope. We're still in Iligan City, but we should grab some breakfast first. Still two more hours to go."
Richard sat up slowly, feeling the stiffness in his neck from sleeping in an awkward position. The lack of proper sleep was catching up to him. His body ached, and his mind was still hazy. The fresh morning air, however, gave him a slight boost as he stepped out of the car and stretched his arms.
The eatery was a small roadside establishment, the kind of place truckers and early-morning workers stopped at for a hearty meal before starting their day. The scent of boiling broth and grilled meat filled the air, making Richard's stomach grumble.
Jack walked ahead, heading straight to a large metal pot where steam was rising in thick clouds. He grabbed the heavy lid and lifted it, peering inside.
A middle-aged woman, wearing a worn-out apron and a friendly smile, greeted them warmly.
"Good morning, sir! Please, have a seat. We have boiled beef broth and boiled chicken broth, both freshly cooked." She gestured to the two large pots simmering on the outdoor stove.
Jack grinned. "I'll take the beef broth, Manang." He turned to Richard. "What about you, bro?"
Richard squinted at the selection, his brain still catching up. Most of the side dishes were still cold, not fully reheated yet. He sighed, deciding not to risk it. "I'll take beef as well."
Jack nodded and turned back to the lady. "Alright, two beef broths, two sunny-side-up eggs, and four servings of rice."
The woman smiled. "Okay, and anything else?"
Jack shook his head. "That's all, Manang."
She nodded and moved to prepare their food, scooping steaming broth into two deep bowls and setting them on a nearby counter.
Jack and Richard took a seat at one of the wooden tables, its surface smooth from years of use. Jack leaned back and studied Richard's face before snorting.
"Damn, bro, you look like you haven't slept in thirty days."
Richard exhaled, rubbing his temples. "You're not wrong. I barely got two hours of sleep. After waking up, I did some exercise."
Jack scoffed. "You trying to be a Scout Ranger or something?"
Richard shook his head. "Nah… Just feels like my eyes are burning when I don't sleep well."
Jack smirked, tilting his head slightly. "You're grinding way too hard, man. Who said you had to work overtime anyway?" He chuckled. "You're too hardworking. I swear, if you keep this up, you're gonna pass out in front of your laptop one of these days."
Richard sighed. "I know, but I just want to get things done faster."
Jack shook his head with a smirk. "Relax, bro. You can sleep in the car later."
Just then, Manang approached with two steaming bowls of hot beef broth, placing them carefully on the table. The rich aroma of slow-cooked beef, mixed with the scent of herbs and spices, hit Richard's nose, making his stomach grumble again. The soup was filled with tender beef chunks, marrow bones, and green onions floating on the surface.
"Here we go," Jack said, rubbing his hands together as he grabbed a spoon.
Before they started eating, Richard glanced at Manang. "Auntie, do you sell cigarettes?"
She nodded. "Yes, sir. White or red?"
"Four Fortune White, please." He handed her ₱20.
Manang nodded and walked away to grab his cigarettes while Jack stirred his broth, scooping up a piece of tender beef.
"Man, nothing beats hot beef broth in the morning." Jack grinned. "Eat up, bro. You need the energy."
Richard smiled slightly and picked up his spoon. Maybe a good meal would help him power through the rest of the day.
Jack and Richard both took their first sip of the hot, flavorful broth. The rich taste of slow-cooked beef, combined with the perfect blend of seasonings, hit their tongues instantly. The warm, umami-filled soup paired with the slight kick of black pepper and the fresh taste of chopped green onions made it all the more satisfying.
For Richard, it was more than just breakfast—it felt like the perfect cure for his exhaustion. The heat of the soup spread through his body, waking up his sluggish mind and easing the tension in his muscles. He took another spoonful, savoring the taste, then another, and before long, both he and Jack were eating with satisfied smiles on their faces.
The soft, fluffy rice soaked up the broth perfectly, and every bite of tender beef melted in their mouths.
Moments later.
"Damn," Jack muttered in appreciation, setting his spoon down. "That dish was excellent."
Richard leaned back in his chair, letting out a long, satisfied sigh. "I agree. I think my sleepiness just disappeared."
Jack scoffed, shaking his head with a smirk. "What a miracle dish, huh?"
Richard chuckled, wiping his mouth with a napkin before standing up. He walked outside, pulling a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. With a flick of his lighter, the tip of his Fortune White glowed softly as he took a slow drag. He inhaled deeply, the familiar burn of nicotine filling his lungs, then exhaled, watching the smoke swirl into the crisp morning air.
Inside, Jack stretched his arms before turning to Manang. "How much do we owe you, Manang?"
The middle-aged woman approached, glancing at their empty bowls and plates as she quickly counted. "₱160, sir."
Jack pulled out his wallet and handed her a crisp ₱500 bill. "Keep the change, Manang. That was some damn good food."
Manang's eyes widened slightly in surprise before her face lit up with a warm smile. "Thank you, sir!" she said, her voice filled with genuine appreciation.
She turned and disappeared toward the back of the eatery. A few moments later, she returned, holding something carefully wrapped in banana leaves. The faint scent of coconut and sticky rice filled the air.
"Take this, sir." She handed it to Jack with both hands. "It's bibingka, a little something from my ma. A snack for your travels."
Jack's eyes lit up with excitement. "Ohh... Bibingka? That's awesome! Thank you, Manang." He accepted it graciously, feeling the slight warmth of the rice cake through the leaves.
Richard, finishing his cigarette, looked over. "What's that?"
Jack grinned, waving the package in the air. "A gift. Bibingka. You'll love it."
Richard smirked. "Guess we'll have dessert on the road, huh?"
Jack chuckled. "Damn right."
With that, they made their way back to the car, ready to continue their journey.
Two hours into the drive, the cityscape began to change. The rolling countryside gave way to concrete buildings, billboards, and the familiar chaos of urban life. It was 9 AM, and though the traffic wasn't as notorious as Manila's never-ending gridlock, the streets of Cagayan de Oro City still carried their own version of organized disorder.
Taxis weaved between private vehicles, tricycles honked for passengers, and pedicabs slowly crawled along the roadside, their drivers shouting destinations to passing pedestrians. Street vendors stood near intersections, selling newspapers, bottled water, and cigarettes, while others balanced baskets of mangoes and rambutan on their heads.
Inside the Land Cruiser, Richard sat comfortably, munching on the bibingka that Manang had given them earlier. The sticky rice cake was still soft, with just the right amount of coconut sweetness and charred banana leaf aroma.
He glanced at Jack, who was focused on navigating the city streets. "So, where exactly are we buying our components?" he asked between bites.
Jack, keeping his eyes on the road, smirked. "We're heading to SM City Uptown—that's where I'm most familiar with. I haven't been here since I was a kid, but it should still have a few good tech shops."
"And if there's none?" Richard asked, skeptical.
"Then we roam the city like scavengers and start asking random people," Jack shrugged. "Someone's gotta know where to find a decent PC shop."
Richard sighed. "Great. That sounds like a totally efficient plan."
Jack chuckled. "It's called adventure, bro."
Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at SM City Uptown. The large, multi-story mall was bustling with early shoppers—families, students, and office workers grabbing coffee before starting their day. The scent of freshly baked bread from a nearby Pan de Manila stall mixed with the cool, air-conditioned atmosphere as they walked inside.
Navigating through the crowd, they headed straight to the electronics section, where various tech stores lined the area. Jack took the lead, scanning the displays while Richard followed behind, hands in his pockets.
After checking a few shops, disappointment quickly set in.
Most of the PC parts were outdated—stock from 2010 at best. Rows of dusty GTX 260 graphics cards sat on shelves, next to DDR2 RAM sticks that had no place in their modern builds. Even the motherboards were ancient, clearly unsold inventory that had been collecting dust for years.
Jack sighed, crossing his arms. "This is depressing."
Richard, looking at a display of 512MB GPUs, raised an eyebrow. "I thought you said this place was reliable."
"It was... back in 2008," Jack admitted, scratching the back of his head.
Richard shrugged. "We could just settle for what's here—"
"Nope," Jack cut him off. "We're not settling. We're developing a game. If we can't optimize it properly, we won't even know if it's our code or our hardware that's the problem. We need the best we can get."
Richard sighed in defeat. He didn't have Jack's level of perfectionism when it came to rigs, but he trusted his judgment. If Jack said no, then it was a no.
Still, they didn't leave empty-handed. They each grabbed a 2TB HDD and a power supply unit—basic necessities for their rigs.
Since they were already at the mall, they switched to Plan B: clothes shopping.
Jack needed a full wardrobe since he hadn't brought much from Laguna, and Richard—well, Richard's idea of "decent outing clothes" was questionable at best.
They moved through various clothing stores, picking up shirts, jeans, jackets, and shoes. Jack, the more fashion-conscious one, made sure Richard didn't just grab the first plain t-shirt he saw.
At one store, Jack held up a black leather jacket. "Try this."
Richard frowned. "Why?"
"Because you look like a guy who only wears dev shirts and cargo pants."
Richard snorted. "I am that guy."
"Well, you're also a guy who's gonna look like a mafia extra if you keep dressing like that."
Richard rolled his eyes but tried on the jacket anyway. It fit surprisingly well.
By the time they were done, they had two push carts full of clothes, shoes, and personal hygiene items.
With the help of a couple of mall staff, they wheeled everything to the Land Cruiser and loaded it in the back.
Jack stretched his arms. "Well, that's one thing checked off the list."
Richard leaned against the car. "Yeah. Now we just have to find an actual PC store that doesn't sell ancient relics."
Jack grinned, hopping into the driver's seat. "Don't worry, bro. We're just getting started."
With that, they pulled out of the mall parking lot and continued their search.