Chapter 19

Days passed.

It's Saturday again, and this week's song cover was finally completed.

After the final cut, he played it for a while and then uploaded it to YouTube as usual, but this time with the additional name and link to the Musika Inc. website in the description box.

Afterwards, he sent a message to Katherine, letting her know that the video had been uploaded.

Soon after that, just as he put down his phone, he received a message from her. She mentioned that she had checked the video and that the money would be sent to his account in a few hours or so.

Upon reading the message, a smile slowly formed on his face, and a sense of satisfaction filled his heart.

After three months of time-traveling, he had finally made his first pot of gold, as the chinese calls it.

₱5,000, although not a considerable amount, was a product of his hard work.

"However, it's just the beginning," he thought as he reclined in his chair and gazed at the ceiling.

A smile graced his lips.

...

A day later, on Sunday, Edward arrived outside the mall. It was the usual meet-up day with the group, but unlike their typical gatherings at friends' residences.

Edward sported a stylish white T-shirt, accentuating his toned physique, paired with well-fitted medium blue jeans. His comfortable sneakers completed the ensemble, and he added a touch of vintage charm with retro sunglasses.

With each step, he exuded an air of confidence and nonchalance, as if he were conquering the world in style.

Standing in the corner of the crowd, Edward scanned the area and found no one he recognized. He briefly wondered if he had arrived too early. However, just as he reached for his phone to contact the others, a voice called out to him from a distance.

"Edward, over here!" Alfred waved from not far away, accompanied by Angela and the rest, all looking in his direction.

Upon spotting them, Edward smiled and walked over.

"Sorry, I'm late," he apologized as he joined their group.

"No big deal. Jake and Karen are still on their way," Alfred explained.

Edward nodded. "What about Daniel and the others?"

"They won't make it. They had something to do."

"I see. What about the plan?"

"Let's wait for them and then decide."

Edward agreed.

After a while, Jake and Karen arrived, completing the group.

Following some casual conversation, the group decided to head to the movie theater first.

Edward agreed.

After a while, Jake and Karen arrived, completing the group.

Following some casual conversation, the group decided to head to the movie theater first.

The group decided to watch the 2010 blockbuster movie "Inception," starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

The story follows the main character, Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), a skilled thief who specializes in a unique form of corporate espionage.

He enters people's dreams to steal their deepest secrets. However, he is haunted by his past and the memory of his wife, Mal, who continues to appear in his dreams.

Cobb is offered a final job by Saito, a powerful businessman. Instead of extracting information, Cobb is tasked with implanting an idea into the mind of a rival executive, a process known as "Inception."

Cobb assembles a team of experts to help him accomplish this complex task.

The team delves into multiple layers of dreams, creating a dream within a dream within a dream, each with its own set of rules and challenges.

As they navigate these surreal dreamscapes, they encounter obstacles, including Cobb's own guilt and the persistent presence of Mal.

In the movie's conclusion, the main character, Dom Cobb, spins a top to determine whether he is in a dream or reality.

...

After the movie ended, the group, which had been glued to their seats during the entire film, stood up and stretched their bodies.

As they stepped outside the movie hall, they discussed their opinions regarding the movie.

After the movie ended, the group, who had been captivated by the film, stood up and stretched their bodies.

As they exited the movie hall, they engaged in a discussion, sharing their opinions about the movie.

"The ending was a bit confusing. What does that mean?" Alfred asked.

"Obviously, because it's the end of the dream, and the main character is really in prime reality," one of them explained.

"I don't think so. What if he was still in the dream?" Edward argued, raising the question that left the entire group contemplating the nature of reality.

As they discussed, the group made their way to the food court, where they purchased snacks before heading to the mall's arcade.

After walking for a while, they reached the arcade and decided to enjoy some games.

Their first choice was Dance Dance Revolution, and it turned into a competitive two-player battle between Angela and Jake.

Angela, who had prior experience with the game, had the advantage.

Although Jake wasn't too familiar with the game, he skillfully held his ground and kept the match tied.

However, in the end, he struggled to keep up and eventually lost.

For their next game, they chose a fighting game, and it was a match between Alfred and Danica, the K-pop enthusiast.

Alfred's superior skills in the fighting game allowed him to defeat Danica with ease.

Following that, the group indulged in some basketball games and shooting games.

By 3 in the afternoon, they decided to conclude their gaming session. They headed to a nearby karaoke hall, where they rented a room for themselves.

Upon entering the karaoke room, everyone eagerly started singing.

Edward sang a few songs before yielding the stage to the others.

Angela, the loli, surprised everyone by performing an English rap song.

She followed it up with a love song, which she delivered quite well.

Alfred attempted to sing a song in Mandarin, but his out-of-tune voice made it sound peculiar.

Jake also took the microphone and sang an English song.

Danica, known for her beautiful voice, performed two K-Pop songs and even taught the others how to sing along.

Around 5 o'clock, they decided to leave the karaoke.

Outside, the setting sun painted the sky with a beautiful shade of red.

"What's next?" Alfred inquired.

"Let's dine at a nearby restaurant, my treat," Edward proposed, causing everyone to look at him hesitantly.

"Are you sure, Ed? It's a pretty upscale place. Maybe we should just grab something at a fast-food joint?" Jake suggested.

"Don't worry, it's fine," Edward reassured them with a laugh, repeatedly assuring them until they finally agreed.

"Alright, then it's settled; let's go!" Angela cheered.

They proceeded to walk in the direction of the restaurant.

After a few minutes of walking, they reached the restaurant.

Upon entering, the group was warmly welcomed by the waiter.

"Good evening, welcome to our restaurant. Table for how many?" the waiter inquired.

"Six," Edward replied simply.

The waiter promptly guided the group to their table.

Once seated, they began perusing the menu and making their selections.

After the orders were placed, the waiter headed toward the kitchen, and the group engaged in conversation.

"Man, these prices are pretty high," Jake remarked.

"Yeah, why is this place so expensive?" Alfred wondered.

"It's alright. I'm covering it," Edward chuckled.

"Are you sure? That's quite a sum," Angela asked. Despite her playful teasing, she didn't want to burden him.

"Yep, don't worry about it."

"Alright."

After chatting for a while, their meals were served.

As soon as the dishes arrived, the group eagerly dug in.

"How is it?" Edward asked

"It's delicious!" the group chimed in.

Hearing their positive feedback, Edward simply smiled.

The group continued their animated conversation and meal, with smiles all around.

After some time, they completed their meal and took care of the bill.

Once they paid, they exited the restaurant, and noticing the late hour, they collectively decided to call it a day.

The group made their way to the bus stop, and as soon as the bus arrived, they boarded it and headed home.

After the bus ride, they exchanged farewells, and each person went their separate ways.

Edward, too, walked toward his apartment.

Upon arriving, he noticed that it was already 9:30 in the evening.

This time, Edward was prepared, and before his mom could scold him, he greeted her with a bag of snacks and a box of cake in his hands.

End.