As Reese settled into his seat on the bus, he pulled out the wad of bills his father had secretly slipped into his hand earlier. Counting through them, he realized with a mixture of surprise and gratitude that it amounted to 3000 pesos. Combined with his own savings of 4000 pesos, Reese found himself holding a sum that surpassed his expectations.

For a moment, he stared at the money in disbelief, turning over the possibilities in his mind. With this amount, he calculated, he could sustain himself for well over a month, even if he struggled to secure a job in Cebu City. A sense of relief washed over him, knowing that he had a financial safety net to fall back on if things didn't go according to plan.

Lost in his thoughts about his finances, Reese failed to notice the conductor standing in front of him, patiently waiting for his attention. With a jolt, Reese looked up from his reverie to find the conductor gazing at him expectantly.

The conductor was surprised when he got a clear view of Reese's face. "Hey, aren't you that guy from that TikTok video?" the conductor exclaimed loudly, his voice carrying through the bus. causing heads to turn in Reese's direction.

Startled by the sudden attention, Reese blinked in surprise. "Uh, what TikTok video?" he asked, feeling a mix of confusion and curiosity.

"You know, the TikTok video of you fighting four thugs," the conductor clarified.

It finally dawned on Reese what Tiktok video the conductor was talking about. "Um, yeah, that's me," Reese replied, feeling a blush creeping up his cheeks as he realized he had been recognized.

The conductor's face broke into a wide grin as he continued, his voice booming throughout the bus. "I knew it! You're a legend!"

The conductor's enthusiasm seemed to know no bounds as he regaled the passengers with the story of Reese's heroic encounter with the thugs.

"Listen up, folks!" the conductor announced, his voice booming inside the bus. "We've got a real-life hero among us today! This young man right here," he said, pointing at Reese, "fought off not one, not two, but four thugs all by himself!"

The passengers turned to look at Reese, their curiosity piqued by the conductor's animated storytelling.

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"That's right!" the conductor continued, his excitement palpable. "And get this, folks: he caught a knife bare-handed! Can you believe it? It's all over TikTok, folks! This kid right here is a bona fide viral sensation!"

Reese squirmed in his seat, feeling embarrassed as all eyes turned to him. He hadn't expected his brief fight with the thugs to become such a widely known story.

The passengers erupted into murmurs of admiration and awe, and Reese couldn't help but smile sheepishly at the attention.

As the conductor finished his impromptu speech, he gave Reese a hearty pat on the back. "Keep being awesome, kid!" he said with a grin before returning to his duties. But before the conductor could continue collecting fares from the passengers, Reese stopped him.

"Uhm, sir, aren't you here to collect my fare? Reese asked.

The conductor smiled sincerely at Reese. "Don't worry about it; it's on me."

The conductor's offer caught Reese off guard, and he couldn't help but chuckle at the unexpected gesture.

"Thank you, but that won't be necessary," Reese replied with a grateful smile. "It's your job to collect fares, and I wouldn't want to deprive you of that."

The conductor nodded appreciatively, impressed by Reese's humility. "You're a good kid," he said, patting Reese on the shoulder. "I know it's my job to collect fares, but I can't let you pay today. You see, those thugs you dealt with? They're the same ones who beat up my little brother a while back."

Reese's eyes widened in understanding as he realized the gravity of the situation. "I had no idea," he said, his tone softening with empathy.

The conductor nodded, his expression somber. "Yeah, it's been tough for him. He used to love going out with his friends in Pantalan, but ever since that incident, he's been too scared to go back. But when I saw the video about what you did, I knew things might start looking up for him."

Reese felt a pang of sympathy for the conductor's brother and a surge of gratitude for the opportunity to make a difference. "I'm glad I could help," he said sincerely.

The conductor nodded gratefully. "So, please, let me do this for my brother; he idolized you; hell, he could not even stop watching the video of you beating those thugs," he insisted. "It would mean the world to him,"

Moved by the conductor's plea, Reese relented, touched by the depth of the conductor's gratitude.

"Alright," Reese said, his voice filled with sincerity. "For your brother's sake, I'll accept your offer. But please, thank him for me."

With a grateful nod, the conductor continued to do his job of collecting fares on the bus while Reese mind was abuzz with thoughts spurred by his conversation with the conductor. As the bus rumbled along the road, he couldn't help but reflect on how his actions in Pantalan had unintended but positive consequences for someone else.

With each passing mile, Reese's thoughts turned inward, pondering the ripple effect of his choices. He realized that a single act of courage could spark a chain reaction of change, reaching far beyond the immediate moment.

Lost in contemplation, Reese found himself marveling at the interconnectedness of human experiences. He realized that every action, no matter how small, had the potential to make a difference in someone else's life.

As Reese settled into his seat, he glanced at his wristwatch, seeing that it was only 9:30 a.m. If his calculations were correct, he estimated that he would arrive in Cebu City just after 1:00 p.m. With a small smile playing on his lips, he leaned back in his seat.

Pulling out his headphones, Reese plugged them into his phone and scrolled through his music library. Deciding on a random playlist, he selected a track from one of his favorite bands and pressed play. The familiar melody filled his ears, drowning out the dull hum of the bus engine.

Closing his eyes, Reese let himself drift into a state of relaxation, the gentle rhythm of the music lulling him into a peaceful slumber. As the bus rolled on, he felt the tension melt away from his muscles, his mind clearing of all worries and cares.