The Backing

Matthew slumped onto the folding chair in the storage space, exhaustion etched on his face. The list of requirements from Engineer Santos felt insurmountable, and his notes had grown into a disorganized mess of bullet points, deadlines, and estimated costs. He pulled out his phone and dialed Samantha.

The call connected on the second ring. "Matthew," Samantha answered, her tone brisk. "What's the update?"

Matthew ran a hand through his hair. "We spoke with Engineer Santos at the LTO. Samantha, it's… going to take a while. Months, maybe longer."

There was a pause on the other end. "Define 'a while.'"

"Santos gave us the breakdown: technical documents, safety compliance tests, environmental clearance, agency approvals—the whole nine yards," Matthew explained, flipping through his notes. "They're talking crash tests, emissions checks, fees, and coordination with agencies like the DTI and DENR. And even if we hustle, it could still take months to get through everything. Maybe half a year if we're lucky."

"That's unacceptable," Samantha replied, her voice cool but edged with frustration.

"I figured you'd say that," Matthew said, rubbing his forehead. "I've got Leo and Saimon gathering the technical documents, but even with everything in order, this process is designed for big manufacturers with resources, not students with a single prototype."

Samantha sighed audibly on the other end. "Leave it to me."

Matthew blinked. "What do you mean?"

"I'll call my father," she said flatly.

Matthew's stomach twisted. Samantha rarely mentioned her father, and when she did, it was usually accompanied by a strained expression or a biting remark. 

"What can your father do?" Matthew asked.

"Just let me handle it," Samantha cut in firmly. "He has the connections we need to speed this up. Trust me."

"Alright," Matthew said quietly. "Just let me know if you need anything from us."

"I will. Focus on getting the rest of the documents together. I'll call you once I have an update." With that, she ended the call, leaving Matthew to stare at his phone, still feeling uneasy.

Samantha sat at the edge of the grand dining table in her family's expansive home, her laptop open as she reviewed the requirements Matthew had sent her. The house was quiet, save for the distant sound of her father speaking on the phone in his study.

Taking a deep breath, she closed the laptop and walked to the study, her footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. She knocked lightly on the door before pushing it open.

Her father, a distinguished man in his late 50s with salt-and-pepper hair and a tailored suit, glanced up from his desk. 

"Samantha," he said, setting down his phone. "To what do I owe the honor?"

"I need your help," Samantha said, standing in the doorway with her arms crossed.

He raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. "Help with what?"

"My capstone project," she began. "We built an electric vehicle prototype, but the LTO process for registration and certification is taking too long. We're students, and we don't have the resources to navigate all the bureaucracy. I was hoping you could use your connections to expedite things."

Her father's expression remained neutral, but his tone carried a hint of skepticism. "You're asking me to pull strings for a school project?"

"It's more than a school project," Samantha argued. "This is something real—something that could go beyond just passing a class. But if we don't get it certified soon, we'll miss critical deadlines."

He tapped a finger on the desk, studying her carefully. "And why should I do this for you? Last time I checked, you weren't exactly thrilled about following in my footsteps or asking for my help."

Samantha's jaw tightened, but she forced herself to remain calm. "I know we've had our differences. But this isn't about us. This is about the team and the work we've done. They're counting on me to find a way forward, and right now, you're the only one who can make that happen."

Her father leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. "Alright. I'll help you. But understand this: if I step in, I expect results. I'm not doing this for you to waste my time."

"You won't regret it," Samantha said, her voice steady.

He nodded, picking up his phone. "Give me the name of your contact at the LTO."

"Engineer Santos," Samantha replied.

Her father began dialing. "I'll also call someone I know at the DTI to help with the compliance process. This will take a few calls, but it should get things moving."

Matthew, Leo, and Saimon sat in the waiting area of the LTO office, nervously tapping their feet as they waited for news.

Engineer Santos appeared from a back office, his clipboard in hand and a bemused expression on his face. 

"Gentlemen," he greeted, "it seems you have some powerful backing. I received a call last night that your project is to be prioritized. Not something I see every day for a student prototype."

Matthew stood up, blinking. He wanted to speak, believing that it was Samantha's father who was the reason why the process is going to speed up but he chose to remain silent as he doesn't want to draw unnecessary attention to Samantha's involvement. Instead, he nodded politely. 

"That's good to hear, sir. Thank you for the update."

Engineer Santos adjusted his glasses and continued, "The process won't be instantaneous, but with the push we've received from higher up, your inspections and certifications will be prioritized. I'll personally oversee the safety compliance phase to make sure it's expedited."

Matthew felt a wave of relief but kept his demeanor professional. "We appreciate your support, Engineer Santos. What's the next step for us?"

"You'll need to finalize the technical documents by tomorrow morning," Santos said. "I'll also need your team present for the safety inspections next week. The DTI will conduct their review shortly after that. Expect to hear from us about scheduling."

Matthew nodded. "Understood. We'll be ready."

Santos offered a small smile before heading back to his office, leaving the trio to process the news.

Back at the storage space, the team gathered around the workbench. The tension that had hung over them for days was now replaced by cautious optimism.

"Alright," Matthew began, spreading out the checklist Santos had given them. "We've got some breathing room, but we can't afford to slack off. Leo, how's the environmental compliance document coming along?"

Leo, seated cross-legged on the floor with his laptop, raised a hand. "I'm almost done. Just need to polish the section on battery disposal protocols. Saimon's dad had some great tips."

Saimon chimed in from the corner, where he was organizing tools. "It helps that his shop already deals with e-waste regulations. We can borrow some of those best practices."

"Good," Matthew said, jotting notes on his clipboard. He turned to Samantha, who was leaning against the wall, arms crossed. "Your dad's calls definitely gave us a boost. Santos said we're being prioritized, and the DTI review's already in motion."

Samantha nodded, her expression unreadable. "That's what I expected. How much time do we have to get everything ready?"

"Inspections start next week," Matthew replied. "We need all the documents finalized by tomorrow. After that, we'll be focusing on safety compliance. That's going to involve a lot of technical testing."

Samantha pushed off the wall, her tone decisive. "Then let's not waste time. What else needs to be done tonight?"

***

As the team dispersed to work on their tasks, Samantha stepped outside to take a call from her father. She paced the length of the dimly lit parking lot, her voice steady but low.

"Thank you for making those calls, Dad."

Her father's voice crackled on the other end, firm but not unkind. "Don't thank me yet. The LTO and DTI are doing their part, but you'll still need to deliver. I've given you the opportunity. It's up to you to make the most of it."

"I understand," Samantha replied. "We're already working on the final documents. The team is pulling late nights to make sure everything's in order."

There was a pause before her father spoke again. "I'll follow up with the DTI tomorrow to ensure the environmental compliance review moves smoothly. But remember, Samantha, this isn't just about the car. How you handle this will reflect on you."

Samantha stopped pacing, her grip tightening on her phone. "I know."

Her father's tone softened slightly. "I'm glad you called me. It shows you're willing to do what it takes to succeed. Keep that mindset."

"I will," she said, her voice quieter now.

***

The next morning, the team reconvened, bleary-eyed but determined. Leo handed Matthew a flash drive containing the finalized environmental compliance document. "All done. Triple-checked everything."

Matthew plugged it into his laptop, reviewing the document while Saimon updated the blueprint diagrams. Meanwhile, Samantha organized their submission packets, ensuring every form and file was neatly labeled.

By midday, Matthew stood at the center of the storage space, holding up the completed packet. "That's it. Everything's ready for submission."

Samantha gave a curt nod. "Good. Let's get it to Santos. The sooner we submit, the sooner we can move forward."

***

At the LTO office, the team handed over their documents to Engineer Santos, who flipped through them with an approving nod. 

"Well done. This looks thorough. I'll have my team review it immediately. Expect feedback within the next 48 hours."

As they left the office, Matthew turned to Samantha. "Thanks again for getting your dad involved. I don't think we'd be this far along without him."

Samantha shrugged, her tone neutral. "It's done. Now let's focus on passing these inspections."

Matthew smiled faintly. "Fair enough. Let's make it happen."