Sebastian's Tide

Chapter 2: The Waves of Change

Baste paced around the deck of the research vessel, the salty breeze ruffling his hair as he stared out at the open sea. His mind was a storm of conflicting thoughts. He’d spent the morning with his team, reviewing the latest data on coral health and marine life near the planned site for the Sierra Verde project, but the numbers weren’t reassuring. The resort’s expansion was coming dangerously close to the most delicate marine ecosystems. It wasn’t just the coral reefs—he could feel the land itself being threatened, the delicate balance of nature, disrupted.

The project had been sold to the public as “sustainable development,” but Baste wasn’t convinced. He’d seen enough corporate schemes masquerading as environmental solutions to know better. All the talk about preserving green spaces and promoting eco-tourism didn’t change the fact that, at its core, this resort was designed to profit from the very natural beauty that made Palawan famous. The irony wasn’t lost on him—developing an eco-friendly paradise that ultimately harmed the fragile ecosystem it was meant to protect.

His reverie was interrupted by a voice calling from behind.

“Still trying to save the world, Baste?”

Samuel leaned against the railing, his posture relaxed, but his sharp eyes never left Baste. Unlike their other brothers, Samuel was more pragmatic, the one who seemed to understand the world of business and deals better than anyone. It wasn’t a surprise he often clashed with Baste’s idealism, but there was a level of respect between them. Samuel had a way of seeing the bigger picture, something Baste often struggled with, especially when it came to the family’s business ventures.

Baste exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. “I’m trying to save Palawan from becoming just another tourist trap,” he muttered, his gaze still fixed on the horizon. “This Sierra Verde project is an ecological disaster in the making. And I don’t care how much they promise to ‘protect’ the environment—this kind of development is poison for the ecosystem.”

Samuel shifted, pushing off the railing to join Baste at the ship’s edge. “I get that, Baste. I really do. But we’re talking about the future of the family business here. You think Santi, Sal, and Sandro are just going to let you block the entire project?”

Baste clenched his jaw, the frustration simmering beneath the surface. “I don’t care about the business right now. I care about Palawan, about the coral reefs, about the wildlife that’s already struggling to survive.”

Samuel’s eyes softened for a moment. “And I care about those things, too. But you can’t fight this battle alone. You know better than anyone that progress doesn’t happen by burying your head in the sand.”

“I’m not burying my head,” Baste snapped, his voice rising slightly. “I’m not going to stand by and watch them destroy everything for the sake of a few more hotels and golf courses. You know how fragile this place is.”

Samuel sighed, rubbing his hand across his face in exasperation. “I’m not saying you should just let it happen, but you need to approach this from a different angle. Santi and the others—they don’t see things the way you do. But they don’t want to destroy the environment either.”

Baste stared out at the sea, his hands gripping the railing as his thoughts churned. “I don’t know if I can make them see it,” he admitted, his voice quieter. “Every time I try to talk to them, it feels like they’re only interested in the bottom line. They don’t understand what’s at stake.”

Samuel placed a hand on Baste’s shoulder, his expression turning serious. “Then it’s up to you to show them, Baste. You have the knowledge, the expertise. If anyone can bridge the gap between what the family wants and what the environment needs, it’s you.”

Before Baste could respond, his phone buzzed in his pocket, the sudden vibration jarring him from his thoughts. He fumbled for it, pulling it out and seeing the name on the screen.

Andrea Ramos.

Baste’s stomach tightened. Andrea. The one person who had made it her mission to expose every single flaw in the Sierra Verde project. Her investigative pieces for The Manila Herald had been hard-hitting, and though he respected her tenacity, he couldn’t stand how she portrayed the project. To her, the development was a corporate crime waiting to be uncovered, and no matter how much he tried to explain, she always saw it as part of the problem.

Reluctantly, Baste answered. “Andrea,” he said, trying to keep his tone neutral.

“Baste,” Andrea’s voice came through briskly. “I need to get some answers. There are rumors about potential environmental damage from the Sierra Verde project. My editor wants a follow-up piece, and I need to talk to you about it.”

Baste’s hand tightened around the phone. “I don’t have time for this right now, Andrea,” he said, irritation creeping into his voice. “I’m busy with my own work.”

“I don’t care about your work,” Andrea shot back. “This is bigger than your research. You’re the expert on the environment, Baste. And right now, that’s exactly what I need. So either you help me, or I’ll have to take matters into my own hands. Which one is it?”

Baste’s jaw clenched. Andrea was always so damn stubborn. But what choice did he have? He knew how far she could push the story, and despite the animosity between them, they both wanted the same thing: a balance between progress and preservation.

“Fine,” he muttered, frustration seeping into his words. “I’ll help. But don’t expect me to make it easy for you.”

“Good,” she said, her tone finally softening just a bit. “I’ll meet you at The Manila Herald tomorrow. We’ll talk.”

Baste hung up the phone and looked out at the ocean again, feeling the weight of the conversation hanging in the air. He had no idea how this was going to play out, but one thing was certain—his world was about to get a lot more complicated.

“Everything okay?” Samuel asked, raising an eyebrow.

Baste nodded slowly. “Andrea wants to meet tomorrow. She’s digging deeper into the environmental impact of Sierra Verde. I’m going to have to work with her, whether I like it or not.”

Samuel chuckled. “You two are like oil and water. But maybe that’s exactly what the family needs. A little friction to get things moving in the right direction.”

Baste shot him a look. “I don’t know if friction’s going to fix this. But I’ll try.”

“Good,” Samuel said with a grin. “Because you’re the only one who can keep the family from drowning in this.”

Baste spent the rest of the afternoon on the boat, his thoughts churning as he reviewed more data and tried to mentally prepare for the upcoming confrontation with Andrea. He couldn’t deny that she was good at her job, but he also knew that her relentless pursuit of a story was going to make things even more complicated.

As the boat made its way back to shore, Baste’s phone buzzed again, this time with a message from Santi. He unlocked the screen and read the brief note:

Santi: Dinner at the house tonight. The family needs to talk. We’re counting on you to come.

Baste’s stomach sank. He knew what this was about. It was time for another family meeting, another discussion about the Sierra Verde project. He couldn’t avoid it forever. And, as much as he hated it, he knew he’d have to face his brothers and find a way to make them understand his position.

When he finally arrived at the estate, the large house was already buzzing with the sounds of family. The living room was filled with his brothers, all seated around the table, but this time, the usual lighthearted chatter was absent. There was a heaviness in the air—a weight of unspoken tension.

Santi looked up as Baste entered, his face slightly tense. “You’re here. Good. We need to talk.”

Baste met his gaze and nodded, bracing himself for another round of arguments. It wasn’t going to be easy, but it had to happen.