Living With The Game (Living Series #2)

Chapter 29

"M-Miss Tugafin? Are you alright?" 

"A-ah, Yeah! Of course, I'm sorry." I immediately stated as my secretary snapped me back to reality. 

What is he doing here? Gosh, I forgot he was with Alienation Ph!

"Direk, I forgot something in my office—"

"Ay, ano po 'yon, Ma'am? Ako na po ang kukuha—" Usal ng sekretarya ko kaya agad ko itong tinignan at tinasaan ng kilay.

"Ako na and 'di ba this is your favorite team?" I said with amusement, hiding my nervousness. 

Fudge! Why am I even nervous?

"I'll be back in a minute, Direk!"

Agad akong lumabas ng hall at dumiretso sa office. I took my glass and fill it with cold water. Pakiramdam ko ang init-init ng buong katawan ko, am I even sweating? Nilakasan ko ang aircon 'tsaka ipinaymay ang sarili kong kamay. I hold my chest and I could feel my heart is beating so freaking fast. Ilang beses ako bumuga ng hangin bago napagpasyahang bumalik sa hall. I was playing my own fingers the whole time I was in the elevator. Nang makarating ay isang mahabang buntong hininga ang ginawa ko, fixing myself before entering the hall. 

I didn't mind the gossips I'm hearing from the team, some compliments to be exact. Nag-uumpisa na sila for set-up para sa photoshoot. 

"Kailan ang schedule ng shoot for the advertisement, Direk?" I asked while approaching Direct Bem.

"Next week pa naman, but ngayong week ang schedule for the photoshoot."

Ngayong week? You mean this whole freaking week?

"Whole week with t-them?" I asked in disbelief while pointing at Alienation Ph. 

"It depends, not totally the whole week dahil may mga gagawin pa sila. Maybe today and next schedule is on wednesday." Usal ni Direk bago nagpaalam at nagtungo sa organizers and team for the shoot.

I tapped the screen of my secretary's tablet and saw the day today. It's monday.

"May balita na ba sa ibang team, May?" I asked my secretary while watching the ongoing shoot.

"A-ah, oo pala about that," she then instantly open the tablet to check emails. "the manager of Jairo Alegre and Roshette Pelegrino emailed ngayon-ngayon lang. They apologized for the late response and they accepted the invitation." She then continued.

"Ask for their convenience between tomorrow and on thursday." I answered, May knew what to do so I just stated the whole idea.

I was about to walk towards the team and organizers when my eyes met William's. I hardly gulped before looking away and raising my forehead proudly. I should be professional.

Be professional, stop being so emotional over that asshole. 

"Excuse me, Direk. Can I talk to you?" I stated and Direct Bem excused himself before we talk about some things regarding the other team who emailed earlier. I stated the details that May gave and Direct Bem said once na may confirmation na he will immediately write it on his memo. 

I was just watching the team and trying my best not to stare at him, even for a second just... no. Kahit na parang namamagnet yung mata ko sa presensya niya, and alam kong tingin ito nang tingin sa direksyon ko. 

"Okay, break!" The photographer loudly said. 

"Excuse me," hindi ko alam kung bakit pero parang nakuha ko ata ang atensyon nilang lahat. And all of them are staring at me, I mean the Alienation Ph are staring at me!!

I blankly stared at them before raising my eyebrow.

"S-sorry, Ma'am, ang ganda niyo kas—" usal ng isang member ngunit agad itong binatukan ni Wil bago pa man ito matapos sa sasabihin niya. I pursed lips before turning my gaze to Direct Bem.

"Are the new launch hoodies included for today's photo shoot?" I asked.

"Yes, pinakuha ko na ito para after break iyon na ang isusunod."

Tumango-tango naman ako at nagpaalam na nga si Direk upang mag-break.

"Ma'am, si Sir Nash," May said holding my phone which is ringing while approaching me, agad ko naman itong kinuha.

"Hey! Napatawag ka?" Nakangiting usal ko bago naglakad palayo sa maiingay na Team.

"I'm on my way to your office, may dala akong meryenda for you, are you there?"

"Meryenda for me?" Lumiwanag ang mukhang usal ko kahit na medyo maingay dahil naglalabasan ata ang mga tao and medyo malapit ako sa pinto ng hall.

"Yes, gumawa ako ng cookies kaninang umaga baon ko. And gumawa na rin ako for you."

"Thank you so much! Break time na namin and I'm on my way back to my office na rin naman so see you."

"Yes, actually nasa parking lot na ako." Natatawang aniya bago nagpaalam.

I told May I'm going back to my office, she's busy as well knowing she's my secretary. Nakaharap ako ngayon sa pinto ng elevator, basically waiting for one. I crossed my arms and began tapping my finger dahil ang tagal. Not until it opens, para akong na-istatwa nang makita si William. He was staring at me blankly. We are just staring at each other's eyes, and I felt really uncomfortable, para akong hinihigop ng mga mata niyang walang ganang nakatingin sa 'kin. I pursed my lips bago napayuko at nakita ko sa peripheral vision kong lumabas ito at nilagpasan lang ako. It freaking hurts, yes I admit it. I'm not even comfortable at him staring at me so blankly, when he was staring at me with full of love back then. 

Nakarating ako sa office na wala man lang kabuhay-buhay. Like seriously? Why am I even being so stupid to be affected so freaking much by that asshole? Seven years had passed already, goodness!

Hininaan ko ang aircon dahil nagulat ako sa lamig nito. Well ako din naman nagpalakas nito kanina, and yes because of him tsk. Pabagsak akong umupo sa swivel chair 'tsaka uminom. Moments later, may kumatok at agad ko namang pinapasok. It was Nash. Agad lumiwanag ang mukha ko nang pumasok ito. Agad naman akong tumayo at sinalubong ito ng yakap.

"Literal na nasa parking lot kana pala talaga." Natatawang usal ko.

"Yeah, dumaan pa ako sa cafeteria para bumili ng frappe."

He then lend me a paper bag, probably the cookies he made and then a frappe. I gestured at the couch for him to take a seat while sipping on the frappe he gave me. 

"So, how are you?" He then asked, habang nakatingin ng nakakaloko sa akin.

"I'm g-good, ako pa ba." Taas noong usal ko bago umupo sa kaharap ng couch at sumandal.

"Really~" 

"The hell?!" Iritadong usal ko dahil parang may idea na naman ito sa ganap ng buhay ko.

"C'mon, Joanna..." pang-aasar pa nito at nakatingin lang sa 'kin na para bang alam niyang may tinatago ako. Yes, he knew me so well and it annoys me sometimes.

"Okay fine!" Usal ko sa kanya bago nilapag sa lamesa ang iniinom kong frappe.

"Well, I saw him at the cafeteria with his teammates." Aniya 'tsaka malakas na tumawa, seriously? I thought my mood will be okay now that he's here but then look at him, teasing me and laughing at me.