Living With The Game (Living Series #2)

Prologue

"Good morning, Ms. Tugafin." Nginitian ko ang isang employee bago pumasok sa elevator kasama ang secretary ko.

"Schedule for today, Ma'am." She lends me the tablet and explains everything. "We have a cancelled appointment with  Mr. Go for some reasons regarding on the Cavite branch, that should be later at 9 am. Board meeting at 1 pm for the new designs of the clothes and last, meeting about sponsorship."

I nodded and started walking as the elevator opened.

"Hindi naman masyadong ipit."

"Yes, ma'am." Mabilis na aniya na para bang hindi rin ito apektado sa schedule ko, well stress din naman ito lalo na kapag maraming schedule.

"Have you eaten?" I asked her and stopped in front of my office.

"Y-yes, ma'am,"

"That's good. Get me some coffee, I forgot to drink some earlier." Nginitian ko ito at mabilis naman siyang tumango. "Thank you."

Pumasok na 'ko at dumiretso sa table. I took my shades off before sitting on my swivel chair. I opened my laptop as well as the computer before started working. Pagpasok ni May ay agad nitong nilapag ang kape sa table ko.

"Have you watched the game last night, ma'am?"

"Yes," I simply answered while focusing on my laptop. "And I'm so excited for the lower bracket, though I don't know the teams. Hindi ko kabisado e." I stopped typing and looked at her. "Who's your bet?" I smiled before moving my brows up and down.

"Alienation Ph, ma'am!"

Alienation Ph? Sounds familiar.

"Nasa lower bracket sila kung hindi ako nagkakamali! I swear they're the best! And I think they have a new members, well trained! Well balita ko gwapo rin 'yung bagong nagha-handle ng group nila. I saw him last season being interviewed." She proudly said like she was witnessed everything. Though she's a big fan of online games.

"Okay then, let's see." I shrugged before sipping on my coffee. Nagpaalam naman ito at lumabas na ng office before I continued working.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit minamadali ko 'yung papers eh wala naman akong lakad. Oh sadyang mabilis lang ako magtrabaho? Mabilis lumipas ang oras at pumasok si May para ipaalalang lunch na pala. Iniwan kong malinis ang table ko dahil ayoko ng magulo, tinatamad akong magtrabaho kapag makalat. And as usual, sabay kami ni May kumain.

"Ma'am, may dumating na team kanina kasama 'yung advertising team."

"Really? Maybe that's for the sponsorship and advertisements." I said before eating a spoonful of rice.

"Talaga, ma'am? So they will be endorsing our brand," tatango-tangong aniya.

Our company used to support lots of teams in terms of online games such as mobile legends, pubg and dota. Instead of getting some artists and models, mas gusto naming kumuha ng teams at gawing endorsers. Well in terms of modern clothes, pero kapag fashion clothes, model na ang kailangan namin.

Matapos kumain ay nagre-touch lang ako bago umattend ng board meeting. The fashion coordinators presented their new fashion designs, dahil nga sa nalalapit na ball ngayon ng mga nasa entertainment industry. Hindi naman maitatangging sobrang ganda ng mga nilalabas ng team nito, knowing na si Mr. Frano ang head. After showing the designs, he proceeded explaining the fabric colors and accessories. Lahat kami agree sa mga sinasabi nito dahil sa totoo lang magaling talaga si Mr. Franco in terms of this. I'm so glad he stays here in the company after my parents death. Mas matagal pa siya rito kumpara sa 'kin.

After the board meeting agad na ring nag-umpisa ang meeting for the sponsorship. Ininom ko muna ang tubig na binigay ni May bago muling nakinig sa head ng marketing department because they're the ones that is responsible for sponsorship.

"I think we should add the new launch hoodies, the designs are match because they're gamers."
The advertisement director nodded because they knew about the designs of the new launch hoodies.

"The team are now in the hall, preparing for the shoot." Director Bem said nang makapasok kami sa elevator.

"Nga pala, it's Alienation Ph."

"Talaga po?" Agad lumiwanag ang mukha ni May sa sinabi ni direk.

"What do you mean Alienation Ph? I didn't know about that." Kunot ang noo na sabi ko.

"Sila 'yung pangatlo sa list natin, they respond immediately about our invitation the rest are still pending, no response as of the moment."

I didn't notice that. Tumango nalang ako saka sumunod sa kaniya nang makalabas kami sa elevator.

Habang palapit sa pinto ng hall, para akong nanghihina, bigla akong kinabahan sa hindi malamang dahilan.

"Grabe, small world. Akalain mo 'yon, ma'am? Alienation Ph?" I heard May pero I could hear my heartbeat even more.

'Alienation Ph'

Napakagat ako sa labi nang tuluyang maalala ang team na 'yon.

Pagpasok namin sa hall, sabay-sabay silang tumingin sa direksyon namin.

"Good afternoon, people. Here's Ms. Tugafin, CEO of the company." Direct Bem said.

Halos mapako ako sa kinatatayuan ko nang agad siyang mahagip ng mata ko.

Binati ako ng lahat pero siya, nanatiling nakatingin sa mga mata ko. Walang emosyong mga tingin. Diretso lang na para bang wala akong balak kausapin o batiin man lang. I swallowed hard before looking away, nalunod ako sa tingin niyang 'yon. I never felt that feeling everytime I was looking on his adorable eyes before, ibang-iba ngayon. Para akong nalulunod sa tubig, hindi katulad noon kung saan nalulunod ako sa pagmamahal at kasiyahan.

Seven years had passed. Why am I still feeling this way? Akala ko okay na. Bakit nasasaktan na naman ako?