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Treyton buttoned his white long sleeve polo before putting his light grey coat on it. Pagkatapos ay marahan nitong inayos ang kanyang maroon necktie habang nakatingin lamang sa kanyang repleksyon mula sa salamin. After fixing everything, tsaka ito lumabas ng kanyang condo unit at bumaba.

He is now maneuvering his car on the long road. After half an hour of driving, he stopped the car in front of the Alfiore Corporation. Mula sa labas ay pansin nitong maraming tao na ang naroon. May kanya-kanyang pinagkakaabalahan ang mga ito habang may sari-sarili silang hawak na baso ng champagne sa kanilang mga kamay.

When he went out of his car and the visitors saw him, almost all of them greeted him. Sinalubong pa siya ng mga ito. Nakipagkamayan ang mga ito sa kanya, ang iba pa ay kinumusta siya bago siya tuluyang nagtungo sa loob.

His father was already there when he went inside. Ang kasamahan naman ng ama nitong mga negosyante rin ay hindi maitatago ang pagkamangha nila sa kanya nang makita siya ng mga ito.

"I guess this young man is your son," ani ng isang lalaki sa kanyang ama habang nakatingin ito sa kanya. Treyton just smiled a little while his father nodded his head.

While waiting for the party to start, they sat on the table reserved for them. Nang makaupo ang mga ito sa isang malaking pabilog na table, they talked about random stuffs and even asked him lot of things and probably it's purely business related.

Minutes after, when the master of ceremony called the CEO's attention, his father stood up and went on a rostrum in front to address the huge crowd.

Magalang muna nitong binati ang mga bisita. Pagkatapos ay nagkwento ito patungkol sa mga pinagdaanan ng kompanya, kung paano itong nagsimula sa baba, hanggang sa lumago ito at nakilala sa buong bansa.

Matapos niya ring ibahagi ang ilang importanteng impormasyong may kinalaman sa kanilang kompanya, dumiretso na ito sa pinakapangunahing dahilan kung bakit sila nagtipon-tipon sa gabing iyon.

"On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of the Alfiore Corporation, I am pleased to inform you that President Treyton Alfiore, my son, will now be the new CEO of Alfiore Corporation." Mr. Herson Alfiore, the outgoing CEO finally announced and the whole place was filled with the visitors' loud applauses.

Matapos banggitin iyon, umakyat na rin sa taas ng entablado si Treyton at sinalubong siya ng ama nito kasama ang mga board members.

Treyton has been with the A.Corp for many years now, first as the President and finally becoming the new CEO now. Everyone knew he has been a wonderful asset of the corporation. During his tenure, he has shown explicit strategy to boost the company's asset and exceptional record of their product's growing sales.

During the selection process, the votes didn't went unanimous but still, he got the trust of the three-fourths of the board. Sadyang hindi lang talaga siya tinantanan ni Mr. Siaga sa prosesong nagdaan. Lagi itong naghahanap ng butas na siyang ikababagsak niya.

Even if he's the company's successor, Treyton agreed to undergo the right selection process just to be fair with the other candidates lalo na iyong mga napupusuan ng ibang board.

The decision took a while. Then during the final selection, he earned the loyalty of the board members, the reason why he's now taking over the CEO position.

"I want to thank Mr. Herson Alfiore and the Board of Directors for giving me this privilege to serve this extraordinary corporation. I got your trust and I will make sure to give you my full trust." Treyton stated sincerely while looking at his co-workers, the crowds.

"Being CEO is a tremendous responsibility and I am willing to accept that responsibility to work well day by day for the company and all of us workers. Finally, my sincere gratitude to all people who made it possible for me to be standing in front of you all tonight as I'm accepting this new challenge. I promise you all I will work well for our second home, the Alfiore Corporation. Thank you very much." He added then the corners of his mouth turned up, showing a big smile and expressing happiness to everyone.

The crowd made a loud applauses especially when the two — Treyton and Mr. Herson Alfiore shook their hands — a sign that the outgoing CEO is now handing over the reins of the company to Treyton as the new CEO of Alfiore Corporation.

"Finally, you are now the CEO of our company. I'm proud of you son." They hugged each other and his father tapped his shoulder.

Yes, finally, Treyton Alfiore is now the CEO of their company.

Since that day, for the following days, weeks and even month that had passed, Treyton really busied himself. It's tiring but he's happy from what's he's doing.

Ber months came, Treyton flew in Vienna to attend the Branding Excellence Awards 2020. Kasama nito ang dalawang board members ng kanilang kompanya maging ang kanyang sekretaryang si Aleah.

Alfiore Corporation really made its way as the Best Technology Company in the Philippines and will now be representing the country. May mga kasama rin itong ibang technology companies mula sa Pilipinas kahit papaano.

Nang mag-ala-una ng tanghali, sakay ng isang itim na magarbong sasakyan ay nagtungo ang mga ito sa Hofburg Palace sa Vienna dahil doon gaganapin ang awarding.

Hindi mabilang-bilang na tao ang sumalubong sa kanila nang makarating ang mga ito sa Hofburg Palace. Iba-ibang lahi ang mga iyon mula sa iba't ibang bansa, katunayan ay may mga bagong dating pa at alam niyang may mga darating pa dahil alas dos pa magsisimula ang awarding.

May mga nakakausap naman ang mga ito kahit papaano. Ang iba ay talagang kakilala nila, ang iba naman ay sadyang kaswal lamang na nakikipag-usap sa kanila. Perks of being a businessman kumbaga.

When the clock strikes at 2:00 PM, everyone settled themselves.

"Welcome to the Branding Excellence Awards 2020 everyone!" Magiliw na saad ng isang amerikanong MC dahilan upang tutok na tutok ang bawat bisita. Dalawa silang tagapagpadaloy ng palatuntunan, isang babae at isang lalaki.

Branding Excellence Awards is an international awarding ceremony that celebrates creative excellence and consistency across technology branding design. It was participated by more than one thousand technology companies from 35 countries in the world.

A newly designed 24 karat gold-plated trophy was introduced for all winners, mostly from European countries. Fortunately, Alfiore Corporation, among the thousand companies that had joined, got an award, Best Newly Designed Laptop Brand and Editors Choice Award. Hindi niya iyon inaasahan kaya sobrang nabigla siya nang mabanggit ang A-Tech Laptop.

"OMG! OMG! Go na Sir!" Halos ipagtulakan pa siya ni Aleah para lang pumunta sa harapan.

Tila nawala ang hiya nito sa lalaki dahil sa tuwang nararamdaman. Habang si Treyton naman ay hindi pa rin makapaniwala. Maging iyong ibang company group sa Pilipinas ay chinicheer ito.

Two of the board members tapped his back. Nang tuluyang magsink in sa isip nito ang lahat, Treyton smiled before he went in front. Naroon din sa harap ang kanilang laptop, magkakatabi-tabi iyong mga nanalong laptop brand sa harap at nakapatong ang mga iyon sa isang mahabang mesa.

Treyton delivered a short speech as his gratitude for the awards he received. Katulad ng mga pangunahing nanalo, may trophy din ito. But unlike the trophy of the winners, iyong sa kanya ay Laptop Computer Trophy, recognizing excellence in technology. Katamtaman lang ang laki no'n at sa taas no'n ay isang sculpture ng laptop.

"Congratulations Sir!"

"Congratulations Mr. Alfiore." Bungad sa kanya ng mga kasamahan nito pagkababa niya.

"No, it was our success. Congratulations to all of us." He answered with a smile plastered on his face while showing them the trophy.

That night, umuwi sila sa isang hotel kung saan sila nagcheck in bitbit ang karangalang kanilang nakamit. But their stay there didn't last long. Limang araw lang silang nagstay doon at umuwi na rin sila kaagad pabalik ng Manila.

Because of the success he received for the company, they had a small party inside the A.Corp. and Treyton heard nothing from the Board of Directors aside from telling him that they made the right choice.

Mr. Siaga also congratulated him but Treyton knew it was just for a show. Mainit ang dugo ng matandang iyon sa kanya at sadyang kataka-taka ang mga bagay na ginagawa nito sa kanya. Still, he accepted Mr. Siaga's congratulatory.

As much as possible, he wanted to make things civil dahil kahit pagbali-baliktarin, isa sa mga board si Mr. Siaga at marami na rin siyang nagawa para sa kompanya. After all, Treyton still respect him.

After that simple celebration, everything went back to normal the next morning. What he did that day is to oversee the production and sales of their product from the past months. May ilang meetings din itong dinaluhan para makinegotiate ng ibang transactions mula sa ibang kilalang kompanya.

"Nuks. Iba talaga ang Treyton. Welcome home Mr. CEO!" Cosette and Mandy greeted cheerfully using a teasing tone when Treyton entered his condo unit.

Bandang alas sais na ng gabi nung umuwi ito at hindi niya inaasahang makikita ang dalawa rito.

Sa halip na sigawan ang dalawa dahil sa biglaang paglitaw ng mga ito sa kanyang condo, napailing na lamang ito at pagod na ibinagsak ang kanyang katawan sa isang long couch. Ipinikit pa nito ang kanyang mga mata matapos niyang luwagan iyong necktie niya.

"Busy na ba always ghorl?" Nang-aasar na tanong ni Cosette sa kanya at naupo pa talaga ang mga ito sa magkabilang gilid niya.

"I'm tired and I'm not in the mood." Blanko nitong saad sa dalawa, na sa paraan ng tono niya ay ayaw niya talagang maistorbo siya.

Napangiwi na lamang ang mga ito dahil sa tinuran ni Treyton. But still, they decided to stay in his unit that night. At tila naninibago ang mga ito dahil sa mga ikinikilos ni Treyton.

But seeing how Treyton changed, tila may ideya na ang mga ito sa simula pa lang. And feels like everything is happening again pero alam nilang mas mabigat na ang dahilan ngayon.

They're hoping for one thing pero kung ganito ang magiging epekto nito sa kanya, tila ayaw nila roon sa isang bagay na naiisip nila.

Dahil open naman si Treyton sa kanilang dalawa, tila inabuso na nga ng mga ito ang kabaitan niya dahil gabi-gabi ay roon sila nagsstay. But of course, it wasn't new to Treyton anymore. Besides, lagi namang dito natutulog ang dalawa nung dati pa lang.

Sabado noon ay nakaupo lamang sila sa sala. Nakaupo si Cosette sa sofa habang nakapatong doon ang dalawa niyang paa. Si Mandy naman ay sa sahig nakaupo, abala ang kanyang mga mata sa telebisyon habang kumakain ng chichirya.

While Treyton was sitting on their side, in front of him was his round table at doon ay nakapatong ang kanyang laptop at kasalukuyan siyang nagtitipa.

"Ano ba 'yan? Sabadong-sabado." Ani Cosette habang nakatingin sa kanya. Masyado kasi itong abala dahil sa dami ng ginagawa niya.

Muli nitong ibinalik ang kanyang paningin sa telebisyon. Meanwhile, she took her phone when it vibrated. Her Dad just sent her a message. After replying, she tried visiting her social media accounts at gano'n na lamang ang gulat niya dahil sa isang link na nabasa.

"OMG! Nanganak na si Atarah!" Natutuwa nitong sambit nang mabuksan niya iyong link.

Halos mabitawan pa nito ang phone nang lapitan siya ni Mandy at makipag-agawan doon sa kanyang cellphone.

"Shiz! Totoo nga! Treyton, nanganak na si Atarah!" Mandy seconded but it was late for them to realize that what they did is a wrong move when Treyton stopped from what he's doing.

Hindi man sadya pero sa paraan nito ng pagsara sa kanyang laptop, alam nilang mali talaga ang kanilang ginawa.

"That's good for her." Saad ni Treyton pero alam ng mga itong labas sa ilong ang pagkakasabi niya roon. "Now please stop mentioning her name. I don't want to hear anything related to her." Dagdag nito bago nito kinuha ang kanyang laptop at ilang folders bago ito tumalikod at umakyat sa kanyang kwarto.

Gusto pang tuktukan nina Cosette at Mandy ang kanilang sarili dahil sa kanilang sinabi. How insensitive can they be?

Isang gabi kasi, they barge in his condo unit at gano'n na lamang ang gulat nila nang makita nila itong nakakuyom ang kanyang mga kamao. And when they asked him what have happened and also about Atarah, pair of tears suddenly come out of his eyes while his teeth were secretly gritted.

Then Treyton told them everything, maging iyong kundisyon ni Atarah at ng bata. Alam nilang may rason si Atarah kung bakit niya ginawa 'yon pero hindi nila alam kung ano iyon.

Yes, they knew what have happened between him and Atarah. But only half of the story because they don't know yet what's all about Atarah's side. Alam nilang simula nung magkwento ito sa kanila ay hindi na binanggit pa ni Treyton ang pangalan ni Atarah but they just did it today!

Wala sa sariling napabuntong-hininga ang dalawa habang sinusundan nila ng tingin ang pag-alis niya. One thing that come up on their mind is that... Treyton is hurting.

Alam nilang nasasaktan ito katulad ng dati. Nasasaktan ulit ito sa parehong dahilan pero sa magkaibang paraan.