The Right Kind of Wrong (-edited)

LUKE

Alec suddenly made a quick step forward and I panicked.

When we were little, we used to race to every part of the house. From our bedroom to the kitchen, even in the garden. He never wins no matter what he does but he always initiates the challenge.

I win because I always aim for the prize. And right now, the prize I want might be inside that room.

With his familiar glare and a wink, I charged. Nakipag-unahan ako sa kan'ya na makarating sa pintuan ng conference room. Halos sabay kaming nakahawak sa handle but my body reached the door first so I fought back when he tried to push me away and let myself in first.

"Hah!" I exclaimed.

I almost laugh out the loud drumming of my chest when I realized that the room is already full. The blood that's running through my veins went all up to my face. For a moment, I didn't know what to do about the awkward situation. Too awkward to be exact.

"Good morning, everyone!" Alec said in a very confident and steady tone behind my back.

I stood up straight and look at him as he walked past me.

"Mr. San Diego... you look pretty excited, too. No worries, you're just in time," he added with a smirk.

He forking played me! How could he humiliate me!?

I look around quickly as I regain my composure. I immediately caught Ameera's surprised eyes. I felt suddenly anxious that I looked in the opposite direction. I saw Ms. Del Valle. She automatically smiled at me that it made me frown automatically.

My dignity went all down the drain.

"Thank you for coming Mr. San Diego. I'd like you to hear all the details of this project. Please..."

Alec gestured the center where I should sit but I remained standing. I walked like I'm just going to supervise the meeting.

"As we all know, the market of our mall has not been able to reach the target—"

"Yet, Mr. De Vera. Just not yet," I emphasized.

"Not yet. Of course," he sarcastically smirks.

I hate it when he does that.

I accidentally saw Ameera bit her lip and held a serious expression. "Get to the point. I don't have a lot of time."

"Oh, okay. Sorry," he apologized as he face the staff. "Your CVs were reevaluated, that's why you're all here. We will be pulling you out from your previous positions and join you to this project. I will divide you into two groups..."

I hold myself from speaking the moment he mentioned the grouping.

"The head and the body," he continued. "The head will be divided again into two for brain storming while the body would do the physical implementation. All who has backgrounds in architecture, graphics, engineering, go to my left. Everyone who has marketing, management and the rest, to my right, please."

I silently watched everyone move, even Ms. Del Valle who sat beside Ameera at the far side.

"Mr. San Diego, would you like to take charge of the BODY Team?" Alec suddenly called my attention.

"No," I firmly said. Nice try, brother.

"I see. I just thought you wanted a hands on." He smirks again. "I guess GM can manage them."

"Now let's see. How do we divide you?" He said to the head group  then giving me a suspicious look.

"I'll handle the other team," I said.