Ding! Ding! [Will you accept me, the trillion-dollar system?] While August lay in the hospital bed, his head bandaged and his whole body sore, he could hear a ding sound in his head. "What…." He replied weakly as his vision was blurred. He could barely move as he watched doctors and nurses in the ER rushing while some gave commands to each other. "Who are you? What’s the trillion-dollar system?" He questioned while trying to wrap his head around what was happening. "Doctor! He has regained consciousness!" A nurse called out to a young doctor in an overall coat who quickly rushed to his side. "That was a close one. Is the blood transfusion ready? He still looks a bit unstable." The doctor said while examining August. "Not yet, doctor. He has a rare blood type. It will be quite hard finding his match soon." The nurse said in an apologetic tone as the doctor peered into August's eyes, which were slightly opened. "What…what am I…." August could barely complete his question as he felt

"There's a way. Look." August pointed at the billboard."The Arizona yearly tech competition for only the best computer geeks in the world," August said almost in a whisper, his eyes fixed on the grand prize. "A $100,000." He breathed as Dan turned to the direction of his gaze."A $100,000 and a position of chief hacker of Arizona Tech!" Dan exclaimed, his eyes widened."This is crazy! I could actually show them my talent," Dan said gleefully."So you propose we should enter this competition to win a $100,000?" August asked."Why are you asking that? You were the one that proposed the idea." Dan eyed him suspiciously. "Or would it be strange for you because it’s the company of those that stole your girlfriend from you?""Far from it. I don’t care any longer. This is the only way I can make my $100,000. A trillion dollars is the goal. At last, I would eventually have the last laugh," August said, staring at the billboard as Dan nodded with a smile."But..." he suddenly said. "It’s a na

“What is he talking about?” Dan had a scared look as he stared at the unfamiliar man.“He is the chairman of Arizona group,” August said with a straight face while watching the man intently, as if he already knew why their prizes would be forfeited.“The jerk cheated to win. Now he wants to take a prize. How ridiculous!” The man August hated most said from the other side of the room as he darted his gaze to find Allen and his girlfriend, both of them sitting together at the high table, close to where Dave was occupying earlier.“What? No…we…” Dan made to say but was lost for words. He wasn’t sure how August had manipulated everything.“August….” Dan quickly held his hand. “Say something. They are going to make us forfeit what we worked hard for…” Dan said almost in a whisper while August just watched Allen calmly, as if the whole thing doesn’t move him.“According to the tech experts, someone had tampered with internet connections,” Dave continued as August slowly turned his attention

“About my game?” He asked as August nodded.“You jerk… Did those bastards from the Arizona Gaming send you? Ugh?” Bill closed the distance between them as if he meant to attack him. “What makes you think I will sell my game to you? Ugh?” He snapped all of a sudden.“Woaw, woaw…” August raised his hand to calm him down. “I didn’t mean it that way, Bill. I didn’t mean to buy your game. Arizona Gaming? Are they the ones wanting to buy your game?” August asked.Now the mention of that company caused a stir within him.“What do you care? You guys only care about profits. Games aren’t like that. If you don’t have a heart, you can’t produce games! And I am not interested in selling, period!” Bill maintained his stance as August almost scoffed loudly.Arizona gaming pretends to have the best game creators in the world but then in reality, they buy games from vulnerable teams like Bill’s.If they want Bill’s game, that only meant one thing. His game has potentials. If there's one thing I knew

August walked into the room, a sheepish smile on his face, looking effortlessly cool in a tee shirt and gray slacks, with his usual diamond watch—whose origin he still hasn't disclosed to anyone. It was just him being August."Hi, Bill," he walked past Dave and Mr. Zach, their gazes fixed on him, straight to stand in front of Bill, hands tucked into his pocket. "Sorry I'm late," he feigned a tired grin. "I was stuck in traffic," he added as Bill stared at him in disbelief."How did you find me?" irritation tinged Bill's tone as August raised a brow, as if he were the one lost."Hmm…," he tilted his head to the side. "You don't recognize me? I offered you a job at my company, remember?" He waved his hands dramatically in front of Bill's face as he sighed."What? A job?" Greta chimed in, drawing closer, looking from Bill to August."I told you to stay away from me, didn't I? I…""You asked me if I had a company…," August cut in smoothly, now wearing a serious expression as Bill closed hi