Chapter 6

Umawang ang labi ko sa kanyang naging sagot. Hindi ko inaasahan na iyon ang sasabihin niya. Nakatitig ang kanyang mga mata sa akin pagkatapos niyang sabihin iyon na parang hinihintay ang magiging reaksyon ko.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang dapat kong sabihin sa kanya. He looked at me with adoration in his eyes.

"Are you hitting on me?" I gawked at him.

"What if I am?" hamon niya.

Mukhang hindi man lang siya natinag sa tanong ko.

I stared at him with disbelief. "I don't like you!"

"So?" he nonchalantly asked.

He raised a brow at me like what I said is nothing.

"I like someone else, Devon,"

I told him even though there's no one I like.

"Who?"

Kumunot ang kanyang noo. Nanatili akong tahimik at walang balak sagutin ang tanong niya.

"You don't need to know!"

"Is it Matthew?"

Matthew? He's my block mate in Management. Hindi ko rin naman close 'yon at minsan ko lang siya nakakausap. Why does he think it's Matthew?

"Huh? He's just a friend!"

"Really? I saw you flirting with him, though," he halted. "Do you like him?"

"What? I don't like him! How could you say that?!"

"You're with him on your lunch!" he growled.

"So? It doesn't mean I like him!"

He fizzed. "Don't talk to him,"

"Why not? I'll talk to whoever I want!"

"You like him, huh?"

Ang kulit naman. Ano bang hindi niya maintindihan sa sinabi ko?

Huminga ako nang malalim para pigilan ang inis na nararamdaman ko. Hindi niya ako titigilan hanngang hindi siya nakakakuha ng sagot sa akin. "So what?"

Umigting ang kanyang panga at tumalim ang tingin sa akin. "Don't date him, Avi,"

"You don't have a say on who I date!"

"So, you're dating now?" he hissed.

"So what if we are?!" hamon ko.

He shrugged his shoulders. "It doesn't mean that you'll end up with him."

My mouth went agape, only closing it after a second. I pursed my lips and my forehead creased.

"What are you trying to say?"

"I'll make sure you'll end up with me, baby," he paused. "Hindi ako papayag kung hindi."

Hindi niya tinanggal ang titig sa akin. I felt he stepped closer to me. I sucked in a small breath. There's just something in his eyes and the way he looks. His eyes could hook you and fell on his trap. His lingering stares could make you feel weak.

Naputol ang titigan namin nang tumunog ang phone na hawak ko. Nakita ko ang isang mensahe roon galing kay Maisie.

"Avi," Devon called. I glanced at him.

"What?"

Devon walked towards me. Napatingin lang ako sa kanya nang bigla niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko. Nakatingala ako sa kanya ngayon.

"Come with me, baby,"

"Hey,-" I shouted, looking at our joined hands.

Hinila niya ako patayo. Agad kong isinukbit ang bag ko sa balikat ko at walang nagawa kundi ang magpahatak sa kanya.

"Devon, where are you taking me?" He snubbed me and resumed walking.

People are gawking at us again but my attention was solely for him. I yanked my hand away from him but he only tightened his hold.

Malayo rin ang nilakad namin. Hatak-hatak pa rin ako ni Devon hanggang makarating kami sa gymnasium sa loob ng campus. Walang tao ngayon doon kung hindi kaming dalawa lang. Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang maramdaman ko ang pag bitaw ni Devon sa kamay ko.

"Why are we here?" I asked him. Sinundan ko lang siya ng tingin nang maglakad siya sa gilid ng court at kumuha ng bola mula sa isang trolley.

I was in full awe while watching him dribble the ball using his left and right hand, making the ball bounce in a striking v-formation. He's dribbling the ball gracefully as he walks back to me.

"Dinala mo ba ako rito para panuorin ka?" huminto si Devon sa pag dribble sa naging tanong ko. "Hindi ako interesado."

Umatras siya sa pinakamalayong linya kung saan nakakakuha ng three points. Nakuha niya pang kumindat sa akin bago isang beses nag-dribble at swabeng inihagis ang bola sa ring. Pumasok ang bola.

I raised a brow to show him that I'm not impressed. He chuckled and chased the ball.

He bit his lip. "Let's play, baby," he stated while dribbling the ball.

I snorted. "Wala akong alam sa basketball."

"Come on, Avi. You're just gonna throw the ball to the ring," sabi nito bago inihagis ang bola sa ring.

"See?" nilingon ako ni Devon at tinaasan ng kilay na may ngisi sa labi.

I grimaced at him. "Mayabang,"

"Scared?" he tauntingly asked.

"No!" inalis ko ang bag mula sa balikat at inilapag iyon sa sahig.

Lumaki ang ngisi ni Devon at hinatak ako sa free-throw line.

"Let's make a bet," he smirked.

Tumaas ang kilay ko roon. Ano na naman kaya binabalak nito? Hindi ako nagsalita at hinintay ang kasunod niyang sasabihin.

"Kailangan mo maka-shoot ng dalawang bola sa ring. Anim na beses ka lang pwede tumira," he paused and smiled evilly. "If you fail to do it, you need to face the consequence."

"What? Lugi ako!"

"You can't back out now, baby." I glared at him.

He only smirked at me. "To be fair, I'll shoot from the three-point line. I need to shoot five balls on the ring instead of three out of seven tries. Sounds good?"

"What if we both fail?"

"Then, the both of us will face the consequence," he elucidated.

"Fine,"

"You go first," he handed me the ball.

Mabuti na lamang at napili kong magsuot ng sneakers ngayon dahil hindi ko yata kakayanin na maglaro ng nakasuot ng heels!

I awkwardly dribbled the ball like it's my first time holding one. This is new to me because I've never played basketball before except when I was in senior high.

I must play basketball or else I'll fail my subject. I only tried playing it because I have to pass my practical exam. I don't know how I was able to pass it though. I always got the lowest score in our class back then.

I actually wanna learn a sport but sport doesn't want me. I can't even dribble a ball properly!

Devon chuckled and stood behind me. I sucked in my breath when he grabbed my hands from behind and properly positioned it.

"There," he chortled. "Shoot it, baby,"

Lumayo rin siya agad nang maaayos ang bola sa kamay ko at nakahinga ulit ako nang maayos. Itinuon ko ang atensyon ko sa ring. Huminga ako ng malalim bago sinubukan na ihagis ang bola. Tumama iyon sa ring ngunit hindi pumasok.

I grimaced and Devon laughed hard. Bakit ba ako pumayag sa larong ito?

"Five chances left," Devon gave me a mocking grin. I scowled at him.

Nagputoly kami sa laro namin. Sa pangatlong beses ay natalo na naman ako.

I groaned. Halos nagdadabog na ako na parang bata ngayon sa pang apat na beses na pagkatalo ko.

"Two chances left, baby," I heard him chuckled. It was very frustrating.

Huminga ako ng malalim at mariin na tiningnan ang ring. Tumingkayad pa ako bago itinira ang bola sa ring.

"Yes!" I yelled and threw both of my hands in the air. Lumingon ako kay Devon at mayabang na tumingin sa kanya. May malaking ngiti na nakaukit sa kanyang labi habang pinapanuod ako magdiwang.

"Don't celebrate yet you still have to shoot another one," he grinned.

Gusto akong inisin nito. Wag mo siyang patulan, Avi.

I clenched my jaw and took a deep breath to calm myself. I need to shoot this ball or I'll lose. I don't want to do the consequence. Wala akong tiwala kay Devon sa mga ganitong bagay.

Inulit ko ang ginawa ko kanina. Huminga ako ng malalim at pinosisyon ang kamay. Tumingkayad ako bago itinira ang bola sa ring.

"You lose, baby," he said with a wide grin.

Halos malukot ang mukha ko sa sinabi niya sa pagkairita. Nadagdagan 'yon ng malakas siyang tumawa.

"It's your turn now,"

Kinuha niya ang bola na ginamit ko kanina at umatras papunta sa labas ng three-point line. Tiningnan niya ako at mapang asar na ngumiti.

Umiling siya ng bahagya bago nagdribble ng bola at swabeng ihinagis sa ring. Pumasok ang bola ng walang kahirap-hirap.

Nilingon ako ni Devon at tinaasan ng kilay na may ngisi sa labi.

I grimaced at him. "Show off," Nakakatatlong puntos na siya ngayon.

Sa pang apat niyang tira ay hindi pumasok ang bola.

"You missed!" I laughed hard. Malaki ang ngisi ko habang nakatingin sa kanya.

"Shit!" he cussed.

"Alright, Devon. Be ready for the consequence," I remarked, feeling a bit smug.

He immediately chased the ball before he walked back to his place. Ngumisi muna siya sa akin bago niya tinira ulit ang bola. Nawala ang ngisi ko nang pumasok ang bola sa ring. Kinabahan ako nang makaka apat na puntos na siya. Isa nalang ang kailangan niya i-shoot para manalo.

"Natahimik ka yata?"

I rolled my eyes and I heard him chortled.

Ibinaling niya ang mga mata niya sa akin at itinaas baba ang mga kilay. "Are you ready, baby?"

Nakuha niya pang mang-asar! Bumalik siya sa kanyang posisyon at tulad kanina walang kahirap-hirap na pumasok ang bola sa ring. He won!

He's so positive. I think he planned this! He knows I'm not good at this that's why he chose this game. Pero wala akong magagawa dahil pumayag ako sa laro niyang ito.

Devon walked towards me with a wide annoying grin on his face. I grimaced.