The Casanova's Match

Chapter 5: Protect

In a luxurious huge room inside the club building of the University, Ice, Kim and Angelo were calmly looking at the ceiling while lying at one of the huge sofa. The whole fifth floor of this building was modified for their club, the Noble. In their club, they got only five members, their band members. And they use this room for practice and for chilling while in school.

Now, they are in the exact same room but this time, Irish is sleeping in another couch on the other side of the room. Not a single lady has ever came inside of this room. Not even teachers. This is something they have because of Ice and his connections. It is very exclusive, and that made them wonder how Irish is here.

"What are you doing?" Angelo broke the silence inside the room, poking at Ice with his elbow.

"What do you mean?"

"Ano to, bagong target mo?" asked Kim. "This is new huh? You just met her and now he's inside our room?"

"Great question," Ice calmly looked over at Irish's direction. Napangiti siya kahit na nakatalikod and dalaga at hindi niya nakikita ang mukha nito. "What am I doing?"

He brushed his own hair in frustration, "I'm acting really weird right now huh?" bulong niya.

Tumayo si Kim para kumuha ng pagkain sa mini refrigerator. He pulled out a cup of frozen berries to munch on. To enjoy the time of criticizing Ice and his actions.

Sinimulan na ni Angelo ang panggigisa sa kaibigan, "Hulaan ko, nagandahan ka? Tapos ngayon, siya na ang target mo?"

Panandaliang natahimik muli ang buong kwarto bago magsalita si Ice, "I saw her secretly cry in the garden."

"Not really new for you. You've made thousands of girl cry before," said Kim, then ate a blueberry.

"She was really sad," there was a long pause before Ice continued. "She's too pretty to cry like that, she doesn't deserve it."

"WHAT?" sigaw ni Kim at napatayo pa. Ice was annoyed. He pulled Kim to sit again while signalling him to tone it down because Irish is still sleeping. Napangiti nanaman siya dahil naalala niyang suot ni Irish and extrang polo niya ngayon bilang pamalit sa uniform niyang basa pa.

"Keep it the f*ck down, she's sleeping."

"Can you clarify this again, you were regretful because you made her cry?" pilyong tanong ni Angelo.

"I said what I said, she's very sad because of what I did and for some reason, I can't bear to see her like that again. I was about to rush to her, but I ran to the rooftop instead."

Taas kilay sina Kim at Angelo dahil sa naririnig nila. Para silang mga bulate na inasinan dahil sa kilig kahit na matatangkad sila at malalaki ang pangangatawan. Kitang-kita kasi nila ang pagbabago sa pananalita ni Ice.

"Can you please act normal?"

"Bro, you changed in half an hour, what the heck is this magic?"

"Shut up Gelo, I'm just honestly saying what's on my mind. Hindi niyo kasi nakita 'yong itsura niya kanina. I was so foolish." Tapik sa balikat lang ang sagot ng dalawa.

"I bet fangirls are gonna go after her hard. Imagine, someone that could match you is finally here," pang-aasar ni Kim.

"That should never get to her. She might cry again."

"Wow bro, I guess this is the literal definition of love at first sight," Angelo commented.

Ice left the his two friends, he's a bit taken aback because of his friends observations about him changing because of the girl that he just met today. He walked towards Irish who is peacefully sleeping. He pulled the blanket back up to her shoulder. She moved a little as she felt the sudden movement. And now she's directly facing Ice with her eyes closed.

"Beautiful," he thought to himself.

He didn't think much of it but he can't stop himself from taking a picture of an angel sleeping.

There were many notifications in his phone. A bunch of those were from his social media accounts popping off because of the fans. He's sure that there were a bunch of posts about their band. Hindi niya inaasahan na pagbukas niya ng kanyang app, bumungad ang picture niya habang nakaakbay sa isang babae na halos hanggang balikat lang niya. There were tons of backlash with the photo.

Sanay na siya na ganito ang posts na makikita niya mula sa mala-paparazzi niyang fans sa school. Mabuti nalang, kahit na kita ang mukha ni Ice sa picture, hindi kita ang mukha ni Irish. Dahil kapag nagkataon, hindi lang ang buong school ang magsisimulang magalit kay Irish, damay na din ang buong internet.

"These fans are doing it again," he said as he came back to talk to the boys. He showed the hate comments under the picture of the two of them.

"What's new? Hindi ka pa ba nasanay? Ilang babae na ba ang nabiktima ng mga fans mo? Kaya ka nga walang jowa diba?" Kim seems uninterested.

"I am single because I want to. It is not because of the fans. That's not under their power."

He plopped down the comfy couch.

"Hindi naman kasi totoo ang sinasabi nila tungkol kay Irish. The other girls, yeah they fit the description that they say online, not gonna lie," he shook his head. "She's just different, I can't let her be treated that way right?"

Kunwari pa siyang naghahanap ng pagsangayon mula sa mga kaibigan niya pero alam niya sa sarili niya na gagawin lang naman niya kung ano ang gusto niyang gawin.

"Can you call Fyren?" he asked Kim. "Tell him to do something to take down those photos online. I don't like them."

Tumango si Kim bago nilunok ang nginunguya niyang prutas.

"Sabihin mo may pinoprotektahan si Ice for once," hirit ni Angelo na biglang nakatanggap ng hampas sa kan'yang batok.

Hindi pa rin talaga sila titigil sa pang-aasar sa kan'ya.

"Can you just do it, I don't want her to cry again."

"Yup, definitely protecting her," nagkunwari si Angelo na parang bata ang kausap at hinaplos pa niya ang buhok ni Ice. "The baby boy is all grown now huh, no time for f*cking around, good boy."

"Shut up, If you wake her up right now, I'm going to kill you," pagbabanta ni Ice.

"Yeah yeah, whatever dude. Gawin mo nalang ang gusto niya Kim, namumula pa 'yong pisngi niya eh halatang may kilig ang g*go."