Don't Play With Me, Dave (UAAP Series #1)

The Games Are Over, Kaela

"Wait lang!" Sigaw ko ng malakas mula sa sala. Binaba ko kaagad ang cellphone ko at tinapon ng maingat sa sofa. I made sure to check if it would fall before heading straight to the door. Maliit lang naman ang condo ko pero spacious pa rin siya kahit papaano dahil mukha lang siyang maliit sa labas. My condo also has a second floor but it's not that big since tatlong single rooms lang sa taas.

I took a deep breath and let it out before slowly opening the door. Dave, who was wearing a plain white shirt and grey sweatpants paired with white addidas shoes, greeted me with a smile. He stood 6'6 so it made sense that his sweatpants were a little short for him. I could see also see his white socks. Naamoy ko rin kaagad ang pabango niya... it definitely smelled like Dior Sauvage, if I'm not mistaken.

His hands were inside his pockets when he tilted his head a little, confused as to why I'm still not letting him go inside.

"You can stare at me later.. can I go inside muna?" He smirked, purposely teasing me.

Tumabi ako ng saglit para makapasok siya sa loob. Nang nasa tabi ko na siya ay kaagad ko siyang sinampal. Napatalon siya sa gulat at napahawak pa sa braso niya. Kala mo naman nasaktan. Sa laki niyang 'yan? Himala naman.

Kumunot ang noo ko at mahinang nagreklamo. "Sabi kasing 'wag na pumunta, pumunta pa rin parang tanga."

"Dami mo namang sinasabi diyan pare, pashare naman?" I rolled my eyes when I saw him comfortably sitting on my couch. Naka de quatro pa nga at hawak hawak na ang mga unan doon. The comforter was also a mess.

"Tangina mo, maayos 'yan kanina." Tinitigan ko siya ng masama habang nilock ko ang pinto. Mahirap na at baka may nakakita kay Dave. Baka matrending ulit ako ng wala sa oras.

Dahil medyo tag-ulan na ngayon, I decided to make hot choco for the both of us. Diretso lang ako sa kitchen na open area lang katapat ng living room ko. Kaya kahit habang abala ako sa ginagawa ko ay nakikita ko pa rin siyang pinagmamasdan bawat kilos ko.

I poured the packs on two different mugs before pouring hot water on them. Nagpapainit na rin naman ako ng tubig bago pa niya sinabi sa'kin na pupunta siya dahil gagawa talaga ako ng hot chocolate habang nag-aaral.

"Hey." Tawag niya bigla sa'kin kaya napatingin ako sa kanya at tinaasan ng kilay. "Nag-aaral ka ba?" He pointed at the books and my notebooks scattered on the living room table. My pens were also out of place kaya nagkaroon ako ng konting hiya nung tinuro niya 'yon.

Yes, distraction. Para umiwas sa'yo. Gustuhin ko mang sabihin 'yan, pero hindi ko pa rin gagawin. Pumunta pa talaga siya dito kaya mas lalo lang ako hindi nakafocus habang nag-aaral para sa quiz namin bukas tungkol sa cells.

"It's fine." He said, as if reading my mind. Tumayo siya bigla para lapitan ang mga 'yon. He took a white thick notebook and walked towards my direction. He stopped directly in front of me, kung nasaan ang island table ko sa kusina. He leaned against it while I was already mixing and adding marshmellows.

"May mali ka dito." Biglaan niyang sinabi na kinainis ko kaagad.

"Anong mali? Puro drawing lang 'yan ng human body bobo."

He scoffed and immediately showed me what he was talking about. "Okay.. ngayon ko lang nalaman na 'yung mitochondria hindi na pala powerhouse of the cell."

"Anong-"

"Hotdog na pala siya, kaya pala nilabel mo siya as 'footlong na mukhang corndog'." Nanlaki ang mata ko.

"That's new- hoy!!" Naputol ang sasabihin niya nang bigla akong tumakbo ng mabilis papunta sa kanya at sinubukang agawin 'yung notebook ko. Sadly, hindi ko nakuha dahil mabilis ang reflexes niya since basketball player nga siya. Sa sobrang inis ko, tumalon-talon pa ako para lang abutin 'yung notebook ko na tinataas niya.

"Gago akin na! Ildefonso!!" I shouted at him. I unconciously leaning more closer towards him kaya hindi ko napapansin na hinahawakan na niya ako sa beywang.

"I memorize like that, kung may problema ka sa'kin sabihin mo gago!!!" I was about to take one last big jump, nagulat ako nang bigla niyang hinawakan ang kamay kong inaabot 'yung notebook ko. I immediately stopped moving.

He was staring at me with those eyes. Eyes that sparks an emotion I will never know. Why is he doing this to me? Alam naman niyang may gusto ako sa kanya dati pero bakit parang wala lang sa kanya? Bakit parang pinaparamdam niya talaga sa'kin na itigil ko talaga nararamdaman ko para sa kanya? How will I when he's... everything that I've ever dreamed of?

"W-why, Dave..." I uttered, letting him control my hand and continued to stare at him with watery eyes. Ni hindi ko nga napansin na umiiyak na pala ako. "Bakit mo ako sinasaktan lagi?"

My legs were about to give up but then he suddenly grabbed my waist and pulled me in for a hug. Hindi ako kaagad nakagalaw pero mahigpit lang ang hawak niya sa'kin. It was like we was telling me that everything will be okay.. and that now's the chance to let it all out on him; the one who I liked 3 years ago.

Lumunok ako ng malalim bago ko sabihin ang pinakagusto kong sabihin in my hellish 3 years."Y-y-you... you stopped courting the girl you like because of me-"

I was cut off by him. "Shhh..." He suddenly patted my head, calming me down. "Hindi ikaw 'yung dahilan. Believe it or not, it's a much more fucked up reason 'cause I found out she had another man... kaya please 'wag mo na sisihin sarili mo all these years, Kaela. It's not your fault."

I could tell he was really serious right now. His voice became more deeper and more soft. Hinahawi niya pa rin ang buhok ko habang ako naman ay umiiyak lang ako sa dibdib niya. It wasn't my fault?

"I was going to explain my side today.. but that can wait. You need comfort right now." I could feel him smile from my shoulder.

"I fucking hate you, Dave Ildefonso." I hugged him back willingly. "Don't play with me."

It was honestly annoying when he laughed, but I didn't let go since I didn't want him to see my crying face.

"Who said I was?" He chuckled. "In the first place, the games are over Kaela."

━━━━━

Dave Ildefonso, a star player in Ateneo Blue Eagles,

He liked playing games.

But turns out,

The moment I said I liked him..

The game was already over.

And I won.

My only prize.. was him.

T H E E N D .