Hardest to Lose (Villaraza Series #4)

31 | Winner

31 | Winner

* * * * *

The last quarter of the game started and my mind was still with Markus.

I wanted to know more. How did his love bloom when I never watered it? Sa ilang taon ay kaaway ang tingin ko sa kanya. If ever he was in love with me since we we were young, how could it have endured when I always drove him away?

Baliw na yata talaga siya.

“Foul, Number 13!”

I winced when I felt the pain travelled through my elbow. Mabilis na lumapit sa akin iyong nakabangga sa akin at tinulungan akong tumayo. Abot-abot din ang pag-sorry niya kaya paulit-ulit din ang pagsabi kong okay lang naman ako. Kayang-kaya pa.

My teammates were pissed and accused the violator of bumping into me so I couldn’t aim for a three-point shot. Inawat ko sila sa pag-iisip noon at ipinangakong gagalingan ko sa dalawang free throw. Anyway, we were two points ahead of the opponent so my free throws would determine our fate and I was confident of my team’s win. Kung totoo mang sindya iyong foul, wala na rin namang magagawa ang kabila.

“Go, Villaraza!” a guy cheered from the crowd.

 I smirked and it was once again a pandemonium. They were so easy to please. I didn’t even try.

Ngunit ang ngising iyon ay mabilis na nawala nang nahagip ng tingin ko si Markus na seryoso ang mga mata sa akin.

“You have no idea.”

Fuck. It just couldn’t be.

Sablay iyong una kong free throw. But I did it in the second time. Pakiramdam ko ay mabubungkal mula sa lupa ang buong lugar dahil sa hiyawan ng mga tao. My teammates were so happy and gave me a hug. I was damn overwhelmed.

We won!

“Ingat kayo!” masigla kong sabi sa mga co-officer ko habang kumakaway.

It was almost dark and it was the first time since the Foundation Week had started that I would be going a little earlier. Well, I had to a lot of things ahead of time so I could do this. I wanted to sleep a bit longer.

Sinulyapan ko ang relo. Wala pa rin iyong driver ko. Did he forget again? Nangyari rin ito noong nakaraan. I should text him.

I was in the middle of typing a message when the bush nearby moved and revealed a man. Kamuntikan ko nang mahulog ang cell phone sa gulat.

“What the fuck, Markus!” sigaw ko.

In his lazy gaze and ruined hair, he stood in front of me. Sinulyapan ko kung saan siya biglang lumabas. Anong ginagawa niya sa halamanan?

“Tapos na kayo?” he asked, voice husky.

“Oo. Were you sleeping?”

He yawned loudly and nodded. “Ang tagal niyo.”

“Sa halamanan?”

“Yeah. Where’s your driver?”

Napanganga ako. I heard before that he really had this habit sleeping anywhere. I even found him on a flower box before. But thinking about it now, how could he do that? He was really something!

“Congrats nga pala. You were so cool in the court earlier,” aniya habang naglalakad kami. “How’s your elbow?”

“You didn’t join the celebration.” I showed him my unscathed elbow. “It’s fine now.”

Tumango siya ngunit nagtagal ang tingin niya roon. “Everyone wanted your attention there. Baka magselos lang ako.”

Mahina ko siyang sinuntok sa braso. Tinawanan niya lamang iyon.