Played (Montellano series #1)

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Naging matagal ang titigan namin. His eyes are provocative, teasing, yet serious. The smirk on his face is annoying me.

"No. I'm not avoiding you." sabi ko sa kanya kasabay ng pag-iinit ng pisngi.

I ran my fingers through my hair and glanced at my cousins below. Naghahanda na sila para sa kanilang practice. They will practice here, since Rake wasn't able to reserve a court for them.

"Yes, you are."

He leaned forward. Now he's amused again. He smiled.

"No." mariin kong sagot.

"Bakit hindi mo ako kinakausap kung ganoon?" umayos siya sa kanyang pagkakaupo. "Did I do something wrong?"

Nagtiim bagang ako at umiling. Umiwas ako ng tingin.

"I'm not avoiding you," panimula ko. "I'm just stepping back."

"Why would you step back?"

Bumaling ulit ako sa kanya. "Baka... magalit ang nililigawan mo."

He stared at me for a while until he registered what I said. His lips parted for a bit then he chuckled.

"What?" aniya na parang gustong humalakhak nang malakas. "What did you say?"

"You are courting someone right? You told your friend about it. Hindi ko alam kung alam ba ng babaeng nililigawan mo na umalis tayo no'ng araw na 'yon pero nirerespeto ko kayong dalawa. She might get the wrong idea if we continue talking so I'm stepping back."

"Of course she knows about it."

He's now smiling widely like he's enjoying this. Nakatitig siya sa akin, tuwang-tuwa sa usapan. Kinunotan ko siya ng noo. I don't find anything funny about our conversation.

"What? You said you've changed. Are you playing with her? You should not be talking to other girls now that you're courting someone. Anyway, who is she?"

"You're really talkative when you're upset, huh?" aniya at sumandal sa kanyang upuan. "Bakit naman siya magagalit?"

I rolled my eyes. "It's because you're always talking to me. Alam niya ba iyon? She might think that you're fooling her."

"Hindi siya magagalit." he said while watching me. "Bakit ka naman magagalit?"

"Nasaan si Mich?" I heard Kim's voice downstairs.

I blinked twice while staring at him. The smile on his face never fading away. My mouth hanged open in disbelief and my face felt heated.

What did he say?

"Hindi ka naman magagalit, 'di ba? Kasi ikaw ang nililigawan ko?"

The butterflies in my stomach are alive again, partying and celebrating at the news. Kumurap-kurap ako kasabay ng pagbilis ng tibok ng puso ko. I was in shock, don't know how to react.

He watched my reaction and waited for what I'm going to say. Nang matantong mananatili akong tahimik, dinilaan niya ang kanyang labi at bahagyang lumapit.

"I like you, Mich. You're the one I'm courting." dahan-dahan niyang sinabi. "Since the first time I saw you, the very first time I met your eyes. I have been liking you since then."

I struggled to speak. Kumurap-kurap ako at nagbuga ng hininga.

"Kaya huwag kang magagalit at iiwas, kasi ikaw ang nililigawan ko. I hope that's okay with you."

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. I only stared at him with shock on my face with my lips parted and eyes blinking furiously.

"Nandito lang pala kayo. Rake, warm up na raw." Kim entered the veranda. "Bakit kayo nandito?"