Mr. Left (Mr. Series #2)

Chapter 12

"How warm."

I was stunned when I heard him speak.

"I've been looking for you. I never thought this was the quickest way to find you."

My eyebrows met. Was it all an act?

He looked at me and stood up, wearing that winning smile.

"What's your problem?" inis kong tanong bago ko siya sinuntok sa dibdib. He's conning me again with his tactics. He really knows how to tame me.

He grinned when he held my hand. Tila ba bumalik ang kulay sa kaniyang mukha. "Sheen May, I'll make sure I win this game. And if that happens, I want you to grant me a wish."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "A wish? What are you talking about?"

"It's a secret," he answered.

"Ayoko nga!" pagtanggi ko.

I was about to stand up when he held me tightly.

"Are you still mad at me? Don't you want me to win this game?"

"What's in it for me?" mataray kong tanong.

"Don't you want to know what my wish is?"

That made me interested in the wish he was talking about. He really knows how to win over me, and I can't outsmart him.

Hindi na ako nakapagsalita pa nang pumito nang muli si Prof at bumalik na si Jhon Rey sa laro.  I was at a loss for words.
Ano na naman bang gusto niya?

I stood up and realized how much attention was on me there. What the hell did I do? Did I just run away from the other side of the court to check if Jhon Rey was okay?

The shame drove me out of there.

Bakit kailangan niyang magkunwaring nahimatay?

He's really getting on my nerves.

Gusto ko na tuloy umalis dito sa gymnasium. Hindi talaga ako tinatantanan ng kahihiyan.

As soon as I returned to our place, Anne started to make fun of me and my sudden adrenaline rush to save Jhon Rey.

"What happened? Did he merely stage his own collapse?" Anne asked curiously, but her eyes seemed to scrutinize me.

Napabuntong-hininga ako.

"He did. He said he needed to find me right away. That's why he did that."

"Bakit niya naman gagawin 'yon?" tanong niya, pero maya-maya lang ay tumango-tango na siya. "I see. Naiintindihan ko na. Napansin ko siya kanina na parang may hinahanap, so it was you?"

Wait, I also saw him uneasy, and he looked like he was finding someone or something even when that game had not started. Was it really me he was looking for?

"Why would he do that?" nahihiya kong tanong.

"To look for inspiration?"

I caught Anne Marie grinning while I was not convinced. "Mukhang alam niya na ang magiging reaksyon mo kaya niya ginawa 'yon. Alam niyang pupuntahan mo siya kapag may nangyari sa kaniyang masama. I suppose his strategies work. Look at him; he's scoring now in the match."

Ibinaling ko ang tingin sa laro. Tama nga ang sabi ni Anne. Humahabol na ang team ni Jhon Rey sa score laban kay Jhunel.

Jhunel's face now appears to be quite serious. I can't help but feel proud. He wants a game like this; I know that. 'Yong may thrill na papawisan siya nang malala. I sincerely hope he succeeds this time in reaching his goals.

Jhunel's team is in the lead in the first half. Nakakatuwa na nakakapanood kami ng ganito kagandang laro. It somehow amuses me. Mas mabuti talagang manood kaysa maglaro. Makikisigaw ka lang at makikinerbyos sa mga nangyayari.

"Dikit ang score ng team ni Jhon Rey kina Jhunel, ah," komento ni Anne sa akin. I can testify to that. In just a moment, Jhon Rey's team is doing their best to overtake the opponent's score, but Jhunel prevents that.

 "Never thought that your future husband plays well too. Mukhang nahihirapang bantayan ng team ni Jhunel si Jhon Rey kasi magaling siyang point guard," komento pa ni Anne. It appears like Jhunel's team is finding it difficult to guard him.

"While Jhunel is best being a small forward," sambit ko naman na muling nagpangisi kay Anne Marie.

"Wow, your heart now belongs to Jhunel."

Inirapan ko siya sa pagiging malisyosa niya or trip niya lang akong asarin ngayon. I pursed my lips. "I just wanted him to win this game."

"If you say so." Akala ko ay titigilan niya na ako sa pang-aasar, pero hindi niya ako tinantanan. "What does it feel like to be in a love triangle?" dagdag pa niya. "Jhunel loves you, but you love Jhon Rey while Jhon Rey is in love with someone else," Anne Marie elaborated.

I bit my lower lip and was ready to throw her a punch.

"Can you please stop roasting me?"

She just laughed harder. Mabuti naman at tumigil na siya kakaasar sa akin. Iba talaga kapag best friend ang nang-asar, nakakainis minsan. 

"Look, they're back," saad niya sabay turo sa mga manlalaro. Napatingin akong muli sa court. Magsisimula nang muli ang laro sa pagitan ng dalawang team, pero pakiramdam ko parang bumigat ang tensyon mula sa kanila.

Pinagmasdan kong mabuti ang laro. Mainit ang pagbantay ni Jhunel kay Jhon Rey habang si Jhon Rey ay sunod-sunod na nakapuntos. Maganda ang tactics nila. Dalawa ang nakabantay kay Jhon Rey kung kaya't 'yong kaklase naming lalaking walang bantay ang malayang nakaka-shoot ng puntos.

Nasa kamay na ni Jhunel ang bola. Tumatakbo siya habang nagdi-dribble nang makuha 'yon ni Jhon Rey. Ipinadaan niya ang bola sa pagitan ng hita ni Jhunel bago niya muling ipinasa sa kakampi niya dahil dalawa ang bantay niya. Naharang 'yong kakamping 'yon kung kaya't nang mawala ang bantay kay Jhon Rey, ipinasa sa kaniya ang bola at walang pagdadalawang isip na ni-shoot ang bola. Tatlong puntos.

However, it was even more unexpected when Jhunel jumped and reached for the ball. It happened in the blink of an eye, and nobody expected that. Inihagis niya ito papunta sa kasagpi niya na malayang makakapuntos.

Napasigaw ang lahat nang muli ay madagdagan ang points ng team ni Jhunel. Doon ko napansin na two points na lang pala ang lamang nila laban sa team ni Jhon Rey. Hindi ko alam na maabutan sila ng team ni Jhon Rey.

Napatingin ako kay Jhon Rey. Pawis na pawis na siya at umuubo. Mukhang hinahapo na rin dahil kanina pa siya lumalaro. Hindi man lang pinapalitan. Ang lakas naman ng stamina niya para mag-stay nang matagal sa larong 'to.

Sabagay, I am a huge witness to his stamina.

Hold your thoughts, Sheen May!

Muntikan ko nang masampal ang sarili ko dahil sa naisip ko. Sa lahat ng bagay na maiisip ko. 'Yon pa!

That's so out of the blue!

Why would I end up thinking about that night?

Nagpatawag ng time out ang team ni Jhon Rey. Mukhang gagamutin nila ang ginawang depensa ng kalaban nila. They are taking this seriously. They need to do something to turn the table upside down.

Dumapo ang atensyon ko kay Jhunel. He was busy talking to his teammates, maybe describing their plans for the last quarter. I absolutely want him to win, and I would be really happy if that happened. I want to see him smile.

Ilang sandali pa ay nagsimula nang muli ang laro. Ang lakas ng tibok ng puso ko. Daig ko pa ang kaba ng mismong naglalaro. Bakit kasi ganito kahigpit ang laban nila? They are absolutely taking this seriously. They were passionate, and I began to admire them.

Sobrang lakas ng hiyawan sa loob ng gymnasium hall. Kaliwa't kanan ang pagchi-cheer nila. Nakakarindi pero mas lalong nakakadagdag ng excitement.

Hawak ni Jhon Rey ang bola. Isa na lang ang bantay niya at iyon ay si Jhunel. So this is their new strategy?

Jhon Rey is dribbling the ball while staring at the guy in front of him. I saw him smirk.

And I never expected what he'd do next.