SEVENTEEN years to Live

11 ●○► RETURN

CHAPTER 11

●○► RETURN

The Blue team has the leading score. Emil has 5 points so far and he runs as the third place. When Bryan and his teammates know they are already close to winning, they suggest the Blue team and Emil to take a rest. Bryan is sweating all over his body. His white shirt can already be squeeze because it is so wet with sweat. He walks over to me as the break starts, taking his shirt off and using it to wipe the excess sweat dripping in his body—arms and even face.

“That was a great play, Bryan,” Janine says as Bryan arrives. Bryan gives her a thankful smile, then looks at me just after a split second.

“Water?” he asks. “Have any?”

His shoulders square, and his hand raises with palms opened. I look at his face and see his eyebrows set high; his blonde hair looks like he just had a bath. He is still sweating, but only a little now compared earlier. I open my mouth to answer, but suddenly the sight of his body makes me stop. Oh my, God! I shouted in my head.

I have never looked at his body before. I know he was shirt off the first time we met, but I did not stare at it before the way I stare at it now. His body looks . . . hot. Any girl who can have it will be considered one of the luckiest. Well, I am the luckiest!

“Water?” he asks again.

I search our place without taking my eyes off of him. I use my hands and run them around me, but I can never find any bottle or thing.

“Here.” It was Beth who answers. And my gaze breaks from Bryan, and my glance immediately goes to her. Bryan takes it, and thanks her immediately.

After taking the bottle from her, he goes to me and sits inches beside me with widespread legs. I watch him as he opens the cap of the bottle. Then he excitedly lifts the bottle over his lips, and lets the water pour down on his mouth. I see his throat go up and down as he drinks. There is no drop of water that spills from his mouth

When he stops drinking, he says, “Ahhh,” contentedly. Then, “Oh my, God,” he adds. “It feels so good.”

I look at the bottle that is clasped in his hands; it is already in half.

“Bryan,” I call, and he slowly glances at me with a smile on his face. I smiled too.

“Yes, babe?” he asks.

 “You better reserve that water for later,” I say. “You need it after the match. You’d be very tired, I know.”

His lips form a thin line. “My girlfriend is concern. Wow.” He pauses for a second, enough time for him to think for his next words. He sucks in a long breath and sighs heavily through his nose. “But, okay.” His voice drops low. “I’ll save this.” When he says the last sentence, he lifts his hand where the bottle is to indicate.

A few moments later, I see Marvy and Michael, who are also wet with sweat, through the corner of my eye jogging their way toward us. I glance toward them, saying “Hello” as I wave my hand at them.

I receive no answer from them. Their eyes are looking at Bryan with unpleasant expression. “You left us,” Marvy tells him, knitting his eyebrows.

“Yeah,” his brother immediately agrees.

For a second I wonder where they have gone. I think they were still in the field when Bryan came here. And when Bryan came here, I haven’t look back at the field because my attention is completely drawn at him.

Bryan just gives a sarcastic look, making the brothers scowl. After that, Bryan has never answered them.

“By the way,” says Michael, his voice catching all attention in the place, “do you have some water?” He sighs and looks at us one by one from Beth to Janine.