The Secret

Chapter 8

Team was stabbing the fork on his plate while his eyes were fixed on Win sitting opposite of him in the long table. It turned out that Win didn't leave, and kept his words on eating lunch with them. Team was certain, Win wanted to torment him as well. The guy must have thought he was easy to deal with. If Win only knew, Team doesn't start a fight but doesn't turn his back on it either once he was provoked. Team had thought he must somewhat get even or better yet not give Win the impression that he got him around his dirty little fingers.

He must put up a fight, and since he didn't want Team to get close to Dean then that's what he was going to do. With that thought in mind, he squeezed in dangerously closer to Dean who was sitting next to him, and Pharm on the other side — Manaow on the other hand sat next to Win opposite of them. Team slid himself subtly so the latter wouldn't notice, though he intended to annoy Win. Team bit his lips as he deliberately brushed his shoulders, and hope it wouldn't call Pharm's attention. Guilt was creeping in his veins yet he had to turn a blind eye on it for the sake of his revenge.

"What are you eating, Dean? " Team said it casually as he turned his attention to the man beside him. Though he was calm, and collected outside, he was celebrating inside cause he saw Win stopped eating, and eyed him.

"Can't you see it's a fried rice with sauteed meat toppings? " Win answered, Team ignored him.

"Is it delicious? " Team was thankful Pharm wasn't taking it for anything. He was still leisurely eating.

"Of course, it is. " Win answered again.

"I just thought of getting one if it is, " Team's attention still on Dean, he was both annoyed and glad at Win's uncalled remarks. Team was starting to think that his plan worked, and it was going well.

"No one's asking." Win shortly replied.

"Where did you buy that? " Team inquired, eyes still on Dean, ignoring the annoying bee that kept buzzing on the other side.

"Try the hardware. "

That's it. Team smiled, gritted his teeth, and finally turned to Win who was back to eating, he subtly distance himself from Dean for his guilt was eating him, besides, it appeared to have pissed Win already. "Am I talking to you? "

Win shrugged, "Your questions are stupid, and no, I'm not talking to you neither. "

Team's right brow went up, eyes probing question as the latter met his gaze.

"I was talking to myself." Win shrugged, "Don't mind me. "

"It's hard not to mind you when you're talking to yourself. It's not how sane people work. " Manaow had definitely rub off of her claws on Team for the latter learned to use her words as well. Team heard Manaow chuckled lightly.

"That's my man, " Manaow whispered shouted as she looked at Team.

Dean shook his head as he eyed Win, he was confused as to why the latter was acting unnaturally. For him,  the Win now was so unlike him. Even if so, Dean opted to push it at the back of his mind, thinking the man might be tired for they just got back from the competition.

"Anyway, our club will have an open swimming lesson. If you're interested, I can have you both registered." changing the topic, Dean announced.

Manaow dropped the spoon and fork in her hand, and leaned closer to Win. "Will you be one of the instructor? " she asked, batting her eyelashes.

Win bothered by the proximity slightly tilted away, "Ye-yes! "

Team squinted his brows, he couldn't help but ask why the hell this guy change his bearing so suddenly between him and the others? Earlier, he was too engrossed at getting on his nerves, but now, he was like a dog wagging his tail in between his feet. Well, that was kind of exaggeration but to make it clear, why was Win so nice to others yet so harsh on him? What the hell did he do to this man? Well, it was one of the mystery he wasn't interested to know. If Win dislike him, then so be it, and the feeling was mutual.

"Team, you are interested to learn how to swim, right? " for Team, it didn't sound like a question but a statement.

"Am I now? "

Manaow widened her eyes as if wanting to tell him a point. "Yes, you are. " every words were spoken with emphasis.

"Since when? "

"Since now. "

"I see." scratching the back of his head, Team replied.

"Okay, we are in. " Manaow decided, tilting her head out of Win's sight, she mouthed 'yes' with a threatening look on her face.

"Ye-yes? "

"How about you Pharm? " Manaow asked, diverting everyone's attention so Team wouldn't be able to take his words back.

"He has a private lesson with me. " Dean went back to eating as he nonchalantly answered Manaow. Pharm's face went crimson red as he docked his face down to hide it.

Team's lips curved into a teasing grin so as Manaow, they knew they were at the same page this time, looking at Pharm, they teased. "I see, can we register to that private lesson too? Nah? nah? Pharm?"

"I don't mind, but ask Dean. " the man in questioned, shortly replied.

Turning to Dean, Team went on probing, tilting his head even further to taunt him. "Dean? "

Dean, unaffected, not threatened nor bothered at all. "Sorry, I only offer a private lesson to Pharm. "

Manaow and Team feigned a disappointed look, with a long face, they spoke in chorus. "Aww, too bad. "

"So is this for free? " Manaow asked, hyped up again, turned to Win.

"Actually, it's not. We need to fund our next out of town training so we're doing this but for you, free of charge." Win politely responded.

"For her? What about me? " Team butted in 

"250."

"Eh? Why is she free, and I'm not?"

"Cause I said so."

Team about to erupt with anger when Manaow with a curious look on her face, and a malicious tone, probed. "What's going on between you two?"

Team cooled down, Win smiled, but hid it by biting the straw of his drink. "Nothing. " Team squeaked.

"Yet, " all eyes were on him soon after the words slipped out of his mouth, he shrugged as his lips curved into a sly one.

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Let me know your thoughts so I would know if I'm still making sense. (●´з')♡