The Mistress's Daughter

Chapter 14

KABANATA XIV

[JIRSTEN MYLES]

I couldn’t move where I was when Landon’s eyes met mine. He moved his feet as if he was about to near me when I felt an arm around my shoulders. I could not stop myself from glancing at Owen who was now beside me.

“Don’t move,” he whispered. A pirate smirk escaped from his lips while looking in Landon’s direction.

“Owen, please, I don’t want fights,” I pleased. Tumingin siya sa akin. Halos ilang pulgada lang ang lapit namin sa isa’t isa. Ilang saglit pa ay ngumiti siya sa akin.

“They say grey eyes are rare. I must be lucky to see one this close,” pag-iiba niya sa usapan.

Napakurap ako. Ramdam ang pagbilis ng tibok ng puso ko. I can’t even explain why I can’t take off my eyes on him. I felt like I was under his spell. A magic spell that could stop everything around us.

“Don’t worry, I won’t. Especially now that you are in my territory, “ dagdag niya. Muli siyang tumingin sa direksyon ni Landon.

Landon was just standing there, looking at us. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin matapos kong makitang nasasaktan siya sa nakikita niya.

Ilang saglit ay kita ko ang paggalaw ng paa ni Landon patungo sa direksyon namin. Sumunod naman sa kaniya ang mga ka-teammates niya.

My heart skipped tightly after he walked past me.

Rinig ko ang marahang pagtawa ni Owen dahil sa reaksyon ko. I pushed him away. I know he was teasing me.

“I-I have to go.”

Agad akong tumalikod sa kaniya at nagsimulang maglakad. I didn't bother to turn my back again. I just moved my feet and walked away from him.

Nang makarating ako sa cafeteria ay agad akong nagtungo sa mga paninda nila. I bit my lips. The prices of their foods were tripled from its original prices. I have not enough money. Nagamit ko lahat noong sabado para surpresahin ang lalaking iyon. Ang tanga ko sa parteng pinaghanda ko siya sa kaarawan niya kahit alam kong hindi niya Maa-appreciate.

I sighed. Ano bang klase ng mga kinakain nila dito? Wala namang ginto sa kinakain nila, hindi ba? Sa halip na bumili ay tumalikod na lang ako para umalis.

Mas lalo akong napabuntong hininga nang harangin ako ng grupo ng mga babae. One of them was the girl who tried to humiliate me inside the class. Kasama niya ang mga cheering squad. She crossed her arms on her chest and looked at me as if she was going to murder me.

“Who exactly are you? Bakit kasama mo si Owen kanina?” Bakas ang inis sa mukha niya.

Gaano ba kasikat ang lalaking iyon sa lugar na ito? Oh, I forgot, he’s an almost celebrity. Napapanood sa TV ang mga laro nila tuwing may tournament ang magkakalabang malalaking unibersidad sa buong bansa. Same with Landon. The reason why I didn’t know him until that night in the clubhouse was that I don’t watch TV nor Landon’s game. I am not a fan of basketball.

I don’t have an intention to explain myself to them. Less talk, less problem, fewer rumors.

I was about to leave them without answering when she pushed me onto the ground. Agad nagsipag-lapitan ang mga estudyante sa direksyon namin. Dala ang mga phone nila na itinutok sa amin sa halip na tulungan akong tumayo.