The Basketball Player and The Club President

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

TRIGGER WARNING: Physical Abuse

NAALIMPUNGATAN ako nang may malakas na ring tone akong narinig at alam kong sa phone ko iyon nanggaling. Kumilos ako paupo pero naramdaman ko lang na may nakadantay sa tiyan ko. Kevin was still peacefully sleeping beside me.

Nakadantay pa nga ang braso niya sa tiyan ko habang ginagawa kong unan ang braso niya. Hindi ba nangangalay ang taong ito. Halos mag init naman ang pisngi ko dahil sa nangyari kagabi.

Nabalik ang wisyo dahil sa pag ring uli nito. Inalis ko muna ang braso kj sa katawan ko at unti unting gumalaw para makuha ang phone ko na nasa bed side. Konting galaw ko palang ay naramdaman ko na ang sakit sa hita. Halos mapapikit ako dahil duon, shit, i am a doctor but i dindt know that the pain was on this level.

I let out a deep breath and realized that I was wearing KJ's polo shirt. It felt like a dress on me because it was too big.

Nang maabot ko ang phone ay nakita ko ang pangalan ni Yohan sa screen at agad itong sinagot dahil mukhang naka ilang missed call na rin siya kanina pa.

"eodiya?" (Where are you?) he directly asks me wala nang hello hello pa. Napatagal naman ako ng pagsagot dahil hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko. "Maaga akong namasyal, tamaa... Pangungumbinsi ko nalang." sabi ko sa kanya.

"gojinmal." (liar) he really knows me. "Better to go back here as early as you can." napasalubong nalang ang kilay ko dahil sa sinabi niya.

I was just about to reply when I was suddenly enveloped in a warm embrace from behind. KJ was already up and his chin rested on my shoulder while his arms encircled my waist.

"You're talking with your friend again?" i mute for the meantime the phone and look at his side.
"He is harmless. Don't worry about Yohan." i tap his face that is leaning on my shoulder.

Binalik ko uli ang phone sa tenga ko at ini unmute ito para kausapin uli si Yohan sa kabilang line.

"Im good, Yohan. Uuwi din ako so don't worry about me. Bye!" hindi ko na inintay ang sagot niya at inend na ito. Im sure maiintindihan naman ako nuon.

Unti unti kong hinarap ang sarili ko sa kanya at hindi pinakita ang hirap o sakit na iniinda ko. I held his face and he's already frowning. Is it because of Yohan?

"Why?" I ask him, trying to hide my smile. It's too early in the morning to see him already pouting. "Is it about Yohan?" i released and sighed at him. "He is completely big okay as my friend, okay? I assure you that."

I pecked him on the lips and held his face. When I looked at him again, I saw his smile had widened, but I couldn't help noticing the two small red marks on his neck.

"What happened to your neck? Did a mosquito bite on you?" I asked with genuine concern. The scarlet shade of two of his bites blended with his tattoo, and he even bore a mark on his chest.

Habang nakatingin nang mariin sa mga mark na 'yon ay narinig ko ang pagtawa niya na kinatingin ko sa kanya. Na confused lang rin ako dahil sa pagtawa niya.

"You're dreaming, Selene?" he asks, smiling. "You're the one who's biting me."

"D-did i???" i ask while shuttering and pointing at myself. "A-are you okay?? I mean i d-didn't me--" i was still shuttering while saying that thing to him.

"Please don't worry about that, my selene. You are looking great while doing it."

Natigilan ako dahil sa mapangahas niya na sabi dahil hindi ko yon inaasahan. I avoided his stare which makes my cheeks heat up. Habang siya naman ay kitang kita ko pa rin ang pag ngiti sa peripheral vision ko.