Every Game

Chapter 17

Chapter 17: End The Game

Nakasimangot ako habang nakaupo sa backseat ng sasakyan ni Rocky. Hindi ko magawang tumingin nang diretso dahil baka mahambalos ko sa kanya ang bag kong yakap ko. Kapag naaalala kong ang teddy bear niya ang nasa front seat at naka-seatbelt pa ay kumukulo ang dugo ko.

How could that thing be more important that me? This is so frustration. It sucks to be compared with someone else, but it sucks even more when you are being compared to a non-living thing like that teddy hell bear.

"You okay, Maddy?" I heard him asked.

"Ask that thing," I mumbled.

"Ah. You must be uncomfortable." Napalingon ako sa kanya dahil sa sinabi niya. Hininto niya ang sasakyan para ayusin ang teddy bear. "Nangawit ka siguro dahil naipit ng seatbelt ng paa mo. I'm sorry, baby girl."

I raised my eyebrows. Was he asking that teddy bear and not me? Sa tingin ba niya ay sasagot ito? Is this how he treats that thing whenever they are at home?

Not shocking though. He has no one to talks to when at home.

I smirked with the thought that he talks to his fish, too. I mean... The fish he named snake.

"Why were you at that mall?" He finally looked at me in the rear-view mirrow. "Were you with someone else? Nag cutting class ka na naman ba? Paano kung malaman ito ng Papa mo?"

"He won't know," I forced a smile. "Unless some weird human who has a fish named snake and talking to a teddy bear told Dad that I had ditched my class last time and now."

He pursed those mocking lustful lips.

"You sound like a jealous girl."

"Because I am!" I crossed my arms on my chest. "Look, dude. Kapag naaksidente tayo ay safe ang teddy bear mo. O kahit na maaksidente tayo ay hindi siya mapapano. How about me?" I couldn't hide the disappointment on my voice.

Oh, god. The shallowness of this argument.

"You're fine there." He eyed me again on the rear-view mirror. "I can look at you effortlessly. Unlike here, I still have to turn my head."

"Dumbass." I rolled my eyes.

"Your mom is angry again, baby girl," dinig kong bulong nito. Malamang na nababaliw na naman para kausapin ang bagay sa kanyang tabi. "Didn't know someone could be more attractive when angry."

Napaiwas ako ng tingin nang mag-init ang mukha ko.

Wala pa bang naging girlfriend ito? He could have as many girls as he can with that smooth tongue. Plus, the fact that he doesn't mean it in a romantic way makes it even more worth-blushing for.

"Can we finish all the tasks for tonight?" I asked, still looking outside the window.

Narinig ko ang mahina niyang pagtawa pero hindi pa rin ako lumingon. That's nothing but a soft laugh. But --- How could be a laugh be more sedductive than the actual person?

"We only have more or less five tasks left," he answered. "Still can't be finished in a day."

Tumingin na ako sa kanya sa puntong iyon. "Does that mean we can finish this game in just five days?"

He nodded his head. "Matagal na dapat natin itong natapos. But every task is giving me reasons to give it up. That's what makes it hard to continue. Habang tumatagal ay mas humihirap ang mga tasks. Plus, I don't want to force you, too. We are just playing whenever you feel to."