Bad Times at Sunrise (La Fortuna Series #3)

Kabanata 24

Kabanata 24

Bad Guy

Ico huddled with his teammates at the opposite side of the court, still with that taunting expression on his face and teasing glances at me. Ngayon ko lang natantong andito pala ako sa bleachers ng supporters nina Dr. Raj, na wala na sa harap ko at nasa mga teammates niya na rin.

I wanted to take out my DSLR from my big tote bag to take a pic of Ico, but I figured it might ruin his good mood. Camera shy pa naman ata 'yon. So, what I did was sit there like a good girl, my lips in a grim line, and my lap over my tightly closed thighs. Maliban sa ayaw kong ma-judge ni Ico, naaasiwa rin ako sa mga babaeng kanina pa 'ko matalim na tinitignan.

"Excuse me," Ico said politely while walking on the crowded aisle of the bleachers. Patungo siya sa 'kin kaya 'di ko na napigilang mapangisi. "Hello, can you please scoot over? I want to sit next to my fiancée," he said to the girl sitting beside me.

Umawang ang labi ng katabi ko. "F-f-f-iancée?"

"Daming F, ah? Fifififi?" I mocked her annoying stutter under my breath.

"Yes, please."

"Oh! Okay..."

Dahil wala nang choice, pumagilid na lang 'yong katabi ko kahit halatang labag 'yon sa loob niya. Ico sat beside me, and of course, I sniffed his manly scent in the process. I couldn't help it! Napakabango niya kasi talaga! Amoy... mayaman at pogi.

I snapped back into reality when I realized Ico's now at the bleachers dedicated to Dr. Raj's team. Lilipat naman sana ako sa kabilang bleachers mamaya, e. 'Di niya na ako kailangang puntahan dito. But then the act of him approaching me made me float in happiness. Wow, Sunny Vega's winning today!

"Why are you here?" bungad niya sa mababang tono.

"Uh, because you asked me to be here?"

"No. Ang ibig kong sabihin, bakit nandito ka sa lugar ng kalaban?"

He arched a brow before pursing his lips toward his teammates who were across us. They were waving their hands while shouting something inaudible. Kahit gano'n ay alam kong inaasar nila kami. Seriously, what's with doctors and their teases?

"Look at them," he said in a slightly childlike-tone and stared back at me. "Sa tingin nila, tinatraydor ko sila dahil andito ako ngayon."

Humalukipkip ako. "Isn't that great? At least now you know how it feels to be the bad guy."

"I don't need to know that," he whispered. "I'm always the bad guy in your eyes."

"How did you come up with that?"

He shrugged. "You hated me, remember? You thought I was cocky and privileged—"

"Which is true," I clarified.

"Tss." Sumimangot siya. "And now here you are in the enemy's lair."

"This is a stupid conversation. Andito ako kasi 'di ko alam kung ano ang team mo."

He stayed silent so I snorted and took out a juice box I bought earlier at the vending machine outside. Nauuhaw na 'ko. Partly because of the venue's crowdedness, and partly because of Ico's hotness. His biceps were gliding smoothly against the tip of my left shoulder!

"Here." Binigay ko sa kaniya ang isang strawberry milkshake. I don't know its brand, but it had Korean words on the packaging. "Sorry. Bibilhan sana kita ng Gatorade o kahit anong energy drink pero wala nang gano'n sa vending machine. That's a strawberry milkshake. Try it."

Binalingan ko 'yong akin at ni-try na kalasin 'yong straw mula sa packaging ngunit masyado 'yong madikit. Beside me, Ico had already popped the straw in his drink. I was about to ask him for help when suddenly, he took my milkshake and replaced it with his. Nagtataka kong tinignan ang hawak-hawak kong juice box niya.