Strings Of Perfection

13

At that moment, Kyan stepped in, his voice cutting through the laughter. "Okay na, okay na! You guys had your fun." he said, trying to calm everyone down. "Balik na sa trabaho."

"This is exactly why we should've banned this guy from the mic."

I glanced at Eliunous and shrugged nonchalantly. "It's all for the cause, boss."

He shot me one final glare before muttering, "Just... no more kissing promos."

"Promise."

-

It was the day two of intrams.

The gym was lit with cheers.

I wasn't feeling the hype. We were up against STEM, which meant I had no choice but to show up, even though basketball's not my thing. Hindi ko talaga forte, pero putangshit, kailangan kami ng team. Kung hindi, disqualified agad ang strand namin kasi kulang ng players.

Nakakabanas talaga na na sali pa ako dito. Kailan pa ko nag ka pake sa basketball related shits?

Naka jersey na kami lahat, handa ng sumabak sa laro. Sa mga players dito sa gym, gagsti, kami lang yata ni Eliunous ang nag sta-stand out. Nag palit ba naman ng Jersey.

Inilibot ko ang mata ko sa buong gym. Parang autopilot na lang, agad ding napadpad ang mga mata ko kay Eliunous.

His team---STEM---was gathered, all huddled up like they were strategizing. Pero surprisingly, si Eliunous, he wasn't with them. He was just standing there, staring in our direction, wearing my damn jersey.

Nung magtagpo ang mga mata namin, instinctively, I ran my fingers through my hair. Iya ko na lang, I gave him an eyebrow raise, followed by a nod.

His lips parted for a second, like he was amused, and then he closed his eyes for a moment before flashing me a smile.

Tangina.

Cute.

I couldn't help but smirk when I saw his lips curl into that little smile. Hindi ko aakalaing masasabi ko 'to--- but damn. Ang cute niya.

Okay---magiging totoo na talaga ako. Hindi ko alam ang mga technicalities ng basketball. Seryoso--- hindi ko talaga siya forte.

Pero, ang hindi ko kayang tanggapin? Matalo kami. Kaya kahit hindi ko gusto, I had to step in. Hindi pwedeng mag-disqualify kami.

I pretended to focus on the game, pero everytime I looked at Eliunous, I couldn't help it-he just looked too cool standing there like some MVP. Tch, seryoso ba 'yan?

But then it was my turn to shoot. May pressure, ha?!

I got the ball, ran a little, pretending I was some basketball genius, and then aimed for the three-point line. But then, out of nowhere---si Eliunous na naman, blocking me like he's got some serious skills.

"Not so fast." he said, a teasing smirk forming on his face.

"Tch, I got this. Chill ka lang." I shot back. Pero, deep down, I was kinda panicking na. Sino bang hindi?! Si Eliunous na 'yan oh!

I tried to fake left, then right, hoping to get past him, but damn, the guy was good. So instead of running around him, I just dove to the left and shot it---ang awkward, grabe. but somehow, the ball went in.

I turned to him and grinned widely, hands on my hips. "Ha! Sabi ko sayo e!"

He looked at me with that smug face of his, but I could see the amusement in his eyes. "Nice shot, baby..."

My eye twitched. Putangshit, madaya---sinasabotahe utak ko!

The game kept going, but my focus was all over the place. Seryoso ba 'to? I'm not even into basketball, pero nakaka distract na sobra si Eliunous.

So, while I was running to make another shot, I decided to mess with him a little. I dribbled the ball towards him, then quickly made a move to fake him out. But he was too fast, and when I tried to go around him, he actually blocked me again.

"You really love getting in my way, don't you?" I said, laughing as I tried to dodge him. But he was way too tall and had better footwork than I did.

He leaned in a little closer, blocking me completely, but then, with a teasing tone, he said, "Maybe I like getting close to you, Leo."

Dafuck. Ano daw?!

Natigilan ako, my mind going blank. He did just say that, right? But before I could even react, he swiped the ball from me and scored a layup.

"Stop getting yourself distracted, Creu." He said, smiling like he won a little victory.

E siya naman may kasalanan?! Lintik lang ang walang ganti!

I was on the sidelines, catching my breath and trying to hype up the team, when I noticed Sylas getting ready to take a shot from the three-point line. Hindi ko alam kung anong pumasok sa utak ko, pero I wasn't gonna let this moment slip by.

I casually walked up beside him, pretending to stretch, pero ang mga mata ko, nakakabit kay Eliunous buong oras. He was getting into position, his focus all on the hoop.

Nang malapit na siyang mag-shoot, I stood beside him, with a big grin, then leaned in a little too close. "Gaano ka ka sure na ma sho-shot mo 'yan?" I said, my voice teasing, just low enough for him to hear.

He froze for a second, his eyes flicking to me. His hand was still holding the ball, pero parang may hesitation. Hindi ko siya tinigilan. "Kasi, kung hindi mo kaya---maybe a kiss from me is the only way for you to get a shot."

Feeling ko, na-fluster siya ng slight. I could see his face turn a little red. Gusto ko na lang tumawa pero pinigilan ko ito at hindi ko na lang siya tinigilan. "Or, I could just be your good luck charm. I mean, next time, I got you."

I watched his face, trying to regain his composure, but it was too late. His hands slipped just a little, and the ball flew way off target. Woah. Ang layo, bro. Literal, sobrang layo.

The whole gym went silent for a second before the laughter started. I couldn't help but burst out laughing. Lahat ng tawa na pinipigilan ko kanina ay bigla na lang lumabas.

I watched him trying to recover, but I swear, his cheeks were a little pink. He shot me a glare

Pero hindi pa rin siya tinigilan ni tanga. "I wonder what's your weakness when it comes to basketball, Eliunous? Baka... ako nga."

Natigilan siya nang ilang segundo, parang hindi siya sure kung tatawa ba o magagalit. "Next time, don't mess with me while I'm shooting, Creu,"

Tch. Madaya. Ang cute pa din. I just grinned wider, knowing I got under his skin for a second.

-

sorry for a short ud. 'to lang nakayanan.