To Be Loved

Chaper Thirty-Three

I checked my phone for the time.

11:50AM

I browsed the notification to see if I missed any messages. Wala naman. I frowned at that. Ganitong oras usually nagte-text si Xavi. Either he'll tell me that he's outside or he's already on his way.

May practice sila ngayong araw. Ang alam ko ay hanggang 11:30AM ang training nila. He'll rest for a while and then take a quick shower before picking me up in my room for lunch. Maybe their training was extended?

It was five minutes later when our professor finally decided to dismiss us. Wala pa rin akong text na natanggap mula kay Xavi. Maybe he's already outside and he just forgot to text?

Kunot-noong lumabas ako ng room dala ang aking bag. I frowned after failing to see Xavi leaning on the opposite side of the room.

I checked my phone again. There's a text from Alana asking for our whereabouts but there's till no message from him. Did I miss something? May usapan ba kami na sa iba magkikita?

His last text, ipinapaalam niya sa akin na nasa gym na siya at susunduin niya na lang ako mamaya. Napanguso ako.

It's 11:57 now.  I decided to send him a message.

Me:
X, where are you?

I waited for his reply. Fifteen minutes and there's still no word from him. It's not like him to be late or forget to text.  I decided to call on Valen. He's part of the team kaya kasama rin siya sa training. Ilang ring lang ay sumagot naman ito agad.

"Hey, Vie. What's up?"

"Nasa training pa rin ba kayo?" agad na tanong ko.

"Training ended at 11:30. Why? Are you looking for Xavi?"

"Uh, yes. May usapan kasi kami... Do you know where he is?"

"Nung umalis ako ng gym nasa court pa rin siya. You can check if he's still there," he answered.

"Okay. Thank you, Valen."

Nagdalawang isip pa ako kung pupuntahan ko na siya ng gym. Baka magkasalisi kami? But then I'm starving like hell and I don't wanna keep on waiting in front of the room.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla ako kinabahan habang naglalakad patungo sa gym. My feet refused to move for a few seconds when I reached the main entrance of the building. The beating of my heart doubled its speed.

After willing myself to move, I entered the gymnasium. The dribbling of a ball welcomed me and it was quickly followed by the familiar sound of a ball passing through the net.

A heavy exhale came out of me when I saw an empty gym with only Xavi playing near the ring. He was too wrapped up in his world that he didn't notice that he has a new company. Kahit na lumapit ako lalo ay hindi pa rin niya napansin.

I let myself watch him from a far. His hair was heavily damp with sweat that looked like he just got out of shower. My eyes traveled down and I just realized that he's topless, left only with his jersey shorts. I found myself biting my lip as I examined Xavi's physique.

Ilang beses ko na siyang nakitang wala ang pang-itaas pero iba rin ang epekto nito sa akin. His body was every girl's wet dream. Defined muscles, firm chest, droolworthy abs, and the panty twisting v-line. Nakakatakot siyang hawakan. Hindi na ako makahinga habang tinitigan siyang ganito, paano pa kaya kung hahawakan na? Baka mahimatay na lang ako bigla.

I shook my head and cleared my clouded thoughts. Ibinalik ko ang mga mata sa mukha niya.

His expression was rigid. I've never seen him this focused while playing basketball. He looked like he's on a real game and everything's at stake.