The Prince's Trial-and-error Love (Tennis Knights #8) (Published under PHR)

Kabanata 14

Kabanata 14

REIN was torn on what he truly wanted right now. As he looked at the girl sitting beside him, he felt his heart beat ten times faster than the normal. He tried searching for this feeling on the internet but he got zero results.

But Rein knew he didn't need to search for the meaning of this feeling. Alam niya kung ano ang pakiramdam na ito. He fell in love with her. She had shown him how nice it was to be in love and be loved in return. For the first time, he felt that his existence meant something to someone.

Hindi lamang siya tinuruan ni Ashleigh kung papaano magkaroon ng damdamin, tinuruan din siya nito kung papaano ito mahalin. Sa loob ng mga linggong nakasama niya ito, unti-unti niya itong minahal—minahal higit pa sa pagmamahal niya sa tennis.

Noon ay buo na ang isip niya sa pagpunta sa America upang abutin ang pangarap niya subalit ngayon, may munting tinig ang bumubulong sa kanya upang hindi ituloy iyon.

It was his love for Ashleigh.

The love he felt for her was strong, so strong that just by thinking of him leaving her for the sake of his dream pained him so damn much. Kaya naman nagdadalawang-isip pa rin siyang tawagan ang lalaking nag-alok sa kanya ng offer na pumunta sa ibang bansa.

"Ang pogi mo dito, Rein." He felt something tugging at his arms.

Nakatutok ang buong pansin ni Ashleigh sa screen ng camera nito kung kaya't hindi nito napansin na dito naman tutok na tutok ang pansin niya.

Tila may sariling isip ang braso niya at nakikita na lamang niya ang sariling inaakbayan ito. He heard her gasp and he could see the glimpse of smile on her lips.

Hindi niya alam kung ano ang nagawa niyang tama upang ibigay ng Diyos sa kanya si Ashleigh. But for the life of him, he was thoroughly happy and contented right now.

"Wala pa pala akong naisusulat para sa school paper. Mabuti pa si Arianne, umuusad na."

Napatingin siya sa babaeng nasa loob ng bisig niya. "Bakit? Anong problema?"

"Hindi ko alam kung anong isusulat ko, eh. Idagdag pa 'yung tambak na revisions ko. Nakakapagod!" nakabusangot na anito. Tila biglang may naisip ito dahil ngumiti din ito kaagad. Subalit napansin niyang tila nahihiya ang ngiting ibinigay nito sa kanya. "Basahin mo 'yong latest kong pocketbook, ha? Kahit 'yong first page lang. Dedicated 'yon para sa 'yo."

Marahan niyang pinisil ang balikat nito at magaan itong hinalikan sa noo. Alam niyang nagulat ito dahil maging siya ay nagulat sa inakto. Ganito siguro kapag nagmamahal.

"I'll buy it for you."

"Thank you."

Anything for you.

"NAAAWA ako sa mga nakakulong na hayop na 'yan," malungkot na wika ni Ashleigh habang nakatingin sa nakakulong na mga hayop sa loob ng zoo. "Tignan mo si Zhou, kawawa naman," aniya sa tila unggoy na nasa kulungan.

Bilang parehas silang walang magawa ay napagpasyahan nilang mamasyal muna. Papalapit na ang bakasyon kung kaya't maluwang ang schedule nila. Ang problema na lamang niya ay ang article niya para sa school paper.

Napabaling dito ang paningin niya. The way he was looking at her was different from the first time they met. Masasabi niyang may nakikita siyang pagmamahal sa mata nito kapag tinitingnan siya nito.

Pero maaaring niloloko niya lamang ang sarili at hinahayaang makita kung ano ang gusto niyang makita sa lalaki.

"I want them to be happy," mahinang aniya.

"They'll be happy."

When she felt him grasped her hand, all the sadness she felt was suddenly replaced by a certain feeling of joy.

"I love you, Rein," mahinang aniya sa lalaki. Though she wasn't expecting a reply from him, it still hurts when he never said anything in return.

"Thank you."

She thought she saw a different glint on his eyes but it changed in an instant.

She felt him pressed his lips on her eyebrow. "I'm still waiting for the right time," dagdag nito.

Napakunot ang noo niya. "Right time for what?"

He smiled mysteriously at her. "Secret."

She rolled her eyes at him. "Daming alam!"

Once again, she heard his musical laugh. Instatly, her heart melted.