Head Over Heels For Ezzio (Villaverde Series #1)

Chapter 18

Kaso nahihiya akong sabihin.

'Ugh, knock it off, Paris. Tama na yung congratulations na sinabi mo sa kanya kanina,' I told myself as I followed Ezzio. When we finally reached his car, I decided to break the silence again.

"Si Raynold, nakuha niya agad yung key-pass mo. Ang galing rin pala niya-"

As if he's had enough of it, he suddenly turned to face me. What he did made me stop on my tracks.

"You didn't cheer for me," diretsahan niyang sabi. "And now, you're talking about how good the other players are."

Iniwas niya saglit ang tingin. "Damn," bumaling siya ulit sa akin, tila may bahid ng inis ang ekspresyon. "Sila lang ba talaga ang napansin mo ro'n?"

My eyes widened a little, shocked at his sudden response.

Is that what this is all about?

Hindi ko alam kung bakit parang gusto kong matawa. Meanwhile, the serious look on his face remained.

"I had my eyes on the ball the whole time, yes." pagpapatuloy niya. "But I had my eyes on you, too, Paris. Halos minu-minuto kitang ninanakawan ng tingin habang naglalaro, inaabangan ang mga reaksyon mo. And do you know how stupid that is? Pero kahit gano'n hindi ko pa rin nagawang pigilan ang sarili ko."

Mas lalo lang akong nakaramdam ng kung anong kiliti sa tiyan. I was trying so hard to stop myself from laughing because if I do, I might piss him off more.

I cleared my throat and stood straight. "Hindi mo naman na kinailangan pa ang cheer ko. Lahat ata ng tao roon, pangalan mo ang isinigaw."

It was true. Almost the rest of the crowd cheered for him so I didn't feel the need to do it.

I must have worsened his frustration because all he did was shut his eyes for a little while. Mabilis ng konti ang paghinga niya ngunit bahagya rin siyang huminahon. I watched him quietly. Dahan-dahan niyang idinilat ang mga mata. I recognized the gentle stare he gave me amidst the darkness of the parking lot.

"That's the thing," he uttered, his voice now low. "I have always lived for the crowd's cheer... but now, they don't even seem to matter anymore."

Naging seryoso na rin ako. I tried to make sense of what he just said, but my brain refused to dig deeper. For some reason, I didn't want to come up with a conclusion.

He sighed and shook his head. "I'm being too childish," sabi niya, tila hindi makapaniwala sa sarili. "Let's just go."

Kasabay noon ang pagbukas niya sa pinto ng kotse. He then stood there holding the door, waiting for me to get in. I hesitantly stepped forward. But just when I was about to get inside, I stopped. Liningon ko siya. Nakahawak pa rin siya sa pintuan habang nakaharap sa akin.

"Sigurado kang aalis na tayo?" I asked. Kita ko ang pagkakalito sa mukha niya bago siya sumagot.

"Bakit naman hindi?" tanong niya pabalik. I breathe in, making up my mind.

"I just..." napalunok pa ako bago nagpatuloy. "I-I have something to give you."

Nagkasalubong ang kilay niya nang marinig ang sinabi ko. Hindi ko mapigilang kabahan sa reaksyon niya.

But later on, a small smile crept on his lips. "Really?"

I couldn't believe how fast his mood changed. Tumango na lang ako, hindi nakaligtaan ang pag lapad ng ngiti sa kanyang labi. Nagkalakas-loob akong magpatuloy.