The Secret

Chapter 19

"..the only kiss I want is the one from you."

Team's corner of his mouth slightly perked up before he quickly hid it. There was this indescribable warmth that traversed throughout his body from the pit of his stomach. It was too subtle that he couldn't have noticed it if he wasn't paying attention. However, Team opted to ignore it,  and schooled an annoyed countenance. It was nonsense, and Win was utterly nonsense. It's totally not acceptable. He knew the latter was playing, and he was determined not to be swayed by him.

He curved his lips into a smirk, and gave Win a smug look. "Have you been beaten to death?"

Win returned his smirk, "I'm too nice to be beaten, so nope!"

"Wanna experience it?" Team goaded Win, his voice laden with coldness.

"No, thanks. I'm fine." 

Win pulled himself away, and drank on his cup of coffee with a smile on his lips. Team irked, knitted brows, he probed. "Do you think you're funny?"

"Do you think it's funny?" Win retort back in no time.

"No," he raised his left brow up.

Win shrugged, giving off a vibe of he couldn't care less. "Then, no."

Team opted to ignore him again, dropped his gaze back down to his phone to scroll on his social media.  Silence filled the room as they sat side by side. Win would intentionally brushed his arms against Team, in which the latter would give him a sharp glare as a response. Team enjoyed the quietude for a while before Win would use his leg to nudge Team's knee under the table lightly in which Team would nudge back with great force, and a scowl. 

Team lost count how much Win repeatedly  did it until he broke down. "Will it kill you to play dead and not bother me?"

Win laughed out hard, but made no verbal response for a moment. His eyes still full of no good. "No,"

"Too bad." Team uttered before he scrolled back on his phone. It was so hard for Team not to strangle him to death. "Anyway, Mint said you should go to the party if you still consider yourself part of the family."

"What party?" oblivious, Win asked.

"Trust me, I know the answer to that question so well cause I am part of the family, right?" laced with sarcasm, exaggerated his facial expressions, Team fielded the question in a haste.

Win's lips curved up, he inquired "Mint didn't tell you?"

"Do you think I won't tell you if she did?" Team shoot back satirically. He finished his coffee till its last drop before gazing down on his phone again.

"My questions need answers, not another question. You know." Win smirking, showed no signs of being irritated, if anything he was more amused. He looked at Team.

Team stared back, goading. "Well, your questions are asking for more questions, you know."

Win grinned, in his mind, he was concocting for ways to shut Team sassy mouth. It might make him feel good to render Team speechless from time to time, but for now, he was definitely at the losing end. "Will it hurt you to be nice to me?"

"Trust me, I am trying but you make it hard to."

Win chuckled as he fished his phone out and checked something on it before he moved his head up and down as if realizing something. Team side eyed him, he must have found out what the party was all about.

"Drop me at the station, I can go back alone so you can go to whatever party that is." Team conveyed.

"Let's go, " getting on his feet, Win declared. Giving Team a vague answer.

"To the station?"

"Nope, the party." Win quickly strode back to his room, leaving Team no room to refuse.

"Thank you for asking me if I want to go, I really appreciate it." his words might be polite, but  Team's tone said otherwise as he trailed Win footsteps back to his room.

He heard Win chuckled. What's wrong with this family? Team couldn't help but ask.

Soon after, Team was dragged by Win to the party. It was a private resort with small and big villas surrounding a huge pool with a pair of elongated slides. There were hammocks on the other side connected to huge branches of trees. It looked enticing for there was no one in the area, it made it more perfect to hang around. He was rather disappointed that Win wasn't leading him to that area.

He stopped, and Win halted as well — questioning eyes on him. Pointing at the hammocks, Team asked. "Can I just stay over there while you do what you need to do? You don't have to mind me, and you can take your time. "

Win trailed where his finger was pointing before he frowned, "But you haven't eaten yet. "

"I'm still full. " Team was touched by his concern. On the other hand, Team thought of Manaow, he was pretty sure he would hear an earful from her if she finds out he was saying no to food, but she wasn't here anyway. "Besides, it seems like a big gathering and I'm gatecrashing."

Team saw Win mulled over something for a brief moment, "Okay, I'll just have food delivered over there. "

"No need.. "

"It's settled, go now. I'll be right there in a moment. Don't miss me. " Win butted in and teased.

"Don't worry, I won't. "

Pushing Team lightly by his shoulder, "Go now, I'll watch you. I'm afraid you'll get lost. "

"What do you think of me, stupid? " brow up, he inquired with a dangerous tone.

"Sometimes. "

Team didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but before he could make up his mind, Win nudged him lightly again to go with his palm on his shoulder. He rolled his eyes, acted hurt, and exclaimed. "Stop pushing me! "

"I didn't. "

"Ah, you didn't? " feigning innocence, Team asked. "Then, you should've pushed me so I'll have something to complain."

Win grinned, Team could see he was trying hard not to let out a laugh. "Anyway, do you want to eat heavy or light? Any food in particular? "

"I told you no need to bother, but two plates of heavy meals please." Team goaded, before he strutted off, leaving a laughing Win.

"P' Team! What are you doing here? " Mint's high octave voice floated in the air, breaking the peace and quiet Team found in his solitude. Even with his eyes closed, he could imagine Mint's frowning face.

"I'm meditating."

"In the middle of the party? "

Team opened his eyes, let his feet down, propping himself well to talk to her. "Technically, I'm not. "

"It's my grandparents' anniversary, you should have joined the fun there. Ma was looking for you. "

"I'm fine here, really. " Team was moved by how welcoming Win's family towards a stranger like him. He couldn't help but be envious.

Mint pouted, "If you insist, anyway, P'Win told me he'll be here soon so if you miss him just bear with it a little."

The nerve. So thick skinned to even ask his sister to say something like this.

The feeling of being moved was poured with cold water all of a sudden. Even if so, he gritted his teeth. "It's fine. "

"Fang arrived so he has to entertain her. She's a childhood friend of P' Win. They are so close that everyone thought they are a thing. Neither of them, denying nor confirming it. "

Team's curiosity was piqued, a sudden interest to see the woman grew but Fang was none of his business.

"Why are you telling me this? " Team inquired suspiciously. He really thought that she was up to no good when she's being cute pouting and all. 

Mint tap his shoulder before enunciating what Team believed to be the most stupid thing he heard.

"I still think WinTeam sounds better than WinFang. I'm on your side, P."

--
A/N: Likewise, Mint.