Unedited
17. Attention
"Are you mad at me?"
I felt a little nervous when he is just staring at me in his serious mode. He brought me in their private room inside the campus after dragging me from the booth. I don't know what he was thinking right now. All I know is he is furious from the look on his face.
"Ethan?"
"You didn't tell me about the fucking hug." He said sounding frustrated.
"I..." My lips is shivering. "I-I'm very sorry, Ethan. Please..." He walks towards me and kneel in front of the couch where I was sitting. His hands caress my face.
"Don't." He stopped me from talking. "I'm not mad, Snow White." He said calmly but I can feel his anger towards every words he is saying. "I'm jealous." My eyes widen in his sudden confession. "You know that I hate it when other males went near to you. Much more hugs you? Touch you? Damn!"
"I didn't know that it will anger you like this. I just thought of helping the student council." It saddened me to make him feel this way. "I'm so sorry. Next time-"
"There will be no next time, Winter Ysabella." He said darkly. I felt more nervous when he called me by my name. "You have to promise me." His eyes have a pleading look. "I don't want to ever see you hugging any male species other than me."
"What about my grandfather?" I pouted. "He's a male..." He gave me a warning glare. "And also my bestfriend is a male." I saw his jaw clenching. I think he's being mad again.
"Are you making fun of me, Winter Ysabella?"
"No." I pouted again. "Why are you calling me now on my full name?"
"Promise me first." He insisted.
"But I am asking about my grandfather and bestfriend." I debated.
"Just your grandfather. Not the... bestfriend." He grumbled. "Am I clear?" I just rolled my eyes on him. He deeply sighed. "Snow White?" His voice became soft. "Promise?" He tucked my hair behind my ear and touched my lips. "Please promise me?"
"Fine." So, starting today, I can't hug Clark anymore. I pouted a little. I'll just tell him that my boyfriend is a bit of a jealous person.
"Good girl." He kissed my forehead and hugged me so tight. Sometimes, I can't understand his actions. Even so, I can't seem to be mad at him for a second. Maybe, that's how love works?
"Galit yata saken ang mahal na hari."
I am sitting here in one of the benches in the gymnasium. Ethan told me that his team has another game. It is a competition between year levels. Currently, it's senior versus junior level. By the way, he wanted me to stay and watch him. I gladly agree to him.
"Why would he get mad at you?" I asked back at Anya. I learned that she applied to be a volunteer water girl for the basketball game during Foundation week.
"Kasi nga yung sa free hug!" She grimaced at the mention of that. "Hindi ko naman sinasadya yun. Malay ko bang napakaseloso nung taong yun."
"Don't worry." I smiled at her. "He said he is not mad anymore."
"Kung ang definition na pala ng hindi galit ay katulad ng ginagawa ng boyfriend mo, e ano pa kaya ang ginagawa pag galit na sya talaga." I chuckled at what she said. Though it's a bit long, I understand what she meant to tell.
"He'll get over it." I shrugged.
"Too easy for you to say." She sighed. "Alam mo bang sa ilang taon ko nang naging schoolmate yang si Ethan, pero ngayon ko lang sya narinig na magsalita ng mahaba?"
"Truly?" I asked curiously. Though my sister gave me a hint before on how Ethan is.
"Totoo!" She exclaimed. "Elementary pa lang ako schoolmate ko na silang lima."
"That long?" I gaped. "Wow." I wonder how cute he was during those days.
"Naman!" She laughed a bit. "Sa kanilang lima, si Ethan ang pinakatahimik." I just stared at her, urging her to go on. I love hearing things about my Ethan. "Pero kahit ganun, ang daming nagkakagusto sa kanya. Grabe kaya ang love letters at regalo na natatanggap nya araw araw."
"Is that so?" I raised my eyebrow and at the same time, Ethan looked on our spot. But instead of looking at him too, I glance away from him and focus my attention to Anya. I want to know more.
"Oo. Pero ni isa sa kanila, wala syang kinakausap o pinapansin man lang. Ni tingnan nga sila, wala eh. She said while looking at the game infront of us. "Wala syang pakialam sa paligid. Naku, nung minsan nga, may lumapit sa kanya na babae. As usual, nagconfess sa kanya ng feelings. Ang daming sinabi nung babae sa kanya. Halos magmakaawa sya na makipagdate si Ethan sa kanya. Well, maganda naman kasi yung babae. Saka galing sa mayamang pamilya. Kung tutuusin, bagay naman sila. Yun nga lang..." She trailed and looked at me with widen eyes.
"What?" I asked curiously. Though I hate how she said that they look good for each other, I wanted to know the story.
"Parang hangin na dinaanan lang ni Ethan." She grimaced. "Grabe, sa tinagal tagal nung babae na nagsasalita, ni isang sulyap man lang, di ginawa ni Ethan. Tapos yung letter nya, parang bola na hinagis ni Ethan sa trash can."
"She must be feeling hurt." I frowned while imagining the girl's misery.
"Truth!" Anya agreed. "Pahiyang pahiya kaya yung babae. Naging katatawanan sya buong school year. Kaya ayun, nagtransfer sa ibang school."
"Did her parents know?" I thought maybe her parents should know about it. They could help to comfort her.
"Naku Winter. Nung nalaman ng parents nya, sumugod sa school."
"Did they request to punish Ethan?" I worriedly asked.
"Hmm. Parang..." She put her fingers on her chin. "Ang alam ko lang, gusto yata ng parents nung girl na magpublic apology si Ethan. Ang sabi pa, galit na galit ang parents nya kasi napakaperfect daw ng anak nila para tanggihan nya ito. Sino daw ba sya?"
"So, what happened next?"
"Well, Ethan is Ethan." She smirked. "Walang nakakacontrol dun. Hindi nya ginawa yung gusto nilang mangyari. Ni hindi nga sya sumipot dun sa meeting nila eh. As in wala lang sa kanya. At wala daw syang pakialam sa kanila kahit ano pang gawin nila." She shook her head. "Ang masama pa, nagiwan sya ng message at yung assistant nya lang ang pinapunta. Based sa message nya, nilait lait nya yung babae. Like desperada daw kasi masyado. At yun ang pinaka ayaw nya sa lahat. Not worth his time. Tapos kapag di daw sya titigilan, sisiguraduhin daw nya na babagsak ang company nila. Kaya ayun, di na sya inabala pa."
"He's so rude!" I didn't know that he has that kind of attitude. I just thought of him being serious.
"Sinabi mo pa." She shrugged. "Pero simula nung dumating ka, nagulat kami." She said. "Kasi lagi syang nakabuntot sayo. Tapos, kinakausap ka nya! For real!" She chuckled. "Tapos ang sweet nya sayo. At kung tingnan ka nya, parang ikaw lang ang babae sa buong universe. Alam mo yun?!" She squealed while I felt hotness in my both cheeks.
"Esquivel, ayusin mo naman ang laro mo! Nak ng..." We both turn our head to the game. Ethan looked at me with a grim face. Is there a problem?
"Time out!" I heard the referee whistled.
Ethan immediately went towards me. We are just staring at each other when I thought of giving him a towel as he is sweating.
"Here..." He didn't made a move. "Ethan?"
"Why are you ignoring me?"
"Did I?" I got confused on his question.
"You are ignoring me." He sounds mad.
"I'm not ignoring you." I close the distance between us. I saw his sweats all over his face and body. I sighed. "What made you think that way?" I asked while wiping his sweats.
"I look at you many times but your attention is not on me." He huffed. I heard his teammates teasing him. He glared at them.
"Kasi naman Winter." I heard Klaus speaks. "Sa kanya ka lang kasi dapat nakatingin." I also heard Liam, Eric, and Blake laughing.
"Shut up!" He was pissed. So, I touched his arms and caressed it. His features soften.
"Tsk." Anya made that sound. "Possessive much." She murmured before turning away. Ethan narrowed his eyes on her.
"I'm sorry if you think I am ignoring you." I said softly. "I was just listening to Anya. She was telling me things about you. I just wanted to know more..."
"You can always asked me, Snow White." He pulled me into hug. I smelled his manly scent. Even if he was sweating a while ago, he is still smell so good. "I will tell you everything you wanted to know."
"Even about the love letters and gifts you were receiving?" I mocked. He looks surprised but composed himself right away.
"That talkative nerd." He murmured.
"Huh?" I didn't heard the last thing he said.
"Nonsense." He said darkly. "They were nothing. I told you that you're the only one I care. I love you." I blushed. "Did it bother you? About the letters and gifts? Don't worry. I always put them on the garbage."
"What?" My eyes widen. "You didn't read?!" I grimaced. The efforts of those girls writing them. It must have been hurtful.
"Why would I read those?" He shrugged. "That's a waste of my time."
"But-"
"Snow White, I don't want them. It's only you." I pouted. I concluded that he didn't really have the nicest personality. But it seems that I like it?
"Time's up! Back to the game, boys!" I heard his coach announced.
"Ethan, your coach are calling you." I tried to pulling away.
"Promise me that your attention will be mine." I pouted.
"Fine." He pulled away from me. Suddenly, I felt a little empty. He smiled at me.
"I want your eyes on me, Snow White. Remember that."
"I promise." I pushed him. "Now, go my king." He was taken aback on how I called him. I saw his smile widen.
"My queen." With that, he went into the game.
Ethan seemed to be very enthusiastic about the game. In fact, he made most of the points. Well, from time to time, he kept glancing on me. I gave him a cheerful smile every time he did that. His coach told me that it could be me the reason why he can't concentrate a while ago. I felt guilty somehow. But his coach told me that it's okay. He just requested that I gave my full attention to him during the game. While Anya was rolling her eyes every time, Ethan made points. I just chuckled on her bratty attitude. She also looked at me with a teasing smile. Sometimes, I thought Anya is being crazy.
As usual, their team won the game. With Ethan marching towards me, kissing and hugging me as if I'm his trophy. Well, I can get used to it.
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Hi readers,
I just wanted to thank all of you for reading and voting on this story. I am really looking forward to hear your comments. :-)
Please help me spread my story to others.
Love lots,
Elle Jacinto
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