CHAPTER NINE

THERE was a friendly basketball match between Lycevm de Royale Warlords and Jose Laurel Memorial College Pirates. Of course, Sapphire would not let it pass. She came to the campus to watch and cheer Hapi.

She was sitting beside Hapi on the lower bleacher row as they watched the game. But with his arm brushing against hers, there is no way Sapphire could concentrate on the game. It was so tempting…she wanted a bite.

Sapphire turned in the opposite direction when Hapi suddenly looked at her.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

“H-huh?” She was forced to turn her gaze back at him. “Oh, yes. Of course, I am fine.” She laughed shortly.

“I told you it’s okay not to watch if you are not really interested in watching a basketball match.”

“I am not interested because you are here with me.” She felt her cheeks burn as the realization hit her. But it was too late to take it back. Hapi already heard it. “And besides…I am your slave. I am here to serve you with water and wipe your sweats, you know.” She beamed.

The referee called for a time-out. His team’s coach approached Hapi right after that and told him to play in court.

“Go, Hapi! Fighting!” Sapphire cheered when he stood up and walked towards his teammates.

She stood up as well and went to the upper row bleacher to join her friends. When Claire and Hannah saw her shared post about the game, the two rushed to LDRU to watch the match. Both of her friends had a huge crush on Hapi’s teammates. It was fine for Sapphire as long as it was not Hapi.

The game resumed.

They all cheered and screamed at the top of their lungs when Koby got the ball from the opponent and passed it on Hapi. Sapphire stood up on the bleacher and jumped in excitement when Hapi scored three points.

“Hey, you might fall,” Claire warned her. “Sit down.”

She did not listen to her and remained standing on the bleacher. Sapphire even brought out a peanut snack from her pocket.

“Give me some.” Hannah pulled her hand to get some peanuts.

Suddenly, she and her friends were busy eating. Then, she saw Hapi shooting the ball again. She almost choked when she cheered for him, loud and proud.

“Go, Hapi, go! Go, Hapi, Go!” Sapphire cheered continuously. Her voice echoed inside the campus’s covered court.

Her heart started beating like crazy when Hapi turned in her direction and blew her a kiss. Just like a fool, Sapphire caught Hapi’s kiss in the air and brought it to her chest. Claire and Hannah rocked her like crazy. If only her friends knew what Hapi told her over lunch yesterday, they would go crazy too.

Sapphire decided to sit down again to calm herself. But when her foot set on the ground, it slipped. She fell, making a commotion. The game suddenly stopped.

Dang! That was really embarrassing.

HAPI passed the ball to Tomi and left the court when he saw Sapphire fell from the bleacher. He ran to her and carried her to the infirmary.

Sapphire was unconscious when he lay her down on the bed.

“What happened?” the school nurse asked when she turned to him.

“She fell from the bleacher, Nurse,” Hapi replied anxiously.

He could not help but worry about her. Whatever happens with her, Hapi was to blame because he was the reason why Sapphire went to watch the game.

The nurse checked Sapphire.

“Should we take her to the hospital for a CT scan?” he asked.

“I don’t think she needs a CT scan.” The nurse turned to him and smiled. “I can’t see any bump or wound on her head.”

“Then why is she unconscious?”

The nurse whispered, “She passed out intentionally.”

She gave him a light pat on the back and left them.

Hapi sat on the edge of the bed and caressed Sapphire’s cheek.

“It’s okay, Sapphire. We’re alone now.” She slowly opened an eye, then opened the other one. “Are you okay?”

“Hmm, I’m okay. Don’t worry,” she responded shyly. Sapphire covered her face with the blanket. “Sorry, Hapi. I ruined your game.”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s just a friendly match.” He caressed her temple.

Sapphire heaved a deep sigh. He helped her to sit.

“You can go back to the court now, Hapi. I’m fine, really. There is no need to worry.” She smiled at him.

“The game can go on without me. I won’t leave you here.”

“If that’s what you want.” She shrugged. “Could you please pass me my bag?”

Hapi grabbed her bag from the bedside table and handed it to her. Sapphire fished her phone. She has a text message from her friend Claire informing her that they left, and Hannah already told her mother about what happened.

“Oh, shit!”

“Why? What is it?” Hapi asked.

“My friend told my mother that I fell from the bleacher. Mama will definitely worry about me!”

Sapphire jumped out of bed, and due to her clumsiness, she almost kissed the floor. But Hapi’s strong arms wrapped around her waist to save her. But it looked like Hapi was hugging her from behind. And they were in that position when her grandfather came to the infirmary.

“G-grandpa…”

“Don Ignacio.” Hapi let go of her slowly.

Her grandfather looked at Hapi with narrowed eyes. Sapphire did not know why.

“I don’t know if you’re just that friendly, or you’re doing this because you have an agenda, Hapi. You’re friends with Ruby and Amethyst, and now it’s Sapphire.”

She would like to butt in to defend Hapi, but his eyes were telling her not to.

Hapi bowed his head. “Don’t get me wrong, Don Ignacio. I have no bad intentions towards them or to your entire family.”

Don Ignacio turned to her afterwards.

“Take her to the car, Alexander,” her grandfather commanded his right-hand man.

She could only look at Hapi as Alexander ushered her out of the infirmary.

“Why is he like that?” She hopped inside the car with pouted lips. “As if Hapi’s doing something wrong.”

“That is how Don Ignacio protects his granddaughters. You’re one of them, so you’re not exempted,” said Alexander.

“But I think he is overacting. Does he really need to scare Hapi like that?” She sighed.

Sapphire knew that Hapi was a brave man. But the way her grandfather’s eyes looked at him, it made him look like a scared puppy. Maybe Don Ignacio was that intimidating.