The Devil's Sweetheart

The amber sun invaded the spring skies in the afternoon. Veneered and enameled by the sun, he was radiating strength and vibrancy playing on the field. The storming calamity was brewing in his eyes like those fierce dragons while anchoring the ball.

Her dazzling amber-brown eyes were gazing at him with veneration. The initial turmoil when she remembered the past washed away just by his mere sight.

Both were focused. His gaze was hooded on the ball while hers was on him. Him alone!

The basketball game set into motion when Austin threw the ball into the air and both teams started their moves trying to tap the ball off the court.

His hawk-like gaze was awaiting the prey observing the opponent's weakness. The moment the ball started heading towards him, one of the team members aimed at his chest.

And the show began.

Catching and seizing the ball swiftly, Devin started dribbling the ball with his fingertips constantly without giving a chance for the opponents to strike as he moved with the ball. When he started catching the pace, he switched the gear taking it to another level. Devin started to jog doing the short sprints along the way. But he was still on the dribble in and out pushing the ball alternating into his hands confusing everyone. His strong footsteps were resounding over the entire court with his rugged moves.

Trent, Austin, and their other team members tried to deny him, seize him, block him in all the ways. But his one hand was brute forcefully dragging the ball over the wing and the other was counter-attacking while his eyes were searching for the target.

He was alone, multitasking.

When his eyes locked the target, he rocked Trent's back who was trying to grasp the ball, and rose high up the rim shooting straight into the basket.

"That was an awesome shot, Mr. Adonis!" Leena screamed jumping from her seat when the moment the ball fell off the basket. Excitement rushed over while she clapped her hands continuously.

For a second, Devin stopped his tracks hearing the familiar voice. He turned around to see his sweetheart jumping and clapping like a child. He met her sparkling eyes which were encouraging him. He suddenly felt the urge to win the game for her. There were countless people who shouted for him, cheered him on and off the field, but only she could lit the fire and there is no bound to his happiness now.

If not for Austin, he would be capturing the beauty of nature in his camera. He was the one who dragged Devin to the court but Devin was still in a no mood to play. Now that his darling has ignited his barrage, he will give her the best show today.

While Devin was in his world of thoughts, Austin seized the opportunity to push him to the ground. Grabbing the chance he took over the control, and before Devin could compose what's happening around him, the ball was out of his reach. Austin leaped into the air scoring a basket to his team. The crowd cheered for him while he shamelessly smiled waving his hands even though it was a betrayal shot.

Sitting on the court edge, when Devin saw Leena's sad and angry face directing at Austin, he chuckled and got up from the ground.

"Don't worry sweetheart. It's just a one-shot. I will make sure he will not get any dunk for the rest of the game." This time, he marched forward towards the ball with a goal. He wants to see her smile for him.

"Leena, you shouldn't have screamed when Vincy was focusing. The team has already missed a shot because of you." Shaking her head, Kyle commented with disappointment.

"Then should I sit and watch over like a nun?" Leena asked stupified with Kyle's remarks. What's wrong with her? She is making as if I am the wrong one here. Who sits and watches over a game silently?

"That's not what I meant." Kyle gave a reassuring smile immediately when she sensed her comment was a little overboard. "You have misunderstood my int_"

"OMG...My baby has hit the shot!" Leah screamed coming out of nowhere putting an end to their just started fight.

"Miss Lewis, inform your fiancé to stop by my room after the match. I will give him one of my sexy dress."

"Huh? Why?" Kyle and Leah asked in unison frowning.

"Attacking a person and pushing someone when he is in a vulnerable state doesn't make him a man. He better wears my jumpsuit and then plays the game in it." She started looking disdainfully over that useless Austin.

Leah giggled at how protective Leena is acting towards Devin without thinking she has berated Austin.

My darling is sure a tsundere.

"My cousin sure is eligible for it." Kyle chuckled.

"Don't inform him. I have changed my mind. I will gift one tomorrow as his wedding gift." Saying that Leena turned her head to watch the game without minding their giggles.

"He is pulling a more aggressive start now." Looking at Mr. Adonis, Leena whispered in a low voice when she watched him in attacking mode. she is liking it, his physicality, his brute force in the game.

Now that his little kit is watching him and without obvious to her thoughts, Devin was playing even more vigorously now. He went ahead near the basket dribbling, attacking, and penetrating, even left his foot to make Trent believe he was going to finish when he tried to capture the ball and that's when Trent fell into his trap looking over the rim. Seizing the opportunity, Devin swiftly flew into the air dunking the ball accurately through the hoop.

"Shit!" He cursed himself for falling for his tricks.

The other team members looked at the marvelous shot with their open mouths.

"Just now we were trying to block him right? How did it hit the hoop suddenly?" Austin looked over Trent in astonishment while the latter was brewing with frustration. Austin knew Devin's tricks and hawk-like moves since high school but he expected Devin would have forgotten.

He was playing hard but he wasn't the one at risk of getting hurt. They were. Whether it was Trent or Austin or other team members, he was giving hard time making them think twice whether to contest or not. He was dribbling passing, shooting and he was even blocking all the angles simultaneously. It was hard to decipher his patterns and hard to concentrate on his focused eyes which would change each time when they were trying to catch his next move.

Each time he was dunking the ball, Devin was humiliating, be it Trent, Austin, or other team members. They clenched their fists on the brink of losing the game. Devin did not even let them give the chance to shot a basket except the one Austin got when he betrayed him.

"He knows how to defend, how to block paths. We have to focus his eyes. At least one shot to crush his ego." Austin whispered looking over the angered Trent.

There was only a minute to end the game now and they were scared looking at his bloodshot eyes.

His hands were his weapon defending the opponents, his eyes were like eagles searching for prey and his moves were like a cheetah hunting them.

Austin and Trent were waiting to get at least a basket and they did not want to leave the final one at least. But Devin has already planned to show off his best dunking shot to his sweetheart.

Lock!

Dribble!

Lift!

It was his only mantra during the entire game.

Taking the ball near the basket for the final time, he slightly dribbled and when the defender tried to catch the ball, Devin suddenly lifted up his right leg exchanging the ball between his legs to his other hand. The ball straight away went in the upward movement and he elevated high in the air sending the ball to the sky hoop.

Everyone cheered with loud applause.

"I feel like he is gliding through the air. His dunks are as impressive as him." Leena mumbled clapping her hands.

The moment he hit the hoop, Devin turned around and looked at his sweetheart. Winking at her, he anticipated a little appraisal from her. Leena gave a cute finger heart gesture which she learned in Korean dramas.

Now he got a real heart attack. Little heart breaker.

Leena looked away with her blushed face seeing his cute reaction.

Unbeknownst to them, there were many pairs of eyes watching them with jealousy.

"Holy banana pants! Is he an even human Leah?" Leena asked in astonishment. One moment he would be attacking and the next moment, the ball would be in the hoop even before she blinks her eye.

"He is a beast in basketball darling. He is the best defender and the best dunker ever since high school. Everyone wondered why he did not go for the NBA. He used to confuse the best defenders and even his own teammates had a hard time catching him. The most stylish player I have ever seen." Leah proudly flaunted his achievements.

"How can one does that," Leena asked still in the shock. Hell! He was moving like a professional athlete. Is there anything he can't do? Leena wondered.

"No idea Leena. Only he can pull the magic. He plays mind games with the opponents. Once there was a tough competition from another school and both the teams were running at the same score and there was only a little time left. You know how he tricked them at the last minute and won the match."

Leena shook her head in denial.

"He tricked them to get the ball first and when they went for it, Vincy suddenly extended the ball to foul them, and before they deciphered his move, he swiftly changed the angle and jumped over the rim beforehand shooting into the hoop. When they looked around, there was nothing left. It was the best show I have ever seen." Kyle added. She remembered the scene when he mouthed fuck off showing his middle finger to the opposition team right after shooting into the basket accurately. His aggressive look, his mannerism when he challenged them has etched into Kyle's memory.

Leena frowned hearing her statement. She seems very exciting when talking about him. There was something off the beat when she is talking about him and Leena did not like it even a bit.

Turning towards his direction, she saw his tired face, sweat droplets dropping over his face due to the rigorous moves he played.

"He must be thirsty. Should I get him water?" Leena wondered. Many girls walked up to him with the water bottle anticipating him to at least glance at him, but he was strolling into the house not even bothered.

"He is still the same." Leah chuckled.

"Still the same?" Leena questioned.

"When we were in high school, many girls used to wait after the match with water bottles for their favorite players or boyfriends and most of them would be waiting for him dying to get at least get a glimpse of him. But he would never accept anything and straight away head to his home." Kyle explained. She was also one of them but he has at least smiled before rejecting.

"He has never accepted anything from a girl after any match." Looking at him for a minute, Leena was focusing on his moving direction. No one knew what was running on her mind until she got up from her seat.

Leena walked towards Salsa who has already started flirting with Wendy. Without asking, she snatched the bottles Salsa was holding and then straight away went in Devin's direction.

"He will clearly reject it." Kyle shook her head at Leena's foolishness.

But then Leah was enjoying Leena's little jealousy.. She wanted to inform Kyle that Vincy madly loves Leena, but she has promised to keep a secret.