My Worst Enemy

Chapter Five

As predicted the final game against Seigaku was close. So far we have lost doubles one and singles three. With Aya playing singles two right now if she doesn’t win then it is over for Hyotei. Now the score is 6-5, Aya leading and from the looks of it she will also secure the seventh game.

“Humph…looks like you are in trouble.” Said a voice adding to the stress as Atobe Keigo suddenly was standing beside me.

“Don’t you have your own game today?” I asked with my voice low and eyes still watching the game,

“Arn~?” Atobe’s eyebrow lifted with what I said. “Finished already, 4-1. I finished them off on singles two, 6-0.”

“You are playing singles two?” A little surprised I asked, but soon I understood the reason why he did so against St Rudolf. After their last defeat to Fudomine, although not showing it, Atobe felt it to be his responsibility. Making sure they will win the consolation game, Atobe would put himself first to assure the victory.

“Instead of worrying about my game, shouldn’t you be more worried about yours?” Atobe poked it at me again.

“I am not worried,” I replied him with a smile of calmness. “By the way, what are you doing here?”

“Arn~? Watching my girlfriend’s game of course.”

With Atobe’s statement I nearly fell off my seat, quickly looking around me luckily it didn’t look like anyone had heard what Atobe just said. Giving him the threatening look I warned. “Atobe Keigo…”

Like completely enjoying my reaction Atobe continued to smile victoriously totally unrepentant. “Well, do not disappoint me and lose the game.” Pausing Atobe purposely leaned close and whispered. “It is a duty of a girlfriend.”

Feeling his breath tickling my ear, to my horror I found my heartbeat racing and blood rushing to my face. As a reflex I moved quickly away from him as I looked away trying to regain my posture.

What is happening to me?! I thought Atobe Keigo would be the last person in the world to give me this feeling?! However I noticed my belief was starting to shatter as I felt the same when we were on the rooftop having lunch on our first day. When out of the blue Atobe smiled at me and brushed my hair off my face, and the time when he pulled me into his arms.

The moment that scene replayed in my mind, once again my heartbeat started racing again. It was as if I could still feel his body heat and the strength and protectiveness of his embrace. Calm, I must calm down! With my heart in such a mess right now how could I play my game? Groaning inside I grabbed the racquet out of my bag and called out to our manager. “I am going to go warm up.”

“Yes, bucho.”

With his arms crossed and smiling in perfect charm, Atobe asked, “Want me to join you?”

“Please don’t.” Really hoping he won’t come along making it worse for me I said seriously.

Although arrogant and annoying Atobe is, he too knew when I really meant what I say. Not saying anymore Atobe’s eyes returned once again to the game before us. Walking out of there I used warm up as an excuse but all I needed was really to be away from Atobe, I can not tolerate the fact that he was messing up my emotions.

Hitting the ball back and forth against the wall I was annoyed to find how much a mess my heart was in. Although my arms swinging to the shots, but my mind would not stay clear. In frustration with a smash the ball bounced off the edge of the wall and rolled a distance from me. With a sigh I closed my eyes trying to take a few breaths to calm my self.

“It’s not like you, hitting shots like that.”

To my surprise I heard a deep calm voice from behind me. Opening my eyes I saw Tezuka standing there with the ball in his hand. Not knowing what to say I looked away knowing he was right. I am about to play the final game and yet I am in my worst condition.

Noticing my reaction, not saying a word Tezuka walked up to me and passed the ball to me.

“Thanks,” I smiled bitterly and took the ball from his hand. “It’s quite embarrassing really, I am about to play against your school in the finals but I have lost already.”

“Yes, you have.” Tezuka replied coldly. “It is because you have already given up.”

I felt as if a lightning hit me with Tezuka’s words. Unable to react to what he said, I lowered my head feeling as if my eyes becoming watery. However worried Tezuka was going to see it I quickly squeezed out a smile and gave a bow instead to leave. “Well, even if I was going to lose the game, I still better show for it right? So, I guess I better…”

“Want to have a few hits?” To my surprise Tezuka asked.

This is the first time Tezuka had offered to play! Previously he was always kind of being forced into everything by me! Looking up at him in surprise, I found Tezuka looking straight back at me, no smile, and no expressions. Well, since this was something I had wanted for such a long time, I replied with a smile. “Sure.”

***

I froze standing where I was taken back with the serve Tezuka just did. I realised immediately different to when I played against him both times including the recent one with Atobe and Munehiro, Tezuka is now serious! Although he said it was only going to be a few hits, he was coming at me with his full strength!

However I was not put off by it but rather sensing my hands shaking with excitement. This is the play style from Tezuka I wanted to see, this was what I saw when he played against Echizen that day at the railway tennis court!

Like that day when he was helping Echizen out in his confused state, I knew Tezuka was trying to show me something as well. He was no longer just compromising to my requests but he is treating me as an opponent. With the realisation I looked up at Tezuka with a challenging smile. Confidence and pride returned to me and most of all, the will to win.

“You were lucky this time, but you won’t ever ace me again!” I called back at him and walked quickly to the other side to receive the next serve.

When his next serve came again swift and powerful towards me, I felt such a huge impact when I hit it with my racquet. But it was not all when I sensed him returned the shot once again with his full strength and the spin it was added to it.

Immediately all the techniques I learnt and my true ability flooded out of me as I returned all his challenges with my genuine strength. No longer was my mind in a mess but rather I have never felt as clear and calm as of now!

Unnoticed, already there were many that stood around the court attracted to the play between Tezuka and me. However as if Tezuka and I were in our own world we did not notice how long the time had passed and already the viewers included the Seigaku regulars and our very own Hyotei regulars—including Atobe.

The game Aya played had already finished and winning 7-5, it was soon my turn. However as I have not yet returned, Atobe came looking for me and noticed a crowd around a certain tennis court. Frown of extreme unpleasantness came onto Atobe’s face when he saw who were the two players on the court, most of all it did not take an expert to see how much the two are enjoying it.

“Oi, . It’s your turn already!” Calling out Atobe walked up towards me as he grabbed the racquet off my hands.

“Hmm?” With his action I looked to Atobe blankly.

“Have you forgotten your final against Seigaku is with the buchou of the women’s team and not the men’s team?” Oshitari teased and walked up to me too noticing the look on Atobe’s face.

“Oh, is it my turn now?” Finally returning to reality I asked.

“Yes, now go get ready.” With a sigh Atobe threw the towel at me.

Nodding I turned back to Tezuka and called, “Thank you! Now I take my words back, I won’t lose to Seigaku, I will prove it to you!”

Prove to Tezuka? Atobe’s beautiful bluish eyes looked to Tezuka understanding immediately what was going on. Most of all seeing the gleam in ’s eyes he found the confusion she had in her eyes before have all gone. The frown came onto Atobe’s face when he realised the person that helped this time was not him, but…Tezuka.

More disturbing discovery came when Atobe noticed although it was hardly noticeable, a smile appeared on the forever boring poker faced Tezuka when he heard what said to him. Since nothing could escape Atobe’s insight he knew he had seen a warm expression on Tezuka’s face. Although not showing it, Atobe knew from the way Tezuka looked to , he was starting to be attracted to her…

***

“Game and match, 6-3. Game won by Kabaji Hyotei.”

With the call from the umpire, the Hyotei team jumped up and down in joy as all rushed up to hug their buchou Kabaji for the victory that qualified them as the top team for Kantou Regional.

“They did it.” Oshitari let out a breath and smiled.

“Ah…” With his arms crossed Atobe replied but there were no smile on his face with the victory.

Smiling mysteriously to himself, Oshitari knew exactly what is going on inside their buchou’s heart. “Atobe, -chan played extremely well today defeating the buchou of Seigaku 6-3, shouldn’t you be happy? Or are you just upset with the fact that she became strong not because of you?”

“Arn~?” Lifting his eyebrow in displease Atobe replied. “Mind your own business Oshitari.”

“Hai, hai.” Shrugging his shoulders Oshitari nodded. “There is really nothing to worry about you know. Once you defeated Tezuka in the Kantou Regional, will understand the strongest player is just by her side.”

On the other side of the court, Fuji continued to smile when he noticed the look on Tezuka’s face with the victory of Hyotei. “Kabaji-san played extremely well, thanks to you.”

Unmoved Tezuka replied, “She has always been one of the top female players in the country. It is no surprise she won.”

Knowing Tezuka was not going to reveal anything, Fuji continued hinting. “It is a pity isn’t it that she isn’t in our school? Or else you could see more of her.”

Still not allowing Fuji to break him Tezuka continued to look straight with his arms crossed. However inside he knew he was attracted to and he wasn’t going to deny it. It could be that he was just attracted to her play, to her love for tennis. It is something that Tezuka did not find hard to relate to. Just like how was attracted to his play style, he too was attracted to ’s. Her ability to challenge him and most of all Tezuka felt understood him. Whatever it was, Tezuka knew she was different.

“Oh well,” Smiling Fuji concluded as his eyes also looked to who is now conversing with Atobe. “Tezuka, unlike the girl’s team, we won’t lose to Hyotei right?”

Finally Tezuka replied with affirmation. “Seigaku will win. We are going to the Nationals.”

***

“Where do you think you are going?”

Before I was going to sneak off after the game Atobe caught me. Turning around I whined. “Atobe-san. Can I please have time off tonight?

“Time off? You were supposed to accompany me for a month.” Atobe smiled victoriously as he added. “And you forgot to address me as Keigo.”

“Alright Keigo,” I walked up to him and gave him the most innocent smile. “Just tonight, please? I have a very important meeting tonight.”

“Humph,” Laughing through his nose Atobe closed his eyes and brushed his hands over his hair again. “A meeting? Or you meant you have to rush home to watch the Yonex Cup finals tonight?”

“Yes!” I called and nodded. “You know how much this means to me and I can not miss it!”

“Well,” Atobe looked to me as he suddenly took two tickets out and waved it in front of me. “You can watch it at home on a small TV or you can watch it with me live tonight at the stadium.”

My eyes opened wide and fixed on the tickets when I heard what Atobe said. “You…you got tickets for the live game tonight?”

Seeing my reaction Atobe continued to smile in charm, “Since you have won the final today. I thought I would prepare this as a present for you.”

He prepared the tickets for me? In disbelief I looked up at Atobe, the face of the man I hate the most. Yet he had prepared the best gift knowing how much I would have loved to see the Yonex Cup final live today.

“Thank…thank you.” Lowering my head I thanked him. Although I would hate to admit it, but he really for once did something for me that I was so genuinely happy about. “I…I didn’t expect you to…”

“Arn~?”

“Well,” I blushed as I explained. “For one, you set the bet because you wanted me to slave for you. Do this as a girlfriend, do that as a girlfriend. I never knew that…”

“I would do something for you too as a boyfriend?” Atobe finished the sentence for me.

I blushed even more but did not reply. For the entire week, I have felt that other than being a girlfriend, I was more like a second Kabaji he needed tagging along with. Everyday I counted down the days hoping this humiliation would soon end but from the tickets I realised surprisingly this “boyfriend girlfriend contract” was not one way. Once again I felt that warm feeling whirling up in me, and my heartbeat racing.

“Alright, let’s go now if we want to make it for the games.” Not sure if Atobe looked though my heart or not, as usual with that arrogant confident expression Atobe led off.

Following quickly behind him I felt, maybe Atobe is not such a bad person. Underneath that egotistic attitude, Atobe is actually quite a caring person. With the thought I smiled warmly, maybe I should cut him some slack and treat this as a real date for once.

Wait…I take back what I said.

Just when I was starting to have positive thoughts toward Atobe here we are sitting in the “VIP” room watching the live final game of the two top tennis players in the world. Instead of watching the game out there with everyone else, we are sitting in the air-conditioned room on the sofa. It is nice, you may say. But it is not nice for me at all! With the room being so far away from the court we are still watching the game mainly from the big screen TV here!

“Atobe Keigo! Why can’t you get a normal ticket like everyone else?!” Pointing to the thousands of people below us I asked.

“Arn~?” Unlike me Atobe sat calmly and comfortably on the sofa drinking his icy drink. “I asked for two tickets and this is what they gave me.”

Rolling my eyes I knew the organisers of this game must have thought this was the best way to impress the heir of the all powerful Atobe-Group. With a sigh I sat back down, well, I was going to watch it at home on TV anyway. Just now instead of watching it at home, I have a bigger TV screen and free food and drinks.

Just when I was about to relax onto the sofa I suddenly noticed Atobe’s arm resting on the edge of the sofa. With the discovery I sat up immediately and realised if I had sat back down it would feel like he had his arm around my shoulder.

“What’s wrong?” On purpose Atobe asked.

“Keigo, can you please move your arm?” I asked pointing to his arm.

“Arn~?” In displease Atobe’s eyebrow raised. “Why should I move? I am not touching you or anything.”

“But I can feel it just behind my neck! I can’t concentrate and watch the game with it sitting there!” I complained.

To my surprise Atobe started laughing at my statement. “Why? Is it because you are awed at the sight of it?”

“I am so not!” Blushing I objected to that statement. I would be the last woman in the world to be awed at the sight of his prowess!

“In that case you should have no feeling to my arm being here, right?” Ignoring my complaint Atobe pressed me back onto the sofa.

With his statement I was totally locked in. If I had moved again that means I was awed at his charm, but with his arm just around my shoulder I felt my heart pumping so fast as if it was going to jump out of my mouth. Worst of all I realised I could not concentrate on the game when I sensed him breathing just by my ear and his scent kept coming through taking away my soberness.

After a period that felt like centuries, the game has finally finished. With relief I moved away from him, “That was a good game.”

“Yes, it was.” Atobe replied while taking out his phone to make a call. “Yes, you can ask them to come up now.”

Come up? Who? While I was wondering what Atobe was referring, with a knock a man entered the room followed by two people. When I saw the faces of the two people I thought I was seeing illusions. “Ro…Roger Federer and Lindsay Davenport!!”

Seeing my stunned and astonished expressions, Atobe brushed his hands through his hair and smiled in charm. “I have asked for them to join us for a game.”

“A game?!!!!” My ears must have malfunctioned. The world’s top man’s tennis player and the world’s top woman player are going to play tennis with little nobody like me?!

“Nice to meet you,” Lindsay shook my hand. “Hope it will be a good game.”

“Yes! Yes, nice to meet you!” Like an idiot I stuttered in excitement. Looking back at Atobe again I did not know what to say. For the first time I really experienced the influential power of the all mighty Atobe-Group.

***

“Did you see how amused Roger Federer was when you did the Hametsu e no Rondo on him?” I laughed while Atobe and I were on our way home from the friendly match against the world’s two top players.

“Of course,” Still in absolute charisma and pride Atobe replied. “Who do you think Atobe Keigo is?”

“Wow that was such a great experience…” I sighed and gave a stretch. “Most of all I couldn’t believe we could actually play against them without being thrashed.” Yes, indeed to my surprise when Atobe and I teamed up against them, we were totally on fire. It was strange. It was like we were constantly in the same rhythm. I would set up a shot for him and he too would respond to the shot I purposed faked. It was like back in the old times when Atobe and I were just the closest friends and playing together in the tennis club where everyone was just amused at how well we co-ordinated.

“Well,” Noticing the limousine had parked outside my home I greeted goodbye with a smile and stepped out of the car. “Thank you for the present today. I really, and I mean it, I really had a great time.”

However to my surprise Atobe followed me out of the car too as his tall body shadowed over me. “Arn~? Don’t I get anything for it?”

Knowing he really did put an effort into it, I nodded. “Alright, I will add in your favourite desert in your next lunch.”

“No,” With a mysterious smile Atobe declined my offer. “I want it now.”

“Huh?” Blinking with his request I replied. “I can’t bake it now, it is late!”

“I don’t want you to bake me the desert now,” Atobe said as he leaned closer. “I want a kiss from you.”

“WHAT?!!!” Like receiving the biggest shock of my life I stepped back immediately. However not allowing me to move away Atobe stepped forward too and backed me against the wall.

“A kiss.”

“No! It’s not going to happen!” I objected feeling my cheeks burning hot sensing him so close to me. Making the situation worse I realised I was not at all angry with his request, rather I sensed a certain kind of anticipation as my heart pumping so fast making me dizzy.

“A KISS.” Atobe repeated again and leaning even closer he threatened. “Or do you want me to initiate it?”

“Okay, okay! Maybe a kiss on the cheek…” Feeling like I was about to faint I quickly said.

“Hmm?” Atobe suddenly pointed to my collar. “You have a tomato sauce stain on your collar.”

“Eh?” In surprise I looked down to where Atobe was pointing when suddenly sensing Atobe’s hand on the back of my head Atobe pressed his lips on mine. Like my body had stopped functioning I froze and could not react to what was happening. All I could sense was his body heat and the strange feeling on my lips.

Finally letting go; Atobe smiled with charm and tease. “I have received the desert, thank you.”

Still not able to react I stood there like a rock and watched as Atobe returned into his limousine and drove off. Walking like a zombie I returned to my room as I finally collapsed and placed my hands on my lips.

Atobe Keigo you stupid idiot!!! I hate you!! That was my first kiss!! Although screaming that inside me I had found myself smiling…

***

Kaho