Chapter 4 She's Mine!

• MAVERICK'S POV
• Bringing personal matters into a game was never in my code of conduct, but I broke it the minute I took it upon myself to score a point for Kaida, defeating her ex-boyfriend.
• My teammates were a bit confused at my sudden attitude, but they did well in hiding the fact that they were surprised and even had questions for me.
• The game came to an end, and Liam wouldn’t stop glaring at me, wishing I could just drop dead to the ground.
• We've never liked each other—correction, he has never liked me because no matter how hard he tried to learn my strategies in games, he could never beat me.
• Recently, I found out he had been snooping around, watching every game I play, both at the college arena and outside, including my games while growing up.
• But one thing he wasn’t aware of was this; while he was busy getting coached by expensive coaches, I learned from our local coach in Rochester, despite being able to afford hundreds of expensive coaches.
• That was a secret he never got to learn, hence, he could never be up to my level.
• To spice up my game and spite him a bit, I walked towards where he sat on a stool, getting treated by one of the medical staff, and squatted to his level. “How does it feel?” I smirked, my voice low and filled with as much mockery as it could muster.
• Good gracious… I was going against another one of my codes of conduct for a certain person.
• I’ve never spited any opposing player before.
• I don’t do that, but here I was, squatting before Liam as I said words that made him more angry.
• “Why are you here?” he gritted, his nostrils flared and his cheeks a shade of red like cherry tomatoes.
• "How does it feel to be defeated by me?” I asked once more, my face blank.
• Others might think my heart must be swelling with pride and joy after winning against Liam’s team once again. But truth be told, I felt nothing.
• I just had this obligation that I had to spite him for making Kaida cry, though it wasn’t my business.
• “I lost my focus, that was why you were able to win!” he yelled, his eyes burning with fury.
• A dry chuckle escaped my lips as I waved his excuse off. “Oh, c’mon now, Liam. Is that the best you could come up with?”
• “What?” His mouth hung wide open at my reply. “You think this is an excuse?”
• “Isn’t it?” I shrugged, my facial expression blank.
• “It wasn’t like you didn’t focus or you didn’t work hard, you’re just a complete loser, Liam. You’re so hot-headed that you can never win against me.”
• The medical staff’s mouth hung wide open, and her eyes widened at my words, but she didn’t utter a word.
• I guess she knew better than to intervene if she loved her job.
• “There’s an insect roaming about, Ms. Mind you, your mouth isn’t far from their reach,” I said to her, a small smile spreading on my lips.
• “Oh… yes.” She laughed nervously and slammed her mouth shut.
• “See ya, Liam.” I rose to my feet and leaned forward, enough to see the freckles on his face. “Go watch more of my games and keep snooping around. I won’t stop you.”
• With that said, I walked away and joined my teammates who had been watching the drama unfold since the beginning.
• “Is this really our captain?” Caleb, the youngest in our team asked, staring at me like I was some ghost.
• “No, I’m not. Go find your captain somewhere else,” I rolled my eyes, my hands in my pocket as we left the medical room in the arena.
• “Fuck! That was intense.” Jacob, our goalie exclaimed.
• “I’ve never seen Captain react on impulse before. This is the first.”
• “I just had to warn him,” I replied with a shrug.
• “That wasn’t a simple warning, bro.” Nelson laughed loudly like a fool that he actually was. “You downgraded him and left him with nothing. If I were Liam, I would quit hockey for life.” Everyone laughed loudly at his remark, except for me.
• My eyes suddenly met with Kaida’s where she stood, her hands interlocked with Ember’s, but she looked away first.
• As soon as Ember saw me, she unlocked her hands with Kaida and rushed toward me, a wide smile on her lips.
• "I'm so proud of you, big brother," she raised her thumb in the air. "I love the look on Liam's face when you scored against him. That son of a gun looked like a chimpanzee!" She laughed loudly, not minding that Kaida was standing beside her.
• "Don't call him that. Kaida is right behind you," I warned Ember, as if I wasn't the one who had just ridiculed Liam a few minutes ago.
• "Oops, sorry, Kaida. I'm so happy!" She exclaimed.
• "There's a party for all the players tonight. You both are invited." I announced, my eyes on Kaida.
• "Will Liam and his team be there?" Ember frowned, displeasure written all over her face.
• "Yes. It is for all players. Both for our team and his."
• "I'm sorry, we won't be attending," Ember scrunched her nose in distaste, but before she could speak further, Kaida stepped in.
• "No, we will be there." She replied, surprising Ember.
• "Are you sure about this?" Ember asked.
• "Yes, I am. I can't keep avoiding him when we attend the same college."
• She replied, and for some reason, the flame of obsession buried in the darkest part of my heart awakened a bit at her words.
• This wasn’t good at all.
• I have to stay away from Kaida as much as possible.
• She keeps making me do irrational things, and it's messing with my head. If I get any closer to her than I already was, it would be bad.
• Really bad, because at that moment, I just wanted to kiss her, mark her, and let the whole world fucking know that she was mine.