The Agent's Priority

C30

"Why did you sign up for the football team?" I asked in all seriousness making his smile drop into a tight one

"Because I want to" he turned his gaze away from me to grab a packet of classic vanilla butter cookies "I know what you're gonna say next"

Exhaling through my nose I bite my lip as I ran a hand through my very messy hair exasperatedly

"Are you worried about me shortcake?" He teased as he concentrated on eating withou looking at me

"Of course" I said incredelously "I'm worried about you" I clarified watching his reaction as it turn into a genuine small secretive smile

"You make it sound like I'll die if-"

"You might." I cut him off sternly "You're asthmatic Matthew, you're aware about your condition right? You're aware—"

"I am aware." He snapped meeting me frown but kept my stare on him

We we're met by silence as he stare at the table while I continue to burn holes into his head

"I was a team captain of our football back at high school" he said quietly all of a sudden as he traces the bisquit on his hand with his fingers "I was very popular back then" he met my stare with his cocky smirk that my eyebrows raised in amusement "no, believe me I was" he shake his head to prove his point while not believing his words at the same time

Believe me... I have thought about it the second I saw your face and heard your alluring accent

"At what school?" I ask quietly not wanting to ruin the peacefull atmosphere

"It was back at London... Hernestburgh High" he had a very geniune dimpled smile on his face as if reminiscing his high school memories "we we're undefeated.. with the perfect record of winning" he trailed off his smile morphing into a bittersweet one

"Then..?" I urged softly hugging my knees as I give him an encouraging nod but he looked down his growing hair covering his eyes from view

"Every game I felt this weird feeling in my chest, every game I ignored my coach's voice whenever he point out how my pantings are not normal, how he advices to have a medical check up, how my team mates kept asking about my health, how I happen to get very tired in just a short amount of time on running laps..." he look up slightly his eyes hooded into disappointment and anger "then out of the blue during our game that I never thought would be the last, in the middle of our almost winning moment. I fell on my knees clutching my chest as I heave terribly unknowingly my eyes began to blur with tears of pain that I didn't even sense that my middle aged coach was now running across the field to get to me with wide eyes, my teammates clutching me upright all asking me in panic as to what is happening and what's hurting. I could hear chaos around me but I couldn't hear a thing at the same time... then my mo—" he released a heavy breath "A memory of my mom when I was still a kid flashed infront of my eyes, unshed tears on her panicked wide-wide blue eyes h-holding my face as s-she continue to rub my face saying things l-like.. inhale e-exha—"

Reaching out with my hand I cup his face as I tentatively brush the tears that kept falling down his high cheekbones with one hand

His mom

Gritting my teeth I kept my cool and stayed seated and away from him

"Hey... do not do this now love, I can't fucking hug you without getting you sick" I murmured agitatedly without thinking

Why does my chest felt heavy?

He chuckled through his tears

"Aren't you lovely" he teased before opening his arms with a pout his eyes filling with another round of unshed tears