Undercover

Discoveries

When evening arrived, excited Bina showered and made her hair.

Curls are extremely hard to maintain, but knowing the best fitting care regime and having the correct appliances - it can be astonishing.

Bina's hair if often tied in a bun or clipped up short to prevent occupation in hair disturbances to her studies, but in her free time she prefers it wild and free.

So immediately after the shower a nice cream and serum, a microfiber tower and some diffuse drying - and there are the the jumpy perfectly defined curls straight from the magazine!

It is also unlikely to tell that Bina loves being fashionable. Following her mantra, her body is her temple, and her temple should be garnished (of course, not in place of her higher priorities, such as her studies and career).

She dressed up with a flattering white tight crop top and beige high waist loose elegant joggers, covering herself with a long brown cardigan and brown sneakers.

She put just a tiny bit of mascara and cherry tinted lip balm, placed a small peachy strapped handbag on her shoulder, and was on her way to the door out.

Just before stepping out, she replaced her casual thick-framed eyeglasses with a pair of delicate gold wired frame, and closed the door behind her.

As soon as she left the bus, she rushed to the court and searched for a seat. She couldn't find a favorable place from which she could watch the match perfectly as there were already a lot of people occupying the benches, so she placed herself in the first most suitable seat she could find.

By that time, Nate was getting ready with his team inside their preparation room, while Adah and Benjamin were settling in their researved seats at the front.

The match began, both teams were overviewing tactics and exchanging regards. Just before the timer fired, Nate had a look at the crowd all around. He immediately noticed his friend and his sister to whom he waved in approval.

The count started, and the players launched towards their post, applying what they had long trained for.

Throughout the first half Nate's group was in slight favor of the opponent, but Nate seemed to be confused at times, checking his surroundings all the time.

As the first half ended, Nate reached out to Benjamin for a small talk.

"Natey, something happened?" Bemjamin asked.

"Huh?" Nate, as if he hasn't heard the question, gulped water and took the time of keeping quiet as an advantage to search the crowd again. "No, nothing."

It took him a while during which he slowed down his eyes movement and focused on each part thoroughly, to eventually let out a sigh of relief.

She's here.

Nate kept his gaze on the point where Bina was sitting, at that time simply checking her phone, waiting for her to notice his seek of attention.

Benjamin followed his look to finally find the missing screw. "Ah, you invited her. Why is she so far? Could catch a better view."

"She probably doesn't know she has a reserved seat", Nate remembered he never explained any of the deal.

"You reserved a seat for her?!"

Nate had just caught Bina's attention and waved her. Happy and excited, she waved back and thumbed him up, confused at his gesture implying her to come down to the court side.

Benjamin shouted out to her to join them, catching all the surrounding attendees' attention.

As she made it down the stairs and on to the parquet, Nate made his way to meet her by the end of the corridor leading to the court.

"I thought you wouldn't come," he confessed. Willing to simply thank her for her presence, his words stuck at his mouth seeing her out of her usual performance.

"I promised", she smiled.

Time was ticking and the next half was about to start. Nate checked the timer and inspected Bina once more.

He then leaned to her putting one hand on the back of her waist and with a soft smile and an almost whispering voice he said to her ear before he left, "You're pretty."

Bina was left standing in chills, fascinated by the words. She watched Nate as he confidently stepped back to the game, and a hint of yearning mixed with sadness appeared in her eyes.

"Don't just stand there," Benjamin approached her, "come sit with us."

Bina followed Benjamin to their bench.

"Nate doesn't often make the effort to reserve extra, well done, you."

"Is that a bother?" Bina was surprised even more, as she felt now a guest of honor.

"So-so," Benjamin nodded. "You mainly have to be among the first and beg real hard to the owner.

"Insurance stuff," he continued as if explaining to himself, "total heads count and the number of free seats left out of it."

Bina was touched even more. She watched Nate carefully during the game, analyzing his movements together with Benjamin.

It was apparent that Nate became more aggressive and sophisticated in the second half and his performance was very impressive.

"This is rediculous," Benjamin muttered and shaked his head, "Now it's a showoff."

Bina glanced at him for a moment and back to the game. In response, Benjamin examined her for a bit longer.

"You look good today, girl." He said with a blunt tone.

Bina grinned back to him, feeling uneasy.

They are just being polite.

The match was a few seconds from end with a vivid advantage to Nate's team.

"Benjamin," Bina turned to him asking, "please tell Nate I had to go and congratulate him for me?"

"Sure, where to, may I ask?"

Bina put on a shy smile replying, "it's a bit personal."

Bina left the building in a rush and immediately breathed deeply the fresh air outside. The match was fun, seeing Nate was fun.

It was actually beyond fun.

And it was also, she must confess, beyond frustrating.

She took a few small and slow steps to rebalance heself before returning back to her steady gait to the bus station.

***

The referee stopped the game and announced the winners. Nate and his team were celebrating for a couple of minutes, taking photos and uploading them each to his own social media account. When the ceremony was over, Nate went back to Benjamin and his sister, who congratulated her brother quickly and left the area.

"Dude, what's the deal?" Benjamin asked firmly.

"I don't know." Nate, who got the clue, admitted. "Where is Bina?"

Benjamin rolled his eyes, imitating Nate before answering. "She said she had to go just as the game finished."

Nate was trying to hide his disappointment.

"But she said she enjoyed her time and it was just something personal", He added.

"...So what's the deal?" Benjamin insisted.

Nate faked confusion. "What deal?"

"The deal with her." Benjamin was losing his patience. "The glute. There's definitely a deal."

Nate frowned.

"I don't know, Benji. Really."

Benjamin chuckled at his response as he continued.

"Don't laugh. I feel that I'm on track with my studies now, but all my confidence in it is bound with her."

Benjamin raised a brow, as it wasn't exactly the answered he expected.

"What does it even has to do with the match today?"

"So, you see, I feel that I put it all in, and now even the things I am used to do - rely on her."

Benjamin gave him a dumb smile before tapping his shoulder goodbye. "Stay healthy, buddy. I'm outta here."

Nate's teammates finally spotted him alone and dragged him to the shower room, the place of all juicy gossips.

"So, Nate, who's the chick?" Wilson immediately asked, followed by a choirs of Ooh's.

Nate was reluctant to answer. "My studies partner", he finally said.

"The diploma savior!" another voice noted.

"Yes, yes", Nate was impatient. He quickly undressed and went to shower, hearing in the backround the other guys talking about her.

"Must say that I'm impressed", one of the guys, Michael, said. "First time I see her outside her hoodies."

"You know her?" Another voice joined.

"Come on, it's Bina. The thing in the first row" Michael added, and his fellows surprised.

Thing.

Nate went out, annoyed by the topic.

"So Nate," the third voice stepped in again with a silly tone, "what's the arrangement between you two?"

The crew laughed and looked curiously at Nate.

"There is no arrangement, Chris!" Nate frowned. "She's just being nice."

"Yeah, just being nice to the mighty Nate, sure." Michael commented cynically.

Nate ignored Michael's remark and just kept arranging himself.

"She sure must be expecting to get D-Nate", Chris emitted.

The teammates laughed as Nate got even more annoyed. "Are you ten-year-olds?" He finally spitted. "f*****g gross."

Still in the mood of joking, the members of the team chuckled.

"Heard from Benji she has some nice flesh?", the remaining voice, Sean, grabbed the attention. "I saw her couple of times in the gym. Juicy." Another Ooh'ing filled the room.

"Need help with that Natey? Sean-boy can volunteer if you pass!" Michael offerred loudly.

By that point Nate was aleady pissed off but remained silent in hope the group will end its childish conversation sooner that way.

"Ha, try to get her." Sean challenged the gang. "Couldn't even get near her to share the dumbbells."

"That's because you suck," Chris joked at him. "I can show you how it's done. Nate, my favor for you for today", he threw a kiss in the air towards Nate, who still ignored the whole conversation.

"Are you guys actually trying to prove who can get her first?" Wilson asked shocked, by the time Nate was back in attention and ready to leave after finishing packing his stuff.

"I mean, that's damn Bina. How hard can it possibly be? That's the definition of a virgin." Wilson pointed out sarcastically.

"You take the challenge, Willie?" Michael asked enthusiatically.

Wilson shrugged his shoulders.

"All for the Nate of the day", he replied. "I wouldn't mind a nice virgin ass wrapping me."

Nate closed the zipper of his bag, stood up and headed to the exit without utterring a word.

"What, Natey, automatic loss? Like that? After the glory of today?" Michael stopped him.

"Bunch of idiots." Nate said and left the place.

"In your service, boy!" Michael shouted happily towards him as he moved away.

***

Bina was making her way home on the bus. A nice twenty-minutes ride through the city lights, enought to reflect on all kinds of things.

Halfway road she noticed the bus was about to approach the night bar Danny works at.

Danny works today.

Not so likely to her, she spontaneously decided to pay a visit.

She stepped inside a relatively already busy bar, hoping to find Danny at the bar.

"That's your friend", a fellow worker informed Danny of the visitor.

Danny left his post and greeted her with a warm hug, escorting her back to the bar where he should continue being for the rest of the shift.

Some silent minutes passed before one them opened their mouth.

"Why the long face?" Danny served Bina a vodka chaser. She took it with one shot and a frown and remained silent.

"You were on your friend's match? That Nate?"

Bina nodded.

"Anything happened?" Danny asked worried.

"No, nothing", Bina replied still thoughtful.

Danny was waiting for her to open up on her own will, trying to not cause her discomfort. In the meantime he was busy at the bar and took out a dish of nachos for her.

"He said I was pretty", She finally said.

Danny smiled at her. "You really are."

After a few more quite moments, Bina stressed out, "He... Put his hand on my waist... And whispered it to my ear."

Danny raised a brow and chucked. "Yeah Bina, so?"

Bina stared miserably at Danny before lowering her look.

"He is very attractive." She finally confessed.

Danny froze at his place hearing her words and gaped at her.

"Bina," he shaked his head in absurd, "a man whispers to your ear that you're pretty and you're done?"

"He also touched my waist..."

"Stop, stop!"

Danny asked his coworker to backup him for a couple of minutes and turned back to his friend, who looked miserably desperate.

"Bina, this guy is..." He started saying angrily, "... Not for you."

"Thank you Danny, I know know that already." She replied sarcastically hurt.

"That's not what I meant," Having noticed he was misunderstood, Danny quickly explained himself, "This Nate guy... He's a total womanizer. You said it yourself."

Bina did not reply, and Danny continued trying to convince her. "What happened to him being the bad influence and stuff?"

"Danny, that doesn't help. He is actually a very nice and smart person."

She got lost in thoughts for a few seconds, after which she determinedly said, "I want him."

Danny rolled his eyes. He served her immediately another three shots of vodka. "Here, take them all, will do good to your brain."

Bina had them one after the other, to which Danny put on a smile. "You and your soviet genes"

"I guess it will pass in few days." She said. She was about to take out her purse to pay when Danny dismissed her, "That's on the bar."