The Art of Loving a Beast (La Fortuna Series #4)

Kabanata 1

Kabanata 1

Bleed

Louise Armstrong's La Vie En Rose played in the background as I turned the book I was reading to the next page. The AC was on, and I was freezing. Niyakap ko ang cardigan ko at nagpatuloy sa pagbabasa. I was reading a botanical book. Nage-enjoy ako kasi sobrang ganda ng illustration ng mga bulaklak sa bawat pahina.

Nandito ako sa library ng bahay ng mga pinsan ko, nagkukulong na naman. I never did like being outside. Sometimes, I would joke around and say I was a vampire at takot akong mainitan. Most people would laugh, but some of them also thought it was true. Maputla kasi ako simula pagkabata.

May narinig akong pagkalampog sa katabing silid kaya agad akong umahon mula sa pagkakahilig sa windowsill. I left my book by the window and went out. Tumungo ako sa pinto ng office ni Kuya William kung saan nagmula ang tunog. Nagbilin kasi ako kanina sa kaniya ng pizza.

"Oh god, Liam."

Naestatwa ako sa aking kinatatayuan nang marinig 'yon. Ilang beses ko nang nadatnan ang ganitong eksena sa bahay ng mga pinsan ko, pero hindi pa rin ako nasasanay. My cheeks reddened when I heard the woman say God's name again.

"Shh, Nadia," Kuya Liam told her.

Imbes na manatili roon ay bumaba ako upang tumungo sa living room. Nadatnan ko roon si Kenneth na nakaupo sa sofa. Nakaandar ang TV pero wala roon ang kaniyang mga mata. He was fumbling on his phone.

"Kenny," I called softly.

Sinipat niya ako saglit bago nagpatuloy sa pagtipa sa kaniyang cellphone. "Ma belle."

Ngumuso ako bago naglakad palapit sa kaniya. I sat beside him and peeked over his phone, curious about what he was up to.

Napabuntong-hininga ako nang makitang IG page 'yon ng isang sikat na Filipina model. I guess this was what it meant to have cousins who were half-French, half-playboy.

"Sino 'yan?" tanong ko.

Isang mapaglarong ngisi ang sumugat sa kaniyang labi. Hinarap niya 'yong cellphone sa 'kin para mas makita ko 'yong inii-stalk niya.

"Jennifer Castro," he answered and tapped a certain post from the girl.

She was wearing a daring bikini in the picture. Her body resembled an hourglass—wide hips, big chest, tiny waist. There was a seductive smile on her face that I would never be able to pull off even if I tried.

"Damn. Do you think she will hook up with me?" Tinignan ako ni Kenneth sa umaasang mga mata.

"Does my opinion matter?"

Kahit sabihin ko naman kasing wala siyang pag-asa, gagawin niya pa rin ang gusto niya. My cousins were a classic representation of the male species. They liked to chase. 'Yon nga lang, kapag nakuha na nila 'yong babae, iiwanan na lang nila bigla.

"Of course. If you don't like this girl for me, I swear I won't date her."

I looked at him indulgently. "You never date anyway. You... bed..."

"You mean I fuck?" Humalakhak siya at saka ginulo ang buhok ko. "Your choice of words, Celia. They never fail to fascinate me."

Dumapo ang tingin ko sa babaeng nasa screen ng phone niya. My cousins had similar tastes in women. They liked liberated ones with amazing curves. 'Yong tipong agaw-pansin talaga.

Meanwhile, I couldn't be more different from their types. Hindi ko rin naman insecurity na medyo conservative at payat ako. I was 5'2 at 20. I wasn't gifted in the chest area, but Tita Sylvie always told me my backside looked nice.