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

Kabanata 2

Kabanata 2

Shovel

Maririnig ang ingay ng mga estudyante sa corridor nang maglakad kami ni Fiona patungong Gym. We just finished doing our lab work and was now onto our last subject for today—PE.

Iniisip ko pa lang ang gagawin namin ay napapagod na ako. Fiona took Basketball while I took Volleyball. Naubusan kasi ako ng slot noong enlistment. Kung ako ang papipiliin, mas gugustuhin kong mag Folk Dance o Camping na lang. Kahit ano basta walang required na extraneous effort.

"Just enjoy it, Celia. Hindi naman included sa GWA mo ang PE," pampalubag-loob niya sa akin.

Bumuntong-hininga ako. "I know... I just really suck at physical activities. It stresses me out."

Humalakhak siya. "Ikaw lang ata ang kilala kong mas nas-stress sa PE kaysa sa major subjects." Pabiro niyang binangga ang aking balikat at saka ngumisi. "Block mates naman kayo ni Stefan. He'll take care of you."

My cheeks reddened when Fiona mentioned Stefan's name. I had been crushing on him since our first year. Binigyan niya ako ng bulaklak at letter noong Valentine's Day. People kind of assumed we had been together since then.

Ang totoo'y hindi niya naman ako inalok na maging girlfriend niya. He's consistently sweet and touchy, though. Kami siguro 'yong tinatawag nilang mag-MU? Hindi ko rin alam. I kind of felt like we were too old to still settle for that label.

Speaking of Stefan, namataan namin siya ni Fiona sa benches kasama ang isang babaeng sa tingin ko'y Accountancy student. Napasimangot agad ako. Inaya ko siya kaninang sabay kaming mag-lunch, pero sabi niya busy siya. Baka itong babaeng 'to ang pinagkakaabalahan niya?

Ugh, Celia! That was mean! Baka friends lang sila, 'di ba? Even though I knew I shouldn't jump to conclusions, my heart still hurt a little seeing Stefan with another girl. Bakit parang ako na lang lagi ang nagdedemand ng oras at atensyon niya?

"That asshole..."

Namilog ang aking mga mata nang biglang magmartsa palapit sa kanila si Fiona. Binatukan niya si Stefan at nakapamewang itong hinarap. Stefan jumped on his seat and turned to see Fiona who was turning red in anger. Dinaluhan ko agad siya at hinawakan sa siko upang awatin.

"Fiona..." I tried to calm her down, but she was furious. Nakakuyom pa rin ang kaniyang kamay.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Fiona hissed at Stefan. "In-indian mo kanina si Celia, tapos andito ka lang pala at nakikipaglandian?"

Stefan's brows furrowed. When his eyes met mine, I bowed my head and stared at my feet. Nakakahiya.

"I was just..." He couldn't continue.

Bigla akong nainis. Ni hindi niya kayang ipaliwanag ang sarili niya! I grabbed Fiona's hand and pulled her away from his direction. Nagmartsa ako paalis doon habang hila-hila siya.

"Celia!" Stefan called, but I didn't look back. Ayoko muna siyang kausapin kasi naiinis pa rin talaga ako.

Hinila ko si Fiona hanggang sa makarating kami sa Basketball Court kung saan ihe-held ang PE class niya. She snatched her wrist back from my hold and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Bakit mo ako pinigilan? Celia, hindi mo dapat hinahayaan ang mga taong apak-apakan ka!"

I pursed my lips. "I'm not. I just don't want you to waste your energy on him."

"Wala akong pakialam! E gago siya!"

Nagkatitigan kaming dalawa. Fiona had always been scandalous. She liked cat fights. Iyon daw kasi ang nagbibigay-buhay sa college life niya.