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

Kabanata 7

Kabanata 7

Easy

Umawang ang aking labi. He's having this massive temper because I looked like a slut? I could not help but lift a fake smile at him. He was being unbelievable!

"I was just trying to mold myself into the woman of your liking, Zadkiel. Gumagana ba?"

He scoffed. "I wouldn't be this annoyed if it was working."

Nawala ang peke kong ngiti. That hurt more than it should. Hindi ko na talaga alam kung saan lulugar sa kanya.

"I don't give a shit if you dressed like this for me, Celia. It does not flatter me at all. At halata ring hindi bagay sa 'yo ang ganitong pananamit kaya magpalit ka."

"Hindi bagay?! What do you even know about fashion?!"

"I may not know a lot about fashion, but I know everything about men. We don't care about the sparkle or cut in your dress. All we think about is how accessible it is to us. How easy it would be to take the dress off."

"Are you saying I look easy?!"

Honestly, to hell with him. Ewan ko pero ngayon lang ata ako nakaramdam ng ganito ka-intense na frustration at galit. I knew I needed to be kind to him because he was my Tita and Tito's guest and my cousins' friend. But he was being so mean to me, I couldn't help but mirror the attitude back.

Kumunot ang noo niya na para bang ang tanga ko para itanong pa 'yon. "Yes, you look easy. Now, can you please just go and change? You don't look like an experienced and sexually empowered woman in that dress. You look desperate for attention, and it's not a little bit attractive to anyone."

Pilit kong nilunok ang bukol na namumuo sa aking lalamunan. "You are being so mean right now," I said like a bullied child.

"I'd rather be mean than let you parade yourself in that dress a minute longer." Bumuntong-hininga siya at hinilot ang gitna ng kanyang kilay. "Don't be difficult, okay? I'm not in the mood to fake concern for your tears. Your fragile little heart will just have to take it the hard way."

I suddenly wished I was at least a little bit drunk so I could withstand him longer. Pero bakit ko pa nga ba siya kinakausap pa? I should just save my energy and stay away from him. Hindi ba iyon naman talaga ang plano ko?

"Then your fragile little ego will just have to deal with me being in this dress. Kung accessible man 'to sa paningin mo... e ano naman? I don't care if it's Jameson or any other guy, but I promise you you won't be the one taking this off me tonight!"

Imbes na hintayin pa ang mas lalong pagdilim ng mukha niya o ang sunod niyang insulto ay linampasan ko na siya. Iritado akong nagmartsa papasok sa back door hanggang sa bar counter kung saan ang mga inumin.

May nakahandang bartender sina Tito at Tita para sa party na ito. I announced my order and waited. Malakas pa rin ang kalabog ng puso ko sa iritasyon, sakit, at kung ano pa para kay Zadkiel. Maybe if I wasn't caught off guard, I would have came up with a more articulate response. 

Hindi naman ako pinalaking bastos, at mas lalong hindi ako tinuruang sagutin ng pabalang ang kahit sino. My feelings were just really hurt because I spent time and energy on my appearance tonight. 

Syempre, ayaw ko rin namang ipahiya sina Tito at Tita bilang pamangkin nila. But for Zadkiel to say those words and make it sound so negative, na kailangan kong ikahiya ang sarili ko ngayong gabi, ay tumulak sa akin upang gantihan ang mga insulto niya.

"So you admit that you're easy? You are even planning to let a man undress you tonight!" Biglang sulpot ni Zadkiel sa aking tabi. His words reeked of accusation and darkness.