Twisted Hearts Book 1: The Beauty Tames The Beast

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

"What's going on?" nagpalipat-lipat ang aking tingin kay mommy at kay Governor Armendanez. He looked suddenly embarrassed, taking a step away from my mother and clearing his throat.

"Look—" he started.

"It's okay, Raul." My mother cut her off. "I'm going to talk to Belle."

Matagal na tinitigan ni Governor Armendanez ang aking ina bago siya tumango. He threw me a glance and walked past me. Tulala pa rin akong nakatayo sa may pintuan.

"Mommy?"

"Honey, listen . . . What you saw today—"

My lips started trembling. Pagak akong tumawa. "You're not going to tell me that he's my father right? And that Leon is my brother? Because that is so fucked up."

Umiling si mommy. "No, no, no. It's not what you think it is."

"Then why the hell are you kissing him?" I asked angrily. Rinig ko ang mahinang yapak ni Governor Armendanez sa aming hagdanan. "What the hell is going on, Mom?"

"I . . ."

"You're a mistress now?" hindi ako makapaniwalang tumingin sa kaniya. "For God's sake, mom! He has a family. At kilala siya ng buong tao sa Gov. Generoso. How could you . . ."

"Belle, baby, listen to mommy first—"

"You're a mistress!" tuluyan nang pumatak ang aking mga luha. Kasabay noon ang malakas na sampal na inabot ko mula kay mommy. She stared at her hands in disbelief, slapping me for the first time.

"Belle—"

She tried to grab my arms but I quickly swatted it away. Umiiyak akong tumakbo sa aking kwarto at ibinalibag ang pintuan. I threw my bag on the floor and collapsed on the bed, crying hard with my face buried against the pillows.

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Namumugto ang aking mga mata nang pumasok ako sa klase kinabukasan. I didn't talk to my mother. She was waiting for me by the breakfast table earlier when I walked past her. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin maalis ang sama ng loob sa aking dibdib.

"Belle?" Isla threw me a worried glance. I ignored her and went straight to my desk. Pansin kong wala pa ang bag ni Leon. Jayden entered the room after a few minutes. Bumagsak ang kaniyang tingin sa akin nang ilang segundo bago siya nagpunta sa kaniyang upuan sa pinaka-likod ng classroom.

I chewed on my bottom lips and tried to blink back my tears. Hindi matanggal sa aking isipan ang nakita ko kahapon sa aming bahay. Finding out that your mother is a mistress isn't fun at all. Especially when you still don't have any idea who your real father is . . .

"Okay, settle down, everyone!" the grumpy Mr. Rey entered the room. He slammed his attendance sheet on the teacher's table, making me jump on my seat. I cleared my throat and sit up straight.

"Where's Armendanez?" tanong niya sa akin.

Umiling ako nang marahan. "Baka late lang po—"

"He's absent." He said, clicking his pen and marking on his attendance sheet. "Anyone else who dared to slack off in my class?" iginala niya ang kaniyang paningin para sa iba pang mga absent. Nang wala na siyang makita ay itiniklop na niya ang kaniyang attendance sheet. "Okay, let's begin."

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"Ayos ka lang ba, Belle?" Isla asked while we we're eating lunch under the shade of mango tree. I looked down at my lunchbox. It was our helper who prepared it for me because my mother got off earlier this morning. Pangatlong araw na naming hindi nag-uusap. At pangatlong araw na ding absent si Leon.