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

Kabanata 1

"Should I be a model?" I suddenly asked.

Nabulunan si Kenneth sa sarili niyang laway. "W-what?"

Nagkibit-balikat ako. "Wala lang. Naisip ko lang kasi na kapag 'di nag-work out 'yong pangarap kong maging chemist... baka pwede akong makipagsapalaran bilang model. I think Tita Sylvie would like that."

Nagkatitigan kami ni Kenneth ng ilang segundo. I suddenly felt silly for asking. That was kind of out of character for me.

He leaned on the sofa and smirked. "Models are empty shells trying to fill the void with money, sex, and attention. You are different, Celia. You have what they don't."

'Cousins with no regard for women's hearts?' I wanted to fire at him, but I couldn't quite find my voice.

"You're smart, and you have the purest soul."

Hindi ako umimik. I appreciated the compliment, but I didn't like how he delivered it. Hindi niya naman kailangang i-generalize at pagsabihan ng gano'n ang mga babaeng modelo para puriin ako. Secretly, though, it felt nice. I loved how my cousins loved me.

Tumayo ako at saka sinipat ang ikalawang palapag, specifically 'yong office ni Kuya Liam. Ano ba 'yan. Mukhang nawalan na tuloy ako ng ganang kumain ng pizza dahil sa narinig ko kanina.

Iniwan ko si Kenneth upang tumungo sa basement. Hinanap ko ang gardening tools ko. Dahil ayoko naman nang bumalik sa library dahil baka marinig ko ulit ang kababalaghan ni Kuya Liam, naisipan kong umpisahan na lang ang pag-aayos ng botanical garden sa harapan ng bahay.

Lately ko lang naisipang simulan ang proyektong ito kaya wala akong masyadong alam sa kung ano ba ang dapat gawin. Today, however, I planned on plowing the soil. Mas malawak ang front yard dito sa bahay ng mga pinsan ko kaysa sa amin kaya rito ko 'to naisipang gawin.

"Kenny!" reklamo ko nang makabalik sa sala galing sa basement nang walang kahit anong bitbit. "I told you to buy me gardening tools. Anong nangyari?"

I caught him putting his shoes on. Tinapunan niya ako ng tingin. Nag-loading muna siya bago natanto ang sinabi ko.

He gasped. "Oh shit! Sorry! I forgot!" Pinulot niya ang kaniyang cellphone at dali-daling pumunta sa akin. "I'll buy them some other time. I have to go somewhere."

Nilagay ko ang aking mga kamay sa bewang. "Where are you going?"

"To hook up with Jennifer," he said boyishly.

Hinalikan niya ako sa pisngi bago mabilis na naglakad palabas ng bahay. Hinabol ko siya habang hindi pa siya nakakalayo.

"Be careful! Please come back alive!" I reminded him because he often got home bleeding from fights.

Tumigil siya upang lumingon sa akin. "By the way, someone might drop by later. Tell him to come back tomorrow. Unless, of course, Liam and Nadia will finish early."

Ngumiwi ako. "Someone? Who?"

"Le Diable." The Devil.

Kenneth winked at me before walking to the garage. I heard his car engine roar after a few moments. Bumuntong-hininga ako at pinagmasdan ang paglabas ng kotse sa gate.

Sinaulo ko ang bilin niya bago naglakad papasok sa loob. I went to the kitchen and found a very sharp butcher knife. Tita Sylvie would kill me if she found out I used this to plow the soil, but her son didn't leave me that much of a choice, did he? Bahagya pa rin talaga akong naiinis kay Ken. And here I thought he prioritized me over his women.

I wore overalls to protect my clothes from getting dirty. Nagsuot din ako ng gloves at boots. When I started plowing, it was already around four o'clock in the afternoon.