Beautiful Beasts (Lovestruck Series #1)

Chapter 9

JASMINE

I didn't know where Chase would take me, but I just trusted him. We may be mortal enemies since birth, pero alam kong hindi naman niya ako ipapahamak. Takot niya lang sa Papa ko 'no.

And honestly, I don't care where he takes me. Sana lang ay hindi masyadong malayo. 'Pag ganon kasi, hahaba ang byahe at mas magkakaroon pa siya ng pagkakataong magtanong.

I don't want questions, because then I wouldn't know how to answer them. But thankfully, hindi na rin naman siya nagsalita sa buong byahe. Nahuhuli ko lang ang paminsang-minsang pagsulyap... He would check on me from time to time to see if I was asleep, but he never once tried to strike a conversation. He let me have my peace and quiet.

The ride wasn't that long either. Kalahating oras lang yata ang binyahe namin mula sa bahay ampunan nang mapansin kong papasok na kami sa isang rest house na tila mansyon na sa laki.

I looked around and was just about to ask him where we were, nang matanaw ko ang malaking signage sa gate.

Maison de Fortalejo

Napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Inyo 'to?" Tanong ko kahit obvious naman.

"Obvious ba?" Sarkastikong tanong niya.

Umirap ako. Bwisit. Pwede namang sumagot na lang maayos, diba? Gusto niya talagang nakikipag-bangayan pa e.

My family and I would visit Batangas every now and then because our coffee shop had a branch here. Hindi naman nabanggit sa'kin ni Kuya na may property pala rito sila Chase.

Pero sabagay, alam naman non na wala akong interes kay Chase kaya siguro hindi na nabanggit.

My eyes wandered around the place as we entered the receiving area. Wala naman kaming ibang dalang gamit pero agad pa rin kaming sinalubong ng mga kasambahay.

"Good evening po, Sir!" Bati sa kanya nong isa. I read her nameplate, and learned that her name is Lory. "Handa na po ang kwarto sa taas at naroon na rin po ang mga gamit na pinabili ninyo."

Gulat akong napabaling kay Chase. What?

Mukhang napansin niya 'yon kaya nilingon niya ako.

"Pinagpaalam na kita kila Tita habang tulog ka sa byahe. I told her, iuuwi rin naman kita, but she insisted na rito na lang tayo magpalipas ng gabi dahil delikado nang bumyahe ng ganitong oras." He explained.

Nagulat lalo ako!

"My mom said that?" Hindi talaga ako makapaniwala.

"Yes. Your dad just had some conditions..." He cleared his throat as if he felt uncomfortable saying it.

Kumunot ang noo ko, "Ano naman 'yon?"

"That we should sleep in separate rooms." Sagot niya at nag-init naman agad ang pisngi ko.

I can't believe my dad would even think that I'd share a room with Chase!

"Uhm... About that, Sir..." Sabay kaming napalingon kay Lory. "We have a slight problem." Tunong-kinakabahan siya.

"What do you mean?" Tanong ni Chase. "Akala ko ba ayos na ang lahat?"

"Opo, kaso lang po ang master's bedroom lang ang available. The rest of the rooms are under renovation... Ang sabi po kasi sa'min ay next month pa po ang bisita ng pamilya niyo rito kaya pinasimulan na ang renovation kahapon."