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

Kabanata 4

Kabanata 4

High

Napatalon ako sa aking kinauupuan nang marinig ang boses ng mga pinsan galing sa labas. Kenneth was cussing at Kuya Liam, calling him names and the likes. Lagi ko naman silang nikikitang nagtatalo pero iba ngayon. Seryoso ito.

"Can you, for once, set aside your fucking ego and think about other people first?" Kenneth huffed at him.

Nasa loob na sila ngayon ng bahay. Kuya Liam was steps ahead of Kenneth. Niluwagan niya ang kanyang necktie at saglit akong pinasadahan ng tingin bago naglakad paakyat ng ikalawang palapag, patungo siguro sa kanyang opisina. Kenneth followed him, ang bawat yapak niya ay puno ng inis at galit.

Hindi pa nakakalimang hakbang si Kuya sa hagdan nang hilahin siya ni Kenneth at saka sinuntok sa mukha. I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand.

"Ken!" I shouted, but they didn't even spare me a glance.

"You know what you are? A greedy asshole! I told you many times not to do business with those fuckers. You're just putting us in danger!"

Kuya Liam's eyes' darkened in controlled fury. The maids were now in the living room, watching them argue. Walang makalapit kasi mukhang danger zone ang kinaroroonan nila.

"Say something!" aniya bago tinulak sa dibdib si Kuya Liam. "Come on. Why don't you punch me back? Show them who you really are, Liam."

Kuya wiped the blood on his lips and gave Kenneth a disappointed look. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Kenneth scoffed. "Bullshit. 'Wag mo nga akong niloloko, Kuya. 'Wag mo kaming gawing tanga! All you care about is keeping up appearances!"

"I'm a businessman. That's what I do."

"At ano ang kapalit ng lahat ng pagpapanggap mo? Ang pagbagsak ng kompanya? Shit. You know what's fucking unfair? We have to eventually deal with your mistakes. Kung may atraso ka sakanila, ayusin mo nang hindi nandadamay kasi nakakapagod na, Kuya! We are not your fucking scapegoat!"

Hindi nakasagot si Kuya Liam. His eyes remained serious and guarded, na lagi rin naman. I have never seen him be vulnerable kahit sa aming pamilya niya.

"See?" Kenneth shook his head in disbelief. "It's always been this way. You only reveal the noble parts to us, Kuya. But I know... I know now. Who you are inside? It's fucking disgusting. Ikinakahiya kita—"

"That's enough." The coldness in Kuya Liam's voice seared. Nagtayuan ang aking mga balahibo sa braso.

"You want me to stop now that I'm hitting the nail on its head? Bakit?" Sinulyapan ako ni Kenneth bago ibinalik ang tingin kay Kuya. "Ah. Right. We don't want your perfect little image to get tainted, do we? It's okay, Kuya. Nandyan naman ang parents natin at sina Tito at Tita para linisin ang mga kalat—"

"Ken!" I couldn't help it. Napasigaw na ako dahil sumusobra na talaga siya!  

Ayaw na ayaw ko ito. Pamilya kami. Kung meron mang mas nakakaintindi at nakakaalam ng kahinaan ng isa't-isa, kami iyon. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pinag-aawayan nila. Did Kuya Liam make an unwise decision? Kung ganoon nga, e ano naman? 

If we were going to fall, we would fall together, darn it. Bakit kailangang magbatuhan ng masasakit na salita? My cousins were probably used to the cruelty of this world. They have given to and received evil from others. Pero hindi rito. This was our house. And if they were not going to fill it with love and harmony, ako ang gagawa noon. 

Nangingilid na ang mga luha ko nang balingan nila akong dalawa ng tingin. Huminga ako nang malalim dahil ayaw kong umiyak. Ayaw kong isipin nilang nagpapaawa lang ako.