dedicated to: YUNISUKOSUKE
(kasi nagtatampo raw)

Him

"Nandito ka nanaman."

Hayan nanaman siya at tinataboy ako. Mananahimik nga lang ako sa tabi niya! Hindi ko naman siya guguluhin! All I want was to hear her voice, that's all! It's not like I'm disturbing her!

"Labas." She softly commanded, I haven't taken my seat yet and she's doing this again!

"Okay." Tinalikuran ko siya at mabigat sa loob na lumabas ng library.

I stayed outside, brushung my horse's hair, counting for 30 minutes and when 30 minutes had passed, I went back to the library.

Her eyes went up to me and our eyes met. She furrowed her brows but it fell back on the notebook she was writing. Slowly, I went in and sat beside her.

It was quiet and I tried my best not to make a sound so I could not disturb her. Minutes past, she stopped scribbling, put her notebook on the table, and faced me. I smirked at her, she rolled her eyes.

"Fine." She groaned softly and removed my mask.

And I kissed her, and we make out for several minutes, with her sitting on my lap.

"Wait." She pant as she cut our kiss, I opened my eyes and her lips was red, pretty sure mine was stained with her lip gloss.

"Done?" I asked when she gathered enough air.

She rolled her eyes and leaned in to kiss me again and I happily welcomed her mouth on mine. I flicked my tongue inside her mouth and tasted how sweet every corners of it was and she battled with me, great, how fast of a learner she is to learn this trick, it's making me crazy.

I groaned when she started moving her hips against my hard clad. I firmly gripped her waist so she could stop but the stubborn Beauty who never wanted to back down continued moving her hips, slowly cutting the string of patience I've been saving every time we make out.

I stopped kissing her and I opened my eyes, she opened it as well and when our eyes met, her eyes were in blaze, I know I'm reflecting the same. She was the one who cut our stare first as her eyes went down to the scar on my face. Her eyes softened and fuck it, it turned me on even more.

She was about to kiss me again and I was about to devour her completely when a knock made us stop.

Tangina.

"Ano?!" I shouted frustratingly that Arabelle flinched. "Fuck. I'm sorry, Beauty." I said softly, she shook her head and sighed.

"S-Si Rix." It was Lumiere's voice outside.

I groaned frustratingly as I shut my eyes tight, trying my best to control my anger. Tangina, hindi ba puwedeng mamaya nalang? Kanina pa ako naghintay tapos mapuputol lang!

I felt her putting my mask back on my face, I opened my eyes and the fire that I saw earlier on her eyes was now gone, it made me more frustrated.

"Go." She said.

I removed the scarf around her neck and she let me. I leaned in close and she tilted her neck until I reached the scar on her neck. I sucked it and she gripped my shoulder tight.

"M-Master?"

Tangina.

Siya na ang lumayo sa akin and it took her minutes to convince to go out. Busangot ang mukha ko nang pinalabas ako ni Arabelle at dahil iyon sa lalakeng hindi makatingin ngayon sa mata ko ngayon.

"I'll fucking torture you if this is not important." I warned him and sat on my chair.

"We found lead." Rix started and my brows furrowed.

I stared at him seriously.

"Who?"

He gulped and sighed. I laughed humorlessly as I stared at his expression. I know who.

"Let me guess. My father?"

"Oo. Akala niya siya si-"

"Did he found out?" I cut him off, rage starting to burn me inside.

"Yes . . ." He looked at my eyes seriously. "Kaya nakatakas si Arabelle." He added.

"Nasaan siya?" I slowly asked.

"He was in contact . . ." He trailed off, my eyes widened as my heart started to beat rapidly, fear slowly engulfing the flame inside me.

"With who?" I asked slowly.

"Cara."

"Tangina." Napatayo ako at nagmartsa palabas ng kuwarto, determine to find her.

Fuck it. I had a feeling. I fucking knew there was something that changed with her.

Kumalabog ang pinto sa kuwarto ni Cara dahil sa lakas ng pagkakatulak ko at nahuli ko siyang nagsusuklay ng buhok. She looked up to me on the mirror and our eyes met. Her eyes were dull and devoid of ang emotion, as if she knew why I was here.

"What?" She asked impassively.

"You were in contact." I clenched my fist as I stared at her.

She scoffed and continued brushing her hair, that enraged me even more. Mabilis ko siyang nilapitan at hinablot ang kamay niya, she faced me with a determined face, as if she was ready to fight.

"You knew how horrible he is." I put emphasis on every word.

She smirked as she stared at me. "You knew."

"What?"

Marahas niyang hinablot ang kamay niya at tumayo. Her eyes that were dull earlier turned into flames as she stared at me.

"Alam mo! Alam mo kung gaano siya kasama pero hindi mo ako prinotektahan!" Tinulak niya ako, tears were starting to form on her eyes and I stilled.

"Cara-"

"And now I'm ruined!" Tumawa siya and my heart broke when I realized I was one those people who ruined her.

"Anong ginawa niya sa 'yo?" I tried to compose my voice even when I badly wanted to throw everything I could see.

She chuckled without humor and it thorned me even more.

"Does it matter? Tapos na eh! Kaya hindi ako papayag na ako lang ang nasira sa ating dalawa!"

"What?"I asked, dubfounded.

She smirked and approached my slowly, my lips parted as she leaned in closer to whisper,

"Maurine. You think I didn't know? You . . . killed him." She whispered.

Tangina.

"You-"

"Ano kayang reaksyon ni Arabelle kapag nalaman niya?" She chuckled, I cursed.

"Why . . . why did you-"

"Your father told me about your sin. Ikaw . . . ikaw ang pumatay sa mama mo, ikaw rin ang pumatay sa papa niya."

"Tangina, Cara. Papa mo rin 'yon-"

"He was never my father. He abandoned me! He deserve death! And looks like you did it in behalf of me! Thank you, Adam!" She shouted sarcastically.

"Ca-"

"Paalisin mo siya rito." She said calmly, my eyes widened.

"What? She's your sister!"

"Paalisin mo siya o sasabihin ko sa kaniyang pinatay mo ang papa niya?!" She warned.

My jaw clenched as I stare at her raging eyes. Tangina talaga.

"Sabihin mo." Hamon ko at tinalikuran siya.

I know I can explain myself. I know she'll understand-

"Your father violated her."

Natigilan ako roon. Tangina. May mas ikakaputang-ina pa ba 'to?

I'll fucking kill him.

"The scar on her throat? It was because of your father!"

Alam ko na 'yon pero tangina naman, gano'n ba kawalang modo ang papa ko para ipagsabi iyon?

"Ang dami mo nang kasalanan sa kaniya 'di ba? You lied to her that you're not a murder yet you killed your own mom, her father, and your father violated her. All of those things happened when she met you!"

Pakiramdam ko tumigil ang mundo ko nang tumama ang mata ko sa nanlalaki niyang mga mata. Her lips were parted as her eyes widened in fear, anger, betrayal, and I cursed because before I could even chase her, she ran. She heard it. Every thing.

"Tangina naman!"

I was about to chase her when-

"Chase her and I'll tell my father where she lives."

I cursed and faced her, mad and frustrated while her eyes was as cold as the ice. Gusto kong magwala, gusto kong ihagis lahat ng nakikita, pero tangina, gusto kong magbago para sa kaniya kaya pinigilan ko ang sarili kahit na sabik na sabik na akong magwala sa galit.

"If you let her go, then she'll be safe." She added.

Fuck. I vow to myself that I will protect her!

Tinalikuran ko siya at tumakbo palabas. I need to chase her and explain myself! I know she'll get mad but I . . . I can't let her go! Hindi puwede!

She's mine! At wala akong pakealam kung ayaw niya sa akin! I will make her like me again! She will stay!

"Arabelle!" Sigaw ko nang makita siyang tumatakbo palabas ng gate, I cursed even more and chased her.

She flinched when I gripped her arms, her tears were flowing and the fear on her eyes was evident. I hefted her and she screamed and kicked me but I didn't care as long as she will not escape.

"Rix! Lock the gates!"

"Pakawalan mo ako!" She screamed, her throat strained and I cursed more.

She's safe in here. Even if she consider this as a cage, I wouldn't mind as long as she's safe! As long as my father wouldn't find her! Hangga't hindi ko nahuhuli ang tanginang gagong 'yon, hindi siya dapat lumalabas!

She's crying and shivering in fear when I put her down on my bed. Tangina naman, ayaw kong nakikita siyang ganito pero ako ang may dahilan bakit ganito siya!

"Please! Gusto ko nang bumalik kay Papa!" Sigaw niya, umiiyak, I clenched my fist and controlled my anger.

"Dito ka lang." I said calmly.

"Nandiyan na si Cara! Hindi mo na ako kailangan!" Galit niyang sigaw, tears still pouring but I could see the rage building up on her eyes.

Kailangan kita.

"Hindi ka aalis kahit nandiyan si Cara." Malamig kong sabi, her eyes widened in fear and agitation.

"Bakit?! Wala akong silbi dito! Please! Pakawalan mo ako!" Pagmamakaawa niya kahit na ramdam ko ang poot sa bawat salitang binitiwan niya.

"May utang sa akin ang Papa mo at ikaw ang ginawa niyang bayad kaya dito ka lang!" I shouted frustratingly, not at her but to my fucking self. But it looks like, she took it the wrong way, she cowered in fear and I cursed even more.

"I fucking hate you." She spat angrily.

I hate myself too.

Tinalikuran ko siya at naglakad palabas. I need to calm this rage inside me or else I'll cut all the patience I've been mustering for her. Tangina, kinokontrol ko nga ang sarili ko para hindi niya ako katakutan pero heto ngayon at kinatatakutan niya ako!

"S-Saan ka pupunta?! Don't tell me you'll lock me here?!" She panicked.

I won't. But I'll lock every exit route so you will not be able to escape.

"You're smoking."

Bumaling ako kay Lumiere nang tumabi siya sa akin sa labas. I puffed a smoke and stared at the starless sky, letting the smoke swim across the air along with the cold night breeze.

"Means I'm fucking stress."

"Kanina pa siya umiiyak." Aniya kaya kinuyom ko ang kamao.

"If you're going to convince me to let her go, then shut the fuck up and leave. I won't."

He sighed and my eyes went sharp when I saw a familiar figure on the dark shadow of my backyard. I cursed and walked towards the familiar figure.

She's trying to escape.

And with her personality, I'm sure she'll climb over the metal mesh just to ran away.

I stopped when I was already behind her. Her chest was heaving as she pant. She was looking up the mesh, because there was a border in my property, behind it was a forest, and I know she wasn't scared of any animal forest because she wouldn't hesitate to risk her life just so she could go out and find her precious Papa.

When she was about to grip the diamond mesh, I gripped her hand, made her face me, her eyes widened and I instantly hefted her like a sack of rice, she panicked and screamed, kicked me and shouted for help.

"Hindi ka aalis." Banta ko, nagpatuloy siya sa pagsigaw.

Fuck, I love her voice but I never wanted to hear this kind of sound coming out from her. It's frustrating.

"Pakawalan mo ako! Hahanapin ko si Papa! Mamamatay tao ka!" Iyak niya at nagpatuloy sa pagsipa.

I gripped the back of her thighs tight and walked towards the door of our house. Nakita ko ang nag-aalalang tingin sa amin ni Lumiere at napansin iyon ni Arabelle kaya sinigaw niya ang pangalan niya kahit na sobrang hina ng boses nito.

"Lumiere! Lumiere! Tulungan mo ako!"

I shut the door loud, she flinched in my grip. Cara and our eyes met and she scoffed sarcastically, hindi ko siya pinansin at nilagpasan na para makaakyat sa hagdan. Arabelle on my shoulder kept on shouting and complaining until I finally put her down on my bed. I sighed when the pain subsided from the pain of her kicks.

"Tatakas ako!" Galit niyang sigaw.

I turned my back on her and locked the door.

"Tumakas ka. Hahabulin kita." That was not a warn but a vow.

"Tatakas ako at magtatago! Hindi mo ako mahahanap! Mamamatay tao ka!" Galit niyang sigaw, the rage in her didn't subside yet.

Hindi ako nagsalita at dahan-dahan siyang nilapitan. She cowered in fear and gripped the comforter. She wrapped it around her as if it can protect it from me. Her eyes were in a concoction of fear and anger as she stared at my eyes. She looked at me like I betrayed her and I softly chuckled at that.

I slowly sat on the bed beside her and she tried to move away but I gripped her arms, not to tightly, but enough for her not to get away from me.

"You must have forgot that you liked a beast, Beauty. A monster." I reminded her softly and her eyes widened as her lips parted.

"You . . . you really did it?" Hindi makapaniwala niyang tanong.

I chuckled humorlessly. "Oh, so there's still a part of you that didn't believe it? That hoped I didn't kill him? Akala ko ba wala kang tiwala sa akin? Akala ko ba hindi ka naniniwalang hindi ako mamamatay tao?"

She avoided my gaze and gripped the bedsheet tight. I stared at her face.

"Ikaw ang bayad sa utang ng Papa mo kaya hindi ka aalis. Kahit na patay na siya." I reminded her.

"Walanghiya ka! Pinagkatiwalaan kita!" Her tears started to form on her eyes but she didn't look back at my eyes as if she was afraid she'll get burn.

I gently wiped her tears but she avoided her face from my hold and glared at nothingness.

"You're naive then. You fell in love with a beast."

I wiped her tears again as I try my best to act fucking strong in front of her even when I just wanted to die.

"Now, take the consequences."

🥀