Beauty with the Beast (Cast a Spell Series #1)

XXXVI

Her

"Do you like it?" He asked after I tasted his cook.

"Mmm!" Nakangiti kong sabi.

He smiled softly at me and I avoided my gaze. Hindi dapat ako nadadala sa ngiti niya.

"Ikaw? Bakit hindi ka kumakain?" Tanong ko nalang dahil hindi siya nagsandok ng sarili niyang pagkain.

"Hindi naman ako gutom . . ." Aniya at hinuli ang tikwas ng buhok ko para mailagay sa likod ng tainga ko.

He was just sitting beside me, staring at me as I eat. His eyes looked so happy and I felt something in me.

"I didn't know I didn't like being alone." He said after awhile.

Natigilan ako dahil doon. My heart clenched in another level of pain but I decided to shoo it off and continued eating.

"Now that you're here. I don't feel lonely anymore."

Dahan-dahan akong ngumuya habang nakatingin sa niluto niya. I didn't have the courage to look at his warm blue eyes.

"And I feel kind of free. Without mask on." He said and chuckled.

He's opening up. Again.

"You know, when you ran away, it was the very first time I looked in the mirror."

Tuluyan na akong tumigil sa pagkain dahil nawalan ako ng gana.

"To see if I am indeed handsome with my scar on. Or if it was just a lie because you pity me."

Nilingon ko siya at nakitang nakangiti siya sa akin. He looked so . . . different from the Adam I used to know. From the beast I used to think. Now, he looked like the innocent little Adam, opening up to someone he trusted.

"Anong nakita mo?" Dahan-dahan kong tanong.

His blue eyes stared intently at me and I clenched my fist under the table. His smile widened, and my heart clenches. This smile, it looks genuine and happy.

"I was handsome." He proudly said, I couldn't control my lips from smiling.

I'm glad.

"Guwapo pala ako? Hindi ko rin iyon alam. I was happy because of the scar. I didn't look like my father! I looked like Adam— like me, not my father." Masaya niyang kuwento, para siyang bata na nakatanggap ng hindi inaasahang regalo.

I held his hand and caressed it. Happy at that thought. I know how much he hated his father.

"Dati kasi, si Mrs. Potty lang ang gumugupit sa buhok ko kapag mahaba na. Wala naman akong pakealam kung humaba siya, eh. Pero palagi niya akong pinapagalitan. Kaya noong napagtanto kong iniwan niya ako, siguro, na-curious din ako kung ano ang itsura ko bago ako tubuan ng buhok. Hindi ako marunong gumupit, eh." He chuckled. His voice sounded like a child, so vulnerable, but happy. Far from his usual deep tone.

"I bet you're still handsome." I said softly.

"Talaga? You should wait for my hair to grow then. I'll see if you still find me handsome."

Wala na akong plano pang makita pa iyon. Wala na akong plano pang bumalik sa 'yo pagkatapos ng lahat ng 'to.

"Okay! I'm sure you'll be handsome!" I lied.

He smiled genuinely at me, I avoided my eyes. I don't know why my heart is even breaking for this monster? He's literally a murderer, a heartless beast, why am I pitying him? He deserves to be left alone!