Depression Plutus (Curse #4)

CHAPTER 57 Night Talk

OTTILIE VIRSES POV

Nagulat ako sa biglaang pagsulpot ni Plutus habang nakatopless ito. Nakabalandra na naman ang malaki nitong katawan, kaya agad na inilihis ko ang mata ko palayo sa kan'ya. Napapigilhininga na lang ako nang dahan-dahan itong lumusong sa tubig. And without a word, he slid his arms around me, pulling me back against his broad chest.

"What’s bothering my witch?" he asked. "I’ve noticed something’s been off about you since this morning."

Hindi agad ako nakasagot sa naging tanong nito. Tila naubusan ako ng sasabihin sa mga oras na ito. Paano ba ako makakapag-concentrate nito? Lapat na lapat ang likod ko sa malapad nitong dibdib, habang nakapulupot naman ang mga kamay nito sa bewang ko. Sinong matinong babae ang makakapag-isip ng tama?

Ottilie, concentrate. This is your chance.

"Ngayon ko lang kasi narealize na wala pa pala akong masyadong alam tungkol sayo," pag-amin ko sa mahinang boses. "Pakiramdam ko, wala akong kwentang girlfriend para sayo." My voice cracked at the end, and I hurriedly wiped away the tears that threatened to fall.

 Plutus tightened his embrace, his chin resting on my shoulder. "You don’t need to feel that way, witch," he groaned. "But for the sake of my crybaby witch, let’s make tonight a storytime session with the great Plutus."

Natawa naman ako ng mahina sa pagiging arogante nito. "Go on, great storyteller," I teased, leaning against him.

"Are you familiar with the human’s concept of the seven deadly sins?" he asked. 

I nodded.

"Well, let me introduce you to the embodiments of those sins," he said smugly. "We’re seven brothers. First, there’s Lucifero, he’s the eldest son, basically the most scary among the seven. Then Satanus, the second-born and probably the second most terrifying. Yophiel is the third, and then there’s me, your perfect fourth. After me comes Asha, then Lotan, Triogen’s dad, and the youngest is Praipus."

"The mighty seven brothers with an awesome genes," he added with a smirk. "You’re lucky you got one for yourself."

I chuckled, shaking my head. "You do have a big family," I remarked. "So, si Lotan lang ang may sariling pamilya ngayon?"

"Not just Lotan," he replied. "Three of my brothers have families. Asha has twin sons, Lotan has Triogen, and Praipus has a son and a daughter."

Napangisi ako sa bago kong nalaman, "Paano ba 'yan, naunahan ka pa ng mga kapatid mo."

But when he didn’t reply, umikot ako para makita ng harapan ang maganda nitong mukha. His golden eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my breath hitch.

"It’s your damn fault for not being born earlier," he said, his voice rough and low.

The weight of his words made my heart thunder. The warm water around us was no match for the heat that rushed to my face. Butterflies erupted in my stomach, and I couldn’t help but laugh nervously.

"That’s not fair," I muttered, feeling my cheeks burn.

Plutus smirked, pulling me closer as if daring me to argue further. "Life’s not fair, witch. But I’d still choose you every time."

Plutus moved so suddenly that I barely had time to register what was happening. In one swift motion, he lifted me from the pool, his strong arms supporting me as if I weighed nothing. My legs instinctively wrapped around his waist, and my arms encircled his neck.

"A-Ano ba—" pagprotesta ko ngunit agad itong pinutol ni Plutus sa pamamagitan ng isang malalim na halik.

His hand gripped the nape of my neck while his lips crashed against mine. The kiss was torrid, consuming every thought in my head. It was hard and deep, leaving no room for hesitation. All I could do was surrender, responding to every movement of his lips as they claimed mine. His hands slid beneath my wet sando, his fingertips tracing the curves of my waist that's sending shivers down my spine.