GARETH woke up abruptly. He had fallen asleep on the couch waiting for Celine. He got up and opened the door. It was surely an hour past the sunset. He was surprised and confused. Celine should be here already. Did she perhaps change her mind?
He glanced at the road. There were people running and walking. Some were holding lit torches.
“Mr. Gareth is your companion not here yet?” said the coach, who was still outside his villa.
“What’s going on over there?” he asked instead.
“Oh. That.” His face turned grim. “A tragedy just occurred. A mother died of a heart attack when she discovered her daughter was dead.”
“What? Who?”
“Celda. Her daughter Celine was found hanging in their backyard this afternoon. We don’t know if she committed suicide, or she was murdered. Sir Ernest said he caught Miguel doing it.”
Gareth froze in shock. He leaned on the wall as he felt his knees weaken.
“Are you all right, Mr. Gareth?”
“C-Celine…”
MIGUEL opened his eyes. His headache was gone. He found himself lying on the wet ground, face down. Something felt wrong. But he was not dead.
When he tried to get up, he saw his hands – clawed and fury. With a loud gasp, he sat up. He brought his hands closer to his face and blinked. He was not dreaming. Miguel caught his face, and he felt something on his head.
What was happening to him?
He heard the sound of running water. He got up and ran to its direction. Panting, he dropped to the side of the small stream. He froze. He could not see his own reflection. Instead, he saw a hideous creature with two horns.
Miguel felt like something hit him on the chest.
“WHEN I woke up, I looked different. I remembered Mother Celda’s words to me before she died. She cursed me to be a beast. I did not want to live anymore. But I could not die. I just can’t die even if I wanted to. So, I lived the past months miserably. The forest where I found you was owned by my parents. They did not want it to go to capitalists who cut down trees for a living, so they bought it to preserve it. When they died, I built a hut where I hid every time I missed them.
“That’s where Marinel found me. She was terrified of me when she first saw me, but I convinced her that I was Miguel, the cousin she treated as a brother. She was worried about me. And she helped me get by. Until I met you. I did not tell Marinel about you because I know it will only make things complicated.
“That day, when I woke up with the curse gone, I was happy and scared at the same time. I was scared that something would change between us. I did not know I would feel happiness while living like a beast. So, please forgive me if you think I abandoned you like I did not care about your feelings at all. I don’t want to involve you in this mess. And I was scared you would hate me when you found out my relation to Celine. I don’t want you to think that I was capable of killing the woman I first loved. Please forgive me, Vanessa. I am scared to lose you, too. I knew I would lose myself when that happens.”
Vanessa wiped the tear that fell from his eyes. Yes, she was hurt. But how could she still be hurting after hearing the truth? Miguel was only a victim. Just like Celine. And it was all over now.
“Yes, you really are my Miguel. That’s the reason why I feel something toward you. I feel like I have known you already. I was trying to ignore it because I fell in love with you when you were still a beast. And I love you just the same. Thank you for always saving me, Miguel.”
“And thank you for always loving me. It was your love that freed me from the curse. I’m never going to make the same mistake again.” Miguel dipped his head and claimed her mouth for another kiss.
This time, Vanessa accepted it wholeheartedly. Yes, the kiss felt right. It was Miguel. And he’s the only one for her.
“I missed you,” she said in tears. “And you’re gorgeous.”
Miguel chuckled. “Don’t worry. You’ll get used to it.” He wiped her tears. “You still look beautiful even when you’re crying.”
“And you love me.”
“And I love you.”
Six months later…
“I’M SORRY it took me too long to gather my courage,” Gareth said as he put a huge basket of flowers between the two tombstones. “The truth is I haven’t gotten over it. I still miss you, and the pain is still here. Celine… have you forgiven me because I could not save you? I did not imagine my life would be like this six months ago. I thought we would finally be happy.”
Gareth took a deep breath. Six months ago, he did not have the courage to see Celine’s remains. He just left, but he could not pretend nothing had happened. He blamed himself. He was living his life full of ‘what ifs.’ He was barely living. For months, he could not lift his pencil. Gareth lost a big part of him.
Why did she have to die?
“I’m sorry, Celine. My life is worthless. I am worthless. How do I end this pain? I should die too, right?”
It was hard to come back to the place that brought him painful memories.
As Gareth closed his eyes, a cold wind blew. Then something warm wrapped his body. He could not move. It was comforting and consoling as if someone was giving him an embrace.
Then something warm and soft touched his cheek. He opened his eyes and realized he was still alone. He blinked in disbelief.
“C-Celine? Was that you?” Tears unceremoniously rolled down his cheeks. “Oh, please. Celine, I missed you so bad.” He buried his face in his hands. That was not the response he was expecting. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. Please forgive me, my love…”
Even after she was gone, Celine did not fail to care for him. And it pained him more, knowing that the time was never right for them. Celine was gone. She was never coming back.
GARETH went into a pub when he left the graveyard. He was hungry and exhausted from the trip and from all the things that had happened for the past year of his life. Villa Verde had somehow changed.
“Good morning. Is this an inn?” he asked.
“Yes, you came into the right place,” the man on the counter responded. “What can I get you?”
“A cup of coffee, please.”
“Would you like to try our grilled beef steak?”
“Is it what I’m smelling at the moment? Yes, please.” Gareth sat at the counter.
“Wait a minute.” The man walked to the kitchen. “Vivian, a cup of coffee, please.”
The pub was still empty. Gareth chose to sit at the counter. He glanced around the place and remarked inwardly that this was not here before.
“Here’s your coffee!” The woman who appeared from the kitchen called. She was beautiful and sophisticated, probably the same age as Celine.
She stared at him as she put the cup on the counter. She was suppressing a smile. Gareth pretended he did not notice.
“A-are you new here?” she asked in a soft voice.
“Not really. It’s not my first time at Villa Verde.”
“Oh, I see. We actually moved here months ago. I’m Vivian. I’m the eldest daughter of the pub owner. May I know your name if you don’t mind?”
“Gareth,” he said as he took a sip of coffee. “It’s good. Did you make this?”
Vivian nodded enthusiastically.
“That’s my father’s favorite. Our mother taught us how to make it when she was still alive. Are you staying for a while?”
Gareth did not think about that. All he needed at the moment was a place to stay so he could rest. But Vivian’s enthusiasm was affecting him.
“I don’t know. This place isn’t so bad. Who knows? I might stay here for good.”
Vivian’s face brightened.
“GOOD morning, Gareth!”
Gareth’s forehead creased at the sight of Vivian’s bright face at his front door. The sun was already up, but he had just woken up. He stayed up until dawn from sketching things he was not sure if they even made sense.
He had bought a small house near Virgil’s pub. He had been staying there for weeks. When he found out that Celine’s real murderer, Ernest, went insane, he wanted to strangle him himself. But that would not make Celine happy.
Maybe that was how fate wanted Ernest to pay for his crimes. So, he kept his cool and poured it out on painting.
“I supposed you have not had your breakfast yet. So, here, I made you some, so you did not have to cook anymore. You must be tired from painting all night.” Vivian beamed.
Gareth stared at the basket in her hands.
“You did not have to do that.”
“I know. But I want to. Here, take it.” She lifted the basket.
Gareth caught a glimpse of the small bandage around her index finger.
“What happened to your finger?”
“Oh, um…” Vivian laughed awkwardly. “Don’t worry about it. Small accidents in the kitchen could not be helped sometimes.”
Gareth hesitated. Vivian was a stubborn woman, and he was trying to avoid her as much as he can. But she kept coming back. And he did not want to treat her badly despite that.
With a sigh, he took the basket.
“Don’t do this again. You’re just wasting your time on me.”
“I’m not.” Vivian shook her head eagerly. “I’m happy doing this for you. I have never felt this kind of happiness before until I met you. Please don’t stop me from doing this.”
“Sometimes you’re bothering me.”
She swallowed.
“Then I won’t stay longer. Have a great day.”
VIVIAN went back to the pub with a heavy shoulder. Ever since Gareth arrived in Villa Verde, she had been following him around like a fool. Her father would always scold her. He said she was the woman. She was supposed to be the one pursued.
But Vivian never like anyone the way she liked Gareth. It was like falling in love with someone at first meeting. That may be a silly idea, but that was what she felt! Vanessa was the supportive one, though.
Sometimes she would cry at night. It felt like Gareth did not find her attractive unlike other men in the village. She heard Gareth used to love Celine—the woman who was unfortunately killed by Ernest. She understood if it was hard for him to forget her. But she wanted him to move on and be happy again. But she realized competing with the dead was a difficult task.
“What happened, sister? Didn’t Gareth like the breakfast you made for him?” Vanessa asked. She was wiping the counter.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I hope he did. I left even before he lost his appetite.” She laughed blandly.
“Don’t feel sad. I’m sure he would appreciate it. You have never done this to a man before,” Vanessa said matter-of-factly.
“I know. But I can’t be so sure. By the way, why are you here?”
“Miguel’s still working in his shop. I’ll cook lunch so he could join us.”
She nodded weakly. “I’m so jealous of you.”
Vanessa smiled.
“Your time will come soon, Vivian. Don’t lose hope, all right? I have an idea, though.”
Vivian raised an eyebrow as she rushed to sit on the stool.
“What is it?”
“What if you don’t talk to Gareth for a couple of days?”
She frowned. “What? I can’t do that. He makes my day. I’ll miss him.”
“What if you make him miss you? Then, he’ll know how much you really mean to him. If he doesn’t, he’s not just the right man. But if he does, you’ll know that you have a chance. Isn’t that a great idea?”
“I don’t know. You have a point, though.” Vivian smiled faintly. “I’m crazy for Gareth, Vanessa. I should get him no matter what it takes, right?”
Vanessa threw her head back, laughing.
“Now, that sounds just like you.”
VIVIAN’S heart skipped a beat. She was busy checking out new dresses at the market when she happened to spot Gareth, who was buying new materials for his artwork. She could not help but heave a sigh as she watched him from afar.
She should be running to him, greeting him, and talking to him how great the coincidence that they were in the same place at the same time. But she remembered Vanessa’s words and her father’s words. She was the woman. She should act modest around a man, or she would scare him.
Why was everything so complicated?
“Miss Vivian, here. I’ve packed them securely,” the lady at the store said, handing her the dresses inside her bag.
“T-thank you very much.”
She did not want to leave right away because she wanted to watch Gareth for a little longer. But she reminded herself that if she really wanted him, she should stop showing it to him.
With a sigh, she left the shop.
“Oh, Vivian. Fancy meeting you here.”
Vivian could not help a frown when Gaspar suddenly showed up in front of her. He was one of her least favorite guests at the pub.
“How are you?”
“Don’t start, Gaspar. I’m in a hurry,” she said and avoided him.
“Hey, you don’t have to leave right away. Let’s talk first.”
Her eyes widened as Gaspar suddenly grabbed her hand. She dropped her stuff to the ground.
“Don’t touch me! Let go!” she yelled, stealing everyone’s attention.
“Why are you so rude to me, huh? When you act like you’re willing to sleep with every man who goes to the pub—”
“Let go of her!” Gareth roared who had already appeared beside her.
Vivian could only stare in shock. Gareth pushed Gaspar as his fist hit the latter’s jaw. Gaspar dropped to the ground with a loud groan.
“The next time you treat a woman like that, I’m going to kill you!”
Gaspar quickly got up, clutching his jaw, and fled.
Vivian caught her chest, her heart racing at how fast things happened.
“Are you all right, Vivian?” Gareth asked in a worried tone.
She could not help bursting in tears. Gareth picked up her stuff.
“I’m fine. I can take care of myself!” She grabbed her things and ran away.