Fated To The Beast (English)

Bella used to think love was simple—you just had to love. It seemed easy enough: you fall for someone, and if they love you back, that’s wonderful. If not, you move on and find someone else. She wished it were truly that easy. She wished moving on from heartbreak was as simple as flipping a switch, that she wouldn’t have to drown in pain and unanswered questions over and over again. Many people romanticize falling in love, believing it's all about joy and excitement. But that’s far from the truth. Love is a gamble, and the odds of a happy ending are often far worse than fifty-fifty. It can be a person’s greatest strength, but just as easily, it can become their greatest weakness. Nothing in love is certain. And when you choose to love, you must always be prepared for the possibility of heartbreak. “Bella! There you are! We've been looking for you!” Bella snapped out of her deep thoughts when she heard the voice of her cousin, Mara. She was panting when she reached her. Bella noticed that Mara was still dripping wet, probably fresh from a swim. Her cousin’s flawless, porcelain-like skin now had visible tan lines. It had only been three days since they arrived at Adam’s Island Resort, yet Mara had already gotten so much darker from her endless swimming under the scorching sun. Well, she had always missed the sea since moving to Manila for school, so she barely came home. Unlike Bella, who had lived in Batangas all her life, where the resort was located, she wasn’t as excited about the sea as Mara. At 25 years old, she had already been to countless beaches, not just in Batangas but also in neighboring provinces. That’s why, for the past three days, she had done nothing but stay in her room during the hottest parts of the day or lounge in the resort’s club. She only went to the shore during sunset because she loved watching the sun slowly disappear beyond the horizon. For Bella, the sunset signified hope for tomorrow. It calmed her, especially now that she was going through something. “Sorry, I just wanted some fresh air. You guys worry too much,” Bella said, standing up from where she sat on the fine white sand. She forced a little laugh to keep her cousin from sensing her sadness. She glanced once more at the vast blue ocean that had been her silent companion in the past days—more like her co-star in all her dramatic moments—before turning back to Mara. “You’ve been disappearing a lot lately. Of course, we’re going to worry!” Mara said, her pretty face contorting in concern. “What if something happened to you?” Bella laughed. “Cousin, you’re being paranoid. I was just getting some fresh air,” she said, extending her arms toward the sea. “I’m practically a child of the ocean. Why would it harm me?” When she turned back to Mara, her cousin only rolled her eyes. “Oh, please, Bella. Just admit it—you want to be alone. You think I haven’t noticed?” Mara’s voice was filled with concern despite her scolding tone. “I don’t know what’s going on because Aunt Sandy didn’t say anything. But even though we’ve been in a long-distance cousinship since I moved to Manila, I still know you. Remember, I’m your cousin s***h best friend.” “Come on, I’m really fine,” Bella insisted, flashing a smile. “I’m okay.” She wasn’t sure if she was convincing her cousin or herself. Because deep down, she knew she wasn’t okay. But she had to be. For her mom, for the people around her. She didn’t want them to see her sad. She had always been the jolliest member of the Fortes Clan, and she didn’t want to make them worry. “But something feels off. You’re not the Isabella Fortes I know,” Mara said, scrutinizing her. She stared directly into Bella’s eyes as if trying to read her soul. Bella met her gaze, refusing to look away. “It’s nothing. You’re overthinking, dear cousin,” she said again, forcing the sweetest smile she could. “You know what? Let’s just go back. Like you said, they’ve been looking for me.” She didn’t wait for Mara to respond and simply walked away, heading toward their reserved cottage. She heard Mara call her name repeatedly, but she ignored her. *** “Baby, it’s good that you’re here.” Bella was greeted with a warm smile by her ever-beautiful mother, Sandy Riella Fortes. She smiled back and kissed her mother’s cheek as she sat beside her. After walking for nearly five minutes, she finally reached the cottage, where the rest of her relatives were busy with dinner preparations. It was already past six in the evening. They always had dinner early since everyone preferred to rest early after a long day of activities at the resort. They were only staying for a week, so they wanted to make the most of it. “Aren’t you going to eat? And you, young lady… you keep disappearing. You’re making me worry.” “I just took a walk by the shore, Mom,” she said, sitting beside her mother and smiling again. At this rate, she might as well prepare herself to keep smiling for the next few days. “I’m sorry for making you worry.” “Mara texted me earlier. She said she saw you at the seaside. Bella, we came here to spend time as a family. We don’t get to have gatherings like this often.” Bella froze at her mother’s words. Not only did she have a point, but Bella could also hear the hint of sadness in her voice. She immediately hugged her mother—her usual way of apologizing whenever she did something wrong. She hated making her mom feel sad or neglected. “I was just getting some fresh air. Did you know sea breeze is great for your skin? You should try it, Mom!” “Crazy girl,” her mother chuckled, quickly letting go of her earlier disappointment. “We don’t even need that. We’re already beautiful, dear.” Bella burst into laughter. Her mom had always been full of confidence. “Mom, you didn’t have to say that. That’s embarrassing!” she playfully scolded. “Why? It’s the truth, isn’t it?” her mother replied, still unwilling to back down. Bella laughed again, but then she noticed her mother’s face suddenly turn serious as she reached for her hand. Bella had always thought her mother’s hands were warm. Maybe it was God’s way of designing them to be that way—to bring her comfort. Even though she had lost her father at a young age, she was still grateful to have a mother who loved her deeply. Some people grew up without parents, and some had parents who never showed them love. In that sense, she was still lucky. Her father had died in a car accident when she was just ten. It hadn’t been easy for her mother to lose her husband, but she had chosen to keep going—especially for Bella. It had always been just the two of them against the world. Well, not exactly. They still had their relatives. “Mom…” she managed to say after a moment of silence. Her mother had been holding her hand, watching her closely. Bella knew she had already figured it out. She always did. Especially when it came to her. “Sweetheart, I know you’re going through something. Tell me. If your dad were here, I know he’d be worried about you too,” her mother said gently, her voice full of concern. “I’m sorry, Mom. I’m really sorry.” That was all Bella could say. She felt guilty for making her mother worry. And right there and then… her tears fell. She tried to wipe them away, but they just kept flowing. Like they refused to be held back any longer. Her mother said nothing more. But Bella could clearly see the sadness in her eyes. A few moments later, she found herself wrapped in her mother’s embrace. Even though her mother said nothing, Bella knew—without a doubt—that she understood. Even without words.