Dagger Series #5: Unbowed

Chapter 5: King of Flirt

"Please do," I told her without hesitation. "I want the house."

Kuminang ang mga mata ng babae at tumango siya. "Then you'll have it." She pursed her lips as if thinking. "I think that would be great for Ember too. You said she likes riding. Ate Vodka won't mind if she wants to ride around our property. Basta lang huwag niyang lapitan iyong headquarters."

"I'll buy it. Is a week possible?"

"My sister will make sure that it is. Don't worry." When I gave her a grateful look, she smiled widely. "Bayad ko sa pambubulabog ko sa'yo noong naglilihi ako at kinailangan mong harutin iyong dati mong dinate para lang mabilan mo ako ng prutas sa madaling-araw."

I gave her a smile that she immediately returned. I need to find contractors too. Kung sakaling may aayusin ay kailangan kong maipagawa iyon kaagad. And furniture. I only have a week. Iyon kasi ang sinabi ko kay Ember bago ko siya iniwan kay Domino.

"Lucienne and Lia said they would help with the furniture."

Napatingin ako kay Mireia na nakaupo sa kandungan ni Axel. I thought Kuya Pierce and Belaya had it worse. Pero parang mas matindi pa sila Mireia pagdating sa pagiging clingy. They already celebrated their first year anniversary a few months ago but they act as if they just got married.

Iniharap sa akin ni Mireia ang hawak niya na cellphone para ipakita sa akin sina Lucienne at Lia na kausap niya pala sa videocall.

I rolled my eyes at them. "I trust Lia's taste. Lucienne? Not so much."

"Hoy. Ang dami kong alam na bilihan ng mga murang gamit. Marami rin akong alam na mabibigyan ka ng discount dahil suki nila ako," nakangusong sabi ni Lucienne.

"I don't need a discount."

"Weh? No'ng sinamahan mo ko sa Mahogany Market dati kulang na lang pati bottled water tawaran mo."

"I want the finest things inside my house. Ember deserves to have the best."

Muling napuno ng katahimikan ang paligid. My brothers are sharing looks, Belaya's smiling widely, Mireia looks like she's trying not to scream, and Lia's looking at me with a soft look from the phone.

But just like I expected, Lucienne remained consistent. Consistent sa pagiging sakit ng ulo ko.

She threw her head back and started singing, "Every word I say is trueee! This I promise youuu!"

EMBER'S POV

Love. It's such a mysterious word to me. Yet the moment the path we're taking revealed our destination, that's exactly what I immediately felt. I love it so much that I want it for myself so that I never leave this place again. It looks like a paradise in the middle of a forest.

"Wow."

I forced myself to look away from the house in front of us so that I could turn to Domino, who had just spoken. Siya ang nagmaneho ng itim na Porsche Cayenne ko.

"Hindi ka pa talaga nakakapunta sa bahay ng kapatid mo?" tanong ko.

Napapakamot sa ulo na umiling siya. "Busy din kasi kaming lahat at kakabili lang din ni Kuya nitong bahay." Tumikhim siya bago siya ngumiti. "Samahan ko muna si Miss Asencio para ituro sa kaniya ang guestroom."

Binuksan ko ang pintuan ng sasakyan at lumabas na ako habang karga si Albert. "Ember, mauna ka na sa main house ha? Palabas na rin si Kuya," sabi ni Domino nang makalabas na rin siya ng kotse. "He'll show you where your animals are. Baka naroon na rin si Cristiano."