Dagger Series #5: Unbowed

Chapter 13: Dare

"Kuya Trace," tawag ni Coal sa binata. "Bakit hindi mo ipakita kay Ember ang boy scout moves mo at gumawa—"

Hindi pinatapos ni Trace ang kung ano pa man na sasabihin ng kapatid. "Gusto mong ikaw ang tuhugin ko ng stick at iihaw?"

The other two Dawson just laugh quietly, as if they are boys who have been scolded. Nagtataka man sa inaakto nila ay ipinagsawalang-bahala ko na lang iyon. Marunong din akong gumawa ng apoy ng walang lighter at posporo. I've camped before.

"Use your words, princess."

Gulat na nilingon ko si Trace. "Ha?"

"You wanted to say something, but you didn't." Inilapat niya ang hintuturo sa pagitan ng mga kilay ko. "When you're trying to stop yourself from talking about what's on your mind, this part always creases."

How do he keep noticing things like that? Kahit ako ay hindi ko alam na ginagawa ko iyon. "It's... it's nothing important."

"I still want to know."

Bumuntong-hininga ako. "Sabi kasi ng mga kapatid mo ay pakitaan mo ako ng boy scout moves mo. Kaya ko ring gumawa ng apoy na hindi kailangan ng lighter o posporo." When Trace just stared at me, I looked away. "I told you. It wasn't important."

"They're talking about creating a different fire."

"May iba bang klase no'n?" nagtatakang tanong ko.

He didn't have the chance to answer my question because the others finally arrived. Bumaling ako sa mga mag-aasawa at muli akong binalot ng pagtataka nang pagmasdan ko sila. Lucienne looks flushed as if she got her cheeks pinched hard, Lia's usually pristine hair looks dishevelled, and Belaya's smiling like a cat that got the cream—

Oh.

I eyed the women's husbands, and I didn't need to think hard to understand why they looked much more relaxed than before.

"Oh," I breathed.

Trace continued to watch me, his eyes burning in a way that I'm sure was not just because of the reflection from the bonfire. It's the kind that can burn you even without you putting your hands in the flame.

He caught a lock of my hair and tucked it behind my ear before he whispered quietly, "Yeah."

Hindi ko magawang salubungin ang tingin niya. I was thankful of the distraction that the others provided. Nagsiupuan na kasi ang iba pang mga Dawson. Lucienne sat beside me, and her husband took a seat on her other side. Sa tabi naman ni Trace naupo ang mag-asawang Pierce at Belaya, habang malapit kila Domino ay sila Lia.

Sa pagtataka ko ay may inangat si Lucienne na umiilaw na bagay. Nang mapansin niya ako ay nginitian niya ako. "It's my Twice Candy Bong." Pinailaw niya iyon at winagayway. "Maglalaro tayo. Gumawa ng bunutan si Belaya kanina para sa mga dare. Kapag huminto sa inyo ang lightstick pagkatapos ng kanta ay bubunot kayo. Everyone that fails will choreograph a dance at the end of the night."

"Kailangan pa ba? Naglaro na kayo ah," nagniningning sa kapilyuhan ang mga mata na biro ni Domino.

"Saka bakit may sayawan pa? Hindi pa ba sapat ang fire dancing niyo kanina?" tanong naman ni Coal.

Parehas napaaray ang dalawang nakababatang Dawson nang batukan sila ng mga kapatid na malapit sa kanila. The heat on my cheeks returned, knowing that out of all the people here... I'm the only one who hasn't experienced the kind of game and dancing that they are talking about.

My embarrassment halted when I realized something. Hinawakan ko ang dulo ng shirt ni Trace na kaagad ko namang nakuha ang atensyon.

"I don't know how to dance," I whispered, horrified at the thought. Nang mapakurap siya na para bang iba ang direksyon ang pinunta ng isipin niya at nilinaw ko ang sinabi ko. "The consequence to failing a dare."