Dagger Series #8: Uncovered

Chapter 6: Decency

The actress scoffed. "Paano pa si Damian? Anak ng dating presidente, running for president, at nabasted ni Lia. Ginawa pang official babysitter ng Dagger wives."

Lia blushed, but she didn't say anything. Bumalik lang siya ng kusina kung saan nandoon na rin si Kuya Trace at Ember na mukhang gusto siyang tulungan na maghain. Si Mireia naman na kapapasok lang ay ibinaba sa center island ang kahon na dala niya na sigurado akong dessert bago siya lumapit sa kinaroroonan namin para umupo.

"Hindi pa hulog na hulog si Damian." Nginuso ko si Magnus. "Eh ang isang 'to napana na. Kaso mas speed ang mga Dawson kaya ang kuya ko pa rin ang nagwagi."

Lucienne rolled her eyes with a shake of her head while the other women snickered. "Akala lang ni Sir Magnus 'yon. Taong dilim kaming pareho kaya wala kaming exposure pagdating sa usaping pag-ibig. Nagkataon lang na ang cute ko kaya akala niya in love siya sa akin. It was more like finding me adorable, like how some people treat their beloved pets."

Maging ako ay napatawa sa explanation niya. The way she calls herself "cute" unabashedly amuses me. Kahit noong panahon na hindi pa siya marunong magsuklay ay ibang level na ang confidence niya. Something that I really love about her. Wala kasi siyang pakielam masyado sa ibang tao dahil may sarili siyang mundo.

Napabaling ako kay Magnus nang makita kong tumatango-tango siya na para bang sumasang-ayon siya sa babae. I poked his arm. "Don't you dare agree with her. Para namang hindi kita nakita noon na nakikipagdigmaan sa alak kasi feeling mo kaya mong patumbahin 'yon."

Imbis na sumagot agad ay umabot siya ng tinapay at basta na lang niyang isinubo iyon sa akin. "Stop imagining things and just eat."

Kumagat ako sa tinapay at inalis ko ang malaking parte no'n bago pa ako mabulunan. "I wasn't imagining things."

He didn't say more, and instead he started putting food on my plate.

"So you weren't that deeply in love with her?" tanong ni Belaya kay Magnus.

My husband sighed. He's been around the wives, so he knows that they won't stop pestering him if he doesn't give them an answer.

"Just like Lucienne said, I found her cute. She was always alone, and even though she seems happy, I know that it would have been better if she was with someone," he explained.

"And you wanted to be that someone?"

The question didn't come from any of the women. I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smiling when I saw that it was my brother Thorn who asked. Seloso pa naman ang isang iyan pagdating sa asawa niya.

Sa kabila ng matalim na tingin na ibinibigay sa kaniya ng kapatid ko ay nagkibit-balikat si Magnus. "I did. When you meet someone with a good heart, it isn't that surprising to have some feelings and to want to explore said feelings." When my brother took a seat beside his wife without a word, he turned to Belaya. "To answer your question, I like her. If the feelings I had were love, maybe. I care for her. But to be deeply in love requires more than that, right?"

Nagtaas ng kamay si Mireia na para bang isa siyang butihing estudyante. "Eh bakit ang tagal bago mo sinagot si Luna?"

Inunahan ko si Magnus na sumagot. Baka bigla na lang siyang mag-malfunction at mag-shut down kapag hindi ko pa siya tinulungan. Siguradong nasasagad na ang energy niya na never napuno sa daming tanong sa kaniya.

"I'm a Dawson. Ako ang nagpapaalala sa kaniya ng kabiguan niya." Nang mukhang aalma ang lalaki ay nagpatuloy ako. "He was also very honest with his feelings. There's nothing wrong with that. Ako lang naman ang minamadali siya. If there's one thing you can't force in life, that would be love, but I keep on rushing him."