Dagger Series #8: Uncovered

Chapter 17: Song

The women's eyes went to Magnus and he shrugged. "I want to spend the day with my wife. That's not going to happen if I don't put my phone on silent because my employees will not stop disturbing me."

"Aww," Lucienne exclaimed with exaggerated delight. "Kung si Mirea ay pagkain ang kalaban kay Axel dati, kay Sir Magnus trabaho naman." Ginalaw-galaw ng babae ang kilay niya habang nakangisi sa akin. "At obvious na obvious ngayon kung sino ang nagwagi."

I could feel Magnus' eyes on me, but I couldn't look at him. Fortunately, it was the moment that my other brothers chose to arrive. Pumasok sina Kuya Thorn, Kuya Gun, at Kuya Pierce na may dalang paper bags ng mga titsirya at inumin. Kuya Gun grumpily threw one of the lighter paper bags at me, and I grinned when I saw that it was full of my favorite chips.

I couldn't help but stick out my tongue at Magnus when I heard him sigh. Wala kasi siyang magagawa dahil bigay iyon ng mga kapatid ko.

"May ginawa rin kami na snacks," pagbibigay-alam ni Lia. "Iyon muna ang unahin natin habang nanonood tayo."

"Bababa pa ba tayo sa family penthouse? Dito na lang tayo. Ang sarap na ng puwesto ko eh," sabi ni Belaya na nakaupo sa isa sa dalawang kulay beige na bean bags.

They call the fifth floor the family penthouse since instead of the rows of apartments that the other floor has, the fifth floor was renovated to look like a version of the main penthouse, which is the sixth and seventh floors where Magnus and I are staying. Ang pagkakaiba lang ay maraming kuwarto roon para sa malaki naming pamilya. Mayroon din na dining table doon para sa amin, bagay na wala rito.

"I'm okay here," Tiara said with a smile. Tumayo siya para makaupo ang iba pa at lilipat sana siya sa carpeted na sahig para tumabi kay Circe pero napigilan siya ni Kuya Domino bago pa niya magawa iyon. Her face turned red when my brother pulled her down to his lap and hugged her close. Newlyweds.

Inilatag ng mga kapatid ko ang dala nilang mga pagkain sa coffee table habang ang iba pa ay iniayos nila sa center island. Beers were handed all around, and I sighed when I was given apple juice instead.

Matagal na rin naman akong hindi umiinom. Kung sakali man na may pagkakataon na hindi naiiwasan ay halos hindi ko nauubos ang isang baso samantalang noon ay ang tapang kong hamunin ang kahit na anong alak kung sinong mas matibay sa amin. I really miss drinking beer though.

The voices of my family died down when everyone decided to focus on what Magnus and I were watching earlier. From time to time, small shrieks could be heard from the women and sometimes from the men who were trying to look tough. Maniniwala pa ako sa iba pero kay Kuya Trace at Kuya Axel? Ilang beses ko na kayang binasa ang chapter sa libro nila Belaya no'ng pumunta sila sa horror village para sa birthday ni Lush.

Impit na napatili ako at napaatras nang bigla na lang sumulpot sa screen ang multo na sumigaw pa. I felt an arm wrapped around me, and when I looked up, I realized that half of my body was almost sprawled on top of Magnus, who was sitting beside me. Umakto akong aalis pero lalo lang niyang hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak sa akin.

Before I could try to move again, both Magnus and I's attention shifted to Lucienne when she suddenly laughed. "Away kasi nang away. Pati 'yung multo naingayan na sa kanila."

Nagkatinginan kami ni Magnus. I pressed my lips together to stop myself from grinning. Bigla ko kasing naalala ang kanina lang nangyari na maging si Magnus ay tumatawa habang nanonood kami ng horror. Dahil sa iba nga lang na dahilan.

"Want me to get you another tea?" he teasingly whispered.

I wrinkled my nose at him. "Ayoko."

"Why not? I want to see my favorite fish again. She's hilarious, and I want to laugh again."