Dagger Series #8: Uncovered

Chapter 21: Rain Check

But anyway, I wanted to be here, and I'm here. Lucienne was willing to give me her invitation. Pwede pa nga akong magdala ng plus one kung gugustuhin ko. But I decided to come alone since I don't have any plans to stay long anyway.

"Why are you here?" he asked.

Matamis na nginitian ko siya. "It's a party." Nang akmang may sasabihin siya ay inunahan ko na siya. "At FYI, hindi kita sinundan dito. Hindi ko nga alam na interesado kang pumunta sa mga ganitong event."

It's not the usual event that he goes to. It's more laid-back here. Probably too much. Some are wearing clothes that could put the word "skimpy" in shame, and there are those that are most likely to lose their clothing soon with the sexual tension they're having with other partygoers.

Hindi ako sigurado kung ano talaga ang okasyon. Not that these rich people need an important reason to throw a party. But it's an event for the daughter of one of the richest real estate developers in the country. Hailey Rothschild invited, in her own words, all her favorite people in the world.

Kahit ata hindi niya kilala personally ay inimbita niya basta may gusto siyang bagay sa tao na iyon. An example of that is Lucienne. Hindi naman siya kilala ng sister-in-law ko pero inimbita niya kasi favorite niya ang libro ng babae.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm being rude," I said to the woman beside him. Bahagyang naningkit ang mga mata ng babae pero nanatiling nakangiti lang ako. We both know I'm not sorry for interrupting them. "I just got excited seeing Mags. I need to cash in the rain check that he owes me kasi."

"What rain check?" Magnus asked with a knotted forehead.

"Remember? During the wedding. We were supposed to sleep together—"

Mahinang napatawa ako nang sa isang iglap ay natagpuan ko ang sarili kong hila-hila ni Magnus para ilayo ako sa babaeng kasama niya. I don't mind. He's not only putting distance between me and the other woman so she won't hear the rest of what I'm about to say, but he's also putting distance between the both of them.

Magnus' jaw was clenched tight as he looked at me. "Can you please stop?"

"What? Totoo naman ang sinabi ko. Sabi mo no'n matulog na tayo pero iniwan mo naman ako kay Kuya Pierce."

"I meant separately!" he growled.

Kung iyong iba siguro natakot na sa lalaki. He's huge, and he's towering over me while he's seething with anger. But I don't feel an ounce of fear. Not because I have seven brothers that will empty a gun's bullets on him if he hurts me, but because even though Magnus is angry, I don't feel threatened by his presence. Alam kong hindi niya ako sasaktan.

Although... maybe I could use that. I purse my lips a little, as if I were a child who was about to cry. Umatras pa ako ng kaunti mula sa kaniya at nakita ko ang pagbakas ng pagkagulat sa mga mata niya.

Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga. He brushed his hair up in frustration, and I couldn't help but follow the movement. He always looks like he's in a state of unbreakable perfection. No stray hair out of line or creases on his suit. It's the first time I'm seeing him in jeans and a blue polo shirt that hasn't been fully buttoned. Kung ikukumpara nga lang sa ibang mga nandito ay mas bihis na bihis pa rin siya.

"I'm sorry," he said in a low voice. "I didn't mean to scare you."

Kumurba ang malawak na ngiti sa mga labi ko at patalon na lumapit ako sa kaniya para ikawit ang braso ko sa kaniya. "If you're really sorry, then you won't go back to that woman you're talking to who looks like she's going to eat you for dinner."

"Luna—"

"Wala akong kasama." I looked at him behind my lashes, and I pouted again. "Talagang matitiis mong magpagala-gala lang ako? I mean... siguro may lalapit naman sa akin para samahan ako. A few men tried to talk to me and ask to buy me a drink. Kung hindi mo talaga ako sasamahan, no choice ako kundi sila na lang ang—"