Dagger Series #8: Uncovered

Chapter 27: Wall

We have been around my family a lot of times, but the way we show intimacy stays on a minimal level. We do the occasional holding of hands, but that's it. We stay close, but not in the way that my brothers do to their wives.

I watched as Magnus closed his eyes and hugged the floatie close. He's basically hugging me close since I'm inside the floating device. "Y-You're... you're going to squish me."

His eyelids fluttered open, and for a moment, all I could do was stare at his beautiful face. Beautiful. Even that word is an understatement to describe how his face has been sculpted perfectly by the heavens.

"Let me borrow it then."

Napakurap ako. "You want to take my floatie away?"

"Hmm. Yup."

I couldn't help it. I chortled before I raised my hands to slip down from the floatie. Hindi pa ako nagtatagal sa ilalim ng tubig ay naramdaman kong may kamay na humila sa akin paangat. I resurfaced from the water faster than if I swam up, Magnus' strong arms pulling me. And at the next moment, I found myself plastered on his side.

"W-What... what are you doing?"

Imbis na sagutin ako ay kinuha niya ang mga braso ko at iniayos niya ang posisyon ko. He put my arms around his shoulder, and then he arranged me securely on his back. Hindi pa siya natapos doon dahil naramdaman ko ang mga kamay niya sa mga binti ko at ikinawit niya iyon sa bewang niya. Holy shit. I'm completely wrapped around him!

"I took your bear," he murmured. "So, I'm giving you another one."

"W... What?"

Yakap ang floatie na nilingon niya ako. "I'm your hubby bear, right?"

I just stared at him, dumbfounded. Is he... is he flirting with me? Magnus doesn't flirt. The word probably doesn't exist in his vocabulary. I've seen women flirt with him, and all his response was just his fake polite smile. Minsan nga pakiramdam ko ay hindi niya iniintindi ang sinasabi ng kausap niya at kahit parang nakikinig siya ay sa iba umiikot ang utak niya.

Nakita ko na rin siya kaharap ang mga taong interesado siyang kilalanin. People that I think he's trying to date but ended up failing because I keep popping up in his life. He listens to them, but he doesn't say anything. No teasing smile, mischievous glint in his eyes, or words that sent butterflies in your stomach.

It's simple when it comes to him. If he doesn't like you, you won't get his attention. If he does, then you will. Unless ako ang kaharap niya na sinisigurong mabubulahaw siya para wala siyang choice kundi makinig at intindihin ako.

Sinubukan kong bumaba mula sa sa pagkakasampa sa kaniya pero naramdaman ko ang isa niyang kamay na pumigil sa akin.

"Stay here," he commanded.

"Umm... why?"

"Wala akong kasama."

Tumikhim ako. "Pwede naman akong umupo sa gilid ng pool."

"Pwede namang dito ka lang." He glanced at me. "Are you really that bothered by my presence?"

"I-I'm not!"

"I get it. It's because you're no longer the twenty-five-year-old woman with sparkling eyes, right? You're a company owner now with an international reach. Sino nga lang ba ako? I'm just a boring old man."

My lips parted when he even added a sigh to his intentionally self-depreciating words. What is happening to the world? If Magnus doesn't flirt, he also doesn't joke around. Wait, he's not serious, is he?

Patagilid na sinipat ko ang mukha niya, pero pinaling niya lang ang ulo niya para hindi ko siya magawang tignan. I did the same on the side, but he just turned his head again to hide from me.