#DS5Unbowed #EmbRace #DaggerSeries
CHAPTER 7: RAPUNZEL
EMBER'S POV
I heard the door open, and I can feel the sunrays coming through the window. Pero hindi talaga ang mga iyon ang dahilan kung bakit naalimpungatan ako kundi ang sama ng pakiramdam ko. I'm never drinking again.
Pikit pa ang mga mata na gumulong ako papunta sa gilid ng kama at pilit na bumangon ako. I grabbed my robe before I walked towards the beautiful French vanity dresser that was already set up in this room. Something that I have to thank Trace for. Sigurado kasi ako na bago pa ang dresser at binili niya lang talaga dahil alam niyang dito ako tutuloy.
Nakapikit pa rin na umupo ako sa vanity stool at inalis ko ang hair tie na naiwan ko kagabi na nakatali pa rin sa buhok ko. It took a few moments before I felt Miss Asencio start brushing my hair.
"Hangover?"
Napadilat ako at gulat na napatingin ako sa salamin. Kung hindi lang niya ako nahawakan sa balikat ay baka natumba na ako patagilid nang basta na lang akong kumilos. Trace moved his hand away the moment he was sure that I wouldn't fall down.
"I thought you're Miss Asencio." I winced at the sound of my voice. Daig ko pa ang nag-concert sa naging tunog niyon. "You don't need to do that."
"It's fine. Nasimulan ko naman na."
I wanted to argue, but I know that with him, I probably won't win. Naninigas ang likod na hinayaan ko na lang siya habang pinagpatuloy niya ang pagsusuklay sa mahaba kong buhok. His hands were so gentle that if I weren't just too tense, I'd be more than likely to fall asleep again.
"I like your hair."
"Thanks," I mumbled.
"Hindi ka ba nahihirapan kapag may competition ka?"
"Hindi naman. Hindi rin naman kasi bawal." I reached for a lock of my hair to play with it absentmindedly. "It's one of the things I'm stubborn about. My manager suggested cutting it. I agreed to braid it, but I'm never cutting it short."
"Why?"
"It reminds me of my favorite Disney princess."
The corner of his lips went up at that, but he didn't ask more. I don't think it's because he thinks that it's trivial, but rather, I think he knows that there's more to it that I just wouldn't say.
He's being so considerate and kind to me, which I think is the main reason why I found myself explaining. "Most people find Rapunzel's story silly, but I think she was brave. Being trapped in a tower is the least of her problems. I think the real problem was her being imprisoned in her own fear. It didn't matter if it was a prince hollering outside the tower asking her to let down her hair, a small dragon breathing fire, a friendly talking teacup, a fairy godmother, or a singing crab. If she didn't want to get out, there was no way that she could."
Rapunzel needed to be saved, and there's no mistaking that. But most importantly, she needed to want to be saved. Kasi kahit anong tulong mo sa isang tao, kung ayaw niya na iabot ang kamay niya, mananatili siyang paralisado at nakakulong kung saan mo siya natagpuan.
"Then what did she need?"
"A reason to start living."
May maliit na ngiti sa mga labi na ibinaba ni Trace ang suklay sa dresser at pagkatapos ay inilahad niya sa akin ang kamay niya na wala sa sariling tinanggap ko naman. Hindi bumababa ang mga mata mula sa mukha ko na naramdaman kong inabot niya ang sash ng roba ko at hinigpitan niya iyon bago niya kinuha ulit ang kamay ko para igaya sana ako palabas ng kuwarto.
"Wait," I said, stopping him. "I need to brush my teeth."
Mabilis na pumasok ako sa bathroom ng kuwarto para magsipilyo. After I'm done with my business, I found Trace leaning on the open door, patiently waiting for me. Nang makalapit ako sa kaniya ay hindi na ako nabigla nang muli niyang hawakan ang kamay ko para sabay kaming lumabas.
"I can just visit," he strangely said.
"Ha?"
"I can visit and wait for you, but if you want an accomplice in escaping, then I'll be there with a ladder." Bumaba ang mga mata niya sa buhok ko. "Attempting to climb your beautiful hair is a crime, and that shit will hurt. "
Huminga ako ng malalim bago ko pinaikot na lang ang mga mata ko bilang sagot sa sinabi niya. Isa na namang panibagong araw na parang goal niya ay guluhin ang sistema ko. Pakiramdam ko minsan ay misyon niya talaga iyon. Operation: How Trace Could Make Ember's Heart Race.
"Dumaan sila Lia kanina. Nag-iwan siya ng breakfast," sabi ni Trace nang makarating kami sa kusina.
"She didn't need to. Nakakahiya naman. Nandito naman si Miss Asencio." Nagpakunot ang noo ko. "Nasaan nga pala siya? Nag-almusal na ba sila ni Cristiano?"
May kung anong dumaan sa mga mata niya nang mabanggit si Cristiano pero sandali lang iyon. "Kasama nila Lucienne si Miss Asencio. Nag-aaya kasi siya sa Mahogany Market. Gusto ka sanang isama pero tulog ka pa at ayaw naman kitang gisingin dahil masyado pang maaga. Miss Asencio told me that she could go para makapamili ng pagkain mo. She and Cristiano already had their breakfasts."
Tinignan ko ang mga container na nasa ibaba ng center island. Ilan sa mga iyon ay may label at sa pagkagulat ko ay pangalan ko ang nakasulat doon.
"Na-challenge si Lia nang malaman niyang vegetarian ka." Binuksan niya ang mga container na may pangalan ko. There's beans, mushroom and sun-dried tomato on toast, homemade hashbrown, and what looks like vegan breakfast burrito. "Dito mo ba gustong kumain o sa dining area?"
"Wow."
I don't need to see myself to know that I'm basically glowing while looking at the food. I've been to different restaurants with vegan and vegetarian options, and there are not many that are this appetizing to look at. Hindi ko na nagawang sagutin si Trace kasi basta na lang akong umakyat sa isa sa mga stool habang nakatitig pa rin sa mga pagkain.
He chuckled. "Okay. Looks like we're eating here."
Pilit na inalis ko ang mga mata ko sa mga nakahain at tumingin ako sa kaniya. "Hindi ka pa rin nag-aalmusal?"
"Hindi pa. Hinihintay pa kita eh."
"Pwede ka namang mauna na."
"And to miss out on seeing how cute you are when you're this excited?"
Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mga mata habang pilit na iniignora ko ang pamumula ng mga pisngi ko na mukhang kailangan kong asahan na mapapadalas basta nasa paligid siya.
Kumuha ng utensils at mga plato si Trace bago siya umupo sa tabi ko. Hindi na ako nagpatumpik-tumpik pa at sumandok na ako ng pagkain. I was happily munching on my toast when I glanced up and saw that Trace was watching me.
"What?" I asked after I swallowed. "Masarap eh."
Imbis na sagutin ako ay umangat ang kamay niya at idinampi niya ang hinlalaki niya sa gilid ng mga labi ko. He put it in his mouth while keeping his gaze fixed on mine. "Masarap nga."
Sunod-sunod na napaubo ako at kaagad naman niya akong inabutan ng tubig. I gave him a look that would have made other people uncomfortable, but of course Trace just grinned as if he found it amusing. Thankfully, he let me eat peacefully after that.
I offered to clean up when we were done eating. He didn't put up a fight, so I thought he was fine with me washing the dishes. Iyon nga lang ay tumayo siya sa tabi ko habang nasa lababo ako para sana maghugas at kinuha niya sa akin ang nasabunan kong mga plato.
"I'll rinse," he said.
"I know how to wash dishes," I told him.
"I know, but there's no harm in doing it together."
Napapabuntong-hininga na hinayaan ko na lang siya. I thought I was stubborn until I met Trace.
"I have something to tell you."
Nag-angat ako at nilingon ko siya. At first, I thought it was about the ranch, but my worry eased when I saw that there was nothing in his expression that told me that there was something to get worked up about.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Before we met at Rancho Callista, I already know that you'll be there."
"I gather that. You weren't surprised to see me. Isa pa ay kasalanan ko rin kasi hindi ako nagbabasa ng email."
"I saw you a week before that."
He saw me before? He just didn't bother to approach me? Nagbaba ako ng mga mata at itinutok ko iyon sa mga hinuhugasan ko. The only difference now is that he's hired to stay with me. That explains it, right? At least it's clear now.
"Hey."
"Baka ma-late na tayo. May meeting pa tayo kasama ang mga kapatid mo hindi ba?" I started scrubbing the dishes. Probably harder than I intended to. "You can just leave this with me. Patapos na rin naman ako."
"Princess."
"I can really take care of this—"
Hindi ko na nagawang tapusin ang sasabihin ko nang maramdaman ko ang mga kamay niya sa balikat ko. Marahang hinarap niya ako sa kaniya.
"Hey," he said gently, nudging my chin up so I could look at him. "I was working that time as a security detail."
"You don't need to explain—"
"Our client was the guest at the event you were competing in. I looked for you after the event pero nakaalis ka na. That day, we also received another job, and the client was your father."
It's not boding well for me that the squeezing inside my chest lessened a bit at his words.
"I took this case."
"Okay," I whispered.
"No. You need to understand, princess," he said in the same quiet voice. "I took this case."
"I get it—"
"For you."
Naumid ang dila ko sa sinabi niya. My chest tightened again, but this time it's for a completely different reason.
"I wanted to see you again." His eyes held mine in a way that made it hard to look away. "Do you think I will let anyone else take care of you? To be this close to you?"
"I...""
"Alam kong maraming nangyayari sa buhay mo ngayon at naiintindihan ko iyon. I know that you are carrying more than you let anyone see, and I understand that you need time. I'm not going to force you to see everything the way I do. I don't mind waiting, Ember."
"Trace—"
"But I don't want to do it with you thinking that you're just another job for me. I'll wait in such a way that it's clear to you how I see you... and how I see us. I will wait for you to tell me to climb a damn tower with my bare hands if you want to, destroy it to the ground, or for you to get out of it yourself."
He reach for the kitchen towel hanging at the handle of the oven, and he wiped my wet hands with it. Nang muli niyang hulihin ang mga mata ko ay may ngiti na sa mga labi niya. "What I'm saying is that I want to be your reason, Ember. I want a possibility of us to be your reason to step out of the fear you've been caged in for a long time."
THE MOMENT we stepped foot at the headquarters of Dagger Private Security and Investigation, I already knew that there was something important going on. Bukod sa mga pagbati kay Trace at sa akin ng napapadaan na mga empleyado ay may pagmamadali sa kilos nila na magpatuloy sa mga gawain nila. All of them were hustling as if they were running out of time.
But it couldn't compete with the heavy tension that I felt when Trace and I entered the conference room where her brothers were already waiting for us.
Trace noticed the same thing I did. "What's going on?" tanong niya nang makaupo kami.
"We received the full report of the autopsies this morning." Thorn trained his gaze on me. "We need to ask you a few questions, Ember."
Tumango ako bilang sagot. They were friendly, and they didn't treat me like an outsider when they all went to Trace's house yesterday. But I know that right now they need to do their job, and therefore they need to be professional.
"You've hunted before?" Thorn asked.
Nagtataka man sa panimula niyang tanong ay mabilis akong sumagot. "No."
"In one of your interviews, you answered differently."
Kaagad kong natukoy kung anong interview ang sinasabi niya. A reporter once asked me if I ever pointed my bow and arrow at something aside from competing and target partice. I told that reporter that I had.
"You were carrying bow and arrows when Domino and Trace met you at the ranch."
"What is this?" Trace asked before I could respond. Kung ramdam na ang tensyon sa paligid ay mas makikita iyon ngayon sa lalaki habang nakatingin sa mga kapatid niya. "Please don't tell me you're suspecting—"
Inabot ko ang kamay ng binata sa ilalim ng lamesa dahilan para mapabaling siya sa akin. I gave him a small smile before I turned my eyes back to Thorn. Alam ko ang pakiramdam na kausapin ang isang tao na handa na iikot ang kahit na anong sabihin ko para gawin iyong masama. But Thorn's not one of them.
"The ranch could be very dangerous, and when I say that, I don't think of humans." Kahit pa na sabihin na kabisado ko ang rancho ay hindi ibig sabihin imposible na akong malagay sa panganib. Even if I avoided the traps since they are easy for me to discern, I doubt I can do the same with lurking creatures on our land. I don't want to hurt them, but I also need to protect myself. "There's no way I would bring something to defend myself with me that I don't know how to use. I have been holding a bow since I was young, so it's a personal choice."
"We need to get that out of the way," Thorn said gently. Nagbaba siya ng tingin sa folder na hawak niya pagkaraan. "Before you were even born, your family already had a collection of bows and arrows, but you were the first to wield one."
"My mother's side of the family collected them. My father moved all her belongings to a shed outside the mansion when she died. A few years after that, a fire broke out, and the shed was one of the things that got destroyed, along with everything inside it."
"Do you have a set of those arrows with you? Wala bang naisalba sa sunog?"
Umiling ako bilang sagot. I wanted to have at least one, but I have nothing to remind me of her left from that fire.
"Do you remember what's inside the shed?" Sa pagkakataon na ito ay si Axel ang siyang nagtanong. "O kahit iyong sa mga bow and arrow? Designs? Markings?"
"Not really. But I do know that the arrows have my mother's maiden name engraved to them since it was own by the Estremera clan."
Tumayo si Coal at inilatag niya sa harapan namin ni Trace ang ilang mga larawan. They were different pictures of arrows. Most of them are broken and discolored, but one has a marking that no one could mistake— a name.
"Those are found near the bodies," Coal said.
I felt Trace turn our hands so that this time it would be him holding mine, but even his warmth couldn't battle the coldness seeping into me.
"Is it not possible that these... that these are just replications?" I asked.
Thorn nodded in affirmation. "It is possible, but even if it's not, it doesn't explain the reason of the crime."
"We will need to open your mother's case again," the second eldest of the Dawson, Gun, informed me."
"She died in a car accident," I whispered. "Are you telling me that she didn't?"
"As far as we call tell, it was an accident. Pero kailangan naming malaman kung anong nangyari sa araw na iyon at kung may kinalaman ang aksidente sa mga pana na nakita malapit kung saan natagpuan ang mga biktima," sabi ni Axel na siyang sumagot sa tanong ko. "What we know now for sure is that everything is not just a coincidence."
"And that someone is targeting my family?"
Hindi nagsalita ang lalaki pero kita ko sa mga mata niya ang sagot sa katungan ko. Axel sighed and closed his laptop. He threw Trace a quick glance before he turned to me again. "All the information we have points to that fact."
"We will get to the bottom of this, Ember." Nanggaling iyon kay Pierce na kanina ay tahimik lang akong pinanonood. It's like he's not just trying to read the room, but me as well. "We'll plan how to approach this, Domino and Coal will go back to the ranch so that they can do a field investigation, and Trace will stay with you and make sure you're safe."
"You don't have to worry. Sisiguraduhin namin na magiging ligtas ka," aniya ni Coal na hinuli ang mga mata ko. "As much as possible, we want our clients to live as normally as they can. You don't need to be scared of your own shadow. We'll take care of your security, and there might be adjustments in regards to you leaving the safe areas, but there's no need for us to hide you. As long as you have one of us at your side at all times, you will be fine."
"Safe areas?"
"Here at the office and at my brothers' houses, in case the women invite you. All of them, including the farmhouse, are built like fortresses. The condo units where Dom and I live are safe too." He glanced at Trace, who stiffened at my side at the last thing he said. "Though I doubt that we can invite you to visit."
I nodded numbly. "Does... does my father know about this?"
"We already notified him." Domino gave me a small but full of concern smile. "He wanted you to stay where you are. He said it's safer."
That's not the reason. With everything now that is leading back to my mother, the woman he wanted to forget a long time ago, he would want me to stay as far away from him as possible. Because it's me that he couldn't put inside that shed so that he could close it and move forward without looking back.
The daughter who is the spitting image of her mother and the only reminder of the woman who betrayed him.
_______________________End of Chapter 7.