#DS7Unbalanced #InoCent #SMCouple #DaggerSeries
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE: CHAOTIC
TIARA'S POV
Napatigil ako sa pagsusuklay at nag-alis ako ng tingin sa salamin ng vanity dresser na nasa harapan ko. Bumaling ako sa pintuan kung saan narinig ko ang pagkatok. Naghahanda na sana ako sa pagtulog dahil may event din ako na pupuntahan bukas.
"Come in."
Umawang ng kaunti ang pintuan at dumungaw doon si Domino. "Sleepy?"
I trained all day with Olena and Adrien, but I don't feel as tired as I usually do. Isang bagay na nakakapagtaka dahil pakiramdam ay mas maraming nadagdag sa ginagawa ko sa araw-araw mula nang tumuloy ako rito sa bahay ni Domino.
Being drained from hours of training usually helps me sleep better. I was planning to meditate instead before sleeping.
"Not really. Why?"
"Come with me?"
Kumunot ang noo ko. Nakapantulog na ako at wala na akong kaayos-ayos. "Where?"
Imbis na sagutin ako ay pumasok lang siya ng kuwarto at inabot ang kamay ko para tulungan akong makatayo. May ngiti sa mga labi na hinila niya ako palabas ng kuwarto.
My eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Ano na namang binabalak mo?"
"You just have to trust me."
Trust is not the problem. I know whatever happens, Domino will put my safety as his highest priority. Pero sa maikling panahon na nakilala ko siya ay kung may isang bagay ako na sigurado pagdating kay Domino ay ang katotohanan na lagi siyang may "balak". And not just when he's on Dom Domino mode.
He loves surprising me. Kahit maliit lang na bagay. Like earlier this morning when he gave me fruits for breakfast, and they were all cut into Mickey Mouse shapes.
We descended the stairs, and to my confusion, he led me in the direction of the pool area.
"If we're going to have a repeat performance of that time you threw me in the pool with clothes on, I'm telling you right now that I will not appreciate it. I just took a bath."
"I threw us in the pool," he corrected.
Tumawa lang siya nang bigyan ko siya ng masamang tingin. Hinapit niya ako palapit sa kaniya at nakapalibot ang mga braso sa balikat ko na patuloy naming binaybay ang direksyon papunta sa pool area.
A gust of wind greeted us when we stepped outside. Today wasn't as cold as the other nights that I spent here, but the breeze still felt cool against the thin material of the ankle-length night dress that I'm wearing.
I opened my mouth to ask him again what he was planning to do when I caught sight of something nearby. My lips parted in surprise as I stared at the set-up. I didn't even notice or hear him do it.
There's a huge, thick blanket spread on the grass. May comforter pa iyon sa ibabaw habang sa isang tabi ay may nakatupi na mga kulay brown na kumot. There's pillows scattered around the blanket, a picnic basket on the side, and dozens of what seem like solar lanterns. There's also a string of fairy lights hanging above the space that is connected to the white projector screen in front of the setup.
"What... how?" I whispered. I looked up at him, and I realized that he's already staring at me. "Why?"
Nagkibit siya ng balikat. "Kailangan ba ng rason?"
With Domino, it doesn't need to have a reason. He just does what he wants to do. He didn't need to wait for an occasion to surprise me. He does it every day as if it's part of his routine.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "You could have at least told me to bring a jacket."
His arms tightened around me. "And miss the chance to have you in my arms?"
"As if you wouldn't find a reason to do it."
He chuckled, not denying it. "Point taken."
Pigil ang ngiti na napailing na lang ako. Bahagya akong lumayo sa pagkakayakap niya at hindi niya naman ako pinigilan. I took off the slippers I'm wearing before stepping one foot on the blanket. Naglakad ako papunta sa gitna at naramdaman ko na nakasunod siya sa akin.
I lowered myself on the blanket, hugging myself, when another cool breeze whipped around us. Hindi pa ako nagtatagal sa gano'ng posisyon nang maramdaman ko ang pagdaiti ng kung ano sa balikat ko. Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nakita kong kumot iyon.
Kumuha pa ng isang kumot ang lalaki at inilagay niya naman iyon sa ibabaw ng mga binti ko bago siya kumilos para umupo sa tabi ko at muli akong ipaloob sa mga bisig niya.
"Feel warm?"
I buried myself in his arms instead of answering him. A content rumble echoed in his chest, and he pulled me closer as if we weren't close enough.
He took out his phone, and he clicked something on it that made the lights surrounding us turn off. Tanging ang mga lantern at fairy lights lang ang nananatiling nakabukas. Sounds emanated from the nearby speaker, and the projector flickered to life, signaling the start of the film.
Mahinang napatawa ako nang pagkaraan ng ilang sandali ay na-realize ko na isa sa mga Disney movie ang kasalukuyan na ipinapalabas sa screen. Tangled.
"Are you planning to watch all the films Disney made with me?" Nitong mga nakaraan kasi ay parang sunod-sunod na ang mga iyon lang ang pinapanood namin. "Because you won't find me complaining."
"You love them."
"But what about what you love?"
I thought he was just thinking of his answer. I glanced up at him, and for a moment, I was trapped in his gaze. The way he looks at me speaks volumes. It transcends what words can say.
My heart tightened in a way that is not entirely rooted in something unpleasant.
His lips hinted at a small smile. Sandaling inilapat niya iyon sa noo ko bago niya hinarap ang picnic basket na nasa tabi niya at binuksan iyon. Despite the moment between us that transpired, I couldn't help but laugh a little when I saw that he was holding a bowl of popcorn.
"What's with watching a movie without snacks?" he asked with a raised brow.
"Right."
Surprising even me, I reach out to take a piece and pop it inside my mouth. This is one of the few snacks that I'm allowed to indulge in. It's low in calories. But the one I'm eating now was cooked with butter, so I doubt that fact is true with this one.
Akmang kukuha pa ako ulit pero sa pagtataka ko ay inilayo niya iyon sa akin. I gave him a confused look, and he just grinned at me. "Inaagawan mo na ako ng trabaho," sabi niya.
"What do you mean?"
Kumuha siya ng isang pirasong popcorn at isinubo niya iyon sa akin. "My job is to feed you."
Sa kabila ng pag-iinit ng mukha ay pinaikot ko ang mga mata ko. "You're so silly." I looked at the food he's holding. "Hindi ba dapat nga masaya ka. I'm now eating by myself. I don't need supervision anymore." Nakakatawa na sa edad kong ito ay daig ko pa ang bata na kinakailangan bantayan sa pagkain. "It's good to be independent. Especially if you're as old as me and you still can't feed yourself."
"There's nothing wrong with being independent." He fed me another piece of popcorn. "But I prefer that you depend on me."
Nilukutan ko siya ng ilong. My heart has never been given a break whenever Domino's around.
Thankfully, he let me enjoy the movie after that without attempting to give me a reason to have a heart attack too much. Paminsan-minsan lang ay nararamdaman kong hinahalikan niya ang ulo ko, ang pisngi ko, o ang balikat ko na para bang hindi niya mapigilan iyon.
He probably has no interest in the movie. I mean, come on? It's a movie that has children as the target audience.
"It's amazing that that's her only wish,"I murmured.
Hindi ako nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya at sa halip ay nanatili lang akong nakatingin sa pinapanood namin.
"What do you think she could have wished for instead?" he asked.
"Freedom?"
"For someone like her who's been stuck in a tower for years, freedom is nothing but danger."
"She can fend for herself. She's been doing that for years. Bumibisita lang naman sa kaniya ang kinilala niyang ina kapag may kailangan sa kaniya. And you saw what happened when she went into that pub full of bad guys. She wasn't harm," I said, defending Rapunzel.
"It was a pub full of rough-looking people who weren't given much opportunity but to be what they are. They weren't exactly bad. We can't say that the rest of the world is like them, who will feel protective of a golden-haired princess." Nagbaba siya ng tingin sa akin. "That's why she only wished for the lanterns. It was a dream that she would need to leave once she needed to go back to reality."
"That's sad. Not having much choice to only dream for something small because it's the only one attainable."
"She had her happy ending." Hinawi niya ang buhok ko na nililipad ng hangin. "She got exactly what she needed. Naging malaya din naman siya sa dulo."
"Because of a man."
May maliit na ngiti sa mga labi na umiling siya. "Through out the whole movie, I didn't see someone weak. She wasn't saved because of a man."
"But freedom is still a danger for her?"
"It is." Hinalikan niya ang tungki ng ilong ko. "But she saved herself. She fought her own fears. She's the one who took one step away from her prison, she trusted someone else even though it was difficult for her, and she fought for what she thought was right for her." As if he couldn't help himself, he placed a soft kiss on my lips. "The world is not safe for someone as precious as her. She has a castle, which is what she deserves. Where she could be just who she is without danger continuously looming over her."
"You know, a lot of feminists will hate you for what you said."
Nagkibit siya ng balikat. "It's different for everyone," he said, tipping his head to the movie. "She was stuck in a tower, right? She felt stuck and imprisoned. What do you think is the difference between being a princess where she will be behind towering walls and under the scrutiny of people?"
I didn't answer instantly so that I could think about it. "Because she has a choice."
His eyes twinkled. "And where she was free to fly in a world that has been created for her by the people that want nothing but her safety and happiness."
NILINGON KO ang kinaroroonan ng iba pang mga ballerina na kasama ko sa event ngayon. We've been chosen by our company to teach children the basics of ballet for free. They planned this last year, and me as well as three more ballerinas were chosen for it. Anyone from three to thirteen can enroll for the day and get their free tutus and leotards.
No one was really informed that I would be here. Naomi, however, made sure that I would still go. The day would be filmed, and she wants me in it.
The company made an announcement that I wouldn't be joining to minimize the risk. Walang nakakaalam na nandito ko maliban sa Dagger at sa ballet company kung saan ako kabilang.
"Keep your back straight and your shoulders down."
Sumunod naman ang apat na bata na nasa harapan ko. They're really not that young, per se. The four in front of me range from age ten to thirteen. Most of the children chose to learn from the other three ballerinas rather than me when they were asked to make a choice. Which the organizer is probably regretting now. They should have chosen themselves.
Sa tingin ko ay pinili lang ako ng apat na bata dahil nakita nilang walang pumunta sa akin. They're older and obviously have a better understanding of the situation.
It stings a bit, but it's not like I wasn't expecting it. I don't look friendly, and because I usually am awkward in some situations, even if I smile, it shows what I'm really feeling. I'm also sure that the children can feel my nervousness.
Why in the heavens they picked me for this?
"Go to first position." I formed my feet into a V. "Do a Plié. We'll do demi-plié first." I bend my knees half-way to show them. When I saw that they did it with only a few struggles, I gave them a small smile. "Great job."
Their eyes were twinkling so much that they could give the ones up in the sky a run for their money. So I guess maybe hindi naman sila masyadong napilitan na ako ang piliin. The look on their faces looks as if I just told them the greatest compliment on the planet.
"And this is the grand-plié." I bent my knees some more until I'm almost touching the floor. The four girls tried to copy it, but three of them almost fell sideways, while the youngest completely slid forward.
"Hindi siya mukhang mahirap pero..." The eldest girl trailed off. "Baka dahil matanda na po ako masyado para magsimula ng ballet?"
"It's not about the age. You're not old. You have a lot of years to pursue this if you want to." I went into the first position again, and they copied me. "You just need to do it again and again. It took me a million times before I perfected a plié."
Their lips formed into an adorable O. They didn't look as disheartened as they were moments ago. I was lying, but it's worth it.
I perfected plié at four on my first day. But that's ballet. There are things that are hard for you and things that you find easy.
"I'll show you a series of plié and how you can incorporate hand movements."
I did just what I told them, doing a couple of demi-plié and grand-plié while swaying my right arm slowly and gracefully downwards, back to my side, to my front, and upwards.
Sometimes, when you do ballet steps on their own, they look silly. But with simple hand gestures, an arch of the back, and a stretch of the neck, it will look like a beautiful dance.
The girls copied my movements, at first tentatively but growing confident as they did it again and again.
When I'm retired from ballet, I wanted to teach like Olena does. I never considered teaching children, though. They are more complicated than teaching women who are maybe younger than me or the same age as me. But now it's kind of sparking an interest in me.
Children need more things than adults. The basics are the most crucial part of ballet. The beginnings shape a ballerina more than any part of her life.
I was so engrossed by what I'm doing that it took me a second to realize that the girls I was teaching were multiplying. Sa una ay akala ko lumilipat lang ang ilang mga bata mula sa mga kasamahan ko pero kunot ang noo na napatitig ako sa tatlong batang babae dahil pamilyar sila sa akin. Am I seeing things, or do they look like Lia and Circe's children?
Wait...
Napanganga ako nang mula sa kung saan ay sumulpot ang mga babaeng Dawson. They were all wearing their own leotards. Tuluyang nalaglag ang panga ko nang mamamataan ko si Trace na naka itim na jogging pants at shirt na naka tingkayad na lumapit sa kinaroroonan namin.
Thank the heavens that he's wearing his own clothes, because I can't imagine him wearing a leotard. Adrien is bulkier than most ballerinas, but any of the Dawsons would cause a traffic collision if they wore male ballerina outfits.
"What... what are you all doing here?" I asked Lucienne who was the closest to me.
"Napadaan lang kami."
Naningkit ng bahagya ang mga mata ko. I can smell the lie from far away. Nilingon ko ang kinaroroonan ni Domino at para bang nararamdaman niya na nasa kaniya ang atensyon ko na tumingin din siya sa akin.
The wink he gave me confirmed my suspicion. He called them.
A feeling wrapped around me like a warm embrace. These women are busy and so are their husbands, but they all came here just for me.
"Don't worry, everyone made sure that it would be safe for you if we came. Mas nauna pa kaming nakarating dito para masigurong walang nakasunod sa amin," bulong ni Luna na bahagyang lumapit sa akin. "It's kind of fun. We feel like we're in some James Bond movie."
I wasn't worried. I'm more worried for them than for me.
"Tiara!" Lucienne called out to me, pulling me out of my thoughts. "Can we do the spin thing?"
Umikot pa siya para ipakita ang gusto niyang sabihin. She almost collided with Trace when she tumbled.
"A piroutte?" Nang blangkong nakatingin lang siya sa akin ay inayos ko ang posisyon ko at ipinakita ko iyon sa kaniya. "Like this?"
Excited na pumalakpak siya. "Yes!"
"Bakit si Tiara mukhang ballerina pero ikaw mukhang elisi ng electric fan na nakalag?" tanong ni Trace.
Inikot ni Lucienne ang mga kamao niya. "Gusto mong makakita ng elisi ng electric fan na nakasapak?"
Mukhang magtatalo pa sana sila pero pumito si Luna at inawat sila. Inginuso ng babaeng Dawson ang mga bata. "We have babies in here. Remember what Kuya Thorn said before we came here? Huwag daw tayong gagawa ng kahit na ano na magiging hindi magandang impluwensiya sa mga bata."
Plastic ang mga ngiti na nagdikit sina Lucienne at Trace. Umakbay pa ang lalaki sa babae bago parang praktisado na nag-thumbs up sila.
Always the ice breaker.
I cleared my throat. "So to do a piroutte-"
"Down!"
Hindi ko alam kung kaninong nanggaling ang malakas na sigaw na iyon. One moment we were standing and laughing, and the next, I found myself thrown to the floor.
There was a burst of motion. I could hear the ringing in my ears as the familiar sound of a gunshot kept going off. There were screams and crying as the glass of the studio exploded into tiny, different shards, creating a chaotic, ear-splitting noise.
With my cheeks on the floor, I could see my friends in the same position. Lia and Circe were both using their own bodies to cover their children. Luna threw her whole body to cover the other women, as if she did it on instinct. But it was Trace that I couldn't look away from because, instead of being the closest to his wife, he was shielding Lucienne, who was under him.
I instantly knew that something was wrong when Lucienne's face, which was usually full of light, was now suspended in an expression of shock. Ember reached out a hand to her, her eyes filled with fear.
No.
"We got them!" Thorn bellowed. "Domino, stand down. We need them alive!"
"Kuya!"
I thought I already had my fair share of bad experiences. But the way Trace called for his brother-the haunted edge on his voice-was something that I wouldn't be able to forget.
This is my fault.
It's all my fault.
__________________End of Chapter 25.