DS8Uncovered #LuMa #BearCouple #DaggerSeries
CHAPTER 19: GREETING
LUNA'S POV
A few years ago...
Yakap ang sarili na nakapako lang ang mga mata ko sa pintuan ng operating room. Lucienne's been there for what seems like forever. Bawat segundo na lumilipas ay pakiramdam ko padagdag nang padagdag sa tensyon na bumabalot sa paligid.
I can't forget the sound of Kuya Trace's voice shouting for our eldest brother. I can't forget the haunted realizations in my siblings' when what happened dawned on them. But most of all, I won't be able to erase from my memory the look on Kuya Thorn's face when he saw Lucienne unconscious and covered with blood.
For the first time since we arrived here, I tear my eyes away from the operating room when I feel something familiar. Bagay na nararamdaman ko lang kapag nasa paligid ang isang taong kilalang-kilala ng sistema ko.
I moved away from Kuya Gun, who had me and Lia in each of his arms, when I saw Magnus crossing the distance with heavy steps. The look on his face could almost compete with the ones of my brothers, but for some reason his was laced with concealed anger.
Tumayo ako para salubungin siya. I know he cares for Lucienne a lot, but I don't want it to cause more distress to Kuya Thorn now that his wife is fighting for her life. "She's going to be okay, Mags. Lucienne is a fighter—"
Hindi ko nagawang tapusin ang sasabihin ko nang maramdaman kong hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at basta na lang akong hinila papunta sa kung saan. We took a right turn, and he opened the first door unceremoniously, which I realized was a comfort room once we were inside.
"Mags—"
"You got shot at."
Kumunot ang noo ko. I've texted him all the details already. "We got shot at."
Tiara's company conducted an event for a day of free ballet lessons for children. Dagger didn't want Tiara to attend, not just for her safety but for the children as well. But Tiara's manager insisted that she needed to go since it would be filmed. Kaya gumawa ng paraan ang Dagger para madala si Tiara sa studio na walang kahit na sinong nakakaalam. Publicly, everyone was informed that Tiara wouldn't be able to make it. Kaya walang dahilan para may makaalam na nandoon siya.
Except someone did find out. What happened was far from a good thing. Lucienne got hurt, and the children could have been too. Idagdag pa roon ang trauma nila panigurado dahil sa nangyari. But if I'm going to speak frankly, what happened presented an opportunity for Dagger to have a clearer view of what they need to look at.
"You texted me," he said through gritted teeth.
"I thought you would want to know. I just didn't know you'd come here this fast, but I should have known better." Binigyan ko siya ng maliit na ngiti. "She's really going to be fine. A mere bullet can't keep Lucienne away from her family."
"Luna!"
Napapitlag ako sa biglang pagtaas ng boses niya. I don't think I have ever seen him this angry. To be exact, I haven't seen him this angry at me.
Poison seeped right through my heart. I tried to steel it, but it was too late. I could already feel the pain burning paths all throughout my chest. "Are you angry at my family... at me, because she got hurt? It's not like we wanted it to happen. Sa tingin mo ba talaga gugustuhin ng kahit na sino sa amin ma masaktan siya?"
"Stop talking."
"I'm sorry that the love of your life got hurt. I'm sorry that being a Dawson puts her at risk. I'm sorry–"
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang sa isang iglap ay halos wala ng espasyo sa pagitan naming dalawa. "Stop." My body stilled when he slammed his clenched fist on my side. "Talking."
"Mags—"
"It was raining bullets. It could have hit any of you."
"Magnus—"
"And you jump on top of the others and cover them with your own body."
I didn't tell him about that, but he must have heard it from the others. I have the group chat on mute. The other women were probably talking there.
"Do you think being a Dawson makes you indestructible?" His whole body is shaking with fury. "Do you think your life means less than theirs?"
Pakiramdam ko ay binuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig sa sinabi niya. It was the same thought that crossed my mind when I decided to do what I did in those split seconds. That I am dying anyway, so why does it matter?
My sisters-in-law have families. They have children, and my brothers... it will break them if anything happens to their wives. I can already see it happening to Kuya Thorn.
"It was on instinct," I whispered.
"Your instinct should be to protect yourself."
"If I were the nearest to Lucienne and I got shot instead of her, would you understand my decision better?"
"Hindi siya ang pinag-uusapan natin dito, Luna."
Mapait na tumawa ako at akmang lalayo ako sa kaniya pero hinarang niya lang ang isa pa niyang kamay sa kabilang gilid ko. I could feel the heat coming from his body from how close we were to each other.
"Let me through. I need to go to my family."
"What you need to do is listen to me."
"I'm done listening."
His voice reverberated around us. "You never listened!"
"I did listen!" I shouted back. "I heard you loud and clear!"
I was never jealous of Lucienne. I never resented Magnus for having feelings for her. He met her first. It wasn't anyone's fault that his heart chose to feel for her. Tanggap ko iyon. Hindi ko kahit kailan ikinagalit iyon. Lalo pa ngayon na alam ko kung hanggang saan lang kami pwede.
I just didn't want to see how blatantly clear his feelings are. I might like the safety of him not having feelings for me, but that doesn't mean that my heart, which will always love him, doesn't get hurt from time to time.
Magnus' eyes roamed around my face. "You never want to see... never want to hear."
"Mags—"
"You come first," he said in a hushed tone. "What you're going through doesn't make your life less significant than theirs. You need to put yourself first."
"They're my family," I whispered.
"And you are theirs."
I felt my lips trembling, but as always, I held in my tears. I can't deny that what happened scared me. But I also can't say that I was scared for myself.
I feel like I had a glimpse of what it would feel like if my own battle came to an end. If I lose the fight and it takes me away from my family. Akala ko alam ko na ang pakiramdam dahil minsan na naming naranasan. But the recent events made it clearer.
Death is scary. Not knowing what comes after it or if there would be anything more once oblivion fully engulfed you. But there's nothing scarier than the thought of what would happen to the people that would get left behind. Dahil alam ko ang pakiramdam ng maiwan.
Umangat ang kamay ni Magnus at naramdaman ko ang mainit na palad niya na dumampi sa braso ko. Inangat niya ng bahagya iyon at nakita kong nakaton ang mga mata niya sa nagsisimula ng mamuo na pasa roon. I'm pretty sure that I have more of it all over my body.
"Let me have someone check you out."
Umiling ako. "I'm okay."
"You're not, but you're going to be. If you won't make sure of that, I will."
LUNA'S POV
Present day...
Ibinalik ko ang mga ngiti na ibinibigay sa akin ng mga taong nadaraanan ko. Nakasunod sa akin sina Pike at Nevan na siyang mga bodyguard ko ngayong linggo pero kahit isang guard ay walang nagtangka na harangan kami habang binabaybay namin ang daan papunta sa elavator dito sa Quetzal.
I was finally allowed to go back to work. Katatapos lang ng trabaho ko dahil walang ginawa maghapon sina Alex at ang iba pang mga empleyado ng Maven kundi pagaanin ang mga trabaho ko. My moody writers, even Zoe, are at their best. Buong maghapon tuloy ay approve lang ata nang approve ang ginawa ko.
"Sure ka talagang hanggang next week mag du-duty ka?" tanong ko kay Nevan.
May rotation kasi sila pero nitong mga nakaraan ay laging si Nevan ang napupunta sa akin.
"Wala naman po akong ibang case kaya walang problema," nakangiting sagot niya.
"You have a sister, right? Was she trained for Blade Point's work as well?"
"She was, but she preferred the Spine Point's department." Tinapunan niya ako ng ngiti. "Sorcha doesn't like interacting with people."
"Hindi rin siya gugustuhing pakawalan ni Sir Axel," singit ni Pike sa usapan. "Sorcha's one of the best forensic scientists in SP."
I've seen Sorcha, but I haven't really talked to her. Kung sabagay. Sabi nga ni Nevan ay hindi siya mahilig makipag-interact sa tao. But Lucienne has told me about her and how she likes to write her love story. Advance din mag-isip eh. Parang wala pa naman atang boyfriend 'yung tao.
"Is she dating anyone?"
Napakurap si Nevan at natigilan siya sandali sa naging tanong pero pagkaraan ay napangisi siya. "I'm willing to give part of my inheritance to whomever is brave enough to date my sister."
Hmm. No wonder Lucienne finds her interesting. I do too.
"May irereto ka ba Ma'am Luna?" tanong ni Pike.
I batted my eyelashes at him. "Ikaw, pwede?"
He grimaced, and Nevan chuckled, clearly not offended at Pike's apprehension. "Mahal ko pa ang buhay ko."
Bumukas ang elevator at lumabas na kami. "Bakit naman? She might not be that interested in people, but it's not like she'll bite your head off."
"Hindi ka po sure," nakangiwi pa ring sabi ni Pike.
Again. Interesting.
Napailing si Nevan. "She needs someone who's not going to bow down to her. If his personality isn't on par with her hardheadedness, they wouldn't last a day, and she will indeed bite his head off."
Kinawayan ko ang assistant ni Magnus na si Liam bago ko nilingon si Nevan. I raised an eyebrow and gave him a meaningful look. "Or maybe he just needs someone who doesn't mind being bitten."
Nalukot ang mukha ni Nevan dahilan para mapatawa ako. I have the same expression he has whenever my sisters-in-law are talking about my brothers and things about them that I would rather not think about.
"Hello po, Mrs. Dawson-Aquillan."
I couldn't help but smile at what he called me. Lagi ko na lang kasing pinapaalala iyon sa mga taong nakakasalamuha ko.
"Hihintayin ko na lang siya rito. Natapos kasi ng maaga ang trabaho ko," pagbibigay-alam ko sa kaniya.
"Pwede naman po kayo sa opisina niya na maghintay. He's in the Cloud room with a new writer."
There's a couple of conference rooms here at Quetzal located on different floors. Sa pagkakaalam ko ay iba-iba ang laki niyon at iba-iba rin ang purpose. The Lark room is used for any meetings that Quetzal's different departments wanted to conduct, and then there's the Moon room, which was the largest meeting room here. Ginagamit niya iyon minsan sa mga writer seminar o mga event na para lang sa Quetzal. Hindi ko na alam iyong iba pa pero ang Cloud room ay nandito sa palapag kung saan makikita ang opisina niya.
"May bagong writer? Wow." Tumingkayad ako na para bang masisilip ko ang kinaroroonan nila mula sa kinaroroonan ko bago ako bumulong sa lalaki. "Famous?"
Nakangiting napakamot siya sa batok niya. "Sabi po ng mga editor opo raw."
"Pwedeng sumilip? Promise hindi ko sila guguluhin."
"Pwede naman po. Hindi naman po magagalit si Sir Magnus kahit guluhin niyo sila basta ikaw po."
I highly doubt that.
Nagpaalam na ako sa kaniya at naglakad ako sa direksyon ng Cloud room. Mahinang napatawa ako nang makita kong hindi lang pala ako ang curious. May mga tao rin kasi na nandoon na patagong sumisilip sa mga nasa loob ng opisina. There were blinds on the glass wall of the room, but there was one that wasn't fully closed.
Tumayo ako sa likod ng tatlong babae na nakikiusyoso roon at nakisilip din ako. Based on the ID they're wearing, they're probably employees here. Probably editors.
"Ang taas ng engagement niyan online. Viral din sa Tiktok," bulong ng nasa kaliwang banda na babae.
"Erotic lahat ng books niya 'no?" tanong ng isa pa.
"Oo. Nabasa ko 'yung iba. Magaganda naman," sagot ng pangatlong babae.
"Maganda rin siya."
Tumingin ako sa kuwarto at sinipat ko ang babae na naroon. Her hair looks like it has been curled professionally, she's wearing a tight-fitting silk dress that falls a couple inches above her knees, and she looks pretty even though I can only see the side of her face. Bagay na erotic writer infernes.
Pero sabagay wala naman kasi sa ayos 'yan. Si Lucienne nga na puro makukulay halos ang mga damit ay gore writer eh.
"Ay kabog. May nahulog na naman sa kagwapuhan ng boss natin."
Bumaba ang mga mata ko sa kamay ng babae at nakita kong humawak siya sa braso ni Magnus habang tumatawa na para bang may maganda joke na sinabi ang lalaki. Bagay na duda ako dahil hindi naka-on ang switch ng humor ni Magnus lalo na kapag ganitong oras na siguradong ubos na ang energy niya.
"Buti na lang hindi seloso ang misis ni Sir," sabi ng isa sa mga nakikiusyoso. "Iyon pa lang sa past ni Sir Magnus at ni Ma'am Lucienne kung ako ang nasa sitwasyon niya baka hindi na ako mapakali sa selos."
Hindi naman talaga ako selosa. Lalo na kung si Lucienne ang pag-uusapan. I love my sister-in-law like my own sister. Kaya hindi ako napapagod na ulit-ulitin na wala akong problema sa kanilang dalawa.
But despite the fact that I know where I stand in Magnus life and the boundary I set for myself, hindi ibig sabihin ay tanggap ng pagkatao ko na may ibang humaharot kay Magnus. Kahit pa kung titignan ay wala naman sa usapan namin na hindi siya pwedeng magkaroon ng relasyon sa iba. I have thought about it, and I already told Magnus, though it pained me to do so, that it's okay as long as he'll be discreet. Which he just answered me with a look and a grumble, saying that I should stop thinking of nonsense things.
"Bongga. May pagpisil sa maskels ni sir."
Okay. That's enough. Anong akala ng babaeng 'to sa asawa ko? Tinapay na pwedeng masahin?
"Isumbong kaya natin 'to kay Ma'am Luna?"
Nagdidilim ang paningin na nilagpasan ko sila. "Hindi na kailangan."
I felt eyes on me as I put on one heeled shoe after another. Dahil ayoko rin ng basta pinapasok sa opisina ng hindi kinakatok ay tatlong mabibilis na katok ang ginawa ko at pagkatapos ay basta ko na lang binuksan ang pintuan.
"Hi, hubby bear! Miss me?"
The polite expression on Magnus' face melted, and it was replaced with surprise. Hindi ko na siya hinayaang makabawi at hindi pinapansin ang isa pang babae na nasa kuwarto na tinawid ko ang natitirang distansiya sa pagitan namin.
Magnus pushed on his chair as if he were about to stand at the same time that I reached him. The only problem was that my shoes got caught on a snag on the carpet, and I lost my footing.
Imbis na matigas na sahig ang sumalubong sa akin ay ibang matigas na bagay ang kinabagsakan ko.
"Oops." I gave my husband a sheepish smile. I landed perfectly on his hard thighs, and now I'm sitting on his lap. "Sorry. I just wanted to greet you."
Sandaling nakatingin lang siya sa akin na para bang napakaraming bagay ang naglalaro sa isipan niya. When he moved, there were quite a few things that I expected him to do, and one of them was moving me off his lap. But instead, I felt his arms snake around my waist, and he pulled me closer to him until the side of my body was leaning on his front.
"I like your version of a greeting, wife. You should do it more often."
____________________________End of Chapter 19.