DS8Uncovered #LuMa #BearCouple #DaggerSeries
CHAPTER 23: ANGEL
LUNA'S POV
I felt the bed moving, but I couldn't open my eyes. I don't think I even want to. I'm so exhausted and cold that I just want to stay buried under the covers of my bed. Pero mukhang walang balak ang langit na pagbigyan ako dahil pagkaraan lang ay naramdaman kong may humihila sa kumot.
I tried to hold on to the blanket, but I felt too weak. Then, at the next moment, I felt something cold touch the side of my face. I let out a groan, and I moved my head in an attempt to avoid what felt like ice that was touching me.
"You have a fever, LA."
Pilit na binuksan ko ang talukap ng mga mata ko. I found Magnus hovering over me, a small white cloth on his hand.
Hindi ko alam kung anong oras na pero kung ang pagbabasihan ko ay ang dilim ng paligid, mukhang hindi pa sumisikat ang araw sa labas. I must have woken him up. "Sorry. You can... you can go back to sleep now. M-Mawawala rin 'to mamaya. Sorry for... for disturbing your beauty sleep."
"Sometimes, I really want to wring your neck."I let out a chuckle. It's so him to say that. He might be a gentleman most of the time, and I know he's trying more to be that way because he's the only person who knows my condition, but his grumpy grandpa's soul is still somewhere inside him. Whom I kinda miss.
Akmang ilalapit niya ulit sa akin ang basang bimpo na hawak niya pero umiwas lang ako ulit. "LA."
"I feel cold."
"Because you have a fever." Muli niyang inilapit sa akin ang hawak niya at sa pagkakataon na ito ay hindi ko na siya naiwasan. "You're soaked in sweat."
"Ew."
Pinadaanan niya ang noo ko, pisngi, at leeg. When he was done, he didn't move away, instead, I heard him sighed. I opened one of my eyes that I didn't know was closed again.
"W-Why do you look like someone told you that the government made a law that people can only work two hours a day?"
For some, that would be heaven, especially if they're still getting paid for the normal hours. Pero para sa amin ni Magnus? That would be a nightmare. Mas malala pa nga para sa kaniya. At least I enjoy socializing. Magnus would rather talk to the monitor on his screen than talk to a real person.
"You need to change your clothes."
Nagbaba ako ng tingin sa suot ko. I'm wearing purple silk pajamas. "M-Mukha kang malungkot kasi ayaw mong magpalit ako ng damit? Y-You must really love the color purple."
Muli siyang nagpakawala ng malalim na hininga. "Can you change by yourself?"
Sinubukan kong itukod ang kamay ko sa kama pero halos hindi ko magawang iangat iyon. I tried to do an ab crunch to pull myself up, but the result was the same. I can barely move an inch.
"I... I can see the problem," I murmured.
"I'll help you sit down."
Hinayaan ko siyang gawin ang gusto niya. Wala rin naman akong magagawa dahil kahit nga ibukas ang mga mata ko ay mahirap ng gawin. He propped my back on a pillow, and I thought he would commence on what needed to be done, but for the first time in quite awhile, he looked like he completely didn't know what to do.
"I have a light blue nightgown in my closet. Mas madaling isuot 'yon," I told him with a weak smile.
Walang salitang inilagay niya ang bimpong hawak niya sa maliit na basin na nakapatong sa bedside table at pagkatapos ay pumasok siya sa walk-in closet. It didn't take long before he went back out, holding my nightgown.
Fighting off the exhaustion that is trying to pull me back to sleep, I reached for the buttons of my pajama top to unbutton them. Minutes passed, and I'm still fumbling with them without much progress.
"Let me."
I looked at him, and I could see how focused he was on the task. His forehead is knotted as his hands move fast but with gentleness. Parang ingat na ingat siya na hindi ako mahawakan.
When he reached the button located between my breasts, his eyes snapped up. I gave him what I hope is a reassuring smile, but he didn't let go of my gaze. Instead, he continued unbuttoning my clothes without looking at what he was doing.
"I don't mind," I whispered.
He answered at the same volume, his voice hoarse. "But I do."
"Ah, I forgot. My pure, virgin husband, whose virtue is still intact until now."
"I'm not a—" He let out a breath. "Can you behave and let me change you in peace?"
I raised my hand and barely gave him a thumbs up before it dropped down again on my side. Goodness, I need to be in better shape.
I know that this is probably a side effect of my medication. Or maybe I was so stressed from the latest event in my life that I contracted a fever. But since my body is not that healthy in the first place, it's hard to fight it off. Kailangan kong mag-exercise. I need to hit the gym since I haven't been to one for ages.
It's a bit ironic that the genes I inherited from my mother gave me cancer, but they also gave me her vampireness. Kahit anong kain ko ay nakikisama ang metabolism ko kahit pa noong bago ako nagkasakit.
Cold air touched my skin when, finally, I was pulled free from my sweaty pajama top.
"For God's sake," Magnus said in a hiss.
Taking pity on him, I raise my jelly hands to make it easier for him. Sa mabilis na pagkilos ay nagawa niyang isuot sa akin ang nightgown ko. Pagkatapos niyon ay hinila niya ang pajama bottoms ko nang masigurado niyang natatakpan na ng bestida ang katawan ko.
Kung titignan siya ay para bang may lagnat na rin siya. Beads of sweat are covering his forehead, and he looks like he runs a marathon rather than just simply changing the clothes of a sick woman.
"I-Imagine, if you didn't come running after me that night, you wouldn't be in this situation right now," may maliit na ngiti sa mga labi na sabi ko. "You're probably sleeping in peace."
"I never sleep in peace. Baka hindi pa ako natutulog ngayon dahil hindi pa ako tapos magtrabaho."
"You're not doing that right now because you're with me. Which reminds me to tell you that you don't need to sleep just because I'm going to sleep. Kaya nga may mga opisina tayo rito sa bahay."
"If I wanted to work, I would. I could even work here while you're sleeping because you could sleep through an armageddon."
"So why?"
"Because I don't want to." He tapped my nose when I scrunched it. "I don't do things I don't want to do, LA. I've told you that."
"Whatever."
He tapped my nose again, and I tried to buy his finger in response, but of course I was too slow to achieve success.
"I'll get you some medicine. Stay awake."
I groan. "Matulog na lang tayo."
"Medicine first."
"My throat hurts."
"Precisely why you need to drink your medicine." He leveled me with a look. "Don't sleep."
Simangot lang ang naging sagot ko sa kaniya pero dahil wala akong energy para magpasaway ay pinigilan ko ang sarili ko na humiga at nanatili akong nakasandal sa mga unan. I fought hard against my eyelids, and when it became too difficult to do so, I opened them wide without blinking.
Nasa ganoon akong ayos nang bumalik si Magnus. Napa-double take siya sa itsura ko. Hindi ko siya masisisi. Mukha siguro akong may sinisindak na kung sino dahil talagang nanlalaki ang mga mata ko sa sobrang effort kong huwag ipikit iyon.
"My throat really hurts," I complained when I saw the capsule he's holding.
"You need to drink it so that you can feel better."
"Pwedeng mamaya na lang?"
"No?"
Napanguso ako. "Dapat sa mga ganitong moment ka nag-o-offer na tulungan akong inumin 'yan. In romance books and movies, the man would drink the medicine and transfer it to the woman's mouth."
"Three things."
"Hmm?"
"First, you're not a baby bird." He popped the medicine inside my mouth, and he held a glass of water in front of my lips. Napangiwi ako nang ramdam na ramdam ko ang pagdaan ng gamot sa masakit kong lalamunan. "Second, that's unsanitary."
My lips protrude more. "Takot ka lang mahawa."
"If I get sick, how will I take care of you?"
Whatever amusement was left in me melted. "I don't need anyone to take care of me."
"That is not what is in question. I know you don't need anyone to take care of you if that's what you want. I know whatever happens, you can do whatever you want by yourself."
"Then—"
"But you don't need to." He met my gaze, and I could see myself being reflected in his eyes. "You don't need to be alone."
For a moment, we were surrounded by silence. Naramdaman ko ang kamay niya na pumailalim sa likod ko at pinusisyon niya ako para makahiga ako ng maayos sa kama.
The softness of the bed, and the relief of not being covered in sweat slowly relaxed my body, and my eyes soon fluttered close. Before I was fully engulfed back to sleep, I murmured a question to him, "What's the third?"
I thought he wouldn't answer me. I was almost at the boundary of leaving my conscious state when I heard his quiet whisper. "I don't want to have our first kiss that way."
ISINUOT KO ang kulay asul na bracelet na binigay sa akin ni Ella. Napangiti ako nang makita ko ang dalawang letra na nandoon. LA. Minsan na kasi niyang sinabi na gagawin niya ako no'n kapag nagkita kami ulit.
Kada nagkikita kami ay gusto niya kinukuwentuhan ko siya. She often asks questions about me and Magnus. I could see that she was very curious about the idea of love, and I couldn't deny her of it. She doesn't need to know that it was all pretend. For her, I have the perfect love story.
Kinukuwento ko sa kaniya ang buhay ng mga kapatid ko, pero bias siya talaga pagdating sa akin kaya nauuwi pa rin sa amin Magnus ang mga kuwentuhan namin.
Katulad ngayon.
"I like it. Team LuMa," nakangiting sabi niya. "Next bracelet na gagawin ko po, iyon ang ilalagay ko. Gagawan ko rin si Prince Charming mo."
Kapag sinasamahan ako ni Magnus sa ospital ay paminsan-minsan nakikipagkuwentuhan din siya kay Ella. But I know he understands that I want to have my time alone when I'm here. I couldn't explain it, hence, I couldn't tell him why, but he just understands that this is something that I want for myself. Kaya kahit katulad ngayon na kasama ko siya sa ospital ay nasa labas lang siya ng infusion center kasama sina Pike at Nevan, at nakaharap sa laptop niya para magtrabaho.
"Nasaan pala ang Mama mo?"
"Kausap po ang mga doktor ko." Nakapokus ang mga mata niya sa ginagawa niya. Her hands are moving expertly to create another bracelet. "Sana hindi laging nasa work si Papa."
"Kapag matanda na kasi tayo, kailangan talaga eh. Pero kahit naman laging nasa work ang Papa mo siguradong lagi niya kayong naiisip. He just needs to work for your family."
"Alam ko naman po 'yon. Okay lang naman po. Kaya lang sana nasasamahan niya si Mama para hindi siya mag-isa kapag nalulungkot siya." She gave me a small smile before returning her attention to what she's doing. "Kapag po kasi nakakausap ni Mama ang mga doktor ko nalulungkot siya. Pero tinatago niya sa akin. Kapag umuuwi kami tinatago niya rin na umiiyak siya. Kung kasama niya po si Papa okay lang na hindi muna siya maging strong sandali."
Kumuyom ang mga kamay ko at halos bumaon ang mga kuko ko sa mga palad ko para pigilin ang emosyon ko. I can't lose it right now in front of her.
"Narinig kong nag-uusap ang kapitbahay namin. Kailangan daw ng miracle para gumaling ako."
Pakiramdam ko ay nag-init ang tenga ko sa narinig. "Anong pangalan ng kapitbahay niyo?"
She giggled as if I were being silly. "Tama naman po ang sinabi nila. Pero kahit walang miracle okay lang po."
"Ella—"
"Minsan po kasi akala ng mga tao kapag sinabing miracle dapat makuha nila ang gusto nila. Pero minsan po iyong miracle ay parang ngayon na nandito pa ako. Pwede naman pong wala na ako unang araw pa lang na nalaman na may sakit ako. O iyong kasunod na araw o linggo. Pero nandito pa po ako ngayon. Hindi pa po ba miracle 'yon?"
I forced myself to smile. "You're right. You're very smart, Ella."
She giggled again, and she continued. "Sabi mo po last time pwede akong maging presidente."
"Oo naman. Ako pa mismo ang magiging sponsor mo."
"Kung hindi po ako magiging presidente okay na po akong maging angel."
It felt like a train hit me in the chest, crushing my heart into nothing. "W-Why an angel?"
"Para po pwede ako lumipad pabalik dito tapos babantayan ko sina Mama at Papa saka ang baby brother ko. Saka po para malapit din ako kay God para lagi niyang gawing safe ang love ones ko." Lumiwanag ang mukha niya at nakangiting binalingan niya ako. "Pwede ko rin pong makita ang Mama mo ro'n. Parehas kaming hihingi ng tulong sa other angels para i-wish kay God na gumaling ka na, Ate Luna."
It took all my strength to smile at her, despite my eyes getting cloudy with tears. I didn't let it fall, instead, I just patted her head gently. "Malay mo ako ang maging angel."
Umiling siya. "Mas bagay ka pong maging princess. Saka malulungkot si Prince Charming kapag wala ka."
"Malulungkot din ang family mo kapag... kapag naging angel ka."
"Malungkot na po sila kasi nandito pa ako."
"That's not true. The situation can sometimes be too hard for them, but it doesn't mean they are hurting because you're here."
Ngumiti lang siya bilang sagot. I couldn't help but stare at her. Why are children so resilient? Why do they look at the world the way they do? When did being an adult erase all the good things they had when they were children?
Nahugot ang atensyon ko sa kaniya nang marinig ko ang pagbukas ng pintuan ng infusion center. A sense of gratitude enveloped me when I realized who had arrived.
"Ella?"
"Po?"
"I would like you to meet someone."
Nag-angat siya ng mukha at kitang-kita ko kung paanong namilog ang mga mata niya nang mamamataan niya ang lalaking palapit sa amin.
Nilagay niya ang kamay niya sa gilid ng bibig niya. "May asawa na po siya?"
"Unfortunately, yes. Pero may kapatid 'yan. Gusto mong ipakilala rin kita?"
Her laughter resonated around the place, and when Damian Salazar reached us, he was also smiling widely.
"You must be the beautiful Ella that Luna was telling me about." Inabot niya ang kamay niya sa batang bahagyang namula ang magkabilang pisngi. "My name is Damian Salazar."
Nagpaalam ako sa kanila na aalis sandali na mukha namang hindi problema sa kanila dahil abala na sila sa pagkukuwentuhan. I have no doubt that Ella has a lot of questions for him, and knowing Damian, I know he has no problem answering them all.
Humugot ako nang malalim na hininga nang magawa kong makalabas ng kuwarto. I wrung my hands together, which I didn't realize were shaking.
Not far from where I was standing, I saw Ella's mother talking to two doctors. Nakasubsob ang mga kamay niya sa mukha niya.
My eyes got filled with tears again. I don't need to hear what they're talking about to understand the situation. A part of me has known for a while. Ella was making no progress. Kada magkikita kami ay parang lalong bumabagsak ang katawan niya.
"Luna?"
Tumayo mula sa kinauupuan niya si Magnus. Kunot na kunot ang noo niya nang makita niya ang ekspresyon sa mukha ko. His eyes went to the door of the infusion center, and then his gaze went to me. Because he's Magnus Aquilan, no words need to be said. He just understood.
He reached for my hand, and he pulled me towards him. "What do you need?"
"To forget. Can you do that?"
I felt his thumb rub comforting circles on the back of my hand. "Let's say goodbye to Ella so we can go."
"Mags, I'm kidding." Pilit na nginitian ko siya. "Ayokong isipin niya na... na may problema kaya aalis ako kaagad. She'll take it to heart. She's already concerned about her family—"
"She won't mind."
"Mags—"
"We'll tell her it's a date. She'll love that. After all, Prince Charming needs to take her princess on a romantic date once in awhile, doesn't he?"
_______________________End of Chapter 23.