DS8Uncovered #LuMa #BearCouple #DaggerSeries
CHAPTER 24: CHIPS
LUNA'S POV
I pried my eyes away from the view in front of me, and I turned to Magnus and looked at him in disbelief. "When I thought I had you figured it out, you do something like this and surprise me again."
"Where did you think I would bring you?"
"Well, for one, a bar?"
"I don't like you drinking."
Pinaikot ko ang mga mata ko. "A theme park?"
"You'll enjoy it for about five minutes, and then you'll get bored of it."
That is probably true. Wala lang naman sa akin na maraming tao ang pupuntahan pero hindi talaga ako mahilig hiluhin at takutin ang sarili ko ng ilang oras. Siguro kung kasama ang mga sister-in-law ko ay mas enjoy.
"So a casino it is, then," I mumbled as I turned back to the view in front of us.
Maraming tao sa casino na pinagdalhan niya sa akin. Sari-saring mga tao ang abala sa pagbabawas ng pera nila sa pag-asang magiging doble iyon. Or more. There are those who look like tourists, some who look like normal-looking people who are hoping for a big win, and there's a lot who seem to be big players.
Nakapasok na ako sa casino pero hindi para maglaro. I've gambled once before, pero tong its lang iyon noong panahon na nasa ibang field pa ako ng industriya at may nakita akong mga senior citizen na naglalaro sa tabi ng kalsada.
I don't really agree with wasting a lot of money on gambling. I know a lot of people who lost so much because of it. But I guess there's no harm in trying it once in awhile. Nagiging problema lang naman ang isang bagay kapag hindi mo alam kung paanong kontrolin ang sarili mo.
"What do you want to try?" Magnus asked.
"Something easy."
"The slot machine?"
"That's too easy."
Umangat ang sulok ng labi niya at inabot niya ang kamay ko bago niya ako hinila papunta sa isang direksyon. Naramdaman kong nakasunod sa amin sina Pike at Nevan pero sa iisang bagay napako ang atensyon ko. I couldn't help but stare at our joined hands for a moment. His hand is far bigger than mine, and it shows in how my own has been immediately engulfed in his.
We went into what I think people call a casino cage, so we could obviously exchange currency for chips. Bumita ako kay Magnus para sana kunin ang wallet ko pero mas mabilis siya at naabutan na niya ng card ang babaeng empleyado na nasa loob ng booth.
He leaned down and said something to the woman, and when he straightened, I could see the woman stacking chips at a pace that only a professional could do. Ilang sandali lang ay inabot niya ng lahat iyon kay Magnus na hinati iyon at ibinigay sa akin ang iba.
"Umm... I'm not a regular customer of casinos, but I'm pretty sure these chips don't cost one hundred pesos each."
"A couple of thousands, ten thousands, and fifties."
I blinked slowly at him. Marami akong hawak at ganoon din siya. Hindi ko kailangang maging magaling sa math para makaisip ng estimate kung gaanong kalaking pera ang hawak ko.
"Magnus Aquilan!" I hissed.
"What?"
Pakiramdam ko ay nag-aapoy ang mga kamay ko at gusto kong ibalik sa kaniya lahat ng mga hawak ko. "Makakalimutan ko talaga lahat sa araw na ito kasi ang iisipin ko na lang ay kung gaano karaming pera mo ang nawala ko."
"You're not even sure if you're going to lose the money."
Pinandilatan ko siya ng mga mata. "I don't know how to play any of the games here!"
"It's easy. You just put down a chip and bet." He reached for my hand again, and he pulled me through the crowd. "Stop worrying. You have beginner's luck on your side, so you'll be fine."
Nilagpasan namin ang mga lamesa na masyadong maraming tao. He navigated his way to a more secluded and less crowded side. It was a surprise that he managed to find one where we could both sit.
Binigyan ko siya ng nagdududang tingin. "Are you like a secret gambling addict?"
He let out a low chuckle. "No."
"Eh bakit parang sanay na sanay ka rito?"
"Some of my friends—"
Malakas na suminghap ako. "May friends ka?"
He narrowed his eyes on me. "—that I met in the publishing industry likes to frequent the casino. Minsan sumasama ako. I don't play big, though." He looked at our chips pointedly. "Hindi katulad ngayon."
The dealer in front of us explained the game briefly, which didn't seem hard. We just need to choose who to bet on to have the hand that is closest to a total of nine. Either the banker, the player, or we can choose a tie. The tie has the lowest probability of winning but it has the highest payout.
My mind still on our topic, I place a thousand chips on the table. Even if I'm distracted, I don't have plans to waste a lot of money on my first try. "Bakit hindi mo ako pinapakilala sa "friends" mo?"
"Because they're just work friends. Hindi ko pa sila makikita kung walang events na konektado sa publishing."
"So technically wala kang friends?"
"Meron."
"Who?" I asked curiously.
He placed his own bet, which I noticed was five times larger than mine, and he placed it on the table. Katulad ko ay sa player din siya tumaya.
Nilingon niya ako. "Ikaw."
Catching me off guard by his answer, I felt warmth instantly flooding my chest. "Kung magsalita ka parang ako lang ang kaibigan mo."
"Ikaw lang naman talaga."
Umangat ang kilay ko. "How about your employees that you spend hours and hours a day with? Or si Lush?"
"Being friendly with selected people is different from being friends with them. I like my employees. They're good people. But that doesn't mean we're friends. Friendship requires more than spending hours together, right?"
"Isusumbong kita kay Lush. Patay na patay ka sa kaniya noon pero hindi mo siya tinuturing na kaibigan." Napangisi ako nang may maisip. "More than friends nga pala ang gusto mo."
He gave me a look before he nodded towards the table. My eyes widened when I realized we had won the round. Naging doble ang pera namin. Which means Magnus' bet alone became ten thousand. Holy shit!
"I am friends with her, but it's different," he continued.
"How so?"
"She still calls me "sir," and we don't talk unless it's about work or unless we're meeting because we're having dinner with your family." Muli akong tumaya pero sa pagkakataon na ito ay limang libo ang inilagay ko. Magnus shook his head and took away half of the chips. Tumaya rin siya pero imbis na malaki ang tinaya ay binawasan niya ang nauna niyang inilagay kanina. "I'm not someone easy to be friends with. Ilang oras ang ginugugol ko sa trabaho at ang natitirang oras sa akin ay ipinapahinga ko na lang."
"That's not exactly true. Some of your time you spend on me."
"Right." Before the ache in my chest built up to his honesty, he continued, "Some of my time I spend with my wife, which, if you think about it, should be more than I'm spending at work."
Bahagyang nilingon ko sina Pike at Nevan bago ko muling binalingan si Magnus. "You know why you don't have to."
"Do I?" he asked innocently.
"Mags—"
Hindi ko naituloy ang sasabihin ko nang magsalita ang dealer at kinuha niya ang chips namin. Both Magnus and I lost. Oh my god. Kung sakali palang hindi ako pinigilan ni Magnus kanina ay mas malaki ang natalo sa amin.
I made a bet again, and this time I stayed at my current value. Magnus, on the other hand, just doubled up while copying where I decided to bet.
"My idea of friendship is someone you can comfortably reach out to whenever you want to. Kahit sa mga bagay na hindi importante. Someone you enjoy spending your time with, or sometimes someone you want to be with when you're going through something." Nilingon niya ako at nginitian. "You have a lot of those people in your life, right?"
I immediately thought about my sisters-in-law. "Yes."
"I don't have those except for you."
Hindi ko mapigilan na mapatitig sa kaniya ng ilang sandali. Who would have thought that we'd come this far? He couldn't stand being around me before, and now, aside from sharing a name, we're also sharing a connection through friendship.
The winner was announced, and Magnus and I lost again. Without thinking more about it, I gambled my chips again, and Magnus copied where I put mine.
"You need to find more friends." Nag-iwas ako ng tingin sa kaniya. "Sabagay siguro ngayon meron na. My sisters-in-law regard you as theirs since you're the only Dawson Husband. When I'm gone—" I glanced at my bodyguards. "When I'm away, then they can be your friends."
"I like them, but I don't want more friends if it means not having what I already have."
"Mags—"
He held my eyes in such a way that I feel like I'm bound to him. "I told you. If you're losing hope, I won't. If you want to stop fighting, I won't. So you don't have a choice, LA. You're going to be my friend until I leave this life. It's your fault, so you can't blame me for it. You said it yourself, remember? You want to be the most beautiful disturbance in my life. You accomplished that, and there's no going back from it."
The dealer announced the winning hand, and it wasn't ours. Again.
"I have always been right about you," I whispered with a sad smile. I made another bet and placed my chip on the table. One chip that has the value of one thousand. The same I had in the first round of our game. Hindi na ako nag-abalang mag-isip o subukang dagdagan iyon. Alam ko namang matatalo kami. So with that knowledge, I chose to bet on the tie since it has the lowest chance of winning. "You care so much more than what you're letting on. Sometimes I worry about that, you know? Kaya nga perfect second lead ka. So self-sacrificing, selfless, and too loyal and kind. You're willing to bet everything on someone who wouldn't do the same because they already met the hero of the story. That or the story is a tragic one, and who you're betting on is just a side character. Someone who is just passing by. Kaya sa huli masasaktan ka. Sa huli ikaw ang talo."
"You're wrong about a couple of things. One, I'm not the second lead. Second, I haven't bet my everything on anyone."
"Mags—"
"Not yet. Not until now." To my complete shock, he pushed all his remaining chips to the table, and just like the previous rounds, he bet where I decided to put mine. "I'm betting everything on you, LA, because I know when it comes to you, there's no losing."
Inabot ko ang mga kamay niya para pigilan siya sa ginagawa niya. "What the hell are you doing?! Seryoso ka ba? What do you mean there's no losing when it comes to me?" Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mga mata. "I'm the embodiment of losing. Kanina ka pa natatalo kakagaya mo sa akin!"
Hindi siya nagpapigil at sa halip ay kinulong niya ang kamay ko sa kaniya. He pulled it away from the table, and he just smiled at me. I see no fear in him, as if he didn't care if he ended up losing all his money.
"You've bet before, and you've lost. Now, you placed your bet on something that might be different but with the wrong person again, Mags," I said to him quietly. "I've been losing for quite awhile now, and you know that."
We both know I'm not talking about the game. Sa lahat ng tao ay siya ang nakakaalam kung anong tinutukoy ko.
Hardship is normal. Everyone is going through something. But it feels like I only have bad days. Like I've been struggling for a long time. If winning is possible, it must not be for me. Kasi kahit anino no'n ay hindi ko makita.
"You're wrong," he murmured, his face gentle. "I am not unaware of the possibility of losing, but I always know what I'm doing."
"Magnus."
"A martingale strategy."
My forehead furrowed. "What?"
"Everytime you lose, you double the next bet. Again and again and again. Because there's no way that you will continuously lose. In the end, you'll win at least once... and that's what I'm betting for."
I almost jumped from my seat when we were suddenly surrounded by cheers. My one thousand got doubled, but it wasn't what the people were cheering for. It was Magnus who kept betting on where I bet, who bet everything he had, and who won the largest hand out of us all.
I LET OUT a moan of satisfaction at the sugary taste of my drink. Nilingon ko si Magnus na nakatayo sa tabi ko. He's drinking the most boring drink there is, which is of course, water. Mabuti na lang at hindi ako dinamay. At least binilan ako ng milktea ni Mr. Health Buff.
"Ngayon ka pa nagtipid eh ang dami mong napanalunan." Pagkatapos nang pagkapanalo niya kasi ay pinapalit na namin ang chips namin at nag-aya na siyang umalis. Iyong iba siguro ay maglalaro pa. I mean, if you're on a roll like that, wouldn't you want to win more? "What if ibenta na lang natin ang mga kompanya natin at maglaro na lang tayo sa casino 'no? Hihiga na lang tayo sa salapi no'n."
"It's good that we got out of that place. Muntik pa palang manganib ang kompanya ko," nagbibirong sabi niya.
"Don't you want to win more?"
"Not really. I just want to win one that matters."
Natigilan ako sa naging sagot niya. Pero katulad nang napapadalas na mangyari nitong mga nakaraan ay pilit na inignora ko ang kahulugan sa likod ng mga salita niya. It's something I've been getting good at nowadays. To stop myself from hearing, seeing, and thinking more.
"Anong gusto mong gawin sa napanalunan mo?" tanong ko pagkaraan.
"I'm not sure."
"Kahit isa wala kang maisip? A new phone? A new suit to add to your countless suits? Shoes? Necktie?" Nang mukhang wala siyang nagustuhan sa mga binanggit ko ay pinagmasdan ko siya. "Ano pa bang pwede? You don't wear any jewelry except your watch, and you said it's one of the things you bought with your first paycheck, so it means something to you, so I doubt you want to replace it."
"I have a ring."
I cleared my throat. "Except for that as well."
I'm wearing my mother's wedding ring. Iyon lang ang meron ako dahil wala naman ang sa akin ang kay Papa. The day Magnus and I were about to get married, I only had one ring. So he bought one for himself instead at the first jewelry shop we saw on our way to where we would tie the knot.
"It's not even a special ring," I murmured.
"Hmm?"
My head snapped up at the same time that I felt something clench my heart. I suddenly felt sorry for him. I turned his life upside down with the agreement we have. I did nothing but bother him. Sa lahat ng abala niya, hindi ko man lang siya nabigyan ng maayos na singsing.
He might be my husband only on paper, but he's right. The thing we have, it's impossible not to call it friendship. In fact, our friendship has been tested by a lot of things, and he's still here trying to help me.
Marami akong kaibigan. Malaki ang pamilya ko. But aside from being the love of my life, aside from being my husband, Magnus is my person.
"I'll treat you," I blurted out.
Kumunot ang noo niya. "Hindi ba dapat ako ang manlibre dahil ako ang nanalo?"
"We're going to celebrate your luck. Para naman maambunan mo ako."
"I'll give it all to you if you want it."
"Lahat ng napanalunan mo?"
Nagkibit-balikat siya. "That and all my luck."
I can feel my throat closing off. I know why he wants to give it all to me. "Save some for yourself, Mr. Recovering Second Lead."
The corners of his lips tipped up, and amusement glinted in his eyes. Mukha namang hindi siya offended sa binansag ko sa kaniya.
Sa pagkakataon na ito ay ako naman ang gumulat sa kaniya sa pamamagitan ng pag-abot sa mga kamay niya. I pulled him to an upscale jewelry store I'm familiar with, which happened to be right across from us.
Pagkapasok namin ay kaagad kaming sinalubong ng babaeng kulang na lang ay magkaroon ng puso sa mga mata. I can't blame her. There's no doubt they're selling something expensive, so they're probably not bustling with customers, unlike other stores.
I cut off her spill about what they're offering with a smile to cushion it. "I'm looking for a wedding band. Not in pairs. I already have mine." Tinuro ko si Magnus na titig na titig sa akin. "Para sa kaniya lang."
"We have a stunning collection of bands for men. If you'll come with me, I'll show them to you."
Sumunod kami sa kaniya ni Magnus pero naramdaman kong bahagya akong pinipigilan ng lalaki. "Luna—"
"It's what I want."
He pressed his lips together. "Hindi naman kailangan."
"Ikaw ang bumili ng sarili mong wedding band dahil nakalimutan ko nang araw na iyon. It doesn't cost a lot, you picked it up in a hurry, and it's prone to discolor sooner or later because it's not made of good quality."
Inabot ko ang kamay niya at hinubad ko ang suot niya na singsing na hindi naging madaling gawin. It doesn't even fit him well.
I try not to let emotion overwhelm me as I look at the mark on his fingers. It's too tight for him, but he never once took it off. "I'm really sorry, Mags."
"Luna—"
"I'll do better." I swallowed the lump in my throat. "In being your friend."
Hindi niya nagawang sabihin ang kung anuman na gusto niyang sabihin nang bumalik ang babae na kausap namin na may dalang ring tray. Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa amin. Working on a job like this, she must have seen a lot of couples. She's probably good at reading the mood, which is why she gave us a soft smile and left us alone.
"Think of it as a friendship ring. You don't need to wear it anymore when—"
"If you say anything about..." Tinapunan niya ng tingin sila Pike at Nevan. "One more word about it, and I'm going to lose my patience."
"May patience ka pala?" Naningkit ang mga mata niya at mahinang napatawa ako. "Fine. I'm just saying. When the time comes, I want something that reminds you of me."
"That's not a hard thing to do. I don't think I can forget you, LA. Wala pang pinapanganak sa mundo na kasing tigas ng ulo mo."
Pinaikot ko ang mga mata ko at tinuro ko ang ring tray. "Choose whatever you want."
For a moment, he just kept looking at me as if I would disappear from his sight if he blinked. Then, for a reason I don't know, he reached for my hand and stared at the wedding band I'm wearing. One that means so much to me because it's my mother's ring.
"Pick something for me," he murmured.
"But—"
"You said you wanted me to have something to remember you. It would mean more if you're the one who's going to pick it."
I hesitated for a second before I looked at the tray. One caught my eye immediately. It's a simple wedding band, but it looks matte because it's a frosted ring.
"How about this one?"
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "I like it." Binalingan niya ang babae na para bang may radar na muling sumulpot at lumapit sa amin. "Do you have one like this that is thinner?"
"Yes po, meron."
"Is it possible to engrave something on it? Kahit na manipis?"
Nakangiting tumango siya. "Kaya naman po."
Tinuro ni Magnus ang singsing. "Then we'll have this one, and the other with a thinner band." May inabot siya na notepad na nasa counter at may sinusulat siya roon. "And I want this engraved inside."
Kulang na lang ay sumaludo ang babae sa bilis niyang kumilos para sundin ang gusto ni Magnus. Great customer service. She deserves a raise.
"Narinig mo lang na libre nilubos mo talaga ha?" nangingiting sabi ko.
"The other one is for you."
"But—"
"So you could wear it with your mother's ring." Binigyan niya ako ng nakakaunawang tingin. "I know how precious your ring is to you. But you don't like engagement rings because you said even if our marriage..." Natigilan siya. We have two pairs of ears that might be listening to us. "You said you don't need a statement and that it will just keep getting caught on your clothes anyway."
Well, what he said is true. I love seeing engagement rings on other people but it's not really my thing. Hindi ako mahilig masyado sa singsing. So to wear a huge rock on my finger is an instant no for me. If I want to make a statement, I'll wear a necklace or earrings. But I work a lot, and the burden of my work relies heavily on my hands. It's like clasping a sandbag on a runner. I need mobility.
"I'll pay for it."
I looked at him through narrowed eyes. "No." Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay nang mapabuntong-hininga siya. "Akala mo makakalusot 'no?"
"You'll pay for my band, but I'll pay for yours."
I thought about it for a moment, and after a while, I shrugged. "Sounds great."
Nang lumabas ang babae para sabihin na sandali lang daw at matatapos din ang pinapagawa ni Magnus ay binigay ko sa kaniya ang card ko. I decided to look around while Magnus was left talking with the woman.
Less than thirty minutes later, the rings were done and packed. Dala ang maliit na gift bag na lumabas na kami ni Magnus ng lugar.
Sandaling namasyal muna kami sa mall pero nang wala na kaming maisip puntahan ay nag-decide na kaming umuwi na. When we were finally at the backseat of the car and Nevan was driving back home, Magnus handed me the gift bag.
Kahit na alam ko ang laman no'n ay excited na binuksan ko ang bag. To my confusion, instead of two small boxes, I saw three, with the third being larger than the others.
Magnus' hand slipped inside the box, and he pulled out the two boxes. He opened the first box, and it had a thin band inside. Without wasting another second, he reached for my hand, and he slipped the band on top of what I'm already wearing.
"Wait. What was engraved on it?" I asked.
"Katulad ng sa akin." Binuksan niya ang isa pang kahon at kinuha niya ang singsing. Hinarap niya iyon sa akin para makita ko ang nakaukit sa loob niyon.
LuMa.
"Lumalaban pa rin," bulong niya.
Nagtama ang mga mata namin. I know my eyes are clouded, but despite it, I gave him a small smile. I took the ring from him, and I slipped it on his finger. Before I could let him go, his hand moved so that he could hold mine. "Who would have thought that you'd be a great friend?" I murmured as I looked at our hands clasped tightly together.
"Enough to be your best friend?"
I chuckled. "Magpaalam ka muna sa mga sister-in-law ko."
"Parang si Lucienne ang makakaagaw ko sa'yo."
Itinaas-baba ko ang kilay ko. "Okay lang 'yon. Once upon a time naging kaagaw ko rin naman siya sa'yo."
He let out a groan, which made me burst out laughing. I always give him hell for it, and I don't think I will ever stop. Natutuwa kasi ako sa reaksyon ng mga tao sa paligid ko lalo na kapag nakikita kong bumabalik sa alaala ng kapatid ko kung bakit minsan niyang gustong burahin sa mundo si Magnus.
"So what's the other box? May iba ka pa bang "friend" na pagbibigyan?"
Imbis na sagutin ako ay kinuha niya ang natitirang kahon at binuksan niya iyon. My mouth formed an "O" when I saw an adorable necklace that is glittering even though we're barely illuminated inside the car. I touched the bear charm covered in small diamonds hanging on it, and I couldn't help the huge smile that spread on my lips.
"Ano 'to? Friendship necklace?" nangingiting tanong ko.
"It can be anything you want." He gently took the necklace from me, and before I could move, his arms went around my neck so that he could put it on me. "But this is my luck. I'm giving it all to you."
"Sabi ko naman sa'yo dapat magtira ka para sa sarili mo," biro ko sa kaniya.
"I don't need another lucky charm, LA. I already have one."
With the way he's looking at me, it feels like a part of me understands what he's trying to say. But like always, I choose not to listen. I chose not to see.
For both our sakes.
______________________End of Chapter 24.