#DS5Unbowed #EmbRace #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER 4: PROMISE

EMBER'S POV

Lumingon ako mula sa pagkakatayo ko sa malaking bintana ng kuwarto ko nang marinig ko na bumukas ang pintuan. Nakita ko ang mayordoma ng mansyon na si Miss Asencio na nakatayo roon. Pumasok siya sa kuwarto at sinarado niya ang pintuan bago lumapit sa akin.

"Pinaghanda ko na ng almusal ang mga bisita mo."

Ginabi na ang magkapatid na Dawson kaya hinayaan ko na lang sila na magpalipas muna ng gabi rito sa bahay. Sakto naman na nakauwi na rin naman si Miss Asencio no'n kaya may nag-asikaso na sa kanila habang ako ay pumasok na sa kuwarto para magpahinga.

Walang imik na umupo ako sa harapan ng tokador at hinayaan ko siyang iladlad ang nakatali kong buhok. Hindi nagtagal ay naramdaman kong sinimulan niyang suklayan ako.

I've been taking care of myself for quite a while now, but this is still one of my favorite things. Halos malaking parte ng taon ko ay iginugugol ko sa mga kompetisyon at sa mga pagkakataon na iyon ay si Stellan ang kasama ko. It's not like I can bring Miss Asencio with me. The mansion might fall apart if both of us are not here.

"Sinabihan na nila ako tungkol sa sitwasyon mo."

I told Trace and Domino that Miss Asencio and Cristiano would go with me. The brothers didn't seem to mind, but I have a feeling that they will conduct a background check on them.

"Sigurado ka ba talaga na sa kanila mo gustong manuluyan? Bakit hindi na lang sa ama mo? Tutal matagal na rin kayong hindi nagkakasama."

"Nagkita kami no'ng mag-birthday siya last month," sabi ko.

"Magkasama sa iisang bahay ang tinutukoy ko, Ember, at alam mo iyon."

Despite the topic of conversation, I couldn't help but smile at the tone she's using. It's the only thing in my life that I could describe close to the word "motherly". Kahit pa ang tono ng salita niya ay parang pinagagalitan ako. She's old enough to be my mother. If my mother was alive, Miss Asencio would probably be just a few years younger.

"Gusto mo bang tumuloy na lang muna sa kamag-anak mo? Hindi ko alam kung gaano katagal ang imbestigasyon. You don't need to come with me," I said, changing the subject.

Pinaningkitan niya ako ng mga mata na para bang alam niya ang ginagawa ko pero pagkaraan ay napailing na lang siya. "Maliit lang ang bahay ng kapatid ko. Saka hindi matutuwa ang asawa niya na makikisiksik pa ako sa kanila." Bumuntong-hininga siya. "Hindi ba talaga pwede na maiwan na lang ako rito?"

"I don't think it's safe to stay here for now." Binigyan ko siya ng maliit na ngiti. "Pagkakataon mo na 'to na makalayo muna sa mansiyon. Malay mo, makita mo na si Mr. Right na hindi ka mahanap noon dahil nasa gitna ka ng kawalan."

"Hindi ba dapat ikaw ang nagsasabi niyan sa sarili mo? Ikaw itong wala man lang pinakikilala sa akin na nobyo."

For some reason, Trace's face flashed in my mind. Tumikhim ako at tumayo na mula sa pagkakaupo. "Wala akong panahon para sa boyfriend."

"Hindi ka na bumabata."

"Kaya dapat mag-asawa ka na Miss Asencio. Ikaw muna bago ako."

Her eyes squinted again, but she didn't say anything more. Ibinaba niya ang suklay sa tokador bago siya muling nagsalita, "Bumaba ka na para mag-almusal. Mas madalas pa kitang makita na may hawak na pana kesa ang makita ka na kumain."

"I eat. I just don't like breakfast."

"Kakain ka ngayon. Nakakahiya naman doon sa dalawa kung hindi mo sila haharapin at sasabayan na kumain."

Pagkasabi niyon ay iniwan niya na akong mag-isa. Sa pagkakataon na ito ay ako naman ang napabuntong-hininga. Muli akong lumapit sa bintana at hindi na ako nagtaka nang makita ko na nasa kinaroroonan pa rin niya si Trace.

He's laughing heartily while talking to my housekeepers, Julia and Melody. Nasa harapan sila ng kural kung saan ngayon ay nasa labas na ang mga alaga ko maliban sa mga kabayo. Ruby's trying to climb the fence, clearly wanting to get closer to the man that caught her interest since yesterday. Hindi naman siya nag-iisa. Maging ang mga kasambahay ko ay mukhang naaaliw din sa lalaki.

He must be in his early thirties, which makes him six to eight years older than my twenty-six. Yet his face which always seems to be smiling, makes him look younger than his age.

There are some people who have an old soul, but he, on the other hand, appears to have the qualities of a child. One that always sees wonder and joy.

There's something about him that automatically makes people gravitate towards him. Iyon bang kaya niyang pagaanin ang kahit na anong sitwasyon. He's generous in showing kindness to those around him, and there's a visible warmth about him that entices you to come closer.

I haven't met a person like him in my life. Someone so open and genuine.

Napaatras ako nang para bang naramdaman ang tingin ko na napadako sa direksyon ko ang mga mata niya. I lean on the wall of my room with my hand on top of my heart, which is beating wildly.

Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko. He doesn't need me ogling him. Nagpasya akong magpalit na ng damit. I changed my white nightgown to a white tank top that I put under my dark green overalls. Nang matapos ay bumaba na ako kung saan naabutan ko si Miss Asencio na abala na sa everyday routine niya sa mansyon.

"Tawagin mo na iyong bisita mo na nasa labas. Iyong isa ay pinauna ko ng mag-almusal at kanina pa iyon naghihintay."

If I didn't know any better, I would think that Miss Asencio was setting me up with Trace. Kaso kilala ko siya at sanay na akong mautusan niya. Unlike the other employees that will either get nervous when I'm around or get flustered to do everything for me.

Napapabuntong-hininga na naglakad na ako palabas at tinungo ko ang kural. Si Trace na lang ang naabutan ko ro'n at wala na sina Julia at Melody. For a moment, I watched him as he moved from side to side in front of Ruby. The cow followed his movement and let out a moo, making Trace burst out laughing. Mukhang nawala na ang takot niya sa alaga ko na akala niya kahapon ay may balak gawin siyang hapunan.

"What are you doing?"

Nilingon ako ni Trace at lumawak ang pagkakangiti niya nang makita ako. "Nagpapakilala sa mga alaga mo. Maybe if I get them to like me, their owner will like me a bit more too."

Hindi ako kaagad nakapagsalita sa sinabi niya at naramdaman ko ang pag-iinit ng magkabila kong pisngi. His eyes followed the spread of heat on my face, and I saw a glint in his eyes that tells me that he likes what he sees.

Lying is not something I like to do. It's a waste of energy and time. I might evade things I don't like to talk about, but that doesn't mean I want to lie about it. Deny it maybe. But not lie.

I might not be sure what's going on and what's going to happen after today, but what I do know for sure is that in the few times that Trace and I shared the same space... I haven't found anything about him that I dislike.

Tumikhim ako. "Kakain na raw ng almusal. Nandoon na ang kapatid mo."

"Dom's already eating? Inunahan niya pa ang may-ari ng bahay." Napapailing na sinuklay niya pataas ang buhok niya. My gaze followed his movements, and I couldn't help but stare at him. With the sun shining on his back, he looks like a sun god who descended to grace the Earth. "Pasensya ka na ro'n. Lagi kasing gutom ang isang 'yon. May sa patay-gutom."

"E-Eh ikaw?"

My question filled his eyes with amusement. "Kung patay-gutom ako? Minsan," he chuckled when he saw me shaking my head quickly. Hindi naman kasi iyon ang gusto kong itanong. What I meant to ask is if he's hungry as well. "Pero mas patay na patay ako sa may-ari ng bahay."

I freeze on his words, my lips parting. As if sensing the effect of what he said on me, instead of teasing me more, he inclined his head toward the house. "Let's go?"

Walang salitang tinalikuran ko siya at animo robot na nauna na akong naglakad papasok ng bahay. Dumiretso ako sa comedor kung saan naabutan ko si Domino na abala sa pagkain habang may kausap sa nakatayo sa harapan niya na cellphone.

"Grabe ang sarap." Inangat ni Domino ang longganisa na nakatusok sa tinidor. "Iba ang lasa pero ang sarap."

"Nang-inggit ka pa. Masama na nga ang loob ko na wala si Lia ngayon."

Boses ng babae ang narinig ko na nagsalita mula sa phone na mukhang ka-video call niya. Maybe his girlfriend?

Napansin ng lalaki ang paglapit ko at nakangiting ikinaway niya ang kamay na may hawak pa rin ng tinidor. "Gising ka na pala, Ember. Good morning!"

The way he says my name makes me feel like we're close friends rather than two people who just met yesterday. Not that I mind. Nasanay nga lang talaga ako sa mga tao na laging pormal ang pagtrato sa akin. Hindi ko sila masisisi. Hindi naman ako mukhang friendly.

"Good morning," bati ko rin sa kaniya nang umupo ako sa kabisera kung saa may nakahanda na rin na plato. Pilit na inignora ko ang kabog ng dibdib ko nang umupo si Trace katapat ang kapatid niya. His sitting placement put him on my right. "Your girlfriend?"

Domino raised his eyebrows in question, his mouth full of food. "Hmm?" Itinuro ko ang cellphone at nang sundan niya ang direksyon ng tinutukoy ko ay napaubo siya habang si Trace naman ay mahinang napatawa. "Hindi. Sister-in-law namin."

"Oh."

"Lush, say hi," sabi ni Domino.

I wanted to refuse since I don't even know the person on the other end of the call, but Domino had already turned the phone so that the screen was facing me. Mula roon ay nakita ko ang isang magandang babae na balot ng jacket. Her jacket has a horn. How cute.

"Hi, Ember! You're so pretty!"

"Umm... thanks. You're pretty too."

She waved her hand. "Creepy-cute lang ako. Pero sabi ng asawa ko maganda raw ako kaya papaniwalaan ko siya. Tutal gwapo siya kaya bagay kami." I blinked at her. She's another kind of person that I haven't encountered in my life. She didn't give me a chance to recover and she speaks again, "Nag-almusal ka na?"

"Hindi pa—"

"Nandiyan si Trace?"

"Yes."

"Kumain ka muna. Baka hindi ka matunawan. At saka kapag nakakain ka na baka mapag-isipan mo pa kung sigurado ka na kay Trace. Marami pa namang choices na mas matino—"

Sa pagkakataon na ito ay siya naman ang hindi natuloy ang sasabihin dahil naagaw na ni Trace ang phone mula sa kapatid. He gave the woman a searing look. "Say goodbye, Lucienne."

"Para ka nang others ngayon."

Trace sighed, "Where's Kuya Thorn?"

"Hindi muna raw siya papasok. Kasama niya si Cookie na bumili ng almusal at ng gamot ko. Hindi pa kami nakakapag-grocery eh."

"What's wrong with you? Bakit ka may sakit?"

My heart instantly warmed at Trace's tone. I get the impression that the theme of their relationship is more of a cat and dog relationship, but the moment he found out she was sick, he became concerned.

"Lagnat-laki lang 'to."

"Wala ka ng ilalaki."

Napaubo ako para ikublli ang tawa ko pero hindi iyon nakalusot kay Trace na napatingin sa akin. His eyes smiled at me before his lips did, and for a moment he just held my gaze as if he was transfixed.

"Wow. May nagbibinata."

Trace sighed loudly again and turned to the phone. "Kausapin mo muna si Domino at huwag mo munang patayin ang tawag hanggang hindi nakakabalik sila Kuya. Kakapuyat mo 'yan."

"Yes, Dad."

Ibinalik ni Trace ang phone sa kapatid bago siya bumaling sa akin. Without missing a beat, he reached for the plate of fried rice and put some on my plate. Akmang kukunin niya rin ang plato ng longganisa nang mapatigil siya. "Sorry. You're vegetarian right?"

It's surprising that he remembers. Most people don't which I don't mind. Hindi naman problema ng ibang tao kung anong gusto kong kainin at wala rin akong problema sa kung anong choice nila na pagkain. To each their own.

"That's vegetarian longganisa," I informed him.

"Hala. Talaga?" tanong ni Domino na abala pa rin sa pagkain. "Ang galing. Ngayon lang ako nakakain ng longganisa na gawa sa damo."

I pressed my lips together because I found myself wanting to laugh again. Trace gave him a look that tells me na konti na lang ay babatukan niya na ang kapatid.

"Hindi damo ang kinakain ng mga vegetarian, Domino. Anong akala mo sa kanila? Baka?"

Nginusuan ng nakababatang Dawson ang kapatid bago sya tumingin sa akin. "Sorry. I meant no offense."

"None taken." Itinuro ko ang iba pang pagkain. "The tocino is made of mushroom, the tapa is vegan, but the scrambled egg is made of real egg. I eat unfertilized eggs. Dairies too."

"Cheese?" Trace asked.

"Cheese is my favorite. As long as they don't have rennet or any animal enzymes in them."

"Rennet?"

"Stomach lining of a young ruminant." When I saw the question remained in his eyes, I explained further, "Stomach lining of a calf. They used it to trigger coagulation for the cheese."

"As in baby cow?" Trace whispered.

"Yes."

Napatulala sa akin si Trace at maging si Domino na napatigil sa pagkain. I gave them a small smile and I reached for the food in front of me. Nilagyan ko ang plato ko ng ulam at pagkatapos ay inabot ko iyon kay Trace na kaagad namang kinuha iyon sa akin.

"Don't feel guilty for eating what you want to eat. We all have different preferences. Humans have been eating meat since millions of years ago. It would be good if people would reduce their meat intake and try other varieties, since it would benefit all of us. But no one should force anyone to stop entirely if they don't want to."

"When did you decided to be a vegetarian?" Trace asked.

"Back when I was eight, and I saw from a farm we visited a cow being butchered alive."

Sometimes, I can still remember how the animal met my gaze. Its eyes are big and kind, but full of pain and sadness. The same thing that almost happened to Ruby and Emerald. They came from a cattle farm that specialized in veal production. The farm was about to shut down since the owner sold their land, so they were in a hurry to sell the meat as well. I managed to buy the last two calves alive.

Binalot ang hapag ng katahimikan. I didn't mind, and instead I turned to my food so that I could start eating. After awhile, the voice of Lucienne broke the silence.

"Mukhang hindi magtatagal wala na akong kaagaw masyado sa luto ni Lia dahil may isang magko-convert na riyan."

"Ahuh," Domino agreed.

"For the sake of love—"

Kinuha ni Trace ang phone at may pinindot siya ro'n. Mukhang hindi naman niya pinatay ang tawag at sa halip ay minute lang. Ibinalik niya iyon sa kapatid na tatawa-tawa lang bago siya tumingin sa akin. "I'm leaving after breakfast."

Tumango ako. "Okay."

"Domino's staying. Ipapadala ko na lang ang mga damit niya mamaya at siya na ang bahalang magdala sa inyo sa bahay ko."

Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ko sa magkapatid. "That's okay with me, but why?"

Ang tinatanong mo ba ay kung bakit hindi rin aalis si Domino o ang tinatanong mo eh kung bakit hindi si Trace ang maiiwan? I threw my conscience, that in my mind looks like a chibi version of me, inside an imaginary box and I locked it.

"I'll see you in a week. Enough time for me to prepare the house and for you to prepare what you needed to bring with you," Trace explained. "I need someone here to make sure of your safety."

"Hindi ako magkukulit masyado," sabi ni Domino. "Pwede mo rin akong maging kargador, assistant, at poging kakuwentuhan." Naging alangin ang ngiti niya nang mapatingin siya sa kapatid niya na naniningkit ang mga mata sa kaniya. "Hindi man ako kasing emeyzing ni Kuya Trace pero pwede mo na akong pagtiyagaan. Bibili pa kasi siya ng bahay— aray!" Napayuko ang lalaki sandali pero nang kumunot ang noo ko ay ibinalik niya ang ngiti sa mga labi niya. "Ang ibig kong sabihin ay bibili pa ng mga gamit para sa bahay si Kuya."

They're being weird again. It's like they know something that I don't.

"Everything will be okay, Ember. I promise," Trace assured me.

I nodded hesitantly. His light-brown eyes softened at me, and all the confusion in my mind disappeared instantly. Or to be exact, my mind disappeared entirely.

"Till the day my life is throuuugh! This I promise youuu!"

Mariin na ipinikit ni Trace ang mga mata nang mapapitlag ako sa biglang pagkanta ng sister-in-law niya na mukhang inalis ni Domino sa pagkaka-mute. The younger man threw his head back and roared with laughter while I turned my attention back to my food, hiding my own smile that curved my lips.

They're weird people, and maybe that's good. Because for years, I haven't felt as light as I feel today.

No. That's not exactly true. Dahil ang unang beses na nakaramdaman ako ng ganito ay ang gabi na unang pinagtagpo ang tadhana namin ni Trace Dawson.

______________________________End of Chapter 4.