Chapter 10: Antartica
#DS8Uncovered #LuMa #BearCouple #DaggerSeries
CHAPTER 10: ANTARTICA
LUNA'S POV
A few years ago...
Nang makita kong abala si Lucienne sa pakikipag-usap sa editor niya ay pasimpleng pumuslit ako paalis. My sister-in-law is keeping her attention on the woman she's talking to, but I'm pretty sure that she's aware of what I was planning to do. Kaya siguro hindi na siya nagtaka nang mag-volunteer akong samahan siya samantalang kararating ko lang galing New York kahapon.
Luckily for me, there's no one in the quiet hallway to stop me from what I'm about to do. Sa sobrang tahimik nga ay hindi mo aakalain na may ibang mga tao sa gusali maliban sa amin ni Lucienne at ng editor niya.
There's no mistaking that the publishing world is a hectic industry. The only difference is that those in the focus of publishing novels require more solitary work of reading countless write-ups and meticulous editing, while we in fashion heavily rely on coordinating with different departments for what feels like every minute of every day.
Kumurba ang ngiti sa mga labi ko nang makita ko ang pangalan sa metal plaque na nakakabit sa pintuan. Tatlong mabilis na katok ang ginawa ko at hindi ko na hinintay na papasukin ako ng nasa loob dahil basta ko na lang binuksan iyon.
"Come–"
To daddy? Yes please. "Hi, Mags! Miss me?" Tulalang nakatingin lang siya sa akin na para bang hindi magawang maproseso ng utak niya na nandito ako sa harapan niya. "Gulat ka 'no? Kahit i-silent mo ang cellphone mo hindi ako mag-di-disappear. And by the way, hindi mo pa rin ako binablock." Inangat-baba ko ang kilay ko. "Aminin. May kulang sa araw mo kapag hindi mo nararamdaman ang presence ko."
He blinked at me. "Mas may kulang sa araw ko kapag nakakausap kita."
"Ano?"
"Pasensya ko. Nagkukulang ang pasensya ko." Nagpakawala siya ng malalim na hininga. "What are you doing here?"
"Binibisita ang isa sa mga paborito kong lalaki sa buong mundo."
Nagsalubong ang kilay niya. "Isa... sa mga?"
"Yup. Bakit? Akala mo ikaw lang ang lalaki sa buhay ko?" I couldn't help but grin when he looked torn between siccing security to me and throwing me out the window. Asus. Ayaw pa kasing umamin na hinahanap-hanap niya rin ang ganda ko. "Hindi pa kita pwedeng maging pinaka-favorite at baka ipalibing ka ng buhay ng pito kong mga kapatid." Nang-aasar na kinindatan ko siya. "Saka na kapag pinanagutan mo na ako."
The knot on his forehead deepened, and he suddenly stood up. Naglakad siya palapit sa akin at ready na sana akong salubungin siya ng yakap pero mabilis na umiwas siya sa akin at sinarado ang pintuan sa likuran ko.
There's a scowl on his face when he turns to me. "Can you please be careful—"
"With your heart?" I gave him a sweet smile. "Sure!"
"With your words," he continued, completely ignoring what I said. "Mamaya isipin pa ng mga empleyado ko na may namamagitan sa atin."
"Meron naman talagang namamagitan sa atin." I tapped the end of his necktie lightly. "But you know what? Sana nga wala ng namamagitan sa ating dalawa."
Lalong sumama ang timplang mukha niya. He clearly didn't catch the double meaning of my words. The phrase "there's something between us" means we're sharing a connection, but what I'm actually talking about is the literal sense of it. Na literal na may nakaharang sa amin.
"Iyon naman pala. If you don't want to be associated with me, then don't get involved with me."
"Masyado namang mainit ang ulo mo, Mags. Ang ibig ko lang namang sabihin... ayoko ng may naka pagitan sa ating dalawa." Pagkasabi niyon ay hinila ko ang necktie niya dahilan para mapahakbang siya palapit sa akin. His body would have collided with mine if he hadn't managed to catch himself at the last second. "Iyong mas close pa rito sana kaso baka may maeskandalo na."
He stepped back as if he'd been burned. He quickly retreated back to sit behind his office desk, as if he were desperate to put some distance between us.
Hinayaan ko na lang siya bago pa siya atakihin sa mga pakulo ko. Ayoko namang mabiyuda ng maaga. I'm too young to be a widow. Hindi bagay sa akin.
Inilibot ko ang paningin ko sa opisina niya. It's a huge office, but it's barely obvious because of the books covering all the spaces available in the room. Para na rin siyang malulunod sa daming mga papel na nakapatong sa desk niya.
I pick up a book randomly. With This Ring. I flipped it, and I read the synopsis. Napaangat ang kilay ko sa nabasa ko. "Is this book good?"
"We wouldn't publish it if it weren't."
I glanced at him. "It's about a married woman who had an affair." Binuklat ko ang libro at dumiretso ako sa pinakahuling pahina no'n. "At nagkatuluyan pa rin sila ng bidang lalaki. Wow."
"Some stories are complicated. It doesn't mean they can't be good."
"How can a story that focuses on cheating be good?"
He rubbed his thumb on his lower lip, and for a moment I was transfixed by the view. "The cheating was the conflict, but it's not the focus of the story. I'm not saying that cheating is good, but in the literary sense, it is what makes the book realistic since it depicts a complex relationship that exists in real life. And cheating isn't the focus. The core of the book is more about the exploration of growth, morality, the consequences of the characters' decisions, and redemption."
"I still don't like it, but I'm intrigued." Inangat ko ang libro. "Pwedeng akin na lang?"
Nagkibit-balikat siya. "Get whatever you want. Marami akong kopya ng mga 'yan."
"Mukha nga." Kahit kasi sa carpeted na sahig ay mayroon ding patong-patong na mga libro. "Wala na bang space sa warehouse niyo at ginawa mo ng tambakan itong opisina mo?"
"I like to review the books after they've been printed. Kapag may bago ring writers na gustong mag-sign o may mga bisita binibigyan ko sila niyan kaya marami akong kopya rito."
"So kahit kumuha ako ng marami okay lang?"
He just shrugged again as an answer. Nakangising nagpalakad-lakad ako sa opisina niya. Inabot ko lahat ng mga libro na gusto ko ang cover at kinikip ko iyon sa isang braso ko. Nang makuntento ako ay dala ang mga iyon na lumapit ako kay Magnus na abala na ulit sa computer niya at pagkatapos ay binaba ko ang mga dala ko sa lamesa niya.
"I'll take all these," I declared. "Walang bayad ha?"
"Katahimikan lang ang gusto kong bayad."
Inignora ko ang kasupladuhan niya. "I have a question though. I'm just curious."
He let out another sigh, and the look he's giving me is telling me that he's on the last straw of his patience. "What?"
"If you're married and she cheated, would you leave her?"
It's obvious that he didn't expect my question, but he didn't look taken aback by it either. "No."
"Why not? What if being together just makes you both miserable? Hindi mo pa rin siya pakakawalan kahit na alam mong mas magiging masaya siya kasama ang taong iyon?"
"I didn't say I wouldn't let her go." Nang makita niya ang pagkalito sa mukha ko ay nagpatuloy siya. "Annulment takes a long time in this country. As long as she's married to me, she's my responsibility."
"What do you mean by that? Payag ka na magkasama pa rin kayo kahit na alam mo na kapag wala siya sa paningin mo ay may kasama siyang iba? That's some martyr bullcrap. Ano 'yon? Tutulungan mo pa silang magkita?"
He shrugged. "I know myself better than anyone. If I married a person because I loved her, I know I wouldn't stop loving her just because she became unfaithful. If she's happier with someone else, if he makes her happy and I'm no longer enough, then I'll give her whatever she needs, even if it means watching her go into someone else's arms. But as long as my name is attached to hers, as long as she's still married to me, I won't let another man take what's left of us... the only thing I have of her which is my role as her husband inked on the paper we both signed. So yes. If it's needed, I'll help her meet him. I will still take care of her until I no longer need to."
Ilang sandaling wala akong magawa kundi mapatitig lang sa kaniya. Hindi siya mukhang klase ng tao na magtitiis sa isang relasyon na may lamat na. It's why his answers are so surprising.
"Well," I said, giving him a sweet smile. "It's a moot point. That wouldn't happen to us."
"Hindi talaga dahil wala namang tayo."
As always, I wasn't deterred by his grouchiness. "Hindi ka sure. We have all the time in the world, future hubby bear, so never say never."
LUNA'S POV
Present day...
Nag-angat ako ng tingin mula sa pagkakabit ng strap ng suot kong high-heeled shoes nang bumukas ang pintuan ng elevator. I tried not to roll my eyes when I saw my brother Domino saunter in. I should have expected that he'd come. Mula nang magkita kami sa Enclave kahapon ay wala na siyang ginawa kundi tawagan ako.
"You look pale," he said as a greeting.
"Hello to you too, brother." Inunat ko ang mga paa ko nang matapos ako sa ginagawa. "I look like this because I didn't get much sleep because of a certain someone."
He ignored what I was implying. Siya naman kasi talaga itong nambubulabog magdamag. "Where's Magnus?"
"He's upstairs."
"I'll make this quick then. Who was that man you were with yesterday? He seems familiar, but I can't remember where I first saw him." Bumuka ang mga labi ko pero hindi pa siya tapos magsalita. "And don't you lie to me, Luna Alondra."
"He's a friend."
"Then why are you not answering my calls?"
"Dahil sinagot ko na ang tanong mo sa una mong tawag. You're the one who wouldn't let it go so I stopped answering your calls."
"Luna—"
"Alam nina Leo at Eden na pupunta kami roon. Kasama rin namin si Magnus at sinabi namin sa kanila na may kikitain kami. It wasn't some big secret." Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Should I be offended at what you're insinuating?"
He didn't say anything for a few seconds, his eyes searching my face for the truth. "You're my sister. I know how much you like Magnus, and I know that you're not the kind of person who will do something like that."
"I can hear a but."
"But I know you well enough to see when you look guilty, and you were drowning in it yesterday." He brushed his hair up in frustration. "I didn't tell our brothers. I wanted to talk to you first. Gusto kong maintindihan."
"Kuya—"
"There must be a reason. If you have something going on with that man, I trust that Magnus knows. You wouldn't hide it from him." Nagsimula siyang magpalakad-lakad sa harapan ko. "Is that it? Are you getting an annulment? Is that the big secret?"
So they are aware that I'm hiding something. Warmth hugged my chest at the thought. Despite what they could feel, they chose not to force me to say anything. They trust me enough to wait for me to tell them everything.
"If that's the case, would the way you see me change?"
Nasalubong ang kilay niya. "Of course not. If you're seeing that man and hiding it from Magnus, I would be disappointed. But if you're doing the right thing by letting go of your husband first before having a relationship with another person, then I would understand." He let out a huge breath that he seemed to be holding in. "Sometimes things just don't work out. I have no right to judge you for that. But you have liked Magnus for years. Severing whatever you have with him wouldn't be easy, even if you fell out of love with him. As your brother, I want to know everything that's going on with you because I—we can't help you if you keep us all in the dark."
Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kaniya. Yumakap ako sa braso niya at nginitian ko siya. "Kagagaling mo lang sa honeymoon, Kuya. Huwag mo munang stressin ang sarili mo. Magnus and I are fine. I didn't tell Dagger that I would be there. That's why I looked guilty. It's just something Magnus and I sprung to Leo and Eden suddenly." He looks like he's about to protest, but I continued, "Kung may kailangan akong aminin, sasabihin ko kaagad sa inyo."
His eyes narrowed into slits. "Yeah right. You're the most secretive out of all of us."
Pinaikot ko ang mga mata. "Fine. I rephrased. Sasabihin ko kaagad sa inyo kapag handa na ako."
Napailing na lang siya. Parehas naming alam na wala na siyang magagawa. But I don't blame him for worrying. Siya man ang pinakamalapit sa edad ko sa aming magkakapatid ay hindi ibig sabihin hindi siya katulad ng mga nakatatanda naming mga kapatid pagdating sa pag-aalala sa akin.
After we lost our parents—after we thought we lost them both—they all made sure to make it their mission to take care of me. Kaya nga ayokong binibigyan sila ng dahilan para mag-alala. Whatever might be going on with my life, I wanted to sort it out first before bringing them into it.
Napatingin ako sa hagdanan nang may marinig ako na pagkilos. I looked up at my brother, and I threw him a smile. "Magnus and I are going to the hospital since I have an appointment with my OB-GYN, and I'm also going to visit a patient there. Stop being a worrywart, okay? Tiara's too young to be a widow kapag bigla ka na lang inatake sa puso riyan."
"You have an appointment with your..." Nawalan ng kulay ang mukha ng kapatid ko. "Are you... are you pregnant?"
It's not the first time that I have had the inclination that they're suspecting me of being pregnant. It's also not the first time that I wish that they're right. Na iyon nga ang problema. "Nope." I put a hand on my waist, and I gestured my body with the other. "Sinasabi mo bang mukha akong buntis?"
Pinamulagatan niya ako ng mga mata. "You're the one who said that you're visiting your OB-GYN!"
I just stuck out my tongue to him before I left him so that I could walk towards my husband, who is now descending the stairs. Magnus' eyes went from me to my brother, but he didn't say anything more, and instead he just tipped his chin to my sibling as a greeting.
"Are we good to go?" Magnus asked.
"Yeah." Tinapunan ko ng tingin ang kapatid ko. "Gusto mo bang sumama sa amin, Kuya? Para maihatid ka namin sa asawa mong baka nagtataka kung bakit ang aga mo siyang iniwan sa bahay."
"Tiara was already awake when I left. She's training." Naglakad siya palapit sa amin para marahil sumabay na sa amin sa elevator. "And no, thank you. I need to go straight to the office. Marami na raw naghihintay sa akin na trabaho."
"Ang haba naman kasi ng honeymoon niyo."
Napangisi siya. "Kulang pa nga."
Umakto akong naduduwal na ikinatawa niya lang. I'm close with all my brothers, but I would rather not think about any of them doing the nasty. Kaya nga parang torture ang mga libro ni Lucienne lalo sa mga kapatid ko na nasobrahan sa pagiging maharot.
Kapag binibigyan ako ng mga libro ni Lucienne ay may note na siyang nakahanda sa akin para iwasan ang mga chapter sa mga libro niya na alam niyang magiging dahilan para gustuhin kong kumuha ng one way ticket papunta sa ibang planeta.
"So how's the snow?" I asked when we're inside the elevator. "Nakakaka-inggit. Ang init dito. Gusto ko ring pumunta sa malamig na lugar."
"Ewan ko. Hindi naman kami nilamig ni Tiara."
Nalukot ang mukha ko. "Ew!"
He burst out laughing. "What? We were on a honeymoon. Ano bang ine-expect mo?" He snickered, clearly enjoying my uncomfortability. "Para namang wala kang asawa."
Humalukipkip ako. "Bakit? Are you willing to listen if I tell you how Magnus and I can melt Antarctica with our lovemak—"
Sa pagkakataon na ito ay ako naman ang napatawa nang takpan niya ang mga tenga niya. Hanggang ngayon nga naaalala pa nila ang sama ng loob nila sa "pagtatanan" ko, iyong marinig pa kaya nila ang confirmation na hindi na talaga baby ang baby sister nila?
Nang bumukas ang elevator ay naunang lumabas ang kapatid ko. I stepped out as well, and that's when I felt my knees buckle. Kuya Domino didn't notice, though, because when he turned to look at me, Magnus was already on my side, his arms around my waist. Nakayuko rin ang asawa ko dahilan para halos ilang hibla na lang ang layo ng mukha namin sa isa't isa.
Nalukot ang ilong ni kuya. "Maiwan ko na kayo at parang nakakaistorbo ata ako."
Nginisihan ko ang kapatid ko. "At least honest ka."
He just skewered me with a look before he started walking away. Hindi kami nililingon na inangat niya lang ang isa niyang kamay bilang pagpapaalam.
"Are you okay?" Magnus asked.
"Yes." I straightened and gave him a smile. "Kulang lang ako sa tulog."
"Maybe we should just go home after your appointment."
I wanted to say no instantly, but I could see the worry in his eyes. "I'll be fine, but we'll see. Kapag hindi pa rin maganda ang pakiramdam ko mamaya, uuwi na lang muna ako. You don't need to come with me. I know you're busy."
"I'm not busy."
I chuckled. "That's the biggest lie in history. Kung hindi ka busy, hindi rin ako busy. We have a lot of work waiting for us, hence, it's impossible for us not to be busy. I know you're itching to go back to them, so don't lie to me."
"It's not like I have a choice. If I did, I would rather be melting Antarctica right now," he murmured under his breath.
My knees buckled, and this time, it was for a completely different reason.
_____________________End of Chapter of 10.
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