#DS8Uncovered #LuMa #BearCouple #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER 2: THE DAWSON'S WAY

LUNA'S POV

A few years ago...

"How did you get my number?"

I tear my eyes from my older brother and Lucienne. There's no mistaking the love they have for each other. Kita iyon sa paraan ng pagkakatingin nila sa isa't isa. Matagal na silang obvious, pero busy pa kasi silang magtagu-taguan ng feelings noon.

I'm happy for my brother. Since our parents died, he took on the responsibility of being a parent for me and my other siblings. I don't think there was ever a time that he did something that wasn't for us or for the company. I rarely see him smile, much less laugh. Kaya masaya ako na nakahanap siya ng tao na laging nagpapasaya sa kaniya.

"Wow. This is an improvement. Ikaw na ang unang kumakausap sa akin ngayon," nanunudyong sabi ko kay Magnus.

"Answer the question." Naningkit ang mga mata niya. "Did you ask your brothers to get it for you? You do know that's illegal, right?"

Inabot ko ang champagne mula sa tray na dala ng waiter na dumaan sa tabi namin. Kumuha ako ng dalawang baso. "Alam mo, masyado kang assuming. Kapag hindi ka tumigil baka ako naman ang mag-assume niyan." I extend my right hand that is holding a glass to offer it to him. "I might assume that you're bothered by me."

"You are indeed bothering me, and just so you know, that isn't exactly a good thing."

Nagkibit ako ng balikat. "It's a start. I'll be the most beautiful disturbance in your life. Hanggang sa hindi mo napapansin ako na lang ang laman ng isip mo." Nang hindi niya kinuha ang basong ibinibigay ko ay tinungga ko ang akin at akmang iinumin ko rin iyon pero mabilis niyang inagaw ang baso mula sa akin dahilan para umangat ang sulok ng mga labi ko. Kunwari pa, concern din naman. "And I didn't ask my brothers to give me your number. Si Lucienne ang nagbigay sa akin. Kusa niyang binigay."

"I find that hard to believe."

"I just hinted that I'm interested in you. Then she gave me your number. Isn't she the sweetest?"

Mula kasi nang makuha ko ang number niya ay hindi ko na siya tinigilan na tawagan. Pinapadalan ko rin siya ng pictures ng kahit na anong maisipan ko. He's like my daily diary. Sinasabihan ko siya nang nangyari sa buong araw ko kahit hindi naman siya nagtatanong.

Pursigido kasi talaga ako na sirain ang panliligaw niya kay Lucienne, my now sister-in-law, lalo na noong mga panahon na nagkahiwalay si kuya at ang babae. Partly because I want Magnus for myself, but mostly because I really like Lucienne for my brother. Natigil lang ako sa pangungulit sa kaniya noong mga panahon na-ospital siya. It was only then that I took a break from bothering him.

"Delete my number," Magnus grumbled.

"Ayoko nga." Ibinaba ko sa cocktail table ng baso ko at pinagkrus ko ang mga braso ko. "There's a function on your phone that could block me from contacting you. So bakit hindi mo pa rin ako bina-block?"

Imbis na sagutin ako ay walang ngiting tinalikuran niya na ako. Dahil hindi uso sa akin ang salitang "sumuko", kaagad na sinundan ko siya at humarang ako sa daraanan niya. "Gusto mo rin na tinatawagan kita 'no?"

"Is "leave me alone" sounds like "I like you"?"

He had told me that once recently when I called him in the middle of the night. Props to him, I've disturbed him a number of times before that, but it was only then that he straight up told me to leave him alone. Nataon atang natutulog siya ng mga oras na iyon.

Napangisi ako. "I like you too."

He looks like his head is about to explode. Huminga siya ng malalim na para bang kinakalma niya ang sarili niya. I have to give it to him. Even though I keep on annoying him, he's still a gentleman.

Some people could be really rude. Hindi ko sila masisisi kung ako ang kaharap nila. My kind of persistence would be frowned upon if the role were reversed. Kung lalaki ako na nanliligaw at babae si Magnus baka may restraining order na ako ngayon. I'm just going to enjoy this privilege and the fact that he has unlimited patience. Na baka dapat ipagpasalamat ko sa mga writer niya na dahilan kung bakit natututo siyang habaan ang pasensya niya.

Binigyan niya ako ng masamang tingin. "You have a selective hearing."

"Wala ah. Wala akong pandinig. Bingi kasi ako." Kinindatan ko siya bago ko itinuro ang tapat ng puso ko. "Mas pinapakinggan ko kasi 'to."

He let out a sound that almost sounded like a growl, which made me just smile more.

"Hindi ka uminom no? Mas mabait ka kapag lasing ka." Nang hindi siya sumagot ay nagpatuloy ako sa orihinal na pinag-uusapan namin. "Hindi mo pa rin sinasagot kung bakit hindi mo ako binablock."

He stepped on the side, but I just mimicked his movement. He sighed again. "I'm tired. I'm going home."

I gesture in the direction of Lucienne with my thumb. "Aren't you going to say bye to the bride?"

Nilingon niya ang kinaroroonan ni Lucienne at sandaling napako roon ang mga mata niya. Since his attention is on my sister-in-law, it gave me a chance to stare at him as well.

I'm not blind. I know he likes her. In fact, he has deeper feelings for her that are more than like. Maybe even love. Minsan ko na siyang nasaksihan na nagpapakalango sa alak dahil sa kabiguan niya. But that's not enough to stop me from liking him. I always believe that in life, we can fall in love again and again... and yet there's only one that will really own our hearts completely.

I want to own his the way he already owns mine.

I thought it was just a story my parents made up, but now I have proved that it is real. The special ability of a Dawson which is both a gift and a curse. A gift because once a Dawson sees the "one", a Dawson knows. A curse because even though I know that he's exactly that for me, it doesn't mean that he wants to be. He will soon. Hindi pa ko nawawalan ng pag-asa.

"I'll just message her." His gaze went to me. "Go to your family and celebrate with them."

"Kanina pa kami nag-ce-celebrate kaya tayo naman ang mag-celebrate."

"I'm not in a celebratory mood."

Sawi kasi. "Hindi lang naman kailangan kasal lang ang maging okasyon ngayon. Pwede rin nating gawing okasyon ang bigo mong puso. Huwag kang mag-alala. Willing ako na damayan ka."

He is clearly at the end of his patience. Without a word, he placed a hand on both sides of my arms to move me to the side. Despite his intention, his touch was gentle.

The corner of my lips tipped up. "Touch move."

"What—"

Nanguyapit ako sa balikat niya. "Touch move rule. Kapag hinawakan mo, sa'yo na ako."

"This is not chess, Luna Alondra."

Nalukot ang ilong ko. "Luna na lang. O kaya LA kung cute na cute ka sa buong pangalan ko."

"I'll give you another meaning for that LA. Leave. Me. Alone."

"LMA iyon eh." Lalo kong hinigpitan ang pagkakayakap ko sa kaniya nang tangkain niyang alisin ang mga kamay ko sa pagkakakapit sa kaniya. "Pero sige pagbibigyan ka. LA it is."

"You're going to leave me alone?"

"Nope. One day magiging LA mo rin ako. Love. Mo. Ako."

This time, he succeeded in pulling away from me. Hinayaan ko na lang siya lalo pa at mukhang malapit na siyang ma-high blood dahil sa akin. Pero nang magsimula siyang maglakad paalis ay ngingiti-ngiting sinabayan ko siya.

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya. "Where are you going? Go back inside."

"Ayoko."

"Just go inside, Dawson. I'm too tired for this. I need to sleep."

"Tulog o ako?"

He didn't need time to think about it. "Tulog."

"I can sleep with you." The sound he made sounded like air had been sucker punched out of him. "Malinis ang konsensya ko nang sinabi ko 'yon. I really just meant to go to sleep. Not sleep with you." Inangat-baba ko ang mga kilay ko. "But if you like the latter—"

"Tayo." He cleared his throat. "Matulog na tayo."

"Okay—"

He turned me around, and then he pushed me to my brother, Pierce, who seemed to be on a call. Instinctively, my brother caught me in his free arm.

"Your sister is drunk. She said she wanted to sleep."

I pouted, but there was nothing I could do. Kapag nalaman ni Kuya Pierce ang pinagsasabi ko kanina ay baka lalo akong hindi makapangligaw kay Magnus. I'm nearly twenty-six, but I'm pretty sure they can find ways to ground me like I'm a seven-year-old child.

"Ano na namang ginawa mo sa isang 'yon?" tanong ni Kuya Pierce nang ibaba na niya ang cellphone na hawak niya. Magkasabay na naglakad kami pabalik sa kinaroroonan ng pamilya namin. "Stop harassing Lucienne's boss."

"I'm not harassing him."

I'm loving him. The Dawson's way.

LUNA'S POV

Present day...

Don't do it, Luna. Don't you do it. Let them be happy.

Humakbang ako paabante nang maramdaman ko na tumama sa akin ang bag ng babaeng nakapila sa likod ko. It was not the first time. Kanina pa niya ako nababangga pero mukhang busy na busy kasi sila ng kasintahan niya sa paghaharutan kaya parang may sarili silang mundo.

I was craving for some donuts. Kaya bago ako tumuloy sa bahay ng pangalawa kong kapatid na si Gun ay nag-stop over muna ako sa Mister Donut.

"Baby, gusto ko ng choco butternut. Please! That's my dopamine source eh. Hungry na ako."

"Sure! Bibilan ko ang baby ko na 'yan ng isang box."

"Thank you, baby!"

Don't do it, Luna Alondra Dawson.

I stepped forward again when the person in front of me was done paying. Bumuka ang bibig ng empleyado ng establisyemento pero bago pa niya masabi ang usual greeting nila ay naunahan ko na siya. "I want everything from here..." Itinuro ko ang kaliwang bahagi ng salamin papunta sa kanan. "To here."

"Mukhang favorite niyo ang choco butternut namin ma'am ah," nakangiting sabi ng lalaki na kaagad kumuha ng mga kahon.

I prefer plain chocolate, but oh well.

Hindi ko pinansin ang babae na nasa likod ko na nagrereklamo na sa boyfriend niya. Thankfully, the store's employee was quick to move, and in no time, he handed me four boxes of the regular choco butternut donuts and two boxes of the munchkins version.

Kaya ang bilis ng karma rin sa akin minsan. Lalo na kapag ganitong tinatamaan ako ng kasamaan ng ugali.

Nang sakay na ako ng sasakyan ay kaagad na pinaandar ko na iyon. I'm a little late for the family dinner since I have a meeting I can't get out of quickly. Nauna pa nga si Magnus na makabalik sa Cavite kesa sa akin.

Ten minutes later, I was in front of my brother and his wife, Lia's, house. It looks like I need another ten minutes to park this car though.

Sa lahat pa naman ng ayaw ko ay ang mag-park. I love driving, but I always look like a beginner when I'm parking, unless it's a parking spot that I'm used to. Sanay akong pumunta sa bahay ng mga kapatid ko pero dahil mukhang lahat sila ay nagdala ng sasakyan, hindi ko tuloy alam kung paano ko pagkakasyahin ang sasakyan ko sa natitirang espasyo na iniwan nila para sa akin.

After a couple more attempts to maneuver the car to fit the slot, I finally gave up. Tatawagan ko na sana ang isa sa mga kapatid ko nang may kumatok sa bintana ko. I found my husband standing outside and gesturing for me to roll down the window.

"Hi, hubby!" I greeted him.

"I'll park it for you."

Ekseharadong inalagay ko ang kamay ko sa tapat ng dibdib ko. "My hero!"

Used to my antics, he just shook his head. Nangingiting inabot ko ang bag ko pero imbis na bumaba ay lumipat lang ako sa passenger seat para makapasok siya ng kotse. "Nagdala ka ng sasakyan?"

Umiling siya. "Sinundo ako nila Thorn para ako na raw ang magmaneho ng sa'yo mamaya."

"Kamusta naman ang muli niyong pagkikita ng first love mo?" tanong ko habang pinapanood siya sa ginagawa niya.

He turned the engine off before giving me a look. Binuksan niya ang pintuan at lumabas na siya. Bago pa siya umikot para pagbuksan ako ay tumawid lang ako ulit sa kabilang upuan.

Tinulungan niya akong makalabas. "You're going to hurt yourself."

"Matagal na akong nasasaktan." Napatawa ako nang mapabuntong-hininga siya. "Charot lang. Masyado namang mainit ang ulo ng asawa ko ngayon."

He didn't say anything, and instead he just took my hand and guided me towards the house. Naabutan namin ang pamilya ko na nag-iintay sa dining area. Kompleto ang lahat maliban kay Kuya Domino na nasa honeymoon niya pa. Kung pag-iintay pa ngang matatawag samantalang busy na sila lahat na kumain. I can't blame them though. Sa sarap naman kasi ni Lia na magluto. Idagdag pa na may dessert din na dala si Mireia. Circe and Ember probably brought something as well.

"Hala! May donuts pala akong dala." Nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Magnus at nagpapa-cute na nag-beautiful eyes ako. With a sigh that became his go-to response when it came to me, he let go of my hand and walked back to my car.

"Dito ka na umupo." Inginuso ni Kuya Trace ang puwesto sa tapat niya. May plato na ro'n na may iba't ibang klaseng gulay. "Ipinagtabi ka na ng asawa mong hilaw."

Hindi na ako nagtaka sa huli niyang sinabi. I've been married before Kuya Coal and Kuya Domino did, but they still haven't moved on from my abrupt marriage. Hindi kasi ako nagsabi sa kahit na sino sa kanila at basta na lang akong nagpakasal. But at least they attended my wedding reception. Which I did months after Magnus and I got married, and I only did so that I could appease them. Ang lalakas kasing magtampo.

You'll think that when you turn thirty, it will give you more freedom. Pero kahit ata sixty na ako ay malabong mangyari iyon. Lalo na at pito ang mga kapatid ko na lalaki. Now I'm thirty-one, and they're all married, and they're still grieving me grief about my marriage.

"Bakit parang kambing ata ang tingin sa'yo ng isang 'yon?" tanong ni Kuya Trace.

"Iyan nga rin ang gusto ko sana sa'yong itanong. Ano kayang hayop ang nakikita sa'yo ni Ember at pinatulan ka niya? Alam mo namang animal lover 'yan."

"Chihuahua," sagot ni Lucienne para sa kapatid ko.

I raised my hand, and she immediately touched hers to mine for a high-five. Binigyan kami ng masamang tingin ni Kuya Trace bago nagsusumbong na bumaling sa asawa niyang sinubuan lang siya ng pagkain para matahimik siya.

I reached for the plate of bacon-wrapped smokies, and I put a couple on my plate that were filled with different vegetables.

"Did you buy the whole store?"

Nilingon ko si Magnus nang makita kong dala na niya lahat ng pinamili kong donuts. Inilagay niya iyon sa lamesang inihanda na talaga para sa mga dessert.

"Ang tanong kamo, sino na namang mag-jowa ang pinaiyak ng isang 'yan?" singit ni Lucienne na nginisihan ako. Minsan na kasi niyang nasaksihan ang trip ko sa buhay. Sushi nga lang 'yon na napunta sa sikmura ng mga empleyado ko sa dami kong binili.

"Sa lahat ng happily married, iyan ang bitter pa rin hanggang ngayon." Tinaasan ako ng kilay ni Kuya Trace bago nagdududang nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa akin at kay Magnus. "Happily married nga ba?"

I gave him a sweet smile. "Mas mauuna ka pang ma-annul bago ako, Kuya."

"Not really," Magnus said, entering the conversation.

Kuya Thorn turned to him with a knotted forehead. "Are you saying that you and my sister will get annulled first, Aquillan?"

"No." Umupo ang lalaki sa tabi ko at kinalahati niya ang nilagay ko roon na bacon at pinalitan niya iyon ng honey garlic pork chops. Na hinati niya rin. "Annulment takes forever. Ember will probably just take the baby and disappear."

The room was surrounded by laughter and chuckling. Nakangusong humalukipkip si Kuya Trace. "Alam mo pareng, Magnus, napapansin ko parang mas one of the girls ka. Lagi mo silang kinakampihan. Dapat sa amin ka kumakampi. We're the bros, you know?"

"You threatened to bury me alive before."

Yep. That happened. When my brothers just found out about me and Magnus, Kuya Trace would often pester him. He once told Magnus that he knew a good place to bury a body.

Those kinds of things don't bother Magnus though. He just simply told my brother that if he's asking for someone to help him, he's too tired to volunteer. Pero kung siya raw ang ililibing, hanapan muna raw siya ng kapalit sa Quetzal na kayang i-handle ang mga writer niya. Baka raw kasi kapag nailibing na siya ay makapagpahinga na siya finally.

"By the way, may fan meet event pala si Belaya para sa new TV series nila. Gusto mong sumama?" tanong sa akin ni Mireia.

"Kailan ba?"

She told me a date, and I was about to agree when Magnus spoke up. "We can't go on that date. We scheduled something on that day, remember?"

"Saan ang punta niyo? Bakit hindi kami invited?" nakangiting tanong ni Belaya.

"Oo nga! Sama kami. Pumunta muna tayo sa event ni Belaya tapos dumiretso na tayo sa kung saan kayo pupunta," suhestiyon ni Lucienne.

Natatawang napailing na lang ako. It's so natural for them to invite themselves. Sanay na ako sa kanila at kahit naman ako ay ganoon din minsan. Muntik pa nga akong sumama sa honeymoon nila Kuya Domino. Gusto ko rin sa snow. Ang init dito sa Pinas eh.

"I don't think you should come with us," Magnus told Lucienne.

Her lips pursed. "Why not?"

"Because you're my employee, she's your sister-in-law, and I doubt any of you want to see us naked."

Napuno muli ng tawanan ang lugar pero sa pagkakataon na ito ay ang mga babae na lang ang nakakatawa habang ang mga kapatid ko ay masama ang pagkakatingin kay Magnus. I mean... at this point, what do they expect?

"Ang weird, though," Mireia mused after awhile. "May schedule ang pag—"

Namumula ang mukha ni Kuya Axel na sinubuan niya ng pagkain si Mireia para hindi matuloy kung anuman ang sasabihin ng babae.

"We're both very busy," I said with a shrug.

"Ay oo nga pala. Si Sir Magnus hindi nauubusan ng sakit na ulong writers," tumatango-tangong sabi ni Lucienne. "Except me siyempre." Tinuro niya ako. "At ikaw naman—"

Sa pagkakataong ito ay si Kuya Thorn naman ang pumigil sa kung anong sasabihin niya sana. Kuya Trace, on the other hand, suddenly stood up and went to the kitchen. Nahihiwagahang nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ko sa kanila. Anong meron?

"Alam mo, Luna. Akala ko close close tayo rito," panimula ni Lucienne. "Pero naisip ko, sa lahat sa atin ikaw itong ang daming pa-surprise."

"At sa lahat ng mga Dawson ikaw ang pinaka-secretive samantalang ang mga kapatid mo mga tsismoso," dagdag ni Belaya na tinapunan ng ngiti ang mga kapatid ko. "No offense. You know I'm not lying, though. Ang bilis ng tsismis pagdating sa inyo."

"We own an investigation company," Kuya Trace said while holding a box. Sa isa niyang kamay ay may lighter siya na hawak. "Parte na ng buhay namin ang tsismis."

Ibinaba ng kapatid ko ang dala niya sa gitna ng lamesa at nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita kong cake iyon. The whole cake was filled with varying colors of pink, purple, and white flowers. May letter tag iyon sa ibabaw na gawa sa chocolate at may nakasulat na 'You're the boss!'.

"CONGRATULATIONS, LUNA!"

I almost jumped out of my seat when cheers and claps erupted around me. Kuya Trace lit the candle, and he looked at me pointedly. "Blow the candle, little menace, so we could eat this. Gawa ni Mireia 'to."

I rolled my eyes. I'm only "little" to them. Mga higante kasi. Maliban kay Mireia ay isa ako sa pinakamatangkad na babae kung ihahambing ako sa mga sister-in-law ko. Pero di hamak na mas maliit ako kung itatabi ako sa mga kapatid ko.

I leaned down and blew out the candle, and they all clapped again. Nangingiting pinagmasdan ko na lang sila nang walang salisalitang nag-unahan na sila sa cake. My family. The craziest, loudest, and also the sweetest family one could ever ask for.

If only he's here, then all of this would be more perfect.

"Kuya?" I was looking at my brother Thorn, but all eyes turned to me. "Is there any lead?"

I hate how the mood goes down a little, but it was something I wanted answered right now.

"There are some potentials," Kuya Thorn answered, knowing what I meant instantly, even without asking.

"I can help."

"Luna—"

"You know I can." Nilingon ko ang mga kasama namin at nang makita kong nasa akin ang nag-aalala nilang mga mata ay ngumiti ako. "Let's talk about this later. Kumain muna tayo at baka mga hindi kayo matunawan."

Later. I can at least wait for that. The right moment when we can open the box of secrets we didn't know we had for years. The box that is full of questions of what really happened years ago. Kung bakit nawala si Papa at kung bakit kumakailan ay napag-alaman namin na baka hindi pala iyon totoo.

And if he's alive... why didn't he come back? Why didn't he try to find us? Why did he leave us all alone when we needed him most?

I felt a hand wrapped around mine. Nag-angat ako ng mukha at nagkasalubong ang tingin namin ng asawa ko. He squeezed my hand, and I didn't pull away. Instead, I let him give me the strength he's offering.

Again, I found myself leaning on him... needing him.

Secrets. Every turn, it seems that's all I can see. Secrets that we unknowingly carry, secrets that could hurt, and secrets that could do the opposite.

At least for now.

______________________________End of Chapter 2.