DS8Uncovered #LuMa #BearCouple #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER 22: MR. ONE-LINER

LUNA'S POV

Present day...

Naabutan ako ni Magnus na nakatayo sa gitna ng sala habang nakatingin sa painting na nasa harapan ko. I'm already dressed for work, but I saw the painting that arrived yesterday that I forgot about because I was too tired.

"Should I put this on display here?" I asked him when he stopped beside me.

"No."

Iginala ko ang mga mata ko sa paligid. It's my intentional decision not to make the place look busy. Masyado ng maraming gamit ang mga opisina namin ni Magnus dito man o sa mga kompanya namin na gusto ko ng isang lugar na hindi masyadong nalulunod sa gamit.

"I agree. It's too red and blue." It's the painting by Darius Benitez that Magnus bought during Zachary's event. It's beautiful, but I don't think I want it in the living room. "Maybe in the bedroom-"

"Definitely not."

"Sa office ko?"

"No."

Kunot ang noo na nilingon ko siya. "Lahat ba ng suggestion ko tatanggihan mo?"

"No-" Nagpakawala siya ng malalim na hininga ng napaangat ang kilay ko. "Put it inside the bathroom."

Nalukot ang ilong ko. "That's the worst suggestion I've ever heard. You bought that painting for thousands of pesos, and you're going to put it in the bathroom?"

"I don't like it."

"Why not? It's pretty, and it reminds me of myself." Tinuro ko ang painting at pagkatapos ay itinuro ko naman ang sarili ko. "It's a moon, and I'm Luna."

"It reminds me of your ex-boyfriend's face."

"Si Zachary?" Tinignan ko ang painting. "Hindi naman siya mukhang buwan."

He let out a sigh again. Nilapitan niya ang painting at kinuha iyon. For a single moment, I was scared for it. Mukha kasing madudurog iyon sa mga kamay ni Magnus. Or it will get run over by a couple of cars once he decides to toss it out the window.

"Sa fifth floor," he declared firmly.

"Ooh, that's not a bad idea. But why there?"

Dala iyon na naglakad siya papunta ng elevator. "Eat your breakfast. I'll be right back."

"You didn't answer my question!" I called out to him.

Humarap siya sa akin nang makapasok siya ng elevator. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "So you wouldn't have a chance to look at it too much."

Naiwan akong nakatulala lang sa ngayon ay sarado ng elevator. It's only the beginning of the day, and it's already starting on a weird note.

Hilot ang sentido na naglakad ako papunta sa kusina. Katulad ng sabi ni Magnus ay mayroon na ngang nakahanda roon na breakfast. I felt my stomach grumble when I saw that he had prepared Eggs Florentine for me.

I learned to love it because of Magnus. Ilang beses niya na kasi akong ginagawan nito. Before, I didn't know it existed. I was more familiar with its other version, which is Eggs Benedict. Iyong klase na parang Bacon Benedict na dapat ang tawagin dahil mas marami ang bacon na pinalalagay ko kesa sa itlog.

Since Magnus is a health buff, he prefers to cook the Florentine one, which is topped with spinach rather than bacon. Sometimes he even does Eggs Royale, which has salmon in it.

I had my mouth full of food when Magnus came back. I gave him a nod and pointed at my plate with my fork. "I don't know how you do it, but thanks."

Umupo siya sa tabi ko. "It's not that hard to make it."

"Not that hard? You made a hollandaise sauce from scratch on a normal Thursday morning."

"People do it all the time."

"I doubt that," I said between mouthfuls. "I definitely don't."

Inangat niya ang kamay niya at dahil hindi ko inaasahan ang pakay no'n ay hindi ako nakaiwas ng may kung ano siyang inalis sa gilid ng mga labi ko. "Hindi mo naman kailangan. Nandito naman ako."

Inabot ko ang tubig sa lamesa at uminom ako bago pa tuluyang bumara ang kinakain ko sa lalamunan ko. Ano ba talagang nangyayari sa isang 'to? There's really something different about him.

"What are your plans today?"

I looked at the ceiling for a brief moment as I chewed. "Hmm. I need to review the editorial contents for Maven's upcoming issue, I'm stopping by production to check them out, and I have a couple of meetings scheduled, and one of them is with Daniel and Amanda. Why?"

"Have lunch with me."

"Bakit?"

"Because I want to have lunch with you."

Naguguluhang tinignan ko siya. It's not like we've done that... ever. Kapag nasa trabaho kami ay parehas kaming hindi mahihila sa ginagawa namin. "Bakit nga?" Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko at binuhay ko ang screen no'n. "Hindi mo naman birthday."

"Do I need to set up a meeting just to have lunch with you?"

"Hindi naman. Nakakapagtaka lang. You're someone who prefers to be alone, so I'm surprised you're asking me."

"I do prefer to be alone."

"So... why?"

"I don't have people that I like enough to eat with me. I like my employees, pero baka hindi pa matunawan ang mga iyon. Lunch time is for them to relax and talk, and that wouldn't happen if they're with their boss."

"So you like me then?" Mahina akong napatawa. "Samantalang dati kulang na lang mag-book ka ng flight papunta sa ibang planeta para taguan ako."

"You were too persistent, and you have the habit of railroading me with your... youthful energy. I was busy, and I wanted peace, but that doesn't mean that I hate you."

He's trying to be vague, but I know him better than he thinks I do. "I know you don't hate me, but I also know you don't like me." Sinundot ko siya sa braso. "Huwag ka ng magkaila. Ako lang 'to. Si Luna na ilang beses mong binasted."

Surprise spread all over me when he raised his own hand and copied me. Ang pagkakaiba lang ay ang pisngi ko ang pinindot niya. "Not liking you is different from not wanting to like you."

"W-What... why?"

"Because one look at you, I know you're trouble."

My mouth dropped open, but before I could speak, he had already risen from his seat to gather the plate. Nilagay niya iyon sa lababo bago niya ako tinapunan ng tingin. "I cooked, you wash. Magpapalit muna ako ng damit."

Hindi makapaniwalang sinundan ko siya ng tingin. "Hoy, Mr. One-liner! Anong ibig sabihin nang sinabi mo?!"

I heard his quiet chuckle, but of course, in Magnus' typical fashion, he didn't say anything more.

"Kakabasa mo 'yan ng mga libro. Kung ano-anong natututunan," bumubulong-bulong na sabi ko nang tumayo ako para maghugas ng pinagkainan namin. Kumuha ako ng apron at sinuot ko iyon para hindi mabasa ang damit ko. "Lagi na lang nag wa-walk out at pa-mysterious effect."Inilagay ko sa tabi ang mga pinaghugasan ko dahil pupunasan ko pa iyon. I wanted to buy a dishwasher, but Magnus said that it's stupid to pay for one when God already gave us one, which is our hands. Makes sense.

"Trouble, trouble pang nalalaman. Kamukha ni Superman pero kaugali ni Mareng Taylor." Inabot ko ang dish towel at nagsimula kong tuyuin ang mga plato. "I knew you were trouble when you walked in! So shame on me now flew me to places I'd never been. 'Til you put me down, oh, I knew you were trouble when you walked in- ay Superman!" Napahawak ako sa tapat ng dibdib ko at nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Magnus na biglang sumulpot sa tabi ko. "Can you please stop doing that?"

"It's not my fault that you're hopelessly unobservant." He reached for something inside the cupboard above me before he patted my head with a smile on his lips. "And I'd rather you don't call another man's name when I'm around."

Bago pa siya makaalis na alam kong gagawin na naman niya ay humarang ako sa daraanan niya at nameywangako. "Superman's name is not Superman. He's Clark Kent. At tigilan mo ako sa one-liner mo na naman." Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "So kapag nasa paligid ang mga kapatid ko anong itatawag ko sa kanila? Hoy?"

"Of course they're not included."

I plastered a mock surprise on my face. "You don't think they're men? Isusumbong kita."

"They're not the kind of men that annoy me."

"What kind of men annoy you? Superheroes?"

"No. Assholes that you're interested in."

Napakurap ako. I need to shut down my brain because I don't want another part of me to misinterpret. Oo, heart. Ikaw ang kinakausap ko. "Wow."

"What?"

"You just called yourself an asshole."

Taking a leaf from his book, I was about to walk out of the conversation by going back to what I was doing before he interrupted me, but I felt his hand on the ribbon on my back. I stilled from where I was standing as he re-tied the apron.

"I am an asshole. One that is yours... since I'm your husband." I felt the heat of his breath on the side of my neck. "But I'm glad that I got the confirmation that I need."

I physically felt his absence the moment he walked away. I let out a huge breath, and for a moment I just stood there as I tried to calm my thundering heart.

Hindi ko alam kung anong mas gusto ko. Iyong Magnus na walang pakielam sa mundo o itong bagong Magnus na nakikilala ko. Mr. One-liner Magnus.

My brain tells me that it likes the broody Magnus. That one is safer. But something else is choosing the other one, and that in particular is the most dangerous of them all.

NAPATIGIL AKO sa pagpasok ng tuluyan sa opisina ko nang makita ko ang nakapatong sa lamesa ko. My temp, Gracie, almost collided with my back at my sudden stop. She took a peek in my office, and I heard her exclamation of appreciation.

There's a huge basket of red flowers on my table, and there's even a box that looks like wine with it. May pamilyar na paper bag din sa tabi no'n. Pamilyar dahil mukhang iyon ang paboritong bilan ni Magnus ng pagkain dahil hindi ito ang unang beses na nakita ko iyon. The first one was when I showed up in his office unannounced and I found out that he's offering his building to Maven.

Sa ilang beses na pumupunta ako sa opisina niya kapag nauuna akong matapos sa trabaho ay lagi siyang bumibili niyon para may kainin ako habang naghihintay siya.

"It's his passive aggressive way of reminding me that I bailed on lunch." Tinapunan ko ng ngiti si Gracie. "Can you call Daniel for me? Hindi ko na siya nasagot kanina. Tell him to call you to schedule another meeting, but he needs to do it fast because I will be busier this week. After that, go take a long break. Kanina pa tayo nakikipagtuos sa mga meeting. It's your first day, and I'm overworking you."

"Hindi naman po. Nag-enjoy naman po ako."

"Sana all."

Natawa sa sinabi ko na nagpaalam na siya. Nang sumarado ang pintuan ay nilapitan ko ang pagkain at inamoy ko iyon. Kaagad kumalam ang sikmura ko.

It's one in the afternoon, so it's way past lunch, but I'm pretty sure this one arrived early. Nagkataon lang na nasa meeting ako. Maaga ko rin namang sinabihan si Magnus na hindi ko siya masasamahan na mag-lunch. I know I was busy, but I didn't know how busy until I arrived at Maven.

I brush my finger on the rose petals. Hindi ko masasabing mahilig ako sa bulaklak pero hindi ko rin naman sila ayaw. I've been given a lot of flowers in my life, but the fact that they come from him feels different.

Napakunot ang noo ko nang makita ko ang kahon. I thought it was wine, but it was just a glass of wine in a box. Come to think of it, bakit naman niya ako bibigyan ng wine eh ayaw niya ngang umiinom ako?

I let out a sigh, and I grabbed my phone. Hinanap ko siya sa messenger at tinawagan. For a man as busy as he is, it was surprising that he answered on the second ring.

"You haven't eaten yet," he said as a statement rather than a question.

Inabot ko ang maliit na note na nakalagay sa basket ng bulaklak. Inipit ko sa tenga ko ang phone para mabuksan ko iyon.

"You're always in my mind."

Kumunot ang noo ko. Magnus might be turning into Mr. One-Liner, but I can't imagine him saying such cheesy lines. Unless he bought the card that already has a pre-written message on it.

"I haven't," I admitted.

"Luna."

"Kumain ako ng croissant while I was in the meeting. Gracie gave me one. In all fairness, Alex was right about getting another assistant, and Gracie seems perfect."

She's very considerate, and she's not afraid to ask me when she's not sure of something. Para sa akin kasi ay mas mabuti ng matanong ka kesa iyong parati kang nagkakamali dahil ginawa mo pa rin kahit na hindi ka sigurado kung tama. Though minsan naman kasi kasalanan din ng employers o senior employees kung bakit takot magtanong sa kanila.

"Good."

"Have you eaten?" I asked.

"I haven't."

"Why not?"

"Turn your camera on."

Umupo ako sa office chair ko. "Why?"

"So I can eat with you. Kanina pa kita hinihintay na matapos sa meeting mo."

I felt a flutter in my stomach that was not out of hunger. I cleared my throat, and before I did what he asked, I glanced at the mirror on the other side of the room. Nang matiyak kong hindi naman nakabalatay sa mukha ko ang nararamdaman ko ay may pinindot ako sa screen para buksan ang camera.

"There you are."

I rolled my eyes at him. Naiiling na pinusisyon ko ang cellphone ko para hindi ko kailanganin na hawakan iyon. Napansin ko na nagsalubong ang kilay niya na ikinapagtaka ko. "What's wrong?"

"What was that?"

Nagtatakang nagbaba ako ng tingin sa sarili ko. "What do you mean?"

"Who is sending you flowers?"

Inabot ko ang basket para makita niya 'yon. "Memory gap na ba 'yan, gramps? You're the one who sent this. Ang secretary mo ba ang namili kaya hindi mo alam na ito ang pinadala mo?" Inangat ko ang box ng glass wine. "Is this a prank, though? You sent me a wine glass without wine."

"Call your bodyguards."

"Why?" He was already out of his chair, and I have a feeling where he's headed. "Mags?"

"I didn't send that, Luna."

Kasabay nang pagkawala ng imahe niya sa screen ay ang pagkabitaw ko sa hawak ko. The once beautiful flowers came into ruin, their petals scattered all over the carpeted floors.

The message on the card flashed in my mind at the same time that the glass wine label registered with me. Wine All Mine. All mine.

"Holy shit," I whispered.

Nag-angat ako ng mga mata nang bumukas ang pintuan ko at iniluwa no'n sina Nevan at Pike. The latter headed straight to me, but it was as if my body had a mind of its own that, when he reached out to touch me, I instinctively moved away.

"Sorry," I murmured. "Give me a moment."

"Take all the time you want," he said with a gentle smile. "I'll call the office. Nevan will stay with you."

He quickly exited the room, and I was left staring at the things in front of me. I really hope the food wasn't tampered with because it will ruin the restaurant for me, and Magnus seems to like it. Para ngang favorite niya pa.

Tumingin ako sa labas ng salamin na bintana ng opisina ko. The sun is still out, and yet it feels like I'm being haunted by beings that should be living in the dark. And yet here we are.

"We're being watched." Nilingon ko si Nevan na matamang nakatingin sa akin. It's like he's waiting for me to fall apart. But I wouldn't. Not when this place doesn't feel like a safe place to do exactly that. "He knows. He knows that Magnus always orders at that restaurant. He's waiting for it. Sinabay niya... sinabay niya ang mga bulaklak na iyon at iyong wine glass. He probably pretended that he was from Quetzal. No one in that restaurant will question it. By now ay kilala na nila panigurado si Magnus."

I knife out of my seat, and I started pacing. "I can't go anywhere without someone tailing me. Hinahatid-sundo ako sa bahay at trabaho." My voice is starting to rise, but I couldn't care less. "Now I can't even order anything?! I might not be on Lucienne's level when it comes to shopping, but I clearly can't do that right now! Pati food delivery hindi pwede? What the hell is wrong with my life?!"

"Umm..."

"Seriously, why me? I'm not saying that another poor woman should be subjected to this, but why does it feel like I'm always struggling? I don't need this shit! I'm already going through a lot! I'm too busy to worry about some whackatoo!" Galit na nilingon ko si Nevan na napahakbang paatras. "If you don't find him, I will, and he will wish that you found him first!"

Nevan pressed his lips together. He looks lost. Para ring gusto niyang makipagpalit kay Pike dahil mukhang nakikita niya na ngayon na nasa dugo ko pa rin ang kaparehas na dugo na nananalaytay sa mga kapatid ko.

Before I could stop myself, I raised my leg and brought it down heavily, the flowers crunching under my stiletto heels. "You stupid, stupid, creep! I'm going to crush your balls when I find you!"

"I got it from here, Nevan."

Hinihingal na tumingin ako sa pintuan at nakita kong nakatayo roon si Magnus. Nevan didn't need to be asked twice, and he went out without looking back.

"I don't deserve this!" My lips trembled, but I held on to the anger. "I don't deserve this. Why is this happening to me?"

He crossed the distance between us in a few powerful strides. In the next second, I was fully enveloped in his strong arms.

"I-I really wanted to eat that, and now I can't," I whispered, my voice hitching. "I hate this."

"I'll get us food myself, and we'll eat together."

"Okay."

"Your brothers will find him. This is what they do. You're their sister. He won't get close to you." I felt his hand make a comforting circle on my back. "Even if he does, I'll be with you. When that happens, I'll help you give him the same fate that these flowers went through because of him."

I chuckled at his words, but tears still clouded my eyes. "You'll help me crush his balls under my heels?"

I felt him nod. "I'll even hold him down for you."

Tuluyan nang kumawala ang luha mula sa mga mata ko. I needed a place where I felt safe to fall apart... and in his arms, it felt like the right place to be.

____________________End of Chapter 22.