Chapter 36: Dream
DS8Uncovered #LuMa #BearCouple #DaggerSeries
CHAPTER 36: DREAM
LUNA'S POV
Before I became the owner of Maven, I appeared in numerous magazines. I've even been to Time magazine. Noong una nagtataka rin ako sa klase ng atensyon na natatanggap ko. It's been happening even before I met my famous sisters-in-law, and my connection to them just fueled the flame more.
But just like what Stella and my other previous employers kept telling me, hindi imposibleng maging maingay ang pangalan ko dahil hindi rin ako nangingiming makabangga ang sinoman kahit noong nagsisimula pa lang ako.
"Parang ang lalim ng iniisip natin, ma'am, ah."
Nginitian ko ang makeup artist na nag-aayos sa akin habang si Mireia na nakaupo di kalayuan sa akin ay tinaasan ako ng kilay. "Huwag mong sabihin na trabaho na naman ang nasa isip mo?" tanong niya.
"Nope. I was thinking about how I've been in fashion for years and how I prefer watching models being buffed and polished than experiencing it."
Pakiramdam ko kasi ay ilang oras na akong inaayusan. Kanina ay nagtatrabaho pa ako pero hindi ko na magawa iyon ngayon dahil nilalagyan na ako ng makeup.
"You know, you're kikay and everything, but I think you would have been as influential as you are now in any field," she mused.
"Thank you for the vote of confidence," natatawang sabi ko.
"Hindi nakakapagtakang successful ka kasi parang hindi mo alam ang salitang bakasyon," singit ni Lucienne na busy sa cellphone niya. "But I'm glad you're in fashion. Marami kaming natatanggap na freebies."
I shook my head when she and Mirea shared a conspiratory grin. Akala mo naman mga walang pambili eh ang yayaman naman.
But I'm also glad that I'm in this field, no matter how stressful it can be. I always believed that I could make a change through fashion. Kahit na karamihan sa mga naging kaklase ko noon ay kakikitaan ng pagkabigla nang malaman nila kung saan industriya ako napunta. Fashion journalism isn't something that you'll consider relevant at first glance. Minsan nga ay tampulan pa iyon ng batikos. Sa dami raw ng problema sa mundo ay bakit kailangan pagtuunan pa ang mga ganitong klase ng bagay.
As if mirroring my thoughts, Mireia spoke up. "But you know? I hate how people think that fashion is just like playing dress up. Ilang comments ang natanggap ko noon na wala naman daw magsusuot ng mga damit ko sa runway sa totoong buhay." She rolled her eyes. "Malamang."
"Maven is still receiving "who cares?" comments sa mga post namin sa social media. Alam niyo naman ng henerasyon ngayon. Maraming pa-woke na hindi muna inaalam ang pinagsasabi nila." Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko nang muling napunta roon ang atensyon ng makeup artist. "In any news, if you don't think that the information is of significance for you, then it just means that the news is not for you. Hindi ibig sabihin ay hindi iyon importante para sa iba. Fashion is one of the things that is deeply rooted in every society. It's a freedom of expression for some, it shows individuality, and most importantly, it keeps culture alive. It will never stop being relevant.
"Fashion is also not immune to issues," Mireia grumbled.
"Yup. One of those even made Maven popular. During a fashion event, I wore a beautiful dress that everyone oohed and ahhed at. I refused to tell anyone the designer until I won an award and was given the chance to make a speech. It was then that I revealed that it was one of the confiscated dresses from a sweatshop that has been exploiting minors and the elderly, barely paying them or even giving them food to eat. They were locked in a warehouse to work four hours and hours, and if they failed to do their job, they would be taken away only to come back black and blue from beatings."
It's one of the biggest sweatshops that has been supplying countless stores that should have known better, and Maven played a key role in shutting it down.
"I remember that one!" Lucienne exclaimed. "You said, "I'm wearing a dress carrying the blood and tears of many. Make it your responsibility to know that you're not wearing one". Nag-trending ang speech mo no'n eh."
Bago pa may makapagsalita sa amin ulit ay pabalabag na bumukas ang pintuan at pumasok ang hinihingal na si Belaya. She's carrying a box that's almost as big as her. Magtataka na sana ako kung paano niyang nabuhat iyon kung hindi sumulpot kasunod niya sina Ember at Lia.
"We got the perfect one!" Belaya said happily. "Muntik na kaming matabunan ng pagkaraming gown sa storage pero worth it."
"Siya lang kamo ang muntik na matabunan," napapailing na sabi ni Lia. "Kung saan-saan kasi nagsuot ang kuting na 'yan. She found it in the most secluded part of the bridal backroom."
Ember gave me a sweet smile. "It was really worth it, though, like she said."
Hindi kasi ako nakapunta sa wedding shop ng tita ni Belaya dahil sobrang naging hectic bigla ng schedule ko. Ganoon din ang mga babae kaya ngayong araw lang talaga sana kami available ang kaso ngayong araw din na ito naka-schedule ang kilalang photographer ni Mireia. Kaya nagpresinta ang ibang mga babae na sila na lang ang kukuha ng wedding dress para sa akin habang inaayusan ako.
I didn't mind. Kahit ano naman ang ipasuot nila sa akin ay okay lang. I was really just expecting a simple white dress. Pero parang dapat akong kabahan.
Muling bumukas ang pintuan at pumasok si Tiara na may dalang puting maliit na box. "I got the shoes!"
Hindi pa tuluyang pumipinid pasara ang pinto ay bumalabag ulit pabukas iyon at pumasok si Circe na may hawak na bulaklak. "Flowers!" Nahahapong naghanap siya ng upuan at sumalampak doon. "Fresh pa ang iba riyan dahil halos lahat ng flower shop puro roses lang ang meron at puro pula 'yon."
Inabot ni Circe ang bulaklak kay Lia na ibinaba nama iyon sa harapan ko. It's contrastingly different from my first wedding bouquet, but it's beautiful just the same. The one in front of me has a pastel blue and purple palette. There's lavender, soft sweet peas, and light blue hydrangea mixed with more flowers I can't recognize.
"Thank you, sisterettes, pero hindi ba masyadong overkill? Photoshoot lang naman 'to. Bakit pakiramdam ko ikakasal ako?"
"Isipin mo na lang na rehearsal 'to kapag kinasal ulit kayo ni Magnus," sabi ni Belaya na inilapit sa akin ang malaking kahon na dala nila.
The makeup artist added the final touches to complete her work. I looked in the mirror, and I couldn't help but smile at my own reflection. It's simple, but it gives me a rosy look. "I should hire you." Pinagsalikop niya ang mga kamay niya at nagningning ang mga mata niya. "Thank you, Callie. Please leave me your business card para matawagan ka ng Maven."
Para siyang lumulutang sa alapaap hanggang sa makaalis na siya. When I finWhen I finally found myself alone with my sisters-in-law, I tightened my robe and turned towards the large box. Inalis ko ang takip no'n at napahugot ako ng hininga nang makita ko ang nasa loob niyon.
I brush my fingers on top of the soft fabric. It looks so delicate that I don't want to touch it out of fear of breaking it.
Kinuha ko ang maliit na card na nasa ibabaw no'n at binasa ko ang nakasulat.
"I designed this dress during one of the darkest periods of my life. I hope that it will bring a ray of light to you, just as it did for me." — Storm Scott
Maingat na kinuha ni Belaya ang gown at iniangat iyon mula sa kahon. "The moment I saw it, I just knew it's for you. It has stars, and you're Luna, so you're the moon. Perfect right?"
There's a tiny star scattered around the gown. It also has them on the two sheer fabrics that are as long as the trail. It's attached to both sides of the thin strap of the gown to give it the illusion of sleeves.
"I love it," I whispered softly. For some reason, I could feel wetness in my eyes. "Thank you, girls. I really appreciate it."
They all let out an aww, which made me shake my head and smile. "I'll help you put it on," Mireia volunteered after awhile.
Magkatulong sila ni Belaya na dinala ang gown sa malaking bathroom na mayroon dito sa bridal room ng Enchanted Studio. Nang nasa loob na kami ay lumabas uli si Belaya at naiwan kami ni Mireia.
Putting on the wedding gown wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. Mabigat iyon na hindi ko akalain dahil mukhang manipis lang iyon. Kaya naman pala hirap na hirap silang bitbitin.
Nang maiangat namin ni Mireia ang gown at natakpan ang harapan ko ay inabot ko ang likod ko para kalagin ang suot ko na bra. Wala kasing likod ang gown at tanging maninipis na straps lang ang mayroon doon.
Mireia circled around me to help me tie them, but I felt her still behind me. Nilingon ko siya at nakita kong titig na titig siya sa likod ko.
"What is it?" I asked.
Ipinilig niya ang ulo niya at binigyan niya ako ng maliit na ngiti. "May kukunin lang ako."
She was out before I could say another word. Hindi naman siya nagtagal at nang makabalik siya ay sa pagtataka ko may dala siyang makeup bag. She started rummaging inside, and when she went behind me again, I felt her tapping my back gently with a beauty sponge.
"You have some bruises," she explained.
Oh. Paminsan-minsan ay nagkakaroon na lang ako noon kahit hindi naman ako nababangga o ano. I don't even notice that I have them unless someone points them out.
Hanggang sa matapos kami ay nanatiling tahimik lang si Mireia. My sisters-in-law greeted me with cheers and clapping when we exited the bathroom. Their excitement is so obvious. Aakalain mong ikakasal talaga ako ngayon kahit na pictures lang naman ang ipinunta namin dito.
"Worth it ang hindi ko pag-attend ng script reading today," sabi ni Belaya na hawak ang cellphone niya at pinpicturan ako.
"May script reading ka today?" tanong ko.
"Yup. For my upcoming new movie."
Napanganga ako. "Are you playing some kind of a minor role?"
Nalukot ang ilong niyo. "Of course not. I'm the female lead." Sa pagkakataon na ito ay lahat kami ay napatulala na lang sa kaniya. Nang mapansin niya kami ay pinaikot niya ang mga mata niya. "Hindi na nila ako kailangan doon. Malalaki na sila. Hindi ko rin sila kailangan para lang sa script reading dahil malaki na rin ako."
"Kahit sixty ka na, munchkin, hindi ka na lalaki," pang-aasar sa kaniya ni Mireia.
Belaya bared her teeth at her. "Wench."
"Bitch."
Some things never change. Like these two. "You didn't have to do that," I told Belaya. "Hindi naman 'to importante."
Umangat ang kilay ng aktres. "Anong hindi importante? You've been to all our weddings to help us."
"This is the only time that we will get to see you as a bride," Lia, who was holding the veil, said softly.
"For now," singit ni Lucienne. "Naniniwala akong may part two ang kasal niyo ni Sir Magnus."
Inabot sa akin ni Circe ang bouquet. "Speaking of Magnus, kanina pa siya naghihintay sa'yo."
I felt the butterflies that have been visiting my stomach more frequently nowadays flutter again. Mas ramdam ko pa ang pagiging kasal namin ni Magnus ngayon kesa noong bagong kasal lang kami. I feel like we're doing everything backwards, and now we're on the honeymoon stage.
"Let's bring you to your husband bago pa makunsumi ang mga kapatid mo ro'n," natatawang sabi ni Lia.
Kumunot ang noo ko. "Akala ko si Kuya Domino lang ang nasa labas at saka sina Nevan at Warrick?"
Iginaya ako ni Lucienne palabas. "Papayag ba naman ang mga 'yon? Siyempre tsitsismis ang mga iyon dahil nandito kami."
And they're probably just overprotective of their wives. I have an on-going case that carries a potential risk, and with them all here with me, my guards are outnumbered. Pwede naman silang magpadala ng ibang empleyado o trainees, pero malamang sa hindi ay kaparehas lang ng sa mga asawa nila ang dahilan kung bakit sila nandito.
When we stepped inside the studio, all eyes immediately went to me. My more serious brothers gave me appreciative nods, Kuya Axel smiled at me, Kuya Coal gave me a thumbs up, and Kuya Trace and Kuya Domino were clapping in a way that made me afraid of their arms falling off.
"Where's Magnus?" I asked them.
"May sinagot lang na tawag." Inginuso ni Kuya Trace ang kinaroroonan ng malaking backdrop kung saan nakatutok ang mga ilaw. "Mauna ka na kaya muna? Kailangan niyo rin ng solo shots hindi ba?"
I shrugged and walked towards it. Anne, Mireia's photographer friend approached me and we talked for a minute to discuss the plan. Nang matapos kami ay nagsimula na siyang kuhanan ako ng litrato.
Posing for the camera wasn't hard. Kailangan ko lang namang tumayo at sumunod sa posisyon na pinagagawa niya sa akin. It's her who's doing all the work.
I was currently showing my back to the camera, with my body tilted to the side a bit so my face is still visible, as well as my hands that are holding the bouquet, when the doors opened and Magnus walked in.
I could feel heat spreading across my cheeks as I took all of him in. He's as handsome as ever, but right now he looks more like a groom than on the day of our wedding.
Our eyes met, and I felt like the hands of a clock suddenly stopped moving. Suddenly, I understood what Circe meant when she said that the way Magnus looks at me feels so beautiful that it almost hurts.
His gaze ran all over me as if, the way I was doing, he was also memorizing everything he's seeing. His face flickered with a myriad of emotions, his lips forming the gentlest smile I ever saw him give me.
He crossed the distance between us, and, ever so gently, I felt his arm go around my waist so that he could pull me close. Umangat ang isa niyang kamay at marahang pinaglandas niya ang likod ng palad niya sa pisngi ko.
I could hear continuous clicking near us, but I couldn't look away from Magnus' gaze, which seemed to be stopping me from escaping from its grasp.
"I thought you already looked beautiful the day I married you, and yet here you are proving me wrong again," he murmured.
I fluttered my eyelashes, trying to joke around. "I look like an angel, right?"
"No."
Nakarinig ako ng mga pagtawa at nalukot ang ilong ko. "Ang hirap mong pasayahin, hubby bear, ah?"
Smiling, he brushed the tip of his nose with mine, making me giggle in response. "You look like a dream, LA. My dream."
"Perfect shot!" Napatingin kami kay Anne na napangiwi at nag-peace sign sa amin. "Sorry. I couldn't help it." She waved her hand. "Just carry on and don't mind us."
"Keep calm and harot well," sabi ni Lucienne na nag-finger heart pa.
Ginaya ng ibang mga babae ang pagkorte ng puso gamit ng mga daliri nila. My brothers, on the other hand, are showing varying looks of awkwardness, but they stayed, though I had expected them to leave.
"So how are we going to do this?" I asked Magnus quietly, so only he could hear. "Should we ask Anne for pointers?"
"Hindi naman kailangan."
Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Gano'n ka ka-confident?"
He turned me around, and I shivered involuntarily when he hugged me from the back, his face near my neck that I could feel his hot breath on me. "I don't need pointers when it comes to showing what I feel for you. Not when I've been holding myself back for years."
Nag-angat ako ng mukha para salubungin ang mga mata niya. "Have someone told you that you're the exact definition of a romantic, hubby bear?"
"I wasn't."
"Hmm?"
"I wasn't a lot of things until you came into my life."
Humarap ako sa kaniya at parang may sariling buhay ang mga braso na yumakap ako sa bewang niya. He kissed my forehead, which, of course, made me smile.
"Such as?" I asked curiously.
"I don't eat as healthy as I do now. I have been living with takeout for years since I don't have much time to cook. I don't mind blocking an annoying person from my contacts. Lalong hindi ko araw-araw binabasa ang messages na pinapadala sa akin ng taong iyon kahit alam ko na hindi naman importante ang mga iyon."
My heart feels warm. He even saved a screenshot of those messages.
"I hate sleeping beside someone. I have trouble sleeping, and most of the time, I don't even have much time to do so. So when I need to rest, I would rather be alone. Most of all, I don't consider myself a romantic. I have a publishing company that prints romance books, and yet they are all just part of the job for me. But nowadays, I could feel myself relating to those books more, and they made me realize one thing."
"So you're saying that you've changed?"
"I did. I changed, and it's the most natural thing I've ever experienced. I changed so that I could be perfectly right for you."
"And did I?" Pinagapang ko ang mga kamay ko paangat sa balikat niya. "Did I change to be the same for you?"
"No." He leaned down, and I felt his lips brush my own. "You didn't need to. You have always been the right one for me. I just didn't know it then, LA."
He said I looked like a dream. His dream. He was the same for me. He was my favorite dream, one that seems so far out of reach. But now, in his arms, it didn't feel that way anymore.
____________________________End of Chapter 36.
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