Chapter 37: One day
DS8Uncovered #LuMa #BearCouple #DaggerSeries
CHAPTER 37: ONE DAY
LUNA'S POV
"I don't understand. What does it have to do with her?"
Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ko sa mga kapatid ko nang hindi nila kaagad nasagot ang tanong ni Magnus. They are sharing looks that tell me that I need to brace myself for something.
Dagger asked for a meeting, and Magnus wanted to come with me. I was expecting to talk about my case, but to my confusion, they started telling us about another case that they received just today.
"Her name's Luna," Kuya Gun said through gritted teeth.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"The new case we received is about a missing woman named Luna."
"Luna is a pretty common name now, Kuya—"
"She wasn't the only one," pagpasok ni Kuya Axel sa usapan. Inabot niya ang remote at sa isang kisap ng mga mata ay naging screen ang nakapaligid na salamin sa conference room. Faces of women popped up. Wala sa kanila ang magkakamukha at wala rin silang pagkakaparehas sa akin.
Except for our names.
He continued as the images on the screen started changing. "We wouldn't have known if we hadn't received the case. Kaya namin kinuha ang mga detalye tungkol sa iba pang mga biktima. The names of the other victims were hidden to protect their families, but I don't think they will be keeping them from the public for too long now."
"The authorities are already preparing to disclose the information as we speak," Kuya Thorn announced.
"How many victims?" I asked.
"Recent ones? Dagger's case would be the sixth."
Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "There's more?"
"We suspect that this could be traced back to years ago."
I scanned the information right in front of me. Gustong bumaligtad ng sikmura ko sa mga nababasa ko. I have a feeling that this was what I read on the news when we were at that island resort. Women that have been missing. Some of them were discovered, but they were drained of blood, and they couldn't find the others except for some of their body parts.
"So what happened to me might not be really about me? I'm just another person who happened to be named Luna?"
Si Kuya Pierce ang sumagot para sa lahat. "Most likely, yes."
"I don't think her exes should be off the hook just yet," Magnus grumbled, his face dark. "There's something off about them."
I rolled my eyes before I glanced at my brothers. "If you still want to investigate them, I have no problem with that." I could be biased, so I'm not going to stop you." I point at Magnus using my thumb. "But this one is also biased. He doesn't like any of them."
"I share the same sentiment," Kuya Gun shared. "But we'll keep that in mind. We're not planning on stopping anyway. We are still considering them as people of interest."
Nagkibit ako ng balikat. I'm not going to tell them how to do their jobs, as I keep telling them. I'm not going to resist when I know they just want me to be safe. I'm already dying. I don't need to add suicidal to the equation.
Kuya Thorn met my eyes, his face was serious. "We want you to be extra vigilant, Luna."
"Not extra stupid." Pinagkrus ni Kuya Coal ang mga braso niya. "Don't put yourself in any situation without our knowledge. Don't make us criminals, which will surely happen if you get hurt."
"I don't mind if it's for you," Kuya Axel stated with a shrug.
Inilagay ko ang kamay ko sa tapat ng dibdib ko. "Aww."
Napailing na lang ang iba sa kanila habang ang ilan ay napabuntong-hininga na ikinangisi ko.
"By the way, Luna," Kuya Thorn started.
"What?"
"We received information from Finnegan Carpio."
Looks like contacting Pen was the right choice. "Oh?"
"You didn't need to." He held my eyes for a second, and it reminded me of two of the worst days of my life. He was the one who told me about our mother—that we were about to lose her—and he was the one who told me that our father might never come back. "But what he provided was valuable, and it's helping the case progress."
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "That's good."
"No. It's great, Luna."
My heart thudded loudly. I wanted to hope. I want to do it so badly. I want to take his words the way I want them to. I want to, but I'm scared... too scared of the outcome. "I don't... what?"
A soft smile graced his lips. I clasped my hands together when I felt them start to tremble. My eyes searching, I turn to look at Magnus, who reached for my hand. Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko nang makita ko ang paraan ng pagkakatingin niya sa akin.
Muli akong bumaling sa nakatatanda kong kapatid. "Kuya..."
"We might be able to bring him home soon."
And with that, I burst out in tears. While I rarely do it because I am so used to trying to be strong and so used to trying not to be a burden, everyone will agree with me that being surrounded by the people I love is the best place to do it.
"I hate it when you go. Can't you just stay here, Papa? Can't you just stay with us?"
"Don't you know, my little moonbeam? I'm always with you, and no matter what happens, I will always come home to where you are."
NAALIMPUNGATAN ako nang maramdaman ko ang pagkilos ni Magnus. Through blurry eyes, I saw him reach for something from the bedside table nearest to me. His body is hovering over me, but I can tell that he's trying not to jostle me.
Magnus' voice was rough from sleep. "Hello?" He didn't speak for a moment, listening to the person on the other line. "She's sleeping."
Kumilos ako at humawak ako sa braso niya dahilan para mapatingin siya sa akin.
Itinulak ko ang sarili ko paupo. I was really tired, and I still wanted to sleep more. Hindi maimulat masyado ang mga mata na isinandal ko ang pisngi ko sa dibdib niya. "Who is it?"
"Emma."
Pakiramdam ko ay binuhusan ako ng malamig sa naging sagot niya. Inangat ko ang kamay ko para hingin sa kaniya ang phone ko. He hesitated a bit, as if he wanted to hear first what the person on the other line wanted to tell me so that he could take the burn out of it for me.
"It's okay," I whispered softly. "Let me talk to her."
He gave me the phone, but he didn't move away. Instead, I felt his arm go around me, and he pulled me closer to him. I buried myself more in him, welcoming the comfort he's giving me. "Emma?"
"Luna..." I could hear Emma's voice breaking on the other line. "Alam kong madaling-araw na pero... gusto... sorry..."
"You don't need to apologize. What's wrong?"
"G-Gusto kang makita ni Ella. Ang sabi... ang sabi ng doktor baka raw..."
She couldn't continue her words. She didn't need to.
Mariing pinikit ko ang mga mata ko. "We'll be there quickly. Hang on tight, Emma."
Rinig ko ang pag-iyak niya at ang pag-alo sa kaniya ng boses ng isang lalaki. Ella's father is probably there with them.
I jumped up from the bed the moment that the call ended. Mabilis na pumasok ako sa walk-in closet at hindi na ako nag-abalang palitan ang itim na night gown ko na lagpas tuhod at basta na ko na lang isinuot ang unang hoodie na nahila ko.
Nararamdaman ko na nagpapalit din ng damit si Magnus sa likuran ko pero nauna na akong lumabas sa kaniya at pumanaog ng bahay. Naabutan ko sina Nevan at Warrick na nasa sala na gulat na napalingon sa akin.
"We're going to the hospital," I declared.
I saw their eyes go to my back. Ilang sandali lang ay nasa tabi ko na si Magnus na ikinawit ang braso sa bewang ko at iginaya ako papunta sa elevator. Nevan and Warrick followed silently.
I found myself lost in a daze as the flurry of activities around me passed by. Before I knew it, we were already in the hospital, walking by the long corridors that would lead us to Ella and her family.
Napakurap ako at nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Magnus. "I... I forgot to ask what room they are in."
Marahang hinaplos niya ang likod ko. "I have it."
Tumango ako at tinuon ko ulit ang atensyon ko sa nilalakaran namin. I feel cold, and it's not just because of the naturally cold air. Pakiramdam ko ay binabalot ako ng tensyon na unti-unting bumibigat at dumadagan sa akin.
I steeled myself when I felt Magnus' steps slow down. Huminto kami sa tapat ng isang kuwarto. I knocked on the door, not giving myself a chance to hesitate.
Nagawa kong ipaskil ang ngiti sa mga labi ko kahit na iyon ang huling gusto kong gawin nang bumungad sa akin ang loob ng hospital room ni Ella. She was hooked on a lot of machines, and she's wearing an oxygen mask.
Sa kabila ng panghihinga na kita sa kaniya ay lumiwanag ang mukha niya nang makita niya ako na nakatayo di kalayuan sa kaniya.
I pushed myself to take one step after another, leaving Magnus' side, so that I could go to the brightest child I have ever met in my life.
Ella has a lot of reasons to have her life darkened by the things she's going through. She's missing a lot, and she can't experience the things that children her age are experiencing. She can't even have friends or go to school. She was robbed of a lot of things, and yet she shines as if none of those affect her.
"Hey, kiddo." Umupo ako sa tabi niya. "Bakit hindi mo ako sinabihan ng maaga na mag-i-i-staycation ka pala para naman nakapag-prepare ako?" She just giggled as a response, and my smile widened at the sound. "May gusto kang snacks na kainin?"
Umiling siya. Umangat ang kamay niya at may itinuro siya sa tabi ng kama niya. Tumayo si Emma at kinuha iyon para ibigay sa kaniya. Ella's frail hand went to me, and I reached for hers.
Napalunok ako nang makita ko ang mga bracelet na inabot niya sa akin. There are two of them. I traced the letters above. LuMa.
"P-Para kay Prince Charming mo po ang... ang isa," mahina niyang sabi.
Nilingon ko si Magnus nang maramdaman kong tumayo siya sa tabi ko. He took the bracelets from me and without a word, he slipped one on my wrist while he put the other on his.
"It's beautiful." Nginitian niya si Ella. "Thank you."
Ella whispered a you're welcome before her attention went back to me again. "Pwede... pwede pong kuwentuhan muna tayo... na... na tayo lang dalawa? Dito... dito ka muna po."
Tumango ako. "I'll stay here as long as you want me to."
Tumayo sina Emma at ang asawa niya na bitbit ang batang kapatid ni Ella na tulog na tulog na. They both gave me a shaky smile before they walked out of the room.
When the door closed, Magnus kneeled down. I watched as he pulled something from his pockets. "It's cold, and you're just wearing your house slippers," he explained as he pulled the socks over my feet. "I'll be outside if you need me."
Tumayo siya at bago tuluyang lumabas ay marahang tinapik niya ang kamay ni Ella bago siya bumaling sa akin at hinalikan ang sentido ko.
I could feel my nails digging into my palms when the room was engulfed in silence, leaving Ella and me alone surrounded by it. Huminga ako ng malalim at nakapaskil pa rin ang ngiti sa mga labi na humarap ako sa kaniya.
"So what do you want us to do? Do you want me to tell you stories again about my adventures as the best lady boss in this country? Or stories about my brothers and sisters-in-law?"
I wanted them to meet her. But she's in the advanced stage of her illness. Given her weak immune system, the doctors are hesitant to expose her to too many people.
"Do you want to meet them? I can call them."
Umiling siya at ngumiti. "O-Okay na po ako... na... nakuwento mo sila sa akin."
"Gusto mo akong ma-solo 'no? Since I'm your best friend," biro ko sa kaniya. When she nodded, I grinned at her. "You're my best friend too."
Bahagyang namilog ang mga mata niya. "P-Pero ang dami... dami... mo pong friends."
"I have, but you're the best of them." Itinukod ko ang siko ko sa kama at nangalumbaba ako. "What do you want to talk about?"
"G-Gusto ko... gusto ko lang pong mag... magpaalam."
Hold it in. "Are you going abroad and leaving me here in this country?" Ekseharadong ngumuso ako. "May passport naman ako ah."
She giggled again, her eyes never losing their light.
Inabot ko ang kamay niya at marahang pinisil ko iyo. "You don't need to say bye to me. You're going to stay here for a long time, and when you get better, I'll take you with me so we can travel."
"N-Next time na lang po." She squeezed my hand back, but I could barely feel it. "Pag... pag nagkita po tayo ulit."
"Next week?" She shakes her head. "Next month? Next year? I'll wait."
"M-Matagal na matagal pa po."
"Ella—"
"Kasi... kasi dito ka lang po. Di ba promise... promise ko po? Kakausapin namin ang angels at si God ng mama mo po para maging okay ka na."
"I'm okay, Ella. Don't worry about me. Just..." I cleared my throat. I feel like something is coiling around my neck, and I couldn't breathe. "Just get better. Just fight for one more day."
"M-May time po para lumaban... p-pero may oras din po para magpahinga na. Pa... pagod na po ako, A-Ate Luna."
I didn't know what to say. I wanted to cry so bad, but I didn't want to. Not in front of her.
"Are you scared?" I whispered softly.
"H-Hindi po."
The corners of my lips tugged up. "I always knew you're stronger than me."
"N-Natatakot lang po ako... para kila mama. Para... para sa baby brother ko."
"They will be okay. Don't worry." Pinisil ko ulit ang kamay niya. "I'll make sure your brother is okay. He'll grow up to be as great as you are. He'll study at the best school and university. He'll get married one day to the person he loves because he knows that his sister is a romantic who will want nothing but for him to fall in love."
"I-Ibig pong sabihin... kailangan m-mo pong mabuhay ng matagal. Para... para po makita mo siya na lumaki."
"Ella—"
"N-Naalala mo po 'yung pinag-usapan natin last time? Naisip k-ko po noon... siguro... siguro mas okay kung katulad mo ay hindi... hindi na lang alam ng buong pamilya ko na may... may sakit ako baka po mas madali para sa kanila."
"Ella..."
"Pero... pero naisip ko po, k-kailangan din. K-Kailangan po nilang malaman." I was lost for words and she took advantage of it and continued, "Kasi... kasi mas mahirap po siguro... kung mag-isa lang ako. Kung... kung sa kanila po nangyari... kung... kung sila po ang nagkasakit, h-hindi rin po natin gugustuhin na hindi natin malaman d-di ba?" All I could do was nod which made her smile. "K-Kung wala po sila mama... k-kung wala ka... baka po matagal na po akong hindi lumaban." She patted my hand gently. "Ang p-princess po hindi lang si prince charming ang... ang kailangan. K-Kailangan niya rin po ng family niya. Mag-isa po tayong n-nasasaktan, mag-isa tayong nahihirapan... pero... pero hindi po natin kailangan mag-isang lumaban."
"Have I ever told you that you're the most intelligent eleven-year-old I have ever met?"
She grinned. "O-Opo."
"Good. Because you are."
Binitawan niya ang kamay ko at bahagya niyang inangat ang sa kaniya. "P-Pwede pong hug?"
If she asked for a kidney, a piece of my liver, or my bone marrow, I would have given it to her. So even though I felt like my control would shatter into tiny fragments if I moved, I stood up and leaned toward her so that I could do as she asked.
"B-Babye po."
"No goodbyes, Ella." Bahagya akong lumayo sa kaniya at marahang hinaplos ko ang pisngi niya. "Someday, you'll see me again."
"Kapag... kapag marami na pong puti ang buhok mo."
She always believes it. That I will get better. My doctors could tell me that I'm also dying today, and Ella will still believe that I will live for more years.
"Yes. One day," I murmured.
In the same hushed tone, she whispered, "O-One day."
"Do you want them back?" I asked after awhile.
Tumango siya at pumikit nang may ngiti sa mga labi.
"I'll just be outside. Kapag kailangan mo ako, tawagin mo lang ako, ha?"
"O-Opo."
I reluctantly let her go, and I stood up to walk towards the door. Before I could open it, I heard her call my name. Nilingon ko siya at nakita kong nakatingin siya sa akin ulit. "T-Thank you, Ate Luna."
Umiling ako. "Thank you."
I stepped out of the room, and Ella's parents didn't need to hear me say anything. Bumalik sila sa loob ng kuwarto habang naiwan akong nakatayo sa labas. I felt Magnus' presence before I saw him.
He guided me towards one of the chairs, and instead of making me sit beside him, he pulled me onto his lap and hugged me tight. Para bang nawalan ng lakas na sumandal ako sa kaniya habang tulalang nakatingin lang ako sa kawalan.
It wasn't long before dawn broke, the light filtering through the windows of the hospital corridor. It's warm rays touched my skin... but it didn't feel like a new day was greeting me. Instead, it felt like a touch of goodbye.
It was then that I heard it. The heartbreaking cries from the room of the child that made my own fight bearable. The child that I will no longer see smiles, her bright face full of kindness, and I will never hear her voice which has always been a comfort to those around her.
She was so pure, so good. She was also taken too soon. Far too soon.
I heard another cry. This one is a lot closer to me. I wouldn't have known that it was coming from me until Magnus tightened his arms around me as if he were giving me all the strength he has, keeping me together as I started to break.
One day, Ella.
________________________End of Chapter 37.
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