DS8Uncovered #LuMa #BearCouple #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER 50: GHOSTS

LUNA'S POV

"Good morning, Ma'am Luna."

Kakawayan ko sana si Rage na siyang bumati sa akin pagkapasok ko sa ground floor lobby ng Dagger pero naalala ko na marami pala akong dala. Bumili kasi ako ng snacks sa The Dawson's Nook. Kuya Trace's been whining on the group chat about being hungry.

"Parang nag-shopping tayo, Ma'am, ah."

Nakangiting ibinaba ko ang isa sa mga paper bag na dala ko sa counter. "Share mo na lang sa iba na gusto mong bigyan."

"Isa lang naman ang hindi ko gustong bigyan."

Napatawa ako. Sigurado kasi akong si Warrick ang tinutukoy niya. Ragelle has been with Dagger since her freshman year of college, and everyone can attest that she's a people person. Mula lang talaga ng dumating si Warrick sa Dagger saka nagkaroon ng unang taong susubok sa parang unlimited niyang pasensya.

Hindi ako sigurado sa buong kuwento niya pero ang alam ko ay kilala ng mga magulang ko ang pamilya ni Rage. There was something about her family's business going bankrupt, and Rage didn't want her family to keep supporting her financially, so she wanted to work.

She was only sixteen at the time, and there's no work Dagger can really give her except helping the front desk. Siyempre hindi rin consistent ang oras na naibibigay niya sa Dagger dahil nag-aaral pa siya noon at isa pa ay may limitasyon ang oras na pwedeng ibigay sa kaniya para magtrabaho ayon sa batas. But she's hardworking, and she's been with the administrative staff since then.

"Nasa opisina sila, Kuya?" tanong ko habang sinisilip niya ang laman ng paper bag. "Bakit nga pala nandito ka sa lobby? Inilipat ka na ah."

Dagger wanted to make sure of her safety. Pagkatapos ng mga pinagdaanan ng Dagger ay hindi nila gustong manatili si Rage sa ground lobby at inilipat siya sa fourth floor kung saan tumatanggap ng kliyente ang mga kapatid ko. If someone tries to infiltrate the building, the ground floor is the first to be at risk, and they don't want to take that chance. Though sa pagkakaalam ko marunong siyang gumamit ng baril... but still.

"Nasa secure interview room po silang lahat," sagot niya sa una kong tanong. Nagpatuloy siya para sagutin ang pangalawa. "May meeting si Warrick sa taas kasama ng bago niyang kliyente at ayoko siyang makita. Nagkakasala ako."

Napataas ang kilay ko. "Because he's handsome?"

"Ew. Hindi po. Nakakaisip kasi ako ng masasamang words."

With a shake of my head, I laugh. Pagkaraan ay nagpaalam na ako sa kaniya at dumiretso ako sa daan papunta sa securite interview rooms na nandito lang din sa ground floor. Binaybay ko ang pasilyo at hindi ko na kinailangan pang isa-isahin ang mga kuwarto dahil namataan ko si Kuya Domino sa dulo malapit sa nakabukas na bintana.

"Isusumbong kita kay Tiara. Naninigarilyo ka na naman."

My brother looked at me before grabbing a lighter from his pocket with an attached snuffer so he could put out the burning end of his cigarette.

I rolled my eyes. "I don't have lung cancer, Kuya. I'm fine."

"Last time you were in the hospital, they couldn't breathe alone."

Well... point taken. "So..." Nilingon ko ang kuwarto na nasa tapat namin. "Anong meron at nandito kayong lahat?" Pinakatitigan ko siya. "At baking parang problemadong problemado ka? You stopped smoking when Tiara came into your life. Nakakapagtang na-break ang cigarette sobriety mo."

Nagpakawala siya ng malalim na hininga. Kuya Domino, next to Kuya Trace, is a cheerful person. Bihira ko siyang makitang problemado. He's always been the happy, loud, fanboy of the Dawsons siblings. The only time I saw a different side of him is when he's with his wife. Which I rather not think about since it involves things that will make me want trepanning to have a comeback.

"Kuya?"

He let out a huge sigh. "I want to wring that fucking woman's neck. That's my problem."

Oh. "Isusumbong kita kay Kuya Thorn. You're cursing in front of your pure and innocent little sister," I teased.

Sa pagkakataon na ito ay siya naman ang napaikot ang mga mata. "I've heard you curse before, and you're married. Pure and innocent are the words I doubt you could still use to describe yourself." Nalukot ang mukha niya. "Unfortunately."

"Iyon ang akala mo." I batted my eyelashes at him. It took a second before it dawned on him, and when it did, his eyes looked like they would fall from their sockets. Tatawa-tawang kumaway ako sa kaniya. "Bye! Don't worry. I got this."

Pumasok ako sa loob ng kuwarto kung saan naabutan ko ang mga kapatid ko na pinapanood sina Kuya Gun at isang babae na kilala ko lang dahil sa pictures na kasama siya ng mga magulang ko.

"Let me guess, everyone already took a turn, and she's not budging?" I asked the room.

The silence that greeted me was enough of an answer.

My brothers are good at their jobs. Kung hindi ay matagal na sigurong wala ang Dagger. I've heard and witnessed how easily they get someone to talk. Kuya Gun is there for a reason, and I know it's for intimidation.

It's not something they rely on. Intimidation is not the only thing one can use in an interrogation. Kapag si Kuya Trace ang nasa loob ay kadalasan lumalabas ang kausap niya na akala mo ay may bagong kaibigan. Not even realizing that they already gave away everything that Dagger needed.

But we're talking about a woman here who served before as a psychological operations specialist. She was also part of the Obsidian, and she managed to survive getting out of it while taking my father with him, who was the target that the Obsidian wanted to take care of.

She's a lot of things, but what she's not is an ordinary woman. By the looks of it, she's not even rattled even one bit.

"Put me inside."

Kuya Thorn's head snapped to me. "Luna—"

"Subukan lang natin." Nagkibit ako ng balikat. "Wala namang mawawala di ba?"

Nagkatinginan sila na para bang nag-uusap sila gamit ng mga mata nila. I crossed my arms with an eyebrow raised while waiting for them to come up with a decision. But I know I'm right. Wala namang mawawala sa kanila. It's not like they have a lot of choices left. They can either put my father inside to shake her a bit or torture her. Both things I'm sure that they don't want to do. My father needs distance from the woman who's been messing with his head, and torture is not legal anymore. Unfortunately.

Unang kumilos si Kuya Thorn at lumapit siya sa kinauupuan ni Kuya Axel. He pressed a button and leaned down to tell Kuya Gun to exit the room so that I could go in.

I saw my second older brother stiffen for a moment, as if he wanted to speak back to Kuya Thorn. He holds himself back by standing up and exiting the room without saying a word.

"What the fuck?" he growled the moment he was outside. "Why are you putting her inside to talk to that vile and sick woman?"

Bago pa may sumagot sa kaniya ay nagtaas ako ng kamay. "Ako ang nag-suggest, Kuya."

"Why—"

"Ang gwapo mo ngayon, Kuya, ah. Kaya patay na patay sa'yo si Lia. Speaking of your wife, tinawagan mo na ba siya? Sabi niya kanina may sasabihin daw siya sa'yong sobrang importante."

I kept the smile on my face as he took his phone from his pocket. "I'll be back."

Nakangiti pa rin na tumango ako. Sorry, Lia. Wala naman kasi talagang kailangan ang babae.

When Kuya Gun was out of earshot, I turned to the rest of my brothers. "So? Can I go in now?"

Hilot ang sentido na tumango si Kuya Thorn. Ibinaba ko ang mga dala ko sa isang tabi at walang dala na kahit na ano na pumasok ako ng kuwarto na walang pag-aalinlangan.

I don't need anything. I just need to make her see me.

I instantly knew that I was right when, the moment I walked in, the woman couldn't stop staring at me. Her face even paled a little, as if she saw a ghost. She kind of does.

Humila ako ng upuan at walang salitang umupo ako. I let the silence stretch between us for a moment. Nang makita kong bumuka ang mga labi niya na para bang may sasabihin siya ay saka ako nagsalita para unahan siya.

"I'm not here to ask you anything. I think my brothers already covered that."

"You..."

"You look surprised to see me." I let a smile curve on my lips. "You probably know a lot of things about me and my brothers. It's not like we live a quiet life. Kaya sigurado akong kilala mo ako."

She knows that I look like my mother. I guess iba lang talaga ang impact ngayon na nasa harapan niya na ako.

"My parents have a lot of pictures. Marami sa mga iyon ay nandoon ka. Mukha namang close ka rin sa kaniya at hindi lang sa ama ko na gusto mong agawin sa kaniya." Tumingin ako sa mga kuko ko na para bang mas concern pa ako roon kesa sa pinag-uusapan namin. "Pero mahirap mang-agaw ng taong ayaw magpaagaw."

I was just throwing assumptions. I don't care if they're right or wrong. Kung mali ay mas mabuti. I want to see how far she goes without denying and admitting anything.

"Kaya inintay mo na lang na mawala ang ina namin. If she didn't die of cancer, I would think that you have something to do with it."

Kumuyom ang mga kamay niya pero nanatiling tikom ang mga labi niya.

"I wanted to thank you, you know? You saved my father. You have the upperhand since you were on the inside. You got to him fast enough before they killed him. I wish I could thank you." Nangalumbaba ako at sinalubong ko ang matalim niya na tingin. "I just can't since you took him away from us. Sa amin na mga anak niya sa taong kinaiinggitan mo ng sobra."

Her face reddened. It was her insecurity, and that much is obvious. Walang tao ang gustong i-point out sa kanila ang insecurity nila. Lalo na sa paraan ng pagkakasabi ko niyon. People who have one, especially when it comes to being envious of someone, would rather deny it to their last breath than to admit it.

"You met him first, and you thought he was supposed to be yours. But a Dawson couldn't be own, not unless they wanted to be. At hindi ikaw ang gusto niyang mag may-ari sa kaniya. He became my mother's, he built a dream with her, and he had us with her. Kaya hindi nakakapagtakang inilayo mo siya sa amin. You know that we're a reminder of what he had with her. Something that he wouldn't ever choose to have with you."

I gave her a small, sad smile. A sympathetic one. The way the red on her face deepened, I knew she hated it more than anything. "I don't know what you did to him. Alam ko na malaking bahagi no'n ay ang injury na nakuha niya. He sustained a head injury, according to the doctors. Pero alam ko rin na malaki ang parte mo kung bakit mas lumala ang sitwasyon niya. At least you succeed in one thing, right? He can't remember a lot of things about my mother. He can't even remember me because I look so much like her. The only thing he does remember are the heartbreaking parts. He recalls moments when she no longer resembles her true self. Pero nakakalungkot 'no? Naaawa ako sa'yo. Ang dami mo ng effort pero hindi mo pa rin siya makuha ng buo."

"I don't need your sympathy!" she hissed.

Nanatili lang na nakangiti na nagkibit ako ng balikat. "I'm just saying. Ang sad kasi. You took him away from his children, and you made sure that he wouldn't remember the good things he had with my mother, and yet you can't still make him yours? That's the thing about the way a Dawson loves Laura. Once we see our one, we just know, and there's no undoing it. The only way you can stop his heart from loving her is if you stop his heart from beating. You should have let him die. He'll probably search for my mother in the afterlife, but at least you don't get to see him continue loving someone even though she's no longer here."

Sumandal ako sa kinauupuan ko at pingkrus ko ang mga braso ko. "Sa totoo lang, hindi naman kailangan pa na pagsalitain ka ng mga kapatid ko. Alam naman nila 'yon. They already have evidence to put you in jail. But my brothers have been looking for answers behind our father's disappearance for years, and since you played a big part in it, they wanted you to admit all the things you've done that kept him away from us. This is just to let the ghosts finally rest. You can say that it's just for personal satisfaction. They can't hurt you, they can't do anything to you, so this is the least they could have. But you know that, right? Kaya nga wala kang planong ibigay iyon sa kanila." The way her eyes flashed was enough of an answer for me. "I don't care about those things. You're already guilty about everything. I don't need your personal admission. I just care about my brothers. Pero kung hindi ka magsasalita, then so be it. We've survived a lot of things. Wala lang 'to. Wala ka lang sa amin. Wala ka lang sa ama ko."

"You're as haughty as your mother," she sneered. "You think you know everything. You think you have everything. But life is a fragile thing, and so are we. You have your father back? Are you sure? He's broken. He's not the husband your mother married. He's not the father you knew. He's just a shell who has a few memories to keep him alive. He's nothing without me."

"You might be a great psychological operations specialist, but you're not the best in the psychology field. Pero tama ka naman. He's different. He might not return to who he was before. But he's not nothing without you. Even when you were messing with his head, he wanted to go back to his children. To his home. And that home is not with you."

"He would have forgotten—"

"No, he wouldn't. Yes, he forgot about me. Sooner or later, maybe he'll forget the names of my brothers. Their faces. But he will never forget that he has children. The way he never fully let go of my mother's memories. You had him for years, pero kahit isang beses ba tumingin siya sa'yo kung paano niya tignan ang ina namin? Has he ever been playful with you? Has he danced with you in the kitchen for absolutely no reason at all? Has he looked at you as if you were the only person in the world for him? He hasn't, right? His mind could forget about everything. You can break his mind. But you can never touch his heart because we own that, and not even you can break that. "

She moved, toppling the chair she was sitting on. She would have successfully attacked me if it weren't for her bound wrists attached to the center of the table. "She took him away from me! You all took him away from me! I just took back what was mine!"

Nakangiting tumayo ako at naglakad ako palapit sa pintuan. But before I could exit the room, I turned to look at her. "My father might not be able to find someone as great as my mother, but he certainly doesn't need to settle for someone worse as you."

I ignored her screams and the sharp words she kept throwing at me. None of that matters. None of that could touch me.

Nang makalabas ako ay natagpuan ko ang mga kapatid ko na titig na titig sa akin. Tinaasan ko sila ng kilay. "Baka pwede na kayong mag-move on ngayon? Seriously, just put her behind bars and hope that someone shanks her up."

Kuya Trace blinks fast, looking like a cartoon character in a state of shock. "Wow. Why don't you leave, Maven, and work for us? You have the natural talent for this."

"I do?"

"Yup. You're naturally annoying. That woman was a stone before you went inside and annoyed the hell out of her."

Naniningkit ang mga matang kinuha ko ang paper bag na dala ko kanina. "Huwag kang kakain ha? Ikaw pa naman ang dahilan kaya nagdala ako ng pagkain."

Lumiwanag ang mukha niya. "My favorite sister!"

"I'm your only sister." Inilahad ko ang kamay ko sa kaniya. "Magbayad ka. Hindi na libre 'to."

Umismid siya nang hindi ako natinag kahit nagpapaawang tinignan niya ako. "Magkano ba?"

"Five thousand."

"Ang mahal naman! Ano 'yan? May binudbod na ginto na naman?" angal niya.

"Nope. Diamonds."

Habang panay angal pa rin ang kapatid ko na may lahing chihuahua ay naramdaman ko ang braso na pumalibot sa balikat ko kasabay ng halik na dumampi sa sentido ko. When I looked up, I saw my brother Thorn with a soft expression on his face. "Proud of you, Luna."

_________________________End of Chapter 50.