Chapter 53: Favorite
DS8Uncovered #LuMa #BearCouple #DaggerSeries
CHAPTER 53: FAVORITE
LUNA'S POV
Nag-angat ako ng tingin mula sa laptop ko nang maramdaman ko ang pagkilos ni Magnus sa tabi ko. I pressed my lips together when I caught a glimpse of the shirt he's wearing. Iyon kasi ang pilit niyang isinuot kagabi. Hindi ko na siya pinigilan dahil mukhang tropa shirt nila iyon ng mga kapatid ko na hindi ko alam kung saan nila nabili.
Magnus let out a pained groan. "What time is it?"
"Eight o'clock."
I chuckled when he suddenly sat up into a sitting position. Hindi niya pa magawang imulat ang mga mata niya pero parang handa siyang mag-ala Flash para lang magawa niyang makapaghanda sa pagpasok.
"Slow down, hubby bear. It's Sunday."
Pabagsak na bumalik siya sa pagkakahiga habang nakapatong ang braso niya sa tapat ng mga mata niya.
"Kamusta naman?" tanong ko.
"Ang alin?"
"Ang pakikipagmatigasan sa alak? Hindi mo ba alam na marami ng sumubok na patumbahin 'yon pero walang nananalo?"
Inalis niya ang braso niya at lumingon siya sa akin. He managed to pry one eye open. "Are you angry?"
"Of course not. Mga kapatid ko naman ang kasama mo. Kapag may nagtangkang humarot sa'yo at nagpaharot ka siguradong lagot ka sa mga iyon."
"Kahit wala sila ro'n, imposible na magpaharot ako sa iba."
"Paano kung si Megan Fox ang lumapit sa'yo?" biro ko.
"Who's that?"
Hindi niya kilala si Megan Fox? "Kate Upton?"
"I don't know who that is."
"Bela Hadid?" My forehead knotted when he shook his head again. Was he living under a rock for years? "How about iyong idol mo na si Taylor Swift?"
"She's not my idol."
Napangisi ako. "But you know her?"
"Hindi rin."
"Pero kasasabi mo lang—"
"No woman interests me anymore except for my beautiful wife, Luna Alondra Dawson-Aquillan."
I rolled my eyes, even though my heart thumped loudly in response to his words. "Ewan ko sa'yo Winnie the Pooh Jr."
"Ha?"
Inginuso ko ang suot niya dahilan para magbaba siya ng tingin sa kulay pula niya na t-shirt. Sa gitna niyon ay nakaimprenta ang nakangiting mukha ni Winnie the Pooh.
"I thought it was a dream," he mumbled.
"Ang alin?"
"Sa panaginip ko dinala kami ni Nevan sa outlet mall, kasi nagpilit si Trace. Natapunan kasi siya ng alak."
"Eh bakit meron ka rin?"
Napakamot sa ulo na hindi siya nakasagot na para bang hindi niya rin alam kung bakit may t-shirt siya ni Winnie the Pooh. Hindi pa siguro bumabalik sa kaniya lahat na hindi nakakapagtaka sa tindi ng pagkalasing nila.
"Are you sure you're not angry?" he asked again after awhile.
"I'm sure. Wala namang magsaya ka paminsan-minsan. Saka katulad nga ng sabi ko, ang mga kapatid ko naman ang kasama mo. And you're very entertaining when you're drunk."
"Yeah?"
"Yep. When you're drunk, you go from being a grizzly bear to being Winnie the Pooh." He groaned and plopped back to bed again. I reached for his head, and I started massaging it. "Headache?"
"Hmm."
"Want me to bring you some hangover soup—"
He knifed up suddenly, looking at me with panic. "You don't need to cook. Okay na ako." He grimaced when my eyes narrowed into a slit. "Makita lang kita, okay na ako."
"Grabe ka naman sa akin, Mags. Para namang hindi ka nasarapan sa ibang mga niluto ko. I made some casserole before, and you finished what's on your plate."
"Kasi sabi mo kung hindi nagustuhan magluluto ka pa ng iba."
Napasinghap ako. "I thought you liked it!" Lukot ang mukha na akmang tatayo na ako pero naabot niya ang braso ko at hinila niya ako palapit sa kaniya dahilan para bumagsak ako sa ibabaw niya. I struggled in his arms, but he didn't let me go. "Maghanap ka ng bagong asawa na maging magluto!"
"Why would I do such a stupid thing?" Ikinulong niya ang magkabila kong pisngi sa malalaki niyang mga palad. "Hindi kita ipagpapalit sa kahit na sino. Kahit ma-food poison pa ako."
"Mags!"
He chuckled under his breath. "We talked about this before. Kung gugustuhin mong magluto, magiging magaling ka. You're the kind of person who excels at things you put your mind to. But you're very impatient, and cooking needs time."
I pursed my lips. "Whatever."
"Kakainin ko lahat ng ihanda mo. I'll eat them with no complaints, even if I get E. coli or salmonella. But I would rather that I don't, so why don't we let the cooking go to me?"
"What if you're sick? Ano, magpapaluto ako kay Lia o kaya o-order?"
"Kung may sakit ako wala naman akong panlasa kaya kahit ipagluto mo ako okay lang."
Lukot ang ilong na pinalo ko ang matigas na dibdib niya na ikinatawa niya lang. I tried to wiggle free of his hold, but of course he didn't let me.
"Let me go."
Mabilis ang naging sagot niya. "Never."
Kinagat ko ang balikat niya nang lalo lang humigpit ang pagkakayakap niya sa akin. Hindi naman madiin iyon pero sapat para lang mailabas ko ang gigil ko sa kaniya.
"I'm sorry to disappoint you, but if you think that will convince me to let you go, it only makes me want to do things with you that we will both enjoy while we stay in bed."
A part of me, one that happened to have a taste of the pleasure he could give, responded to his words. "How can you think of that at this moment? You're hungover."
"You're my hangover remedy. After all, a bear needs his honey."
He flipped our bodies before I could say anything. Napunta ako sa ilalim niya habang siya ay nakakubabaw sa akin. The way he looked at me and our current positions would have been enough to distract. Except it couldn't. Not when Winning the Pooh is just inches away from me.
Napakurap si Magnus nang bigla na lang akong humagikhik. It's probably not the response he's expecting.
I slapped his chest again, and this time he moved away. "Tara na. I wasn't going to cook. Nagluto si Lia ng almusal at iniintay lang kitang magising."
"Magpapalit muna ako ng damit."
I looked at his shirt, and I giggled again. Tumayo ako at inabot ko ang kamay niya para ibangon siya pero hindi madali iyon dahil di hamak na mas malaki siya sa akin. "Come on, Mags!"
"I don't want them to see me wearing this."
I snorted. "Nakita na nilang lahat 'yan. Let's go. I'm hungry."
That was enough for Magnus. Sa kabila ng mukhang pagkahilo ay tumayo pa rin siya. Lately, my medication has been interfering with my appetite. Lagi akong walang gana kumain. Pinipilit ko na lang minsan lalo na kapag kasama ang pamilya ko o pinagluto ako ni Magnus. But of course, Magnus being Magnus, he always knows.
Bumaba kami ng hagdanan at tumuloy kami sa elevator para pumunta sa family penthouse. I keep glancing at Magnus' shirt, giggling more when he keeps sighing as I do. Dahil nasa kaniya ang atensyon ko ay kita ko kung paanong magbago ang ekspresyon sa mukha niya nang bumukas ang elevator.
"Luna!"
Lumingon ako kay Lucienne na siyang tumawag sa akin at nakita kong humahangos siya palapit sa amin. It was then that I noticed a man with my other sisters-in-law, who looked really guilty.
I hate that they need to feel that way. They don't need to tiptoe around me just because my father couldn't remember me.
"Kanina pa kita minemessage," mahinang sabi sa akin ni Lucienne nang lumabas kami ng elevator ni Magnus. "I was about to call you. I swear, we didn't invite him. Hindi rin kami ang pinunta niya."
"It's okay."
"Luna—"
"It's okay that he's here," I clarified. "He's my father, even if he doesn't remember that I'm his daughter. This house is for the family, and he's family."
"Are you sure?"
I nodded and forced myself to smile. I felt Magnus squeeze my hand, and I squeezed back to tell him that I was okay.
"Luna." Tumingin ako sa direksyon ng ama ko nang marinig ko siyang magsalita. "I'm sorry for coming unannounced. It wasn't my intention."
He glanced in a direction, and I followed his eyes. Puno ng mga paper bag ang lamesa mula sa pamilyar sa akin na bakery. Carmela's.
"You like their pastries." The expression on his face grew uncomfortable. "Of course I needed to ask your brothers... I'm sorry."
"You don't..." I struggled to say the word. One that has been unused for what seems like forever. "You don't need to apologize, Papa. Even if you remembered me, you wouldn't know. Naging favorite ko lang ang Carmela's noong lumipat ang Dagger dito sa Cavite."
It wasn't something he knew and had forgotten. He didn't know anyone who had seen Dagger in Cavite, so it was impossible for him to have forgotten it.
But he's trying. I can see that. He's trying to get to know me. I can't say that it's not painful that he needed to teach himself about me, but I understand.
"Thank you," I said with a small smile. "You didn't have to, but thank you, really."
"I can leave—"
"Or you can have breakfast with us." I put everything aside, promising myself that I would face them later. "Para rin makita mo ang inihanda nila kuya para sa lahat."
"My phone is ready," Circe snickered.
As if on cue, my brothers started coming out of their rooms. Lahat sila ay katulad ni Magnus kanina na hindi man lang magawang imulat ng mga mata ng maayos. Si Kuya Trace nga ay kulang na lang gayahin si Sadako at gumapang palabas ng kuwarto.
"Princess," hawak ang ulo na ungol niya. "Tubig, please."
Ember swallowed down her laughter but did as her husband asked.
I pressed my lips together when Magnus stiffened beside me, and at the same time, his hand holding mine loosened. I took advantage of it, and I pushed him forward so that he's closer to my brothers.
"Say cheese, everyone!" Circe cheerfully exclaimed.
My brothers looked at Circe with their varying looks of confusion, while Magnus looked at the camera with a dead expression.
Sumandal ako kay Lucienne nang hindi ko na kinaya at halos sabay kaming napabunghalit ng tawa. My brothers and my husband, all giant men who could look terrifying and intimidating if they wanted to, are all wearing t-shirts in different colors that have characters from Winnine the Pooh on them.
"Wow!" nakangising sabi ni Mirea. "Kumpleto ang tropa ah."
Kuya Thorn's shirt has Eeyore, Owl on Kuya Gun's shirt, Tigger on Kuya Pierce's, Rabbit on Kuya Axel, Piglet on Kuya Trace's, Kanga on Kuya Coal's, and Roo on Kuya Domino's.
"Paki-blow up niyan Circe ha? Ipapa-frame ko tapos ilalagay ko rito," natatawa pa rin na sabi ko.
Nag-thumbs up ang babae. "Bibigyan ko kayo lahat ng kopya."
Malakas na bumuntong-hininga si Kuya Trace. "Pinagtripan na naman tayo. Ang hirap talagang maging gwapo." Kumislap ang mga mata niya. "Oooh. That rhymed."
Sabog pa ang isang 'to. "FYI, walang pumilit sa inyo na suotin 'yan. Ayaw niyong maghiwalay noong pinapababa na namin kayo sa imaginary niyong kotse. No'ng napilit na namin kayo saka niyo inilabas ang mga binili niyong t-shirt." Makapagpamahagi nga rin ng kopya ng video nila para naman hindi lang kami ang sumaya ang buhay. "Muntik pa nga kaming maiyak sa pamamaalam niyo sa isa't isa na para bang hindi na kayo magkikita ulit. Tapos ang sabi niyo susuotin niyo ang tropa shirt niyo para hindi kayo magkalimutan."
My four eldest brothers look like they want to go back to sleep and deny what their drunk selves made them do. The others just groan as if they're regretting their choices last night. Inom pa more.
"May hangover soup diyan—" Bago ko pa matapos ang sasabihin ko ay nagkaniya-kaniya na sila ng tanggi. Matalim ang tingin na ibinigay ko sa kanila. Not this again! "Hindi ako ang nagluto."
They let out an ahh, suddenly looking like they want to eat.
"Uy! Ang daming Carmela's." Akmang dadampot si Kuya Trace pero bago may makikilos sa amin ay basta na lang tinapik ng ama namin ang kamay niya dahilan para mabitawan niya ang hawak niya. Napangangang napatitig kay Papa si Kuya Trace sandali bago pagkaraan ay nalukot ang mukha niya. "Let me guess, para kay Luna lahat ang mga 'yan ano, Pa? Some things never change. May favoritism pa rin— aray! Lush!"
I didn't notice that Lucienne wasn't beside me anymore. She was probably worried that I'd take Kuya Trace's words the wrong way. But it was fine. Hindi ako makaka-survive ng ganitong katagal kasama ng mga kapatid ko kung hindi ko kayang sakyan ang kakaibang mga pagkatao nila.
Himas ang braso na ngumuso si Kuya Trace. "Pakainin mo nga 'tong asawa mo Kuya Thorn para hindi nangangaggat."
Naiiling na lumapit ako sa kinaroroonan nila. Pabirong siniko ko ang sikmura ni Kuya Trace na gaya ng inaasahan ay umarte na parang sobra siyang nasaktan.
Instead of reaching for Lia's cooking, I took one of the paper bags and opened it. Kumuha ako ng banana bread at walang salitang binuksan ko iyon at inilagay ko sa plato na naka handa na sa lamesa.
"You want?" alok ko sa asawa ko nang maramdaman ko siyang umupo sa tabi ko. He nodded, and I gave him a piece.
"Ako hindi mo aalukin?" tanong ni Kuya Trace.
"Hindi. Akin lang lahat 'yan."
Papa and my gaze met for a moment. The corner of his eyes crinkled, and I couldn't help but smile.
It's a start. He's trying. I should, too.
No one knows how long I got. No one knows if I'll start responding to treatments anytime soon. It all comes down to trying.
I'm trying to survive. I'm trying to live another day. I'm trying to accept everything life throws at me. And in their own way, my family is also trying their hardest for me.
"So bukod sa bar at sa mall saan pa kayo nagpunta kagabi?" tanong ni Belaya nang lahat kami ay kumakain na.
"Sa simbahan at sementeryo," sagot ni Kuya Coal na ikinatigilan ng iba ko pang mga kapatid at ni Magnus. Kuya Coal himself looks like he was surprised that he spoke about it. What was wrong with going to church and the cemetery?
"Nag-aya na naman si Kuya Axel?" Nakataas ang kilay na tinignan ko ang pang-apat ko na nakatatandang kapatid. "Nag-away ba kayo ni Mireia? Siya lang naman ang pinupunta mo sa simbahan."
"Hindi..." Kuya Axel looked at my other brothers. "Umm..."
"Pero bakit pati sa sementeryo?" usisa rin ni Lucienne. "Nag-ghost hunting kayo? Bakit hindi niyo ako inaya?"
"Dahil hindi kami ang nawawalang kambal ni Samara, di katulad mo?" patanong na sabi ni Kuya Trace. "We—"
"I asked them to." Gulat na napatingin ako kay Magnus nang magsalita siya. "Matagal na akong hindi nagsisimba."
"The church I get. Pero sa sementeryo? Dati mong trip na dumalaw weekly?" Come to think of it, dati niya ng nabanggit na baka kapag inilibing siya ng buhay ng mga kapatid ko ay baka raw makapagpahinga na siya. "You needed to rest that much that you asked my brothers to bury you alive?"
Magnus tapped my nose playfully. "No, silly. I wanted to see your mother."
"You... why?"
Nagkibit siya ng balikat. "She wished for a lot of things, and those wishes have been fulfilled. I thought that maybe, on your behalf, she'd make another wish come true."
I didn't need to ask more. I know his wish. I also know for sure that my brothers didn't go with him just to humor him. He wasn't the only one making a wish last night. They all did.
"Thank you. But don't put too much pressure on Mama. I'm sure she's doing the best she can up there. It's just that I'm not exactly life's favorite. Paboritong pahirapan."
"That's okay." I didn't expect him to, but Kuya Trace was the first one to speak up. "Paborito ka naman namin. Ikaw ang paborito namin na ilaban."
"We waited for you for years," Kuya Thorn said. "We keep wishing for a little sister, but we were just given a bunch of rowdy little rugrats."
Nagkaniya-kaniyang angal ang iba kong mga kapatid na mahina kong ikinatawa. Siya ang panganay kaya hagip lahat ng iba pa naming mga kapatid sa sinabi niya.
"He's right, though." Kuya Gun, who was seated beside me, tugged at my hair. "We've been waiting for a cute little princess."
Kuya Pierce nodded. "We were given a little princess who sometimes seemed possessed and ended up turning demonic, but who cares?"
"You could be too opinionated and loud," Kuya Axel said.
"And you destroyed my trucks," Kuya Trace added.
I gasped. "You ruined my dolls!"
They ignored me, and they kept going. Si Kuya Coal ang sumunod na nagsalita. "But you're ours, and we will never be ready to let anyone take you away."
"Hindi pa nga kami nakaka-move on na kinuha ka sa amin ni Magnus," dagdag ni Kuya Domino na pabirong kumindat sa asawa ko. "But since he's also fighting to keep you here, he has our approval."
"Wala na kayong balak ilibing ako?" tanong ng asawa ko.
"Depende."
"Depende?" kunot ang noo na tanong ko kay Kuya Domino.
"If I saw you again in his office like that, I might decide to bury the both of you so I don't need to bleach my eyes."
O. M. G!
"It's not what you think!" When my brother looked at me suspiciously, I blurted out the first thing I thought of. "May pinag-usapan lang kami. I was just interviewing him about—"
Itinaas ni Kuya Domino ang kamay niya. Mukhang hindi niya pa nasasabi sa iba pa naming mga kapatid ang nakita niya base sa nagtatakang ekspresyon sa mga mukha nila pero hindi na ako magtataka kung malaman nila. None of them can keep a secret long. "Ayokong pag-usapan ang interview session niyo."
"That's not—"
"Oooh. Interview." Lucienne's eyes glinted with interest. "So that's your sexminology, huh?"
_________________________End of Chapter 53.
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