#DS3Unscripted #BelayaxPierce #LKCouple #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER 28: JACK OF HEARTS

BELAYA'S POV

Napapabuntong-hininga na tumingin ako sa labas ng bintana ng sasakyan habang pinapakinggan ko ang mahabang litanya ng taong kausap ko sa cellphone. If it's other people than the one I'm talking to ay baka kanina ko pa binaba ang tawag. But if I do that with the person on the other line, I'm going to get a whooping, even in my age right now.

"Mom, I'm okay."

"You were attacked and you're forced out of your house because of the situation. You almost got kidnapped too. How can you say that you're okay?"

"Because I'm alive?"

"Belaya."

I tried not to groan when I heard the tone she used. Growing up, I don't think there's ever a time that my mom raised her voice on us. Pero kapag nagsalita siya lahat nakikinig. Tono pa lang ng boses niya natatakot na kami. Kahit ata si Daddy matatakot kapag nagalit si Mommy.

"You should have let your sister handled this," she said.

"I have a lot to be thankful for even with what's happening to me, Mom. Ate Vodka is already handling so much. The organization is still in lockdown and they're all in high alert because of the huge case that they have."

"Hindi maliit na bagay lang ang problema mo."

"I know that, but mom, we both know that I shouldn't be a priority just because I'm family. They're handling a mass murder case. That person is still adding bodies to the pile he already collected. Ate Vie's already exhausting the whole organization and their resources for me to add to that."

The news about the current case of our family business even became relevant enough to other countries that they've been reporting about it for weeks. The United States is even helping in terms of money to help the victims' families because the number of those that have been affected was a lot.

"Ayaw mo lang talaga kasi crush mo ang isa sa magkakapatid na Dawson. Hindi ka na ma-reach."

Boses ni Daddy ang narinig ko na nagsalita. Mukhang naka-loud speaker si Mommy.

"I'm blocking Kuya Ram from my contacts." Siya naman kasi ang pinakamadaldal at sumbungero sa aming magkakapatid. Aside from me of course.

"Si Cross ang nagkuwento sa'min," sabi ni Mommy.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya. Partner kami ni Kuya Ram pagdating sa mga kalokohan pero kapag sa sikreto laging si Kuya Cross ang sinasabihan ko. Ate Vie is more of another mother figure to us. Kahit hindi naman ganoon kalaki ang agwat ng edad namin pero dahil parehas na parehas sila ni Mommy ng ugali ay takot din kami sa kaniya.

"Traitor," I hissed.

"He said there's something different with the guy," Daddy said.

Napasinghap ako at napadiretso ako ng pagkakaupo. "Pierce is a great person. He's a great dad to his son, he's a great brother, and he's more than capable as a detective and bodyguard. He's even mabait to his ex na any normal person would grew to hate. There's nothing wrong with him."

"Ang sabi ng kuya mo may different lang. Hindi naman niya sinabing may nararamdaman siyang kakaiba na hindi maganda. Kalmahan mo lang, anak. Napaghahalataan ka." Napapalatak si Daddy. "Kaya pala sabi ng kapatid mo parang hindi ka nakakakita ng ibang tao kapag nasa paligid mo iyang Pierce Dawson na iyan. Ihanda na raw namin ang bulsa namin kasi knowing you, baka gusto mong taubin pati kasal ni Princess Diana."

Hindi nakalagpas sa akin na parang balewala lang sa kaniya ang banggitin ko na may anak na si Pierce. I know my parents. They don't judge. At mukhang nakuwento na rin sa kanila maging ang bagay na iyon.

Magawan nga ng Tinder account si Kuya Cross tapos ii-swipe right ko lahat at ipamumudmod ko ang number niya. That workaholic ass is married to his job. High school pa nga ata siya noong huli kong nabalitaan na may dinedate siya. Sa Grindr ko kaya siya gawan ng account?

"Civil wedding ang gusto niya."

"Nag-usap na kayo tungkol sa kasal? Kailangan lang kayo nagkakilala, Belaya Lawrence! Your mom and I are going home right now. Dawn, we need to book a flight!"

"Ang puso mo, Triton," kalmadong saway ni Mommy.

"I don't have any history of a heart problem."

"Magkakaroon pa lang kapag hindi ka tumigil."

"Kasi aatakihin ako?"

"Hindi. Kasi hihiwalayan kita. Stop freaking out."

Sa kabila ng pinag-uusapan namin ay hindi ko napigilang mapatawa sa naging sagot ni Mommy. Isa iyon sa lagi niyang sinasabi kapag tumataas ang level ng kakulitan ni Daddy. But I doubt that she can go through with it. They love each other too much.

"Dad, you've been preparing for your charity mission there for a long time just to drop it. I'm going to be fine. Dagger is taking care of me."

"Pierce Dawson is taking care of you."

I rolled my eyes. "Well yeah, Dad. He's my bodyguard."

"Bantay salakay naman ata 'yan. Dapat makilala siya ng mga kapatid mo para makilatis habang wala kami. Hindi iyong nag-uusap na kayo tungkol sa kasal samantalang kailan lang kayo nagkakilala."

"We didn't talked about getting married. Narinig ko lang sa sister in law niya." Well technically we didn't. Hindi counted ang mini hysteria ko no'ng lasing ako. "Kuya Cross met him already and Kuya Ram did a background check on him."

"Wala akong tiwala sa dalawang iyon. Kay Ate Vodka mo dapat ipakilala."

"Dad!" I groaned in exasperation. "I'm not even dating him!"

"You looked more in love with him in the pictures your brother sent to us than with your ex-boyfriends. Well-"

"Akin na nga 'yan," narinig kong sabi ni Mommy. "Go away."

I heard my father sighed. "Fine. Belaya, baby, mag-iingat ha? I love you!"

"I love you too, Dad."

I know what my dad was supposed to say. I also know why my mom tried to stop him.

Pagkaraan ay nagsalita ang ina ko. "We're being called, Bela. I want updates regarding your case. Regularly. You can't lower your guard with this. Hindi biro ang nangyari sa'yo."

"I know that, Mom."

"Stop avoiding my emails. Hindi madaling makatawag dito but I know that you're receiving my emails."

"I haven't checked it that much. Hindi ko po kayo iniiwasan. I was just really preoccupied with the situation and my new show."

"And with Pierce Dawson."

"Mom-"

"Malaki ka na. Alam mo na ang ginagawa mo. But he has a son. If you want to be in his life it won't just be your heart or his that you two will be responsible for. That child's too. Kilala kita, Bela. You've already gone through so much and it might have toughened you up but it also taught you to shut away the world. If you want this man, you need to let go. Specially of the things you won't even talk to anyone... not even with us."

"Mom..."

"I love you, Kid, but sometimes you just break my heart."

My mom is a strong person. She's the strongest person in my life aside from my dad. She grew up knowing that she will take the throne for an organization where she will be responsible for a lot of lives. She carried the weight of the responsibilities and the burden of every lost. For me to hear her say those words hurts. Kasi kung may kahinaan man ang ina ko, alam kong kami iyon na pamilya niya. She watched what happened to me and she saw how that changed me. There's nothing she could do.

"Mom..."

"I know." Bumuntong-hininga siya. "I need to go. I want updates, baby, okay? I love you."

"I love you too."

Nanatiling nakatingin lang ako sa cellphone na hawak ko kahit pa matagal nang natapos ang tawag. Kung hindi pa bumukas ang pintuan sa gawi ko ay hindi pa ako kikilos. I looked up and I saw Pierce standing outside. May sasabihin sana siya pero nang makita niya ang mukha ko ay natagilan siya. "What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Kitty..."

"I'm fine. Tumawag lang ang parents ko. Pwede na ba tayong pumasok sa loob?"

Nasa tapat kami ng isang malaking studio establishment. Maaga kaming nakarating at wala pa ang mga hinihintay namin kaya nanatili muna ako sa sasakyan. Today is the dress fitting for Virago.

"The producers and the director already arrived as well as the wardrobe department."

Tumango ako at kinuha ko ang bag ko bago ako lumabas ng sasakyan. I gave Pierce a small smile when I saw him watching me carefully. Minsan pakiramdam ko mas naiintindihan niya pa ang nararamdaman ko kesa sa akin. Like he's more attune to me than I am with myself.

Naglakad kami papasok ng establishment. Pagkapasok pa lang, ang una ng bumungad sa akin ay si Jhonas na may kausap na dalawang lalaki. Nakaharap sa akin ang likod niya habang ang mga kausap niya ay nakatingin sa kaniya kaya hindi nila kami napansin agad.

"I'm telling you, she's the definition of a diva attitude. Tignan niyo nga. Porke siya ang bida, late. Siya pa naman ang nagpaschedule na unahin siya. Dapat mamaya pa ang fitting pero lahat tayo naiistorbo ngayon."

I can feel the tension coming from Pierce when he halted at the same time that I stopped walking. Jhonas voice is not that loud but since we're near him, we can hear him clearly. Hindi rin ako tanga para hindi malaman kung sino ang tinutukoy niya.

"I dated her before. I don't know what I was thinking to be honest and I'm glad I broke it off. Nakakapagod na intindihin ang mga gusto niya. Sobrang gastos pa and most of them are impractical. And man, believe me what a tease she was. No man will ever put up with her hassle."

Humakbang si Pierce patungo sa direksyon ng lalaki pero napigilan ko ang braso niya. Nagbabaga ang mga mata niya nang magbaba siya ng tingin sa akin pero marahan na tinapik ko lang ang braso niya. With my lips curved into a smile, I walked passed him. Kita ko kung paanong lumaki ang mga mata ng mga kausap ni Jhonas nang mapansin ang paglapit ko.

"Since nagkukuwento ka na rin, why don't you tell them how you cheated and how you were caught red handed because you used my car to go on dates with other women?" Nanigas ang katawan ni Jhonas at gulat na napalingon siya sa akin. "I can't even remember her name. She's an actress too right? Iyong akala mong mas sisikat kesa sa akin? But I doubt if anyone can remember her right now." Hinarap ko ang dalawang lalaki na kausap niya. "Just to make it clear. He didn't broke it off. I did."

Lihim na nagbunyi ang kalooban ko habang pinapanood ko kung paanong mamutla si Jhonas. Alam naming pareho kung sino ang nagkamali.

Ito kasi ang problema sa mga taong may kasalanan. Instead of using it to reflect on themselves they rather just blame it to others.

"Also, I'm not late. I never been late in my life. Thirty minutes na akong nandito kasi ang usapan natin eight o'clock. Dumating kayo eight thirty. At magastos ako? Ano naman? Hindi mo naman pera ang ginagamit ko. At that time, you don't even have enough money to take me out on my favorite restaurants. Did I make an issue out of it? Hindi naman di ba? Kahit sa convenience store ako dalin kung gusto ko ang kasama ko hindi ako magrereklamo. And a tease? I wasn't a tease. I never lead you on. I'm just not easy and you don't know what to do with that." Bumuka ang bibig niya para magsalita pero inangat ko ang kamay ko. "I'm an actress with a diva attitude, someone without a sense of practicality, and a tease? Tama ba o may kulang pa?"

"Belaya-"

"It's Ms. Lawrence for you." Humakbang ako palapit sa kaniya hanggang sa halos isang dangkal na lang ang distansiya sa amin. The smile on my face stayed sweet, but the words that came out of my mouth were laced with poison. "You being a cheater doesn't reflect on me. It's not because I am less. What you did is a proof that I am more than you will ever deserve."

I didn't wait for his response and instead I turned to the room that became quiet. Nakita kong nakatingin na ang lahat sa amin habang ang executive producer na si Cedric at ang director na si Joe ay naglalakad palapit sa amin. Both of them didn't look happy.

"I want to have my fitting right now. Let's not waste any more of our time," sabi ko nang huminto sila sa harapan ko. "I'm not going to make this a problem. He can stay out of my sight. I directly answer to Joe, not him. Pero kapag hindi tumigil ang producer niyo sa pagsasalita ng kahit na ano tungkol sa akin, better start looking for another actress. Much as I love this project I rather work with people that values me."

"We'll take care of it, Belaya," Joe said, his eyes were on Jhonas before he turned to the executive producer. "Cedric, a word?"

Lumapit sila kay Jhonas pero nilagpasan ko na sila at naglakad ako papunta sa wardrobe department. Pero bago pa ako makalapit sa kanila ay napahinto ako nang maramdaman ko ang kamay na pumigil sa akin.

I looked at Pierce in surprise but a smile spread on my lips when I felt his hand curled my own as if he's tucking my fingers in my palm.

"Even you would agree that it was an appropriate moment to take out my claws."

Kuminang ang mga mata niya bago siya yumuko para bumulong sa tapat ng tenga ko. "Next time, it's my turn."

MY EYES OPENED when I felt something warm touched my cheek. Inaantok na kinusot ko ang mga mata ko. I saw Pierce looking at me with so much gentleness in his eyes.

Kumilos ako para umayos ng upo pero napatingin ako sa katawan ko nang maramdaman ko ang kumot na nakabalot sa akin. My forehead knotted when I saw a pink, fuzzy, with kitten print blanket wrapped around me. "May cat fetish ka talaga no?"

Napatawa siya. "Si Lia ang may bigay niyan. Dumaan ako sa bahay nila kanina kasi nagluto raw siya. She saw that you're asleep and she gave me that. Binilan niya pati si Lucienne."

"With unicorn print?"

"Yeah."

Tumingin ako sa labas ng kotse. Nasa tapat na kami ng bahay niya. "Kanina pa ba tayo rito?"

"A little. I didn't have the heart to wake you up."

"You just watched me sleep?"

"You're adorable when you're asleep."

"At kapag gising ako?" taas ang kilay na tanong ko.

"Too beautiful." Nahigit ko ang hininga ko nang umangat ang kamay niya at marahan na inipit niya ang kumawala sa pagkakatali na buhok ko sa likod ng tenga ko. "I don't think I've seen anyone with eyes like you have."

"My mom had a situation in her job. She almost died and she went through some changes. Nagbago ang mga mata niya. We don't know how and why it matters to her reproductive cells which is something that mutation should affect before genes can be passed through her off-springs but it did and here I am. My mom said that she never thought she would have a child since what happened to her made it hard for her to conceive but she had Ate Vodka and then us."

I was blabbering but I couldn't help it. He's making me nervous.

"I'm glad then."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"That she had you and now you're here with me." Marahang hinaplos niya ang pisngi ko. "But just to make it clear. I don't have a cat fetish but I do have a Belaya fascination."

Pakiramdam ko ay nagwala ang buong sistema ko. Sobrang lapit niya sa akin at ramdam ko ang init ng katawan niya.

It was like the world lost all sense and he's the only one holding me down on my feet. And the way he looks at me makes me wonder if he could see something in me more than I want him to. Because somehow it's like he's connected to me... like another limb, like a vein connected right through my heart, something that is naturally just a part of me.

It's something that I haven't felt before. Not even with the man that I considered as my greatest love.

Mabilis na inalis ko ang kumot sa katawan ko at bago pa siya makakilos ay nakalabas na ako. Aakyat na sana ako papunta sa bahay niya pero napatigil ako nang may mapansin ako sa outdoor sofa niya.

"Sabi ni Sebastian may mga delivery ka raw. Nandito si Trace kanina at chineck niya ang mga iyan bago pinasok."

Hindi nililingon ang lalaki na lumapit ako roon. I can smell a faint scent that is familiar to me. Something that I smelled the day of the casting.

Kinuha ko ang isang brown na paper bag at binuksan ko iyon. Nilabas ko ang laman no'n at pakiramdam ko ay nahugot lahat ng natitirang lakas sa katawan ko nang iladlad ko iyon. It's a hoodie with a jack of hearts card design.

"Kitten?"

"The scent..."

"What scent?"

Ramdam ko ang pag-uunahan ng luha sa magkabila kong pisngi nang tumingin ako sa kaniya. Nabitawan ko ang hawak ko at niyakap ko sa sarili ko ang nanginginig ko na mga kamay.

"This hoodie and the scent... it's impossible Pierce. It can't be."

Hinawakan niya ako sa magkabilang braso at marahang pinisil niya ang mga iyon. When he felt me trembled, he pulled me to him to enveloped me in his arms.

"It's impossible," I whispered.

"Whose is it?"

"Jackson's."