#DS5Unbowed #EmbRace #PuppyCouple #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER 18: UNIVERSE

EMBER'S POV

Nakakapanindig balahibo ang sigawan ng mga tao na bumalot sa malawak na outdoor event venue na kinaroroonan namin. Sa entablado ay naroon si Lia na hindi kakikitaan ng pagkapagod kahit pa kanina pa siya nag-pe-perform.

It's my first time going to a concert. I was hesitant at first since I don't really like crowded places. Sumama lang talaga ako para kay Lia dahil siya mismo ang nag-imbita sa akin. But she wasn't on the half of her first song yet when I found myself enjoying the experience.

She was so different from the person that I'd first met. Kumpara kasi kaila Lucienne ay di hamak na mas tahimik siya. There's always grace and elegance to the way she moves, and when she speaks, it's like she's speaking poetry. That's why seeing her on stage took me by surprise. She's a powerhouse when she has a microphone in her hand. Hindi lang malumanay na kanta ang kaya niyang kantahin. She could handle upbeat songs and even those that required a high range of voice. It's like she could sing anything.

"Sayang hindi nakasama sina Coal at Domino," sabi ni Lucienne. Nasa trabaho kasi ang dalawa dahil sila ang naiwan sa headquarters.

Sinundan namin ng tingin nina Mireia, Luna, at Belaya ang tinitignan ng manunulat. Di kalayuan sa amin ay may mga babae na naghahagikhikan habang napapatingin sa direksyon namin. I bet they are not looking at us. Sigurado kasi ako na ang magkakapatid na lalaking Dawson ang nakakuha ng atensyon nila.

Naniningkit ang mga matang yumakap si Mireia sa asawa niya na si Axel na pigil ang ngiting hinapit din siya palapit. "Malas lang nila."

Nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Trace nang maramdaman ko na inabot niya ang kamay ko bago niya tinanguhan si Mireia. "Oo nga. Sayang at wala ng hindi taken dito."

I should be thankful that my cheeks are already red from the heat, but I have no doubt that he took notice of how they grew more red, what with the way his eyes flashed with amusement.

Pumalatak si Lucienne na nakatingin pa rin sa gawi ng mga babae na ngayon ay nagtutulakan na. Maybe they're daring each other to approach one of the brothers. Naiiling na ikinawit ni Lucienne ang braso niya sa asawa niya. "Si Gun lang ang walang partner pero bingi at bulag lang ang maipagkakamaling hindi siya taken."

"Kung may magkamali man ay baka talunin na lang sila bigla ni Lia mula sa stage," natatawang sabi ni Belaya na nakasandal kay Pierce na kanina pa siya yakap mula sa likod.

Lia always looks and points at Gun whenever she sings one of her songs. Minsan maging ang mga cover niya basta love song iyon. Katulad ngayon kung saan kasalukuyan niyang kinakanta ang "Feel Like Makin' Love" ni Roberta Flack.

With the way she's looking at her husband, I wanted to blush even more. Pakiramdam ko ay nanonood ako ng bagay na hindi ko dapat panoorin.

When she finished the song, she put down her guitar and started walking towards us. Parang mga fan girl na nagsigawan sila Lucienne habang ako naman ay napatakip sa bibig ko habang nanlalaki ang mga mata. She really seems different when she's up there. Iyong klase ng pakiramdam na na-experience ko lang nang makilala ko sa personal ang paborito ko na archer.

"Hi family!" Lia said it as a greeting. The women screamed their "hi" back, which made Lia grin wider. Sa pagkagulat ko ay bumaling siya sa akin at kumaway siya. "You're one of them. Can I get a "Hi" back, Ember?"

I was torn between being moved and embarrassed. I shyly waved my hand and forced my lips to move and greet her too. Natatawang pinisil ni Trace ang kamay ko at hinila niya ako palapit sa kaniya. He let go of my hand only to wrap an arm around my shoulders.

Lia's gaze went to her husband and she winked. "There's some rumor going around about my husband cheating."

Napuno ng bulungan ang arena. Tumingin ako kay Trace at nakangiti na tumango siya. He didn't look bothered by it, nor did his siblings. I even saw Luna rolling her eyes as if it were the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard.

"Let's ask him what he thinks of it." Umupo siya sa stage para magawa niyang dumukwang sa kinaroroonan namin habang hawak niya ang mic. "What do you say, husband?"

Inabot ni Gun ang kamay niya pero imbis na kunin ang microphone ay sa pagkagulat ng lahat ay bahagya niyang hinila si Lia. Tinakpan ko ang mga mata ko nang sa isang iglap ay magkadikit na ang mga labi nila.

Gun didn't just give her a peck. He full-on kissed her.

I heard Trace's quiet laughter again. Hinarap niya ako sa kaniya at inabot niya ang mga kamay ko. He pressed my splayed open fingers together. Nakatakip nga ako sa mga mata ko pero magkakahiwalay naman ang mga daliri ko. Anong magagawa ko? It's the kind of moment that you can't help but watch.

"Want to eat something? Wala ka pang maayos na nakain mula kanina," Trace said when the loud noises died down and Lia moved on to another song.

Medyo gutom na rin talaga ako. Konti lang kasi ang choices na pwede kong kainin kaninang pumunta kami sa mga booth ng pagkain.

"Is that okay? Hindi ba magagalit si Lia?"

"Of course not." Nang makita niyang nag-aatubili pa rin ako ay muli niyang inabot ang kamay ko. "Makikita naman natin siya kahit nasaan tayo. Mapapanood mo pa rin siya."

Nagpaalam muna kami sa pamilya niya bago kami nagsimulang maglakad paalis. I was plastered to Trace's side as he navigated us out of the crowd. He managed to get us out of the throng of people without anyone squashing me.

"Who was Gun rumored with?" I asked when I remembered what Lia said awhile ago.

"A politician client. Nakuhanan sila ng larawan kung saan parang yakap ni Kuya Gun ang babaeng kliyente ng Dagger habang palabas ng isang hotel. Mas kita sa pictures si Kuya dahil natatakpan niya ang babae. Nagkataon na hotel ang venue para sa seminar na dinaluhan ng kliyente namin. He was just doing his job, and Lia understands it. Pero alam mo naman ang ibang mga tao."

"Does that happen often to you that works for Dagger? Rumors?"

Nagkibit-balikat siya. "Hindi naman kasi naiiwasan. Kilalang mga tao ang mga nagiging kliyente namin. It just so happens that we're gaining more audience right now, what with my brothers keep marrying celebrities."

Nasa ganoon kaming usapan nang mapansin ko ang dinadaanan naming dalawa. Sa pagtataka ko ay hindi kami papunta sa kinaroroonan ng mga food booth at sa halip ay ang daan sa parking ang tinutungo namin.

"I thought we're going to the booths?"

Imbis na sagutin ako ay nginitian niya lang ako at iginaya kung saan ipinarada niya ang sasakyan niya na gamit namin kanina. We didn't used their company van. Nagkaniya-kaniya kasi ng dala ng sasakyan ang mga kapatid ni Trace dahil karamihan sa kanila ay may lakad din dito sa Manila bukas.

Nang makarating sa sasakyan niya ay sa pagtataka ko ay may nag-iintay doon na lalaki na nakasuot ng kulay green na uniporme. The other man handed a brown paper bag to him, and Trace pulled cash from his wallet and gave it to him.

Trace saw me looking at him with a confused look. "Nag-order ako ng pagkain thirty minutes ago para sa'yo." Binigay niya sa akin ang paper bag. "Hold this for a moment please."

Binuksan niya ang sasakyan at may kinuha siya sa trunk niyon. When he went back, he was holding a huge blue checkered blanket. Inilatag niya iyon sa ibabaw ng hood ng sasakyan niya bago siya muling lumapit sa akin.

"I don't think I have the heart to sit on your car's hood. What if I scratch it?"

"It will be fine. Trust me," he said.

"That's a Lexus. You don't sit on a Lexus' hood."

Dalawa ang sasakyan ni Trace. Ang isang 'to ang hindi niya masyadong inilalabas. I saw this in the garage, and he never used it until today.

"Is that a rule?" he asked with amusement coloring his tone.

"It should be. Pwede ng pang-tuition ng ilang taon ang presyo niyan."

"I know. Kaya nga hindi ko binili 'yan."

Napakurap ako. "Eh saan mo kinuha 'yan?" Nagpalingon-lingon ako sa paligid namin bago ako bumulong. "Did you steal it?"

"Will you tell on me?"

"No." Napatikhim ako nang mapangiti siya sa naging sagot ko. "But I will convince you to return it."

Kinuha niya sa akin ang paper bag at ipinatong niya iyon sa sasakyan niya bago siya humarap sa akin. I gasped when he hoisted me up and placed me on top of the hood.

"I didn't steal it. I got it as a prize."

Umupo siya sa tabi ko at inabot niya ang lalagyanan ng pagkain para ilabas ng mga nasa loob niyon. My mouth watered instantly when I saw that he bought Japanese vegan food. I love vegan gyoza.

"Sinama ako ng kaibigan ko sa isang racing competition. It wasn't exactly legal. It's more of a competition between a group of privileged kids who want to throw money around," pagpapatuloy niya.

"And you beat them easily?"

"Driving during high-risk operations is one of Dagger's important training priorities," he said instead of answering my question directly. "You need to eat."

Sandaling katahimikan ang namayani sa amin habang kumakain kami. Sa kinaroroonan namin ay naririnig pa rin namin si Lia. We can also still see her from the giant screen behind her. May iba nga na mas malayo pa ang puwesto kaysa sa amin. The place is jam packed.

Kinuha ko ang phone ko mula sa bulsa ng pantalon ko nang maramdaman ko ang pag-vibrate niyon. I pressed the notification when I saw Lucienne had tagged me in a post on Instagram. Napangiti ako nang makita ko na selfie iyon na kinuha niya kanina nang magsisimula pa lang ang concert.

"You don't have selfies on your Instagram," Trace said while holding his own phone. Lucienne tagged him too.

Kadalasan kasi ay mga picture ko lang during competition na binibigay sa akin ni Stellan ang nilalagay ko roon. But most of the time, I only post pictures of my animals.

"Mas marami pang picture si Ruby kesa sa'yo," nangingiting sabi niya.

"I'm not photogenic. I don't look good in pictures."

"You'll look beautiful in anything."

As always, I blushed in response to his words. Binalingan ko na lang ang phone ko na nakabukas pa rin. I commented an emoji with heart eyes on Lucienne's post. Pinindot ko ang picture dahilan para lumabas doon ang mga naka-tag. I clicked on Trace's name, and I browsed his account.

Kung hindi group picture ay larawan naman ng mga pamangkin niya at ni Potchi ang nandoon. Warmth surrounded my heart when I saw that he also has a picture of me during my competition in Colombia. "W-Wala ka rin namang masyadong post."

"Nasa Facebook lahat ng pictures ko." Tinignan niya ako na parang may naalala. "Hindi mo pa tinatanggap ang friend request ko."

"Messenger lang ang bukas sa akin."

Pinuntahan ko ang app at nag log-in ako roon. Bihira kasi talaga akong mag-social media. Page ko lang ang pinaka-active dahil hindi naman ako ang palaging humahawak no'n.

I accepted Trace's friend request when I found it. Inaccept ko na rin ang mga kapatid niya na pinadalhan din pala ako ng request. Si Luna at ang iba pang mga babae lang kasi ang natanggap ko ang friend request bago ako nag log-out ulit.

My nosy self made me go to Trace's account. I couldn't help but smile when I saw one of his posts with tons of his face on it. Isa-isang ni-like ko ang mga iyon. He's really good at taking pictures.

"I thought I couldn't fall more than I already had."

Dahil abala sa ginagawa ay hindi ko masyadong naringi ang sinabi ni Trace. Nagtatakang nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya pero umiling lang siya. "Hindi mo naman kailangan na i-like lahat 'yan."

"Bakit?"

"Lucienne said they all look the same. Kapag ni-like mo ang isa ay para mo na ring ni-like ang lahat."

"They don't look the same." Iniharap ko sa kaniya ang cellphone at tinuro ko ang screen. "May ibang pictures na iba ang angle. And on this one, the light is hitting your eyes differently, so it looked lighter."

Hindi siya nagsalita at sa halip ay nakamata lang siya sa akin. He's looking at me strangely, as if I said something that surprised him.

"What?" I asked him.

"Hindi mo ba ako tatanungin kung bakit ang dami kong mag-post ng pictures?"

"Well, it's kind of obvious why. Practice makes perfect. How can you get what you think is the best one if you don't try again? Though I think you look good on all of them, the important thing is when you think you look good on them."

"You don't think it's vain?"

"I used to watch the replays of my competitions so that I could relieve the feeling of winning when I had nothing to do." Pinagpatuloy ko ang pag-like sa mga picture niya. "Vanity is often being interchanged by pride. Both of them are only bad when they affect other people because you think they are below you and you use them to step on others."

"You are the best archer for me."

I looked at him straight in the eyes. "I know." Trace chuckled, and I couldn't help the laugh that bubbled out of me too. "Ang sinasabi ko lang, kung ginagamit mo kung anong meron ka para ibaba ang iba, iyon ang mali. I work hard at what I do, and I strive to be the best. I don't see any reason to rub it in my opponents' faces... unless they deserve it, but ithat doesn't mean that I don't have the right to feel proud of what I do."

"That's different from me posting pictures on social media."

"Eh. It's kind of the same thing. You know you're handsome right?"

Trace lips quirked, but he nodded.

"So anong mali sa pag-post ng pictures? I don't see you commenting your own photo to other people saying 'This is what handsome looks like, you ugly beansprout.' right?"

He threw his head back and laugh. "I should use that on my brothers. Tapos dadagdagan ko ng 'Togue ka lang pero ako Lumpiang togue'." He reached for my hair and he played with it between his fingers. "Thank you for trying to give me a good excuse. Mahilig lang talaga akong mag-picture kapag wala akong magawa at gusto kong inisin ang mga kapatid ko para ipa-like ang mga post ko."

"Well, if someone calls you out other than your family, you should tell them what I said. Para wala ng maraming tanong."

"Practice makes perfect?" Nang tumango ako ay nangingiting pinagpatuloy niya ang paglalaro sa mahaba kong buhok. "I have a question."

Dumampot ako gamit ng chopsticks ng gyoza at sinubo ko iyon. "Ano?"

"Sa aming magkakapatid sino sa tingin mo ang pinakagwapo?"

Sunod-sunod na napaubo ako nang magkamali ata ng binabaan ang kinakain ko. Trace jumped down from the hood and he went inside the car. May hawak siya na isang bote ng tubig at isang tumbler. Inabot niya sa akin ang tubig na kaagad kong ininom.

When I stopped coughing, he handed me the tumbler. "Ahmad tea galing sa T na may ahmat sa'yo."

Pinaikot ko ang mga mata ko at tinanggap ko iyon. I opened it and found that it was still warm.

"So..."

Bumuntong-hininga ako. "Kailangan ko pa bang sagutin? Hindi pa ba obvious?"

"Hindi obvious sa mga sister-in-law ko na mga nabubulagan sa pag-ibig."

I don't think there should be a competition. Magkakamukha silang magkakapatid. They all look handsome, and Luna's a knockout. Their genes are so blessed that their parents should receive an award for it.

But Trace has the most beautiful eyes out of them all.

"You are," I said, as always, going for honesty.

Itinaas niya ang mga kamay niya at proud na idinipa ang mga iyon. "I'm the King of the universe!"

Natatawang napailing ako at hinayaan ko na lang siya sa moment niya. Kapag nalaman na naman 'to ni Lucienne siguradong babawasan na naman ang confidence niya.

Nang matapos kaming kumain at iniligpit na ng binata ang pinagkainan namin ay inaasahan ko na mag-aaya na siya para bumalik sa mga kapatid niya, pero sa halip ay sumandal lang siya sa windshield ng kotse habang nakaunan siya sa mga kamay niya at nakatingin sa langit.

"Should we go back?" I asked.

"Hanggang mamaya pa naman ang concert. Hindi ka sanay sa siksikan na lugar kaya sigurado akong pagod ka na."

Enjoy naman kasama ang pamilya niya kaya kahit alam kong mas matindi ang hang-over ko kinabukasan kesa kung uminom ako ng maraming alak ay okay lang sa akin. I always know that I'm an introvert and that I recharge differently from other people, but I'm used to it.

Trace tapped the space beside him. "Come here, princess."

I hesitated only for a moment. Umusog ako palapit sa kaniya at akmang sasandal na sana ako sa malamig na windshield nang hilahin niya ako palapit sa kaniya. Natagpuan ko na lang ang sarili ko na nakaunan sa braso niya.

Binuka ko ang mga labi ko para magsalita pero muli ko na lang itinikom iyon. It's comfortable like this, and it's not cold despite the cool breeze swirling around us.

"Let's take a picture."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita kong inangat ni Trace ang cellphone niya. Nagtangka ako na umalis pero natatawang ikinawit niya lang sa akin ang braso niya.

"Akala ko ba practice makes perfect?" natatawang tanong niya.

"Hindi ako kasama sa practice."

"Bakit kapag si Lucienne ang nag-aaya ng selfie pumapayag ka?"

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "May nakakatanggi ba kay Lucienne? Saka kapag group picture lagi akong nasa dulo."

"Gusto ko na tayo lang dalawa."

"I told you, I'm not photogenic."

"I'll be the judge of that.

Sinubukan kong umalis ulit pero hindi niya ako hinayaan. Inabot ko na lang ang cellphone niya para pigilan siya. We both ended up laughing as we scrambled to get what we wanted. Wala nga lang nagpapatalo sa aming dalawa.

He extended his hand upwards, and because he had his other arm around me, I couldn't reach for the phone.

"Ang daya mo!" angal ko.

"Say ang gwapo ni Trace!"

I was still laughing when I stretched my hand out to try and hide my face. I heard a click when he pressed the shutter on his phone's camera. Hindi pa siya nakuntento at tinagalan niya pa iyon dahilan para maging burst shot iyon.

Hinampas ko siya pero sinalo lang niya iyon ng libre niyang kamay dahilan para magawa niya akong pigilan na takpan ang mukha ko. He drew me in closer until I was almost buried on his side. "Stop!"

Thankfully, he finally stopped. His arm loosened, but he didn't let me go entirely. Ibinaba niya ang isa niyang kamay na may hawak na cellphone at inanggulo niya iyon paharap sa akin para makita ko rin ang tinitignan niya.

There were a lot of pictures. Like a lot. There were some with me trying to block the lens, but it couldn't hide the wide smile on my lips nor the shine in my eyes. On some photos, we were both laughing, some were too blurry because I was trying to wrestle his phone out of his hand, and there are also pictures of me leaning on his chest and Trace grinning while looking at me.

I want to keep them all.

Pinanood ko siya habang nagpipipindot siya sa screen ng phone niya. I followed his movement, and before the screen turned black, I saw that he chose the last photo of us as his wallpaper.

We stayed quiet for a few moments while we just laid there looking at the star-filled sky. I didn't try to move away. I knew he wouldn't let me go anyway, and I was comfortable. Perhaps too comfortable than I should be.

"Do you know the one thing that is greater than the universe?"

I turned to look at him at his question, and I found myself having trouble answering when I realized how close our faces were from each other.

His light brown eyes stared right into mine as he whispered his next words. "They said that the universe is made of everything that exists, while something as simple as love can make you feel like you have the whole universe in your hands. The universe is bigger, but the heart is quicker. Even when up against a formidable foe, it fights valiantly to catch up."

Maybe he's right. When you ask the universe for something, it doesn't always respond... and most of the time it won't give you what you want. Why would it? Why would a creation as great as it is grant a wish to someone inferior to it?

Unless it's fighting something that it couldn't win against. A challenge that it couldn't refuse. From a heart that could enclose its greatness. A vessel where the universe itself could exist.

And maybe I know its existence, its truth, like Trace did because we saw it happen right in front of our very eyes.

___________________________End of Chapter 18.