#DS5Unbowed #EmbRace #PuppyCouple #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER 30: FAMILY

EMBER'S POV

Present...

"Ahmad tea para sa favorite ko na T."

Napapangiting nilingon ko ang nakabukas na salamin na pintuan ng balkonahe na kinaroroonan ko. I was sure that everyone was still sleeping when I woke up a few minutes ago. Pero mukhang nanunumbalik ang dating nakagawian ni Trace na natigil nang magkahiwalay kami sandali.

After we visited Cristiano at the hospital, who's thankfully okay, we came back here to the ranch to finally rest. Dito natulog sina Coal at Domino habang ang iba nilang mga kapatid ay umuwi na pabalik ng Cavite. My father and sister also stayed over.

Inabot ko mula sa kaniya ang tasa ng tsaa. "Anong T?"

A grin spread across his lips. "True love."

I rolled my eyes at him to mask the effect of his words on me. Natigil sandali ang panghaharot niya sa akin dahil sa mga nangyari pero mukhang wala siyang balak na magsayang ng oras para bumalik sa dati niyang routine.

"Are you okay?" he asked when he positioned himself beside me.

"You've been asking me that since last night."

"Because I know you weren't telling me the truth."

"I was telling the truth." Napabuntong-hininga ako nang makita ko ang pagdududa sa mga mata niya. "Fine. Maybe eighty percent of it is true."

Inipit niya sa likod ng tenga ko ang buhok ko na nililipad ng hangin. "We'll work on that until you're back to one hundred percent."

Inangat ko ang tasa na hawak ko at uminom bago ko iyon ipinatong sa fence ng balcony. Sumandal ako patagilid at nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya. "Hindi ko kayang itanggi na naapektuhan pa rin ako sa nalaman ko tungkol kay Miss Asencio. A part of me was hoping that she wasn't involved. I trusted her. She was the only mother figure I had. Ang malaman na parte lang ako ng paghihiganti niya... na kaya niyang makita na masaktan ako para lang makuha ang gusto niya... that's a kind of pain that will always stay with me. One that I will always feel whenever I think of her. But that doesn't mean that I will live an unhappy life. Not when I have my father back and my sister. Not when I have you and your family. The world may try to push me down to zero percent, but if I have you all, it won't be a hardship for that number to rise again. So don't stress about it, Trace. I am happier than I ever was."

He just stared at me for a moment, as if weighing my words. I know that he'll bend everything to his will just to make everything right for me. Kahit ano pang sabihin ko ay alam ko namang hindi ko siya mapipigilan mag-alala. I guess that's just the kind of person he is. Hindi niya kayang walang gawin para sa mga taong importante sa kaniya. But now he has me, and I plan to also do everything that I can for him.

I always thought that happiness was when sadness no longer touched your life. Now I realize that happiness is when, despite the chaos around you, despite the pain and the looming darkness, everything inside you remains peaceful. It's the light in the soul that never gets dim because it's surrounded by people who can protect it.

"Tinanong ako ni Papa kagabi kung babalik daw ba ako rito."

"What did you say?"

Pinagmasdan ko siya sandali. Para kasing hindi siya nangangamba sa maaari kong naging sagot. "Will you be disappointed if I want to stay here?"

"Hindi."

Umangat ang kilay ko. "Payag ka na magkakahiwalay tayo? Pagkatapos mong siguraduhin na magkakasama tayo sa iisang bahay?"

He already told me the story of how he bought the farmhouse and how he managed to do it in the span of one week. Hindi na rin ako masyadong nagulat nang malaman ko iyon. Mukha kasing totoo talaga ang mga nabasa ko sa mga libro ni Lucienne.

"Wala naman akong sinabi na magkakahiwalay tayo," nakangising sabi niya.

"You work in Cavite."

"May sasakyan naman."

"Balak mo na bumyahe ng ilang oras araw-araw para bumalik dito?"

Nagkibit-balikat siya. "Kung iyon ang gusto mo. I don't mind. Other people travel for work every day."

I don't doubt that he loves me, but he must really really love me. Which reminds me that I haven't said those words back to him. Hindi naman kasi ako sanay na sabihin ang mga salita na iyon.

"Paano kung gusto kong tumira sa ibang bansa? I always wonder what it's like to live in a place where it often snows."

Instead of the worry I expected to see in him, his eyes went wide with excitement. "We can ski or ride a snowmobile."

"What if gusto kong tumira sa Mars?"

"Alam mo ba na minsan kong naging pangarap na maging astronaut?"

Naiiling na napatawa ako. Mukhang kahit saang lugar ang banggitin ko ay wala siyang balak na hindi ako samahan.

"So? Saan tayo titira?" nangingiti rin na tanong niya.

"Kailangan talaga kasama ka lagi, ano?"

"Siyempre naman. Mamimiss kita eh."

He's giving my heart a complex. Mula ng makilala ko siya ay parang hindi na naging normal ang tibok ng puso ko.

"Hindi ba masyadong mabilis? Ilang buwan pa lang tayong magkakilala," tanong ko.

"I fell for you the moment I first saw you, and you challenged me to a game of chance. That was more than a year ago, princess."

Sandaling hindi ako nagsalita at sa halip ay binalingan ko ang tanawin na nasa harapan namin. This place has been in the family before I was even born. "My parents' love story started here. Hindi man naging maganda ang pagtatapos ng storya nila pero ngayon alam ko ng naging masaya sila kahit sandali lang." May ngiti sa mga labi na nilingon ko siya. "Pero iyong sa atin hindi dito nabuo. This house gave me a place to go back to for years, but this is not where I found my home."

He twirled a lock of my hair between his fingers. "Are you just saying that because you know that I bought the farmhouse for you?"

"I love your family. I love that they come over all the time, and that we could do the same. I love that I can visit you at work whenever I want to. I love Potchi. At siyempre mahal ko ang farmhouse dahil hostage mo ang mga alaga ko." Humakbang ako palapit sa kaniya at hinila ko ang dulo ng suot niya na t-shirt para mapalapit siya sa akin. "So no. It's not because you bought the farmhouse with me in mind. I'm saying it because I love you."

My words took him by surprise, and it was evident by the way he was looking at me. His eyes are filled with emotion, and it was as if he couldn't take them off of me.

"Pero may kasalanan ka sa akin."

Napakurap siya sa pagkagulat. "Ako? What did I do?"

"I told you not to force yourself to work. You're still healing." Umakto akong susundutin ang leeg niya na tinamaan ng bala pero siyempre ay hindi ko itinuloy iyon. When he instinctively moved his upper body to evade me, I redirected my finger to the side of his stomach. "I can't hurt you to punish you, but I can do this."

Bumasag sa katahimikan ng rancho ang malakas na halakhak niya. Nangingiting tinusok ko ulit ang tagiliran niya. Thanks to Lucienne, who I think made a vow to remember every weakness Trace has, I now know that he's very ticklish.

Pilit na hinuli niya ang kamay ko pero wala akong balak magpatalo sa kaniya. But my competitiveness is no match for his strength. It wasn't long before I was pressed between the balcony and his body, my hands trapped in his.

His gaze dropped to my mouth, and I saw his eyes glaze over. I don't need to be a mind reader to figure out what he's thinking.

"I want to kiss you so bad," he whispered.

"Then kiss me."

Our eyes met, and I knew that he couldn't mistake the challenge in mine. As if to push him more toward the result that I want, I ran the top of my tongue across my lower lip.

An echo rumbled from his chest, and at the next second, his lips were crashing into mine. I felt his hand at the back of my head, and he tilted it so that he could deepen the kiss. Inangat ko ang mga braso ko at ikinawit ko iyon sa mga balikat niya at naramdaman kong pumalibot sa beywang ko ang kaniya.

I didn't know that a kiss could be so intoxicating. I could get addicted to this. I don't want this to end.

A sound that I never thought would come out of me escaped my lips when his tongue danced with my own. I tiptoed and pressed myself more to him. Humigpit ang pagkakayakap ko sa kaniya habang ang isa kong kamay ay naglandas paakyat sa buhok niya. My fingers tangled with his hair, and he groaned.

"We need to stop, princess," he whispered against my lips.

"No." I nip the bottom of his lip. "I don't want to."

Trace pulled back, ending the kiss completely. Nakasimangot na pinaningkitan ko siya ng mga mata pero nangingiting sumubsob lang siya sa leeg ko. A delicious shiver ran all over my body when I felt him plant a kiss there.

"We need to."

"Why?" I grumbled.

"Because I might never stop."

"That's the idea, Trace. We'll never stop."

"It will also end with both of us naked, with me inside you."

My mouth dropped open at his words. I suddenly lost the ability to speak. Muling hinalikan ni Trace ang leeg ko bago siya dumiretso. Nananatiling magkalapit ang mga katawan namin dahil nakayakap pa rin siya sa akin.

"I don't want that to happen when at any moment someone can barge in here and interrupt us. I want it to happen when I can take my time. When I can kiss you until we're out of breath, when I can have you under me without anything on, when I can taste you as long as I can, and when I can hear not just more of those soft little whimpers of yours but also you screaming my name."

Holy shit.

Trace is a lot of things. He's funny, he's sweet, he's caring, he's loving, he's generous, and he's someone that I know could protect me. Pakiramdam ko ay lahat kaya niyang gawin. Lahat kaya niyang gawing posible. But I haven't seen this side of him. If I did, maybe it was just a glimpse. This time, it was more than that.

"Ehem."

Sabay na napapitlag kami ni Trace sa pagkagulat at napalingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses. Magkasabay din kaming mabilis na naghiwalay nang makita namin mula sa kinaroroonan namin si Papa na nakatayo sa nakabukas na pintuan ng kuwarto. Bakit kasi hindi ko napansin na hindi sinarado iyon kanina ni Trace?

I grabbed my cup of tea while Trace started dusting the fence with his bare hands.

"G-Goodmorning, Pa. Ang aga niyo namang nagising," bati ko.

Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin sa amin ni Papa. His eyes narrowed at Trace, who cleared his throat with obvious nervousness. "Ang aga niyo rin."

Pilit na ngumiti ako. "Maaga po talaga akong magising."

"Ako rin po," sabi ni Trace na nagtaas pa ng kamay. "Dinalhan ko lang po ng tsaa si Ember saka sinamahan ko na rin siya kasi kami pa lang po ang gising kanina. Dadalhan ko nga rin po sana siya ng breakfast pero sabi ko sa sarili ko 'Trace, mas maganda kung iintayin natin ang lahat magising para sabay-sabay ang lahat na mag breakfast'. Para one big family po di ba?"

Kung sa ibang pagkakataon siguro ay natawa na ako kay Trace. He's always confident, so it's rare for me to see him blubbering like this.

My father locked his gaze on him for a few agonizing moments, causing him to fidget. Pagkaraan ay nagsalita na si Papa na bumaling sa akin. "Ellena's cooking our breakfast. Take a shower and come down so you can eat."

Dala ang tsaa na pumasok ako ng kuwarto at ipinatong ko iyon sa bedside table. "Sige po, Pa. Susunod na lang po ako."

He skewered Trace with another look. "You. Come with me. Baka naman pati sa paliligo gusto mo pang samahan ang anak ko?"

"Hindi po ah. Nakaligo na po ako eh."

I pressed my lips together to stop myself from laughing. Sa paraan kasi ng pagsasalita niya ay parang kung sakaling hindi pa siya nakaligo ay sasamahan niya nga ako.

"Out. Now," my father commanded.

"Sir, yes, sir." Sumaludo pa si Trace at pagkatapos ay kinindatan ako. "Alis muna kami. Mag ba-bonding kami ni Papa."

Naiiling na lang na sinundan ko siya ng tingin hanggang sa makalabas na siya ng kuwarto para sumunod sa ama ko. Emmiliano Calderon is not a soft father, but I know that sooner or later, Trace will create a miracle. After all, my father and I are so much alike.

I don't think my father hates Trace. I know that he already acknowledged that Trace could protect me, and that's all he really wanted. Papa is stubborn, and he doesn't like being contradicted. Lalo na pagdating sa mga desisyon na tungkol sa pamilya niya. Iyon naman ang dahilan kung bakit nagkaroon sila ng problema ng Dagger. Idagdag pa ro'n na ayaw niyang malaman ko ang tungkol sa inakala niyang nangyari noon kay Mama.

Papa will love Trace soon enough. Not just for me, but for who he is.

Trace gave me a family, and I want to give him something back too. Something that I just managed to claim back as well. A parent. Isang bagay na matagal ng nawala sa kaniya.

NAG-ANGAT ako ng tingin mula sa hawak ko na mga dokumento nang maramdaman ko na lumundo ang sofa na kinauupuan ko. I saw Ellena at the other end of where I was sitting, and she placed two small cups of hot chocolate on the table.

"It's vegan," she said with a small smile.

"Thanks."

There's still some awkwardness between us, but we're working on it. Hindi rin naman kasi kami masisisi. Lumaki ako na malayo sa kaniya. Isa pa ay hindi ko rin kasundo ang ina niya. It's easier to stay away from her at that time.

"I wanted to apologize."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Apologize for what?"

"Kapag pumupunta ka sa bahay sa Manila tapos walang nakahanda na pagkain para sa'yo. Si Mama lagi ang nag-aasikaso ng pagkain at ayaw niya na may makielam sa amin, but Kuya Angelo and I should have done better."

"That's not any of your fault. What I eat is my problem."

"I want you to know that Papa tried. He always tells her what to put on the table when you come over, but Mama always claims she forgot. Alam kong pinag-aawayan din nila ang bagay na iyon kahit sinusubukan ni Papa na itago sa amin." She looked down at her clasped hands. It's like she's struggling to say something. "When I was younger, I admit that I loved that Papa always gave me attention. Sabi ni Mama noon kasi kami raw ang mas mahal ni Papa at gusto niya ng makalimutan lahat sa nakaraan niya kaya ka naiwan dito. But as I grew up, I noticed how much he really misses you. That there's a part of him that we really can't fill. Malaking parte na nakalaan sa'yo at sa mama mo. And when I fell in love, that's when I realized that Papa never really loved Mama. Iisang babae lang ang nananatili niyang mahal. He just stayed with my mother because he thought it was the right thing to do."

"Ellena—"

"I'm getting married next year. Kung ako ang papipiliin baka last year pa kami ikinasal. We didn't need two years to plan a wedding. We were arranged to be married, but we really love each other. I know my mother will try to monopolize it because she wants it to be the wedding of the year and to brag about it, and I will let her. But that's the extent of what I will allow her to control. Not my marriage, and not my relationship with you." Huminga siya ng malalim at sinalubong niya ang mga mata ko. "I want you to know that whatever happens between her and Papa, I will be on your side. Not hers. Gano'n din si Kuya. He actually hates leaving you here. He hates the way our mother treats you. We want to get to know you better. We just... we just don't know how to approach you, especially with how our mother is. We didn't know if you hated us, and we can't blame you if you did—"

"I don't hate you. Neither of you." I cleared my throat and gave her a small smile. "I would love to get to know you both too."

Naiintindihan ko ang gusto niyang sabihin. It's the same thing that I felt before. Hindi ako sanay na makasama sila at hindi ko rin masasabing kilala ko sila. It was easier to not get close to them because I always feel like I'm intruding. Dahil iyon ang pinaparamdam sa akin ng ina nila. Idagdag pa ro'n ang gap na nabuo sa pagitan namin ni Papa.

Ilang sandaling katahimikan ang namayani sa amin. Nagbaba siya ng tingin sa hawak ko at nagtatakang tinignan niya ako.

"It's my file for my employees," sabi ko at nagbaba rin ng mga mata sa hawak ko. "Iyong iba ay mukhang natakot dahil sa mga nangyari rito sa rancho kaya nagsabi na hindi na sila babalik. I already gave them their severance. I plan to keep my gardener, who still wants to work here, but I still have two employees that really need a job. I'll be staying in Cavite and I already have Cristiano."

When we visited him, Cristiano was conscious. He really loves my animals, and it turns out that there's a woman that he was courting back in Tagaytay. He pleaded for his job, which he didn't need to do. Pinaliwanag ko sa kaniya ang dahilan kung bakit napaghinalaan siya pero wala namang problema sa akin iyon ngayong alam na namin ang katotohanan sa likod ng mga nangyari. He tried to save my life and even put his own at risk, of course I want him back. Kahit na lagi siyang pinagseselosan ni Trace.

"What do you think?"

Ellena's eyes went bright, as if it made her happy that I asked for her opinion. "How about they work for Papa? Para may mga kasama siya?"

I grimace at that. Minsan ko ng nakita kung paano umakto si Angelina sa servers nang minsan kaming lumabas para kumain sa isang restaurant. I appreciate my employees, and I don't want them to suffer under her hands.

"Don't worry. I don't think Mama can do anything to them," sabi ni Ellena na mukhang nabasa ang iniisip ko.

"Uhh..."

"They're going to get their marriage annulled."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "What?"

"Narinig ko silang nag-uusap no'ng araw na pumunta ka sa opisina. I never saw Papa that angry. He said that he couldn't stand to see her, not after she tried to harm you. I heard him talking about annulment. Honestly? I was expecting it to happen a long time ago. She just pushed him too far this time."

"Oh my god." Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko. "Sorry. That's your mother—"

"It's okay. No one can blame you. She's not my favorite person after the stunt she pulled. I'm not a child anymore, but neither is she. May consequences ang lahat ng bagay." She let out a breath and smiled. "I have a feeling na iiwan ni Papa ang bahay kay Mama. I'm going to look for a new house for him. He's been talking about retiring, so he needs a place." Natigilan siya at nanlaki ang mga mata. "Wait..."

I immediately understood where her mind went. "Do you think it's a good idea? Won't this place hold too many memories?"

"He was happy here."

"Anong pinag-uusapan niyo?"

Both of us let out a shriek of surprise. Nalingunan namin ang taong pinag-uusapan namin na nagdududang tinitignan kaming dalawa.

Ellena looked at me with wide eyes. "Umm..."

She grew up a lot, but it looks like she's still a little baby when it comes to our father. Para kasi siyang bata na takot mapagalitan. And I'm her older sister.

I inhaled a huge breath before I turned and looked straight into my father's scrutinizing eyes. "You should retire, Pa."

Ellena let out an 'eek' and it took a lot from me not to laugh at her. Ito lang siguro ang advantage na marami kaming magkaparehas na ugali ni Papa at ang katotohanan na sanay akong makipagtalo sa kaniya.

"What?" magkasalubong ang kilay na tanong niya.

"Do you really want to spend all your years in the corporate world? Iyong lagi kang stress at paulit-ulit na lang ang ginagawa sa araw-araw? Paano ka po makakahanap ng babaeng ma-i-in-love sa'yo kapag nakita kang nangangabayo sa paligid ng rancho?"

"I'm allergic to horses."

Ooh. That's news to me. Siguro iyon ang dahilan kung bakit ayaw niya sa mga alaga ko. I thought he just hated my animals because he thought they should be eaten and not be kept as pets.

"And I'm married," he said.

"Ellena said not for long."

My sister made another 'eek' sound. I just threw her under the bus.

"We can buy you another house. But if you want to stay here, it's yours," I told him.

"You own Rancho Callista now."

"I think you and I both know that Callista will always be yours."

For a moment, all he could do was stare at me. I know he could hear the other meaning of my words.

"It's just a suggestion. If this place will just make you sad—"

Pinutol niya ang sasabihin ko. "My happiest days happened here." Tinignan niya si Ellena na ngumiti lang bago siya muling bumaling sa akin. "Ellena was born here, and so are you." Inilibot niya ang mga mata sa paligid. "The love of my life grew up here."

When the truth resurfaced, it shattered the darkness that masked this place. This was a place that was once full of happiness. It got shrouded by the lies of the past, but now that it's free from it... that we are free—it's back to what it's supposed to be.

"That man of yours. Does he need a new job?"

Nagtatakang itinuro ko ang sarili ko. Nang tumango si Ellena ay napakamot ako sa pisngi ko. My man. "Trace loves his job. If you're thinking of offering him a position in the company, I'm pretty sure that he will refuse."

Naningkit ang mga mata niya at binalingan niya si Ellena nang magtaas ang babae ng kamay. "Ako gusto kong magtrabaho. Press release lang naman ni Mama na gusto ko na maging housewife."

"You need to accept, Pa, that you have two daughters that can stand on their own if they want to. We don't need to be protected all the time," I said.

Ellena nodded in agreement. "Women can change the world too. Didn't Perenne rely heavily on the ideas that Callista Calderon started? We can do it too. But can we leave the stressful parts to my future husband and to Kuya? And to my future children?"

I'm surprised she knew about that. "I have shares, and I don't know what to do with them. I could help manage the charity, but the other things... maybe someday when I retire from my sport and I suddenly have a craving to be bored out of my mind... nah. Siguro kapag nagkaanak na ako at gusto niyang magtrabaho para sa Perenne—"

"Ember Nile Calderon," my father said in an admonishing tone.

"Po?"

"You're talking about children already? You and that guy barely knew each other. Kung ito ngang si Ellena na matagal ng kakilala ang kasintahan niya ay hindi ko hinayaang maikasal agad-agad."

So it wasn't just because Ellena's mother wanted the wedding to be grand.

Tinuro ko si Ellena. "Siya ang nagsimula. Bakit ka po sa akin lang nagagalit?"

"She's engaged, and you're not."

Umangat ang sulok ng labi ko. "Pa, you should read Lush Fox's books. I already know where Trace and I are going. Pagkatapos bumili ng bahay, pikot na ang susunod."

As if on cue, the door opened, and a whistling Trace stepped inside while holding a paper bag. Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa aming tatlo. May inoseteng ekspresyon sa mukha na ngumiti siya at kumaway. "Hello family!"

Ellena and I burst out laughing when our father muttered something under his breath while skewering Trace with a look before turning around to leave.

"Pa! Saan ka pupunta?" nagtatakang tanong ni Trace. "May dala akong ice cream. Ice cream para maging sweet ka sa akin!"

"Huwag mo akong kausapin! Hindi kita anak!"

_______________________End of Chapter 30.