#DS6Unwavering #CirCoal #SharkFamily #DaggerSeries

A/N: Thank you Tala Fuentebella Delloro na nanood ng FB live ko at nag-suggest ng couple name nila Circe at Coal, at kay Natasha Blanche para sa official spirit animal for Unwavering. Hartuhartu!

CHAPTER ONE

COAL'S POV

"So your name is Circe. Pronounced as Ser-si. Tunog sexy. Bagay sa'yo. Parang tayo."

"Wow." The woman didn't need to say anything anymore because the disgusted look on her face says it all. "How poetic."

"Right? I'm a master of pick-up lines."

Gusto kong matawa. I don't think the man heard the sarcasm in the woman's tone.

Tumaas ang kilay ng babae. "So you're trying to pick me up?"

"You look like you're up for a good time. Want to get out of here?"

"I'm good here," she dismissively said. "If you don't mind, I want to enjoy my drink."

The man, as expected, didn't catch the woman's obvious intention. Halata naman kasing gusto ng putulin ng babae ang usapan.

"I have more drinks in my hotel room."

"No thanks."

"Why not? Mas mag-e-enjoy ka ro'n. I'll let you taste all the expensive drinks I brought with me." He ran the back of his hand along the woman's arms, and she immediately moved away from his touch. "As long as you'll also let me have a taste too."

"Does that really work? Your lines? Pick-up lines are so archaic, not to mention creepy. Why don't you hold a proper conversation with someone first before trying to get inside their pants? Talking is not a requirement to fuck, but at least start with the basics so that you won't end up taking a psycho with you and for a woman to also feel comfortable enough to spread their legs for you without the fear of ending up dead in a ditch."

Nawala ang ngiti ng lalaki at sandaling napatunganga siya sa babae.

I shook my head. I don't envy the awkward position that this man has brought himself to. It's his fault anyway. She clearly didn't want to be bothered, but he was too dimwitted to notice it. I mean, come on? Ganoon ba kahirap makita kapag hindi interesado sa'yo ang taong kausap mo?

Kanina pa ako nakikinig sa kanila. Aksidente ko lang narinig ang pag-uusap nila dahil kadadating ko lang at lumapit ako sa outdoor beach bar na narito para sana bumili ng alak. The woman was sitting alone when a man approached her. They weren't even five minutes into the conversation when the man commented about her name while eye-fucking her. I don't even think the man's eyes lingered much on her face because they were fixed on her body. His loss. Her face is too beautiful not to look at.

She's wearing white loose pants and a crocheted bikini top in the same color. Her clothes didn't hide the curves she had. She looks like she basked under the sun for a long time, but instead of tanning, her skin is just flushed red. She's exquisite.

I don't blame the man for being captivated by her body, but he's stupid if that's all he could see.

I've met a lot of women in my life, and I admit that I've enjoyed the beauty of exploring intimacy with a lot of them. But unlike what people usually think of me, I don't just sleep with everyone.

I don't jump from one bed to another, leaving women and taking just the memory of the encounter with me. I don't look at them as if they're just faceless bodies to keep me warm. I needed a connection with them and to actually enjoy their company.

Tama ang babae sa sinabi niya. Even if you're just looking for one night of fun, you really shouldn't skip the basics. Sex is fun, but without a connection, it's no different from getting yourself off by using your hand.

It would be a shame not to have a conversation with this woman.

I could listen to her for hours just to hear her voice and spend a day looking at her while picturing the softness of her heart-shaped lips. I could see myself imagining what it would be like to touch her wild long curly hair and to lose myself in her rich milk chocolate-colored eyes.

I blinked, refocusing on the present, when I realized that the same brown eyes I was admiring were now looking at me.

Most people would have looked away, but I didn't. Mukhang katulad ko ay wala rin siyang balak na mag-alis ng tingin sa akin kung hindi pa muling nagsalita ang kausap niya.

"Kung ayaw mong mabastos, magdamit ka ng maayos."

The man's word instantly made my hackles rise. Humigpit ang pagkakahawak ko sa baso ng alak na nasa harapan ko.

"Nasa beach ako? Ano ba ang dapat na suotin ko? Gown?"

Despite the urge to drag the man out of his chair, I couldn't help the smile that tugged at the corner of my lips. Her hair matches her temper.

"Kababae mong tao ganiyan ka magsalita? Ang bastos ng bibig mo—"

"Kung ayaw mong mabastos, ayusin mo ang ugali mo," panggagaya ng babae sa kanina ay sinabi ng lalaki. "Ayusin mo na rin ang mukha mo kasi nakakairitang makita."

The woman turned her chair away, obviously pointing out her lack of interest in continuing the conversation. Iyon nga lang ay dahil doon ay hindi niya kaagad napansin ang pag-angat ng kamay ng lalaki na nasa aktong hahablutin siya.

Before he could even do what he was planning to do, my own hand moved to stop him. Napalingon sa akin ang lalaki at lalong kakikitaan siya ng pagkainis.

"This is none of your business, bro."

"Don't call me that. Wala akong kapatid na nagbubuhat ng kamay sa babae." Marahas na binitawan ko ang kamay niya. I tipped my head to the side and said, "Get lost."

Napaawang ang mga labi ng lalaki na para bang hindi makapaniwala sa paraan ng pakikipag-usap ko sa kaniya. Act like an asshole and be treated like an asshole. It's that simple.

"Kami ang magkausap kaya wala kang karapatan na makielam—"

Hindi ko siya pinatapos sa sasabihin niya at tinignan ko ang babae. "Gusto mo bang kausap 'to?"

"No." She threw an annoyed glance at the other man before her eyes went back to me. "At binibigyan kita ng karapatan na makielam."

Binalingan ko ang lalaki na ngayon ay nagpupuyos na sa galit. "You heard the lady. You can go now."

Bumuka ang bibig ng lalaki na mukhang walang balak na umalis ng matiwasay. I just wanted a drink for goodness sake. To get laid is a plus, but I'm not exactly looking for it, unlike what my siblings thought I would do when I told them that I was going out for a drink. It's just that the night is too young to end and it's not like I'll get any decent sleep.

"Kung gusto mong humanap ng babae, pare, maghanap ka nang hindi pinopormahan ng iba," may pangtutuya sa tono ng boses na sabi ng lalaki bago tinignan ang babae na napataas ang kilay. "Gusto mo 'to? All tease and nothing else. Wearing something like that, going to a place like this, but frigid as ice? Magsasayang ka lang ng oras mo."

"Hindi lang talaga ako interesado sa katulad mong hindi na nga mukhang tao ay asal hayop pa." Para bang hindi tensyonado ang paligid na kalmadong sumimsim lang ng alak ang babae. Nang ibaba niya ang baso ay binalingan niya ako. "May naririnig ka bang tumatahol?"

She's ballsy. "Meron pero gano'n talaga ata rito. Huwag mo na lang pansinin."

"Oo nga eh. Ayaw ko na nga sanang pansinin kanina. Okay lang naman sana kung aso lang pero parang tunog asong may rabies eh."

"I hope you have an updated anti-rabies shot," I told her.

"Unfortunately, wala. I'll get one when I have the time."

Naglalaro ang pigil na ngiti sa mga labi ng babae nang halos matumba ang kinauupuan na bar stool ng lalaki nang galit na bumaba siya at mabibigat ang mga hakbang na naglakad palayo sa amin.

When he was out of earshot, she looked back at me, "Thanks."

"You're welcome. But I don't think you need any help. You handled that douche well."

"But you still helped."

I shrugged. "He was annoying."

She chuckled. Nangalumbaba siya at nangingiting napailing. "May gano'n pala talagang klase ng tao no? Akala ko exaggeration lang sa mga napapanood at nababasa ko."

Her hair is swaying with the ocean breeze, and some of its tendrils are caressing her cheek. She looks so free and unbothered.

Most people will seethe with anger, and most of them will have their night ruined, but the woman in front of me acts as if what happened with the other man didn't occur and was erased from her memory.

"What?" she asked when she noticed that I was studying her.

Inabot ko ang sarili kong baso ng alak. "Nothing. You just didn't seem that pissed off the way you were moments ago."

Siya naman ang nagkibit-balikat. "Walang sense na sirain ko lalo ang gabi ko dahil sa kaniya. It's impossible to go through life without meeting difficult people, and you could be angry and all, but life is too short to let them rent a space in my mind for free when I could have better things to focus on. Isa pa mas maraming mas deserve ang galit ko. Nirereserba ko na sa kanila lahat kaya wala na akong energy na magalit pa ng sobra sa iba."

Ilang saglit na namayani ang katahimikan sa aming dalawa. Parehas na umiinom lang kami at nakaupo sa kinaroroonan namin.

I wanted to talk to her more and hear her voice again, but if she really wants her alone time, I'm not going to push her to give me attention. Even if every bit of me is being compelled to do the exact opposite.

I don't really know what it is about her. It just feels like something is enchanting me towards her—a pull that is too strong to ignore. It wasn't something that I had ever felt before.

Lumingon ako sa tabi ko nang kumilos ang babae at bumaba mula sa kinauupuan niya. The force inside me started to get stronger, screaming at me to make her stay.

I opened my mouth as if to speak, losing the fight and finally giving in. But before I could do so, the woman took the empty chair that was between us awhile ago, and she expertly climbed back up on the high bar stool despite her short stature.

Nakangiting tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. "Do you mind?"

"N-Not at all." Get a grip, Coal.

Sinenyasan ng babae ang bartender na lumapit naman kaagad sa kaniya at ni-refill ang basong iniinuman niya.

"If it were you, what would you have said?"

I tilt my head to the side. "Hmm?"

"If I told you my name, what would you say?" Itinukod niya ang siko niya sa counter at ipinatong niyang muli ang baba niya sa kamay niya. "Just so you know, I don't really find pick-up lines that old-fashioned. But there's a fun way to do it, and there's a crass way. So no hate if you also do that thing."

"Sometimes lines like that come with flirting, but I don't think that I would have done it up to bat."

"Then what would you have said?"

Katulad ko ay mukhang hindi niya rin gustong tapusin agad ang pag-uusap namin. I feel like I'm a teenage boy being noticed by my crush. "How about we try it from the beginning?"

"Sure."

Inanggulo ko ang kinauupuan ko ng bahagya paharap sa direksyon niya. "Hi. I saw you from the other end of the bar, and I was wondering if you wanted some company." Inabot ko ang kamay ko sa kaniya. "I'm Coal."

She reached for my hand, and my own covered hers for one quick moment. She felt soft and small against my calloused, large hand.

"I'm Circe."

"Circe," I repeated.

Her eyes twinkled. "Spelled as C-I-R-C-E but pronounced as ser-si."

"That's a beautiful name." Just like you. "Does it have any meaning? I haven't met anyone named Circe."

Lumawak ang ngiti sa mga labi niya. If this was a test, we both know that I passed what the asshole before flunked miserably.

"It's from mythology. Circe is a goddess and an enchantress."

A befitting name for a woman like her. An enchanting goddess.

"In Greek, I think her name sounded more like kir-kay," she continued.

"Are your parents from Greece?"

"No. They both grew up here." May kung anong nagdaan sa mga mata niya pero kaagad ding nawala iyon. "My mother was half Greek and half Filipino. She also had Swedish blood, I think." Pinakatitigan niya ako sandali. "How about you? You don't look pure Filipino."

"My father was American, and my mother was half Filipino."

I know she heard how I referred to them in the past tense, the same way she did when she was talking about her mother. I saw a glimpse of sympathy colored her eyes, but she quickly looked away to hide it from me. It was as if she knew that it's not something that I would want.

I can still remember how people looked at me and my siblings that way before. I know they meant well, but it was also tiring.

Naagaw ang atensyon ko ng nilipad na dahon na bumagsak sa balikat niya. My hands automatically reached for it, but I stopped when I realized what I was doing.

If there's something I have in common with the asshole who pestered her awhile ago, it's that we are both attracted to this woman. It would be hard not to. But unlike him, I have no intention of pushing her into something she doesn't want, and that also means that I have no right to touch her without her consent.

May maliit na ngiti na gumuhit sa mga labi ni Circe, at siya na mismo ang nag-alis ng dahon na nasa balikat niya. Instead of throwing it away, she absentmindedly played with it with her fingers.

"Are you here because you want a drink or are you here because you want to get laid?"

To say that I was surprised by her question would be an understatement. "Both, I guess?" Nang mag-angat siya ng mga mata at nakita ko ang pagtatanong sa kaniya ay nagpatuloy ako, "I'm not against it, but I wasn't actively looking for it. I could just spend the night drinking and go back to the room I'm sharing with my brother."

"Oh."

"And you?"

Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa langit at sandaling hindi nagsalita. It gave me a chance to look at her for a moment.

The ends of her long hair are touching the naked spot on her lower spine. With her head thrown back like that, it's making me picture things that I shouldn't be imagining.

"I don't really know. I don't know if I'm just here for a drink or if I want another thing." She trained her eyes back to me. "I do know that I want to forget."

I CAN FEEL sweat trickling down my bare chest. Nakasandal ako sa headboard ng kama habang sa tabi ko ay nakadapa si Circe. Her skin is glistening, and her damp hair is scattered on her naked back.

Just like me, she doesn't have a stitch of clothing on. The only thing covering her is the white blanket tangled with her legs.

My gaze dropped onto the noticeable red spots on the sheets.

"I don't understand."

Kakikitaan pa rin ng pagkahingal na isinandal niya ang pisngi niya sa braso niya para magawa niyang mag-angat ng tingin sa akin. "Does every woman need to give her first to someone important? Why? Did you give your first to someone that mattered to you?"

"As a matter of fact, I did. But you're right. Some don't. The first, the second, or the last are not that important. Not to me at least."

"Then why are you worrying about it?" she asked.

"Because you don't seem to be the kind that will just give their first away with a person you barely even know."

"I just did."

She wanted me to drop it. That much is obvious.

It's fine with me. Not because it will make it easier for me. One night without any strings attached is the perfect scenario for anyone who just wants to get laid.

But I don't plan to just end it this way. We have all night. And tomorrow... tomorrow I would ask her. Tomorrow, I want her to know me more in the same way that I plan to know everything about her.

Yumuko ako at idinampi ko ang mga labi ko sa balikat niya. I gathered her hair to the side, and this time I planted a kiss at the center of her back. "Let's make it a memorable first for you."

"It's already memorable—"

"The night is not over yet, babe."

"I don't think I can handle much of your monster... thing. I'm too sore, and it will probably hurt."

Umangat ang sulok ng labi ko. She let out a small shriek when I grabbed her waist and flipped her on her back. "I know. Don't worry." I let myself relish at the image of her gripping the sheets on each of her sides when my tongue touched the wetness between her legs. "I'm just going to taste you."

I will forever have this moment imprinted on my brain. How she writhed under me, the way the fullness of her breasts were moving with her breathing, how her lips parted to let out a gasp, and the way her eyes lost focus as pleasure engulfed her.

My enchantress.

My Circe.

________________________________End of Chapter 1.