#DS6Unwavering #CirCoal #SharkFamily #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: ABSTRACT

CIRCE'S POV

Pabirong tinapik ko ang kamay ni Coal nang maramdaman ko iyon na umaakyat sa tagiliran ko. His lips pursed a bit, but I could still see the playful glint in his eyes.

Sa harapan namin ay kita ang repleksyon namin mula sa nakasaradong pintuan ng elavator. Coal has charcoal pants on with a matching blazer in the same color. He's also wearing a black turtleneck that I never found appealing on anyone before until I saw him wearing it.

Ako naman ay may suot na kulay golden yellow na crocheted dress. It has bishop sleeves, and its length falls to my ankle. It would have looked conservative except that it has a deep V neckline and no back. Also, both sides of my midriff are bare in a peek-a-boo style, and the fabric is only connected to a circular metal piece on my upper abdomen.

Coal tamed his hair, which has always looked like he ran his fingers through it, while I let mine hang freely on my back. I have minimal makeup, which is something I'm used to, and I sprayed some shimmer lotion on my collarbones.

"Have I told you that you look beautiful tonight?" Coal asked as he leaned down to whisper right in my ear.

Sa kabila ng pamilyar na init na gumapang sa akin nang maramdaman ko ang pagdaiti ng hininga niya sa tenga ko ay pinaikot ko ang mga mata ko. "Only about a million times."

"Then consider this as one million and one."

I pinched his side when I felt his teeth graze my earlobe. Natatawang umiwas lang siya at kinulong niya ang mga kamay ko sa sarili niyang kamay. He intertwined our fingers, and for a moment, I couldn't help but stare at them.

Everything feels natural with him. It's kind of a surreal feeling because I thought it should be more complicated than this. Akala ko pagdating sa relasyon, normal na iyong lagi kang may kailangan baguhin o i-adjust. That it will take some time to get used to it. But Coal keeps proving to me that even if a relationship is something you work on together, it's not supposed to feel like one. Like you're always struggling to keep it.

"I should message Tala that we're already here." Bumuntong-hininga ako. "Though for sure, thumbs up lang ang isasagot no'n."

"Nagtatampo pa rin sa'yo?"

"For a person who's surfer won a competition, she's like a walking thunder cloud," I answered, making Coal chuckle in response.

I only let everyone tell Tala about what happened two days ago. I didn't want to worry her, especially with the competition she needed to focus on. Mamamalagi muna sana siya sa ibang bansa ng isang linggo kahit na tapos ang competition. Pero nang malaman niya ang tungkol sa nangyari ay kaagad siyang kumuha ng flight pauwi para puntahan kami sa Batangas. After she reamed me about not telling her.

"Hindi ka naman matitiis no'n ng matagal," sabi ni Coal.

"I know."

I typed on my phone, and when the elevator's doors opened, I sent it quickly to Tala. Siya kasi ang naiwan sa beach house kasama si Kaise at dalawang trainee o kung tawagin nila Coal ay Bolster.

He explained it to me recently. Dagger has three key departments. Spine Points are those that manage investigative research and security control. Forensics is also part of that department. Blade Points handles field investigations and client security. Habang ang Bolsters naman ay mga bago sa ahensya. They are training both for SP and BP. Once they graduate, they'll be moved to the department that they excelled at while in training.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa phone at nilingon ko ang elevator sandali. From where we were, I could see Coal's brothers inside the conference room. "Hindi ba magiging problema sa security ninyo kung may mga guest na bigla na lang pumunta sa ibang mga floor?"

"Not really. The guests would be directed to the top floor. Normally dito lang may tao ang reception dahil dito naman namin pinapapunta ang mga kliyente pero dahil sa taas ang event ay nandoon ngayon si Rage, the receptionist, para masigurong didiretso ang mga bisita sa rooftop. The other floors are locked right now. The people in the control knew that we were the ones inside the elevator, so they gave us access."

He guided me toward the conference room. The men gave me their versions of greetings, so it's just a bunch of chin lifts and nods except for Trace and Domino who grinned at me and waved.

"We'll make this quick," Thorn announced. "Bago pa tayong sunduin lahat dito ng mga asawa natin."

Eksaheradong bumuntong-hininga si Domino. "Sana all."

I laughed quietly under my breath before I took the seat that Coal pulled for me. He sat beside me, and as if taking that as a cue, Axel reached for a remote.

"We found something that could be linked to the letter." Binuhay ni Axel ang screen na nasa harapan ng kinaroroonan namin. "This is the letter that has been sent."

I knew Coal had seen it, but I still felt him stiffen beside me while looking at the screen where the letter could be seen.

"The burned matter was tested, and it turns out to be made of some kind of fabric. It matched with the rope that has been glued on the letter," Thorn shared.

Axel nodded to himself, already typing on his laptop that was connected to the screen. Ilang sandali lang ay nagbago ang nasa screen. It looks like an email page. "We browsed your email and retrieved the ones you deleted. We noticed two that were a fit for what we were looking for."

On the screen, a side-by-side window showed two attachments from an email. Halos magkamukha lang ang dalawa. Except the second one was braided to look like a rope.

Both looked to be the same color as the one that had been glued to the letter.

Nilingon ako ni Coal. "I saw that first email when we were in Siargao."

"Yeah," I murmured. "Akala ko binebentahan lang ako ng scarf o kung anuman 'yan. We were more focused on the lewd messages and dick pics sent to me than that one since it didn't appear to be anything to be worried about. It's even photographed nicely."

"This is not the normal behavior of a stalker," Pierce muttered while staring at the screen. "They don't immediately go into threatening mode." The man turned to me. "The email was probably sent before the letter has been delivered to Miss Trevino's house. You didn't open the email the day that it was sent, right?" he asked me, and I nodded.

"When was the second email sent?" Coal questioned his brother.

"Two days ago."

"This means this is not just a one-time prank," singit ni Gun na siyang nagsalita. "The perpetrator is making his presence known."

A shiver ran through me, and Coal's arm immediately went around my shoulder to pull me close.

"Nakapag-setup na kami ng security system sa bahay ni Miss Trevino." Binalingan ako ni Thorn. "Kung kinakailangan na bumalik kayo ni Kaise sa Siargao, two Dagger BP will go with you. Assuming that Coal will go with you wherever you need to be, we will just send one."

Akmang sasagot ako pero naunahan ako ni Coal. "Kung nasaan ang mag-ina ko, doon ako."

His older brother's face remained impassive, but I could see that his eyes were saying otherwise. The corner of Gun's lips went up, Pierce and Axel shared a look, and Trace and Domino are both shoving each other as if they're giddy teenage girls.

Coal's words affected me more than he thought they did. I'm moved by his dedication to be with me and Kaise. But I don't want to keep him with me if he's more needed elsewhere. "We talked about this, Coal. Hindi mo kailangan na manatiling kasama kami kung mas kailangan ka sa ibang lugar. If your job needs you to—"

"If you think for one second that I will be anywhere else except with you and Kaise, you're highly wrong." He reached for my hand and squeezed it gently. "You both need me more than ever with what's happening because this is my job. This is what we do."

I know whatever I say, Coal's decisions won't be swayed. And honestly, I don't know if I even want to.

I will never feel more safe than when he's around. Ayoko lang talaga na maging dahilan para malayo siya sa trabaho niya na sa nakikita ko ay importante sa kaniya at pati na rin sa pamilya niya.

They have the kind of family that not many have. Ayoko na ako ang maging dahilan para malayo sa kanila si Coal. Kung hindi ako ang ina ni Kaise ay hindi sila madadamay sana sa problema ko.

"We take care of our own." Napatingin ako sa panganay na Dawson na direktang nasa akin ang mga mata. "Even if you and my brother didn't have a daughter, nothing would be different. You understand that, right?"

"I—"

"There's no such place that will be too far for us to visit you, Kaise, and our brother. At kahit hindi pa kami laging nandoon, it wouldn't feel like he's far since we communicate a lot."

Gun scoffed. "To say it's a lot is an understatement. Minsan hanggang madaling-araw ang iingay pa ng mga 'yan sa group chat."

I recently joined the group chat. Coal told me to mute it every night so it wouldn't disturb me. Pagdating sa umaga ay nagugulat na lang ako at ang haba na ng kailangan kong i-back read.

"Saka may private jet si idol Belaya. Kahit araw-araw pa kaming pumunta sa Siargao kapag nandoon kayo, okay lang," nakangising sabi ni Domino na nag thumbs up pa sa akin. "Kaya huwag ka ng mag-alala idol Circe. Mabuti nga at may iba naman kaming napupuntahan ngayon."

"Oo nga. Kila Lia kami laging pumupunta kasi doon kami nakikikain kaso lagi kaming pinapalayas agad kapag gusto na ni Kuya Gun na mag-vocali—" Tinikom ni Trace ang bibig sandali nang malingunan niya si Gun na masama ang tingin sa kaniya. "Sa bahay naman nila Mireia hindi na kami nagtatangkang dumalaw kasi laging nasa TDN ang isang 'yon. Kapag naman nasa bahay sila hindi kami makapunta kasi malalaswang nilalang din— aray!"

I couldn't help but laugh at Trace's expression when Axel casually slapped him on the back of his head.

"Don't forget that you're usually at our house too," naiiling na sabi ni Thorn.

"Kinukuha lang namin ang delivery namin." Ngumuso si Trace. "Mas madalas pa nga sila Kuya Pierce na doon pinapadala ang sa kanila."

Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Thorn. "Bakit sa bahay namin?"

"Kapag walang tao sa amin doon kami nagpapadala. Si Ember naman madalas ding nasa bahay pero mas okay ipadala sa inyo kasi tropa na ni Lush ang mga delivery driver. Hindi basta iniiwan ang mga parcel at kapag wala siya tinatago muna nila." Humalukipkip si Trace. "Ayaw niyo naman na dito ipadala kasi magulo kamo tapos sa TDN ayaw din ni Kuya Axel kasi raw maiistorbo si Mireia."

"Kaya kami na lang ang iniistorbo niyo?"

"Highlight ng araw ni Lucienne ang tumanggap ng delivery. Hindi kompleto ang buhay no'n kapag wala siyang natatanggap na kahit na ano sa isang linggo."

"Eh bakit kahit gabing gabi na nagugulat na lang ako nasa bahay na kayo?"

"Bakit ako? Maaga akong umuwi ah. Pumupunta lang ako kapag may pinapabili si Lush pero maaga akong umuuwi sa bahay at naghihintay ang prinsesa ko." Inginuso niya ang direksyon nina Axel at Pierce. "Iyan kamong sila Kuya at saka si Domino."

"Bumibisita lang ako kapag wala akong magawa," singit ni Domino.

Tumikhim si Pierce nang makita niyang napatingin kaming lahat sa kaniya. "Nawawala na tayo sa topic. Let's talk about Circe's—"

"Gusto ko ring malaman," putol ko sa sasabihin niya bago ko pa napigilan ang sarili ko. Nahawa na ata ako kila Lucienne. As per her words, it's the principle of "maritesism studies". "Sorry."

Domino guffawed. "O kuya narinig niyo. Gusto raw malaman ni Circe."

Bumuka ang mga labi ko para tumanggi pero naiiling na sumandal si Pierce sa kinauupuan. A small smile is playing on the corner of his lips. "Belaya and Mireia are best friends. They might be different people, but they also have a lot of similarities. Isa roon ay kapag may pinagtatalunan kami ni Belaya ay madalas niyang binubulabog si Mireia. And because Axel is my brother, it's normal that he would be kicked out of their home because those two need to rant about me. Kaya kapag mainit ang ulo ng dalawang 'yon ay pumupunta muna kami kila Lucienne dahil gising 'yon kadalasan hanggang madaling-araw."

That's surprising. Though I know it's natural for couples to fight, Belaya's is as clingy to her husband as the others are to theirs.

Para bang nababasa ang iniisip ko na muling nagsalita si Pierce, "My wife has claws when she wants to use them. Lalo na kapag kasalukuyan siyang may project, sensitibo talaga ang emosyon niya. But since she's my kitten, her claws are tiny, and before the day ends she'll be back to being sweet since I know how to make her purr—"

Halos sabay pang kumanta si Trace at Domino habang nakatakip sa mga tenga nila para hindi magawang ituloy ni Pierce ang sasabihin niya.

"And you?" I asked Gun, who was just shaking his head at them.

The man just shrugged. "Lia and I fight about the little things. I don't need to leave the house since we enjoy resolving them."

Nag-init ang magkabilang pisngi ko at nilingon ko si Coal. His eyes glinted with obvious amusement, which tells me that he knows what I'm thinking about. Nagmana nga sa mga kapatid niya.

Gun looked at his watch. "Let's wrap this up. Luna will throw a fit if we're all missing."

Napapalatak si Trace. "You're such a pushover when it comes to Luna, Kuya."

"And you're not? Ikaw nga ang kakampi."

Tumayo na si Thorn at sinalansan niya ang mga nasa harapan niya bago niya inabot ang blazer niya at sinuot iyon. "We're going to update you if we have more information. Sa ngayon Trace will handle the legal side of this so we can get footage from cameras within the vicinity, and Domino will coordinate with the authorities there as well. Axel and the research team will try to get more out of the email and possibly track them." His face softened at me. "The more information we have, the more we can make a plan to find the perpetrator. Right now there are a lot of variables missing, but sooner or later he will make a move, and we will be waiting for it."

"You have your safe areas. Here at Dagger, The Dawson's Nook, and our properties. It will be rare that one of us wouldn't be with you, pero kung may pupuntahan ka man at wala si Coal, sabihan mo lang kami," Pierce advised.

With the way Coal's hand tightened on mine, I knew that it wasn't likely that he would let me be far from him. Except for the time that Kaise and I were in Siargao and Coal was needed here, he almost never left my side. I doubt that he will start now.

I don't know what it says about me, but just the thought alone brings calmness to me. Despite the lurking danger...

I feel safe.

THE NIGHT is getting deeper, but everyone's having so much fun that no one minds it a bit. The place is buzzing with people, you can hear laughter from all around, and the food is coming and going.

It was quite an eventful night. There was dancing, and for the first time, I heard Lia sing live.

Luna decided to have her reception on the rooftop of Dagger. Bukod sa pamilya niya ay nag-imbita rin siya ng ilan na mga kaibigan niya mula sa trabaho habang iba pa ay mga inimbitahan naman ng asawa niya na si Magnus Aquillan.

She's known in the whole country, and she's already made a name for herself internationally, but it seems like she's a low-key person. She could have had her reception in any place and invited a lot of people, but instead she chose to celebrate it with those that are important to her.

At kahit sabihin pa na nagkaroon ng pagtatampo sa kaniya ang mga kapatid niya, I can see that all is forgiven.

"Hello, friends and family." Lahat kami ay napabaling sa unahan ng lugar kung saan may maliit na make-shift stage na ginawa. Nakatayo roon si Luna na may hawak na mic. "Iistorbohin ko muna kayo sandali. It's getting late, and I know a lot of you can't wait to go home, especially my brothers, what with their women looking beautiful tonight."

I saw Lia look at her husband, and the way he gazed at her shouldn't be legal to be seen in public.

Lahat kaming mga babae ay nakasuot ng iba't ibang shade ng dilaw. That's the only thing that Luna requested, so everyone dressed according to their personalities.

"I know everyone didn't expect when I dropped the bomb about me being married. At alam ko rin na maraming nagtampo sa akin dahil sa desisyon ko." Luna raised her eyebrow at the direction of her siblings. "When I was young, I told my parents that I wanted to get married when I'm twenty-five. I promised my mom that I would be because I want her to see that I'm happy the way she was happy with my father. I always work hard to achieve my dreams, but that one needed a little adjustment, since imposibleng magpakasal kung wala ka pa ngang boyfriend." Laughter joined Luna when she did as well. "But at twenty-five, I would have married this man. Kaya lang nang mga panahon na 'yon, he was still getting over his crush for my sister-in-law."

Thorn muttered something under his breath that I didn't hear, but Lucienne, who's standing at his side, just shook her head with a smile.

"I gave myself a little more time since it's not in my personality to quit. So I said this time, at thirty, I should be happily married." Tinapunan ng tingin ng babae ang asawa. "Pero inadjust ko ulit ng mga thirty-five kasi ayaw pa rin akong sagutin ng isang 'to."

The room got filled with laughter again, and when it died down, she continued, "Thankfully, he didn't make me wait that long. Now, before I turn thirty-one this year, I can say that I am happily married to Magnus Aquillan, my husband, who, thank God, finally said yes."

Magnus shook his head at Luna's antics, who even made an okay sign at the sky as if telling the heavens "Good job" for making her wish come true.

"I didn't want to waste time. I waited for too long. Kaya bago pa magbago ang ihip ng hangin ay..." Ginalaw niya ang mga kamay niya na may suot na wedding ring. "Of course it would have been better to have my family there, but it was something I needed to do. Something I wanted so badly. Kaya mga kuya... sorry na."

I bit the inside of my lower lip when I heard the change in Luna's voice. I looked at Coal and I could see that he was looking down, his jaws tight. It wasn't out of anger but instead it was like he was trying to fight his emotions.

"I'm wearing my mother's wedding ring, and I married the person that makes me happy. Now I'm here. Now here we all are." She didn't speak for a moment, as if it were beginning to get hard to do so. "I wanted it to be here. This place might be different than where Dagger originally started, but Dagger is not just a place. It never was. It's the hearts of two people that wanted to make a difference so that the children they raised would live in a world that is a little better." Luna smiled despite her eyes that were filled with tears. "Everyone in here, everyone that has been here. Sa lugar kung nasaan ang pamilya ko, sa Dagger na binuo mula sa wala ng mga magulang namin. I might have married for me, but I'm celebrating it with everyone that I love. So thank you. Thank you for letting me be here and for being here for me."

She wasn't even done speaking when Thorn crossed the distance to get to her. Hindi nagtagal ay sumunod sa kaniya ang iba pa.

I felt Coal move. He gave me a small smile and kissed my temple before going with his brothers. Luna's face crumpled, and a lone tear became many when she got enveloped in their hug.

Everyone's eyes are on the family. I could hear the silent cries of others. I could see some trying to hide how they wipe their eyes. But for some reason, I couldn't look away from Luna's husband.

The way he looks at her feels so beautiful that it almost hurts to see. It's like seeing love—something so abstract—in a form that is clearly visible.

"It's funny how love could be so visible to others when it's directed to other people. Pero mahirap makita kapag para sa atin 'yon." My gaze went to Lucienne when she moved close to me. "You could see it too, right? The way he looks at her?"

"Yes," I whispered.

"I've seen that five times before. Kay Gun at Lia, Pierce at Belaya, Axel at Mireia, Trace at Ember, at kay Thorn nang magawa ko ng maintindihan at tanggapin ang nararamdaman niya para sa akin at nang magawa ko ring tanggapin ang nararamdaman ko sa kaniya."

I didn't know why she was telling me this, so I just nodded. Ibinalik ko ang mga mata ko sa magkakapatid at bahagya pa akong nagulat nang makita kong nakatingin pala sa akin si Coal. He's waiting for his turn to hug her.

His lips widened into a smile, and he mouthed at me, "I want a hug too.". Nang magkibit ako ng balikat ay muling gumalaw ang mga labi niya, "Will you give me one?".

Ginawa ko siya at itinaas-baba ko rin ang mga balikat ko. Ekseharedong pinalungkot niya ang mukha niya dahilan para mapatawa ako. I mouthed back at him, "Fine. I will hug you.".

"Now I see it again... but the people that should have haven't yet. But soon they will."

I turned to Lucienne when she spoke again, but she just smiled at me. Nag-iinat na tumingin siya sa langit. "Ah. Young love. Makapagsulat nga mamaya."

____________________End of Chapter 18.