#DS6Unwavering #CirCoal #SharkFamily #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER NINETEEN: CIRCOAL'S DAY

CIRCE'S POV

"Hey. Don't change out of your dress yet."

Napaangat ang kilay ko kay Coal nang magsalita siya pagkatapos kong maingat na maisarado ang kuwarto ni Kaise. Dumiretso kasi ako kaagad sa kaniya nang makarating kami sa beach house kahit na alam kong tulog na siya.

Tala headed to her room too once we arrived. Mukha ring napatawad niya na ako dahil ang dami kong inuwi sa kaniya. Bago kasi pumunta ng Dagger para sa party ay bumili muna kami ni Coal sa Carmela's. It has the best banana cake in Tagaytay according to the locals. Kaya binili ko lahat ng flavors nila at nag-panic buying din ako nang makita ko na may cookies din sila.

Umuwi na rin ang dalawang empleyado ng Dagger na sina Nevan at Pike pagkatapos kausapin si Coal sandali.

"Bakit?" nagdududang tanong ko.

Coal smiled sheepishly, as if he could read my mind. "Not because of that." Inipit niya sa mga daliri niya ang kulot ko na buhok at nilaro niya iyon. "If that's the case, then I would want you out of that dress then."

Pinaikot ko ang mga mata ko sa kabila ng pag-iinit nang magkabila kong mga pisngi. He chuckled, and he took my hand. Dinala niya ako sa kusina. When we got there, he let me go, and he went straight to the cupboard at the far end of the kitchen. Sa pagtataka ko ay may inilabas siya mula roon na basket.

Pinanood ko siyang kumilo sa kusina. He grabbed Carmela's cookies and put them inside the basket. He also put a bottle of wine and two glasses that seemed to be Pinot Noir glasses. Pati ang parent unit ng baby monitor ni Kaise ay isinilid niya roon.

Coal eyed the stove. "Should I cook?" he asked no one in particular.

"We just ate."

"Natunaw na 'yon. Kanina pa 'yon eh." He winked at me. "Just a light snack."

"Para saan ba?" Nang ngitian niya lang ako ay napailing na lang ako. "Ano pa bang snack ang paborito mong kainin?"

"The Circe Snack?" he teased.

I sighed exasperatedly before walking towards him. Hinila ko ang isa sa drawer ng center island kung saan maayos nakasalansan ang iba't ibang produkto ng Lucky Me, particularly the variety of Pancit Canton. Kung addiction ko ang cookies, si Coal naman adik sa Pancit Canton.

"I don't think that would be... what's the right term? Fancy? I don't think that would be fancy enough for what I'm thinking of." He eyed the drawer. "Maybe we should do it another day when I'm more prepared."

"You already peeked my curiosity. Kukulitin lang kita dahil hindi ako matitigil kakaisip kung anong binabalak mo ngayong gabi." I doubt that this is some odd twist he's putting on the chocolate or whipped cream phenomenon when it comes to the adult version of "playing with food" so I honestly don't know what he's planning. "Put a piece of parsley on top, and it will look fancy," I suggested. Chuckling to himself, he took three packs of the noodles. Dalawang pack ng kalamansi flavor at isang pack ng hot chili. "Akala ko ba light snack lang?"

"Light lang naman 'yan. Dalawa tayong kakain eh."

He poured water into a huge pot and placed it on the stove on high heat. Then he put a frying pan beside the pot and cracked two eggs on it.

Kung hindi ko nakita kung paano mag-workout si Coal ay baka magtaka na ako kung paano niya napanatili na fit ang katawan niya. Thankfully, he eats healthy, so it balances out his love for Pancit Canton. He also just indulges himself once in a while and not every day. Like me with cookies.

"Hey. Can you transfer this to a container?" he asked when he was done cooking. "May aayusin lang ako sandali."

Bumuka ang bibig ko para magsalita, pero hinalikan niya lang ako sa sentido at mabilis na naglakad papunta sa direksyon ng mga kuwarto.

"Ano na naman kaya ang binabalak ng isang 'yon?" bulong ko sa sarili ko.

I mixed the noodles before pouring them into a square serving dish, and then I placed the two fried eggs on top. Katulad ng sinabi ko kay Coal ay nilagyan ko din iyon ng parsley.

Nang makabalik si Coal ay umangat ang sulok ng labi niya nang makita niya ang ginawa ko. He covered the dish and put it inside the basket. He also pulled out from the cupboard a cylinder container of Hunter's Gourmet hand-cooked potato chips that I remember Lia gave him.

Lumapit ako sa fridge at kumuha ako ng tubig. I handed it to Coal, who put it inside the basket as well before taking my hand and leading me out of the kitchen.

"Isn't it too late for a picnic?" Nang makita kong papunta kami sa mga kuwarto ay kumunot ang noo ko. "At hindi ba dapat sa labas ang picnic at hindi sa kuwarto." He didn't say anything, and he just opened the door of his room. "I know you're a kinky deviant, but like I always tell Kaise, we don't play with food."

Tumatawang sinarado niya ang pintuan ng kuwarto niya. "I told you. I'm not kinky."

"Fine. A hot-blooded deviant then."

He just grinned and didn't say anything more. It's not like he can deny his prowess when it comes to that kind of activity. Kung matatawag ngang talent iyon ay sigurado ako na iyon ang magiging number one na talento niya.

I chortled to myself. He got a lot of practice so it's not a wonder.

Nilingon ako ng lalaki at pinaningkitan niya ako ng mga mata na para bang naiintindihan niya kung ano ang iniisip ko. Malakas na napatawa ako nang isubsob niya ang mukha niya sa leeg ko at naramdaman ko ang pagbirong pagkagat niya ro'n.

"Coal!"

"Let's go before I decide to devour you instead."

Pilit na inignora ko ang sinabi niya sa kabila ng epekto no'n sa katawan kong pamilyar sa kaniya at tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Are we going to the balcony?"

Sa pagtataka ko ay sa malaking walk-in closet niya ako dinala. Hindi ko na nagawang ma-appreciate ng sobra ang laki ng closet niya na ang dami pang espasyo dahil mukhang hindi niya naman nagamit lahat dahil nagtataka na talaga ako sa ginagawa niya. "Now this is getting weirder."

He grinned. "Trust me."

Ibinaba ni Coal ang dala na basket at naglakad siya papunta sa kabilang dulo ng lugar. To my surprise, he pulled something from the slot on the right side of the built-in cabinets and slid it in the middle, right below the rectangular sun roof above.

"Don't tell me..." I whispered.

He threw me a smile before he climbed the ladder. Binuksan niya ang sun roof bago niya ako nilingon. "Hand me the basket, baby." Wala sa sariling sinunod ko siya at pinanood ko kung paanong inilabas niya sa bubong ang basket. He climbed more, and he went outside. Yumuko siya pagkatapos at inabot niya ang kamay niya sa akin. "Come."

Inakyat ko ang hagdanan at inabot ko ang nakahandang kamay niya. He pulled me out until we were both standing on the roof of the house.

My lips parted in awe as I looked at the view that greeted me. There's a huge blue blanket spread on the floor, and on top of it is a thick white comforter. May mga nakakalat din na throw pillows.

There are also solar string lights attached to the edges of the wide rectangular space, and now that it's dark, it looks like we're surrounded by stars.

There are too many factors to say that everything is just a coincidence. And let's just say that even if I haven't read all of Lucienne's books, I've already started to put pieces together. The Dawson Housing Plan.

Sometimes I couldn't help thinking about it, especially because Coal doesn't look like a person who will buy a beach house for himself. He's unmarried. A bachelor. He looks more of a person who will buy a house that is more convenient for him.

I didn't want to assume before. But now... this roof and the way his closet has been set up to lead to a place like this—something I told him was my favorite spot in Tala's house—feel impossible to just happen by chance.

"Be honest with me," I whispered, and I met his eyes. "Did you buy this house for me and Kaise?"

Sa kabila ng dilim ay kita ko kung paanong bahagyang nawalan ng kulay ang mukha ni Coal. "Umm... no. I bought it for me." Nang makita niyang bahagyang naningkit ang mga mata ko ay alanganing napangiti siya. "And for you and Kaise."

I opened my mouth, but I just pressed them together again when I couldn't find the right words to say.

"Are you angry?" he asked hesitantly.

Hindi pa rin nagsasalita na umiling ako.

"Are you feeling pressured then? Because I'm moving too fast?"

I let out a soft laugh. "Fast is an understatement when it comes to us."

Nag-aalinlangan pa rin na lumapit siya sa akin. He brushed a lock of my hair gently away from my face. "I should have known that you would figure it out quicker than the others. You're not the kind of person that will fail to notice things because you hate being in denial. You also hate stressing about things when you know that you can stop it by just asking." A small smile colored his lips. "I know all that, but I couldn't stop myself from hoping that you wouldn't notice yet."

"Hanggang sa dumating sa point na hindi ko na gugustuhing kumawala pa?" Nang hindi siya sumagot ay napabuntong-hininga na lang ako. That was enough of an answer. "This is the Dawson's way, isn't it?"

"Circe—"

"I'm not angry. Pressured? Not really. It's not like you can force me to anything. If I told you I don't want this, I know you will give me space." His jaw tightened, but he nodded. "Even if you don't want to."

Nilibot ko ang tingin ko sa paligid. Mas malawak ang kinaroroonan namin kesa sa paborito kong spot sa bahay ni Tala. Hindi kita ang lugar na 'to kapag nasa baba kami. Hindi rin matatanaw dahil parte ito ng geometric structure ng bahay. Aakalain mo na ganoon lang talaga ang pagkakagawa.

"I'm a little scared, though," I told him honestly.

Kahit ano pa kasi ang sabihin, masyado pang bago kung ano man ang binubuo namin. We were at the part where we're supposed to take everything easy. But things like this are big decisions.

"I am too." Naglakbay ang tingin niya sa mukha ko. "I'm new to this just like you are. Half of the time I'm not sure what I'm even doing. I'm afraid that I will mess things up. That I will do something that will make me lose you and Kaise. I hate to think that one day I won't wake up next to you because I fucked up."

We don't know the future. I know Kaise will always have this place. I just don't know if I will also be in it.

But the future is vast, and it will do me no good to try to control it. I only have now. The present should be lived rather than ignored because of being to caught up with the future.

"Or I did." Marahang tinapik ko ang pisngi niya. "You're not the only one in this, remember? I am too."

Bahagyang lumiwanag ang mukha niya. "So... are you okay with this?"

Nagkibit-balikat ako at tumingin ako sa langit. "I've always wanted to be here in Batangas because of my mother. And you..." Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Sneakily bought one. I have no idea what my dream house would look like, but you have a house that I wanted to buy for myself the first time I saw it because I wanted it so bad. So I guess it's okay. Nakatipid pa ako."

Coal chuckled and pulled me close. Mahigpit na niyakap niya ako at ipinatong niya ang baba niya sa ulo ko. I can hear his heart thudding violently inside his chest.

I wrapped my arms around his waist. "Do you like this house?"

"I like that you and Kaise are in it."

Nag-angat ako ng mukha sa kaniya. "Kung wala kami rito, hindi mo magugustuhan?"

"This wasn't the house I was planning to buy at first. Iyong una ay nandito rin sa Lemery at beach front din pero may second floor. You said you want a single-story house, so I asked the agent that Kuya Axel referred to me to find me another one." Nilapat niya ang mga labi niya sandali sa noo ko. "When I saw this place, I thought it was perfect for us. I like it because I could imagine your wild hair being blown by the breeze as you look outside like a goddess enjoying the beauty of her territory, and I could see Kaise running around while calling me "Daddy shak". But most of all, I envisioned you right here. In my arms while standing on this place that we can call ours." Ikinulong niya ang mukha ko sa mga palad niya. "You could have wanted an island, a castle, a small hut, a tree house... and I would have liked them all just the same. Because for years I've been going back to a place I couldn't call my home. I don't feel rested while I'm there. I don't even eat there. It's just a place I sleep in."

It was a lot. What he gave me before I even knew it. What he's giving me now with his words.

It was a lot for the both of us, but I didn't mind.

It's just us. Like we've always been. We were always a lot. We've never been conventional. We didn't follow the stream of our lives, and instead we're like the ocean, where you don't know what you'll get... whether it's violent currents or calm waves.

Bahagya akong kumawala sa kaniya at nilingon ko ang mga hinanda niya. "You've had this spot all this time, and you're just telling me now."

His eyes crinkled. "I wanted to surprise you since we haven't had our first date yet."

It's funny how we've done a lot of things backward. "Akala ko ba hindi uso sa inyong magkakapatid ang date? Kahit nga ata si Luna diretso kasal eh."

"How about we just call this the CirCoal's Day? So we don't go off brand," he teased.

"Pwede." Inginuso ko ang basket. "CirCoal's Day with Pancit CanCoal."

It's a wonder how he didn't wake up the whole Batangas when he burst out laughing. Impit na napatili ako nang yumuko siya, at basta niya na lang akong buhatin. Maingat na ibinaba niya ako sa nakalatag na comforter, at pagkapots ay umupo siya sa tabi ko.

Inilabas niya ang mga nasa basket at inayos niya iyon sa harapan namin. "I forgot to bring plates."

Kinuha ko ang isa sa hawak niya na tinidor at kumuha ako sa serving dish ng noddles. "We kissed and did other things... well, a lot. Sharing food is nothing compared to it."

Kumislap ang pamilyuhan sa mga mata niya at pinaikot ko ang mga mata ko dahil alam ko ang pinuntahan ng isip niya kahit hindi niya pa sabihin sa akin.

Coal is insatiable. He could be too much for a woman's stamina. Luckily for him, I'm an athlete, and I also just discovered how I match his drive when it comes to that kind of activity.

"Nabasa mo na lahat ang libro ni Lush?" tanong niya habang kumakain kami.

"Hindi pa. It's kind of hard to continue after reading Lia and Gun's story. Pakiramdam ko kasi hindi ko na sila matitignan sa mga mata pagkatapos kong mabasa 'yung... you know."

Coal groaned. "I know what you mean." He shivered as if he remembered what I was talking about. "But don't worry. The books that will follow have fewer scenes like that."

"I've peeked in Belaya and Pierce's book. There might not be a lot of bed scenes, but there's a lot of sexual tension."

"Yeah." He grimaced. "I wish I didn't know what you're talking about, but I do."

"You read all of them?" I asked.

He shrugged. "I did. May kopya ako ng lahat ng libro niya sa library. Lucienne worked hard to write those books so we support her every step of the way. She loves writing and for a moment we thought she would stop after what happened to her. When she continued by exploring another genre, we were happy for her because that means she wouldn't give up on something she clearly loves. Nagsusulat pa rin siya ng gore pero ngayon ay hindi na lang siya nakakulong doon. She writes freely now." Tinapunan niya ako ng tingin at nginitian niya ako. "Isa pa, halos walang siyang tulog lagi para matapos ang mga libro niya. She has a husband and two children she dotes on tapos ang dami niya pang oras para sa aming lahat na magkakapatid. She makes everyone feel welcome and included. Kapag pumupunta siya sa Dagger alam mo na agad kasi maririnig mo na lang na may nagtatawanan. That's why we want to make her happy too. And out of the simplest things that makes her happy is seeing that we appreciate her books. Sobrang liit na bagay pero ang laki para sa kaniya."

There's something endearing about a man who has a love for his family like he does. I witnessed how he interacts with other people, and I know that he's not the easiest Dawson to talk to. He wouldn't even initiate a conversation unless he wanted to talk to that person. Pero pagdating sa mga taong importante sa kaniya, he's different.

The way he's different with me.

"Dapat pala binili ko rin ang mga libro niya. Ang kaso binigyan niya na ako eh," sabi ko.

"That's okay. Kami lang naman na magkakapatid ang pinagbabayad niya maliban kay Luna." He snickered. "Mayaman naman daw kami eh mas mayayaman pa nga ang mga sister-in-law ko kesa sa mga kapatid ko."

We stayed there for awhile, talking about his family and random things. Kasalukuyan kaming nag-de-dessert nang may maisip ako. "You bought this house for us, right?"

"Yeah." His forehead knotted a bit. "Why?"

"Since you bought a house, then I'm going to buy us a car." Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay nang akmang tatanggi siya dahilan para itikom niya ulit ang bibig niya. "You don't exactly have the most convenient transport for a child." He has a beautiful car, and it looks expensive, but if we're planning to go somewhere far, we can't cart all our things and Kaise's stuff. Kahit nga grocery hindi pwedeng sobrang dami. "You have a motorbike and a car. Your family has a van, but we can't always borrow it. I had a car before, but I sold it since I won't be needing it anymore. So... we need a family car. One that you won't be too embarrassed to drive because whether you like it or not, it's going to be an SUV—"

Napatili ako nang basta niya na lang akong hatakin at sa isang iglap ay kinukubabawan niya na ako. "There's nothing that involves you and Kaise that could ever embarrass me." He touched his nose on mine, his huge build towering over me. "But I'm paying."

I pushed him, and this time it was him that made a sound when I straddled him. My hair fell around him like a curtain, and I touched my nose to him like he did to me. "No, you're not. I'm paying."

_______________________End of Chapter 19.