#DS6Unwavering #CirCoal #SharkFamily #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: RUNWAY

CIRCE'S POV

"Nasusuka ako."

Gusto kong matawa kay Lucienne na kasalukuyang nagpapalakad-lakad. Kung kanina si Ember ang kinakabahan ay mukhang ngayon siya naman ang tinamaan niyon.

She's wearing a rose gold luxury pajama set. It's made of silk, and it almost looks more like a tux than sleepwear. It looks so expensive that someone can wear it to a prestigious award show and no one will say a thing.

Kanina pa kami naayusan. I'm amazed at how Mireia lived for years as a model. It's a high-tension industry where it feels like you don't have a second to waste. Hindi ko na alam kung ilang tao ang humawak sa akin para lang maayusan ako. One pair of hands is pulling on my hair to tame it while still keeping the natural curls of my hair, and another is working on my face. There's also one applying shimmer lotion all over my body.

"Nakalimutan kong may stage fright nga pala ako."

I coughed to hide my laughter. I wasn't alone because the others were doing the exact same thing.

Sa lahat sa amin ay si Lucienne ang hindi sanay na humarap sa maraming mga tao. Nakakapag-booksigning daw siya, pero may ilang buwan siyang preparasyon para roon.

I can sympathize with her a bit. Maraming tao man ang nanonood kapag may kompetisyon ako but I'm literally too far from them to see them and care that they are watching me. When I'm surfing, I can't hear or see them. The ocean drowns out most noises, and the distance separates the people from me.

"You can still back out," sabi ni Mireia na inaayos ang pang-itaas ng babae. The designer had already done his best to fix the clothing to fit Lucienne and the other women. Kasya naman ang mga damit nila sa kanila, pero sadiyang mahaba lang talaga ang mga iyon ng kaunti sa kanila. "I promise, it's okay."

Even though she said that, I can see that it wouldn't be easy for them to get just anyone. The people outside are mostly just here for the charity. On such short notice, it would be a surprise if someone would agree to be thrust into an unfamiliar situation.

Except for us. It's one of the perks of being friends.

Sandaling natigilan ako sa naisip. Friends. I met these people not long ago, and it feels like I've known them all my life.

"Anong akala mo sa akin? Mahinang nilalang?" nakangusong tanong ni Lucienne. Huminga siya ng malalim at pinilig niya ang ulo niya. "I can do this. Naipagkalat na ni Sir Magnus—" Nilingon niya si Luna na ngumiti lang. "—nang asawa mo, sa mga reader ko ang tungkol sa event na 'to. Everyone's already watching the live streaming."

Belaya suggested awhile ago that we contact our managers or team so that they can share it on our respective social media pages. The larger our audience, the more likely it is to persuade people to donate.

Napatingin kaming lahat sa babaeng sumundo sa amin kanina nang lumapit siya. She gave us all a smile, as if to reassure us. "Five minutes for the sleepwear po. Si Miss Lia raw po ang una pero mas okay po kung pipila na lahat."

Lucienne wheezed loudly, as if she couldn't breathe. Nangingiting tinapik siya sa balikat ni Belaya bago sumunod na sila sa staff ni Lia.

Belaya and Lia were the only ones who took on our current situation easily. Sanay na kasi sila na nasa kanila ang atensyon ng maraming mga tao. Kung tutuusin ay mas marami pa ang mga pumupunta sa concert ni Lia kesa sa mga tao na nasa labas.

They're both wearing expensive-looking nightwear. Si Lia ay may suot na satin sleep dress in the color of rose gold. It has thin straps with a v-neckline to show a hint of cleavage, and the material falls gracefully down her ankles. Belaya, on the other hand, is wearing a short satin red dress with a matching satin red robe.

Nilingon ko si Ember na biglang tumayo. She's wearing a black crop tank top and a matching sheer wide-leg pajama bottoms. Kanina ay nakasandal lang siya sa upuan niya habang hindi umiimik.

The look she has on her face is familiar since I also have that look before I compete. Mas mukha siyang sasabak sa laban kesa ang maglakad sa runway.

Nilapitan ni Ember si Lucienne at hinawakan niya sa magkabilang balikat ang manunulat. "Trace is going to be my focus when I go out there."

"I know—"

"He should be yours too."

Lucienne's apparent nervous expression halted, and it was replaced by a look of disgust. "Ew. Why?"

"Isipin mo na lang kung gaano ka niya katagal aasarin kapag ikaw lang ang nag back out."

The writer looked at her blankly for a moment before without saying anything, she stalked off to follow the others. Nangingiting nilingon ako ni Ember. "I knew that would work."

"Are you okay?" I asked when she turned to leave.

"If I can manage to keep my perfect record when it comes to hitting my targets, I should be able to do this." Maingat na hinawi niya papunta sa likod niya ang bagong ayos niya na buhok. It fell in perfect waves. "Are you going to be okay?"

I let out a nervous laugh. "I don't know."

"Let's just hope that a certain someone won't lose his mind when he sees you."

"I doubt that," singit ni Mireia na nakalapit na sa amin. Kausap niya kasi kanina ang floor director. "His head will probably explode."

Napailing na lang ako sa kanilang dalawa at bumaling ako sa salamin na nasa harapan ko. Ember joined the others, while Mireia took a seat on the chair next to me. Bumaba ang mga mata niya sa kamay ko. I didn't realize that I was absentmindedly wringing the ribbon of my robe.

"When you're on stage, you're usually too busy being blinded by light to really focus on the people out there. Huwag ka nga lang titingin sa kaliwa't kanan ng runway. Don't look at your feet, don't think of your hands, and don't think of anyone else. Just walk straight."

"Were you ever scared about things like this?"

"Minsan. Lalo na ngayon na retired na ako at minsan ko na lang 'tong ginagawa," pag-amin niya. "But it's easy for me to move past it since I've done it for years before. Isa pa, it's just a few seconds of torture, then it would be over."

More or less twenty seconds of torture. Tala will surely enjoy this. Parang na-i-imagine ko na ang mga comment niya sa live streaming.

Napatingin kami sa harapan nang makarinig kami ng malakas na tugtog. "They're starting."

Napako ang atensyon namin sa LED screen na nandito sa backstage kung saan kita ang mga kaganapan sa labas. It wasn't long before Mireia and I were both on our feet, cheering loudly, even though they obviously couldn't hear us.

We watched how Lia gracefully walked the runway, like she does this every day. She stopped at the end and put a hand on her lips to blow a kiss that I have no doubt was for her husband. She was followed by Belaya. There's a flirty smile on the actress' lips, and the way she moves makes her look like a lioness out on a hunt. Nang makarating sa dulo ay itinaas niya ng bahagya ang isang kamay niya. She made a clawing motion, and she mouthed the word "rawr".

Pangatlong lumabas si Luna. She reminds me of her brothers. There's a smirk on her lips, and you wouldn't think that it's her first time. She has the confidence of a Dawson. She made a "rock-on" sign with her hands for her runway-end pose.

When it was Ember's turn, you wouldn't see a hint of the nervousness she was feeling when Mireia first told us about her request. She was looking straight with her head held high. She wasn't smiling. I might not have watched any fashion shows other than this, but I can easily recognize that she has a powerful walk. When she stopped at the end of the runway, the corner of her lips went up, and she winked.

Hindi ko kailangang maging henyo para malaman kung para kanino 'yon lalo pa at pinakita sa pangalawang camera ang audience kung saan kita si Trace na laglag ang mga panga. The other Dawson men who saw their wives looked like they were frozen in place. Domino was the only one cheering loudly for her sister and sisters-in-law.

And then it was Lucienne's turn. With Ember's "motivational" words clearly working, she walked out of the fashion platform in the way only Lucienne Dawson could. In an adorable way.

She was waving her hands to people, who all waved back as if they were all friends. Nang makita niya marahil ang asawa niya ay nilagay niya ang dalawang kamay niya sa ulo niya para kumorte ng puso. When she reached the end of the runway, she made a heart with her fingers before sticking out her tongue at someone.

They all returned backstage, but none of them managed to go back to where Mireia and I were. Lahat kasi sila ay dumiretso sa gilid ng backstage kung saan nandoon ang pintuan palabas. Mukhang pinuntahan na ng mga asawa nila.

"We're up," Mireia told me as she got up. Inalis niya ang roba na suot na para bang nasa bahay lang siya. Sabagay. This kind of scene is too familiar to her.

I heard earlier that Mireia would be the one to close the line-up. She will walk last. It's a good thing because everyone will pale in comparison once she takes the runway.

She's wearing a white two-piece string bikini that is far skimpier than the one I'm currently wearing. I can feel everyone's eyes on us while Mireia, who was busy fixing her hair, ignores them.

Her body is to die for. I can't imagine the back pain she's having with the kind of "set" she has. I have a big bumper, but she tops mine easily.

May lumapit sa amin na dalawang designer. Ang isa ay dumiretso sa akin at tinulungan akong alisin ang robe ko para ikabit sa bewang ko ang knitted sarong na hawak niya. The other one attached a structured white ribbon to Mireia's back. With how huge it is, it looks like she has wings on.

"You look like a mermaid."

Napatingin ako kay Mireia na ngiting ngiti sa akin. Bahagya niya akong hinarap sa salamin para makita ko ang itsura ko.

I'm wearing a looped-tie bikini with a darker shade of gold that's almost brown. It's knitted, giving it a bohemian feel. The sarong is lighter in color, which complements the bikini. I'm also sparkling with all the shimmer lotion they applied to me.

Nakaladlad ang mahaba kong buhok at kung anuman ang nilagay nila doon ay gusto kong malaman. They didn't straighten my hair, and they kept my curls, but it looks more put together now than my usual wild hair. It has this wet look, but it doesn't feel sticky.

"With the warm red tones on your hair, you're like the real-life version of Little Mermaid."

I chuckled. "Thank you for the pep talk."

She grinned at me. Ikinawit niya ang braso niya sa akin at iginaya niya ako palapit kung saan kasalukuyang pumipila na ang ilang mga babae. We're all wearing high heels, but compared to them, I really look like a midget.

"You know, my height is considered to be in the petite category."

Nalukot ang ilong ko sa sinabi ni Mireia. "Tama nga si Lucienne kung ganoon. Kung nasa kategorya ka ng petite models eh di kami nasa munchkin category. Or kid size."

Hinawakan niya ako sa magkabilang balikat. "You got this. You're better than anyone in this line-up. None of us has ever brought honor to our country."

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "Alright, Mushu."

Mireia laughed as she turned me toward the front. The others are all walking out while the song "Sucker" plays loudly around us.

"Remember to breathe. Don't think about anything except the amazing sex you'll have with Coal the moment he sees you in your bikini," she said, giving me a gentle push.

Her words were the reason why, I have no doubt, my face was red when I took a step forward toward the platform.

Mireia was right. The lights were overwhelming, as were the clapping and cheering coming from all directions. I did what she told me to do, and I just walked like I do with sand on my feet and the ocean right in front of me. Except it wasn't the ocean's view that greeted me... it was Coal. He looks like he's about to vault over the catwalk and carry me out of the place. He doesn't look pissed at the thought of me wearing a bikini in front of all these people, and instead he has this familiar glint in his eyes that tells me that he wanted me out of this bikini and that he wanted to take it off himself.

When I stopped at the end of the platform, I made a two-finger salute and smiled. Bago ako tumalikod ay kita kong tumayo si Coal mula sa pagkakaupo niya.

I finished the twenty-second walk, meeting Mireia halfway, who grinned at me. Nang makabalik ako sa backstage ay kukunin ko sana ang robe ko para pumunta sa pintuan kung saan doon kinita ng mga sister-in-law ni Coal ang mga asawa nila. Pero bago ko pa magawa iyon ay bumukas na ang pintuan at buong kompyansa na pumasok ang lalaki.

There are exclamations of surprise coming from the models. I can't blame them since most of them are barely clothed.

"I'm sorry. I'm not looking," Coal told them, his eyes fixed on me. "I'm just here for my woman."

My lips parted, but he didn't let me speak when, in the next second, I found myself being carried by him through a fireman's hold.

"C-Coal!" Nagtaka akong pumasag para ibaba niya ako, pero hindi siya natinag. He acts as if I barely weigh anything. "Coal, let me down!"

Sigurado akong pulang pula na ang mukha ko lalo pa at nakita ko ang pamilya ni Coal na nakamata sa amin. Kasama na nila ang mga babae na nakapagpalit na ng damit na ngayon ay may mga ngiti sa mga labi habang nagtitinginan na para bang alam nila na mangyayari 'to.

Nakita ko pa si Belaya na dala ang purse niya na hinarang ang staff ng event na mukhang hahabol sa amin.

I reached for Coal's side, and I pinched him hard. "Hindi akin 'tong damit! I need to take it off!"

I felt a sting on my bottom, and I gasped when I realized that Coal had given it a not-so-gentle but also not-so-hard slap. "Trust me. You'll be taking it off."

______________________________End of Chapter 21.