#DS6Unwavering #CirCoal #SharkFamily #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: MESSAGE

CIRCE'S POV

I wasn't planning to drink a lot in the first place, but when I noticed Domino and Trace kept giving Coal drinks, I decided to stop entirely. Natunugan ko na kasi ang binabalak nilang dalawa kung bakit paminsan-minsan ay pati mismong inumin nila ay patago nilang isinasalin sa baso ni Coal habang ang mga babae naman ay nililibang ang lalaki sa pagtatanong ng kung ano-ano.

It wasn't long before Coal's stories about Kaise slowly died down until he was just quietly nursing his drinks. Lucienne whispered to me to just wait when I gave her a questioning look.

"May competition ka sa La Union di ba, Circe?" tanong ni Mireia. "Babalik ka pa ba sa Siargao para mag-practice?"

"It will be a waste of time to go back and forth. Balak ko sana pagkatapos na lang ng competition at saka kami babalik ng Siargao. The spot in Lemery for surfing was enough for practice anyway."

If I'm competing internationally, training in Siargao will be the best option. Since before coming here, I already trained hours every day, plus those hours that I practiced in Lemery, I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be for the competition.

They asked more questions about surfing, and I answered them readily. Nahinto lang kami nang may lumapit sa amin na server at ibinaba ang tater tot na inorder ko kanina.

Coal wanted to stay in our hotel room after he was done showing me how much he loved the swimsuit I wore on the impromptu runway show. Iyon nga lang ay tumawag sa group chat si Domino para ipaalala sa amin na basta na lang namin siyang iniwan. It turns out that the other Dawsons showed their wives how much they love their one-night modeling gig as well.

Now here we are all at the hotel's bar. Si Luna lang ang nawawala dahil kailangan niya na raw ng beauty rest. Though Lucienne told me that she's probably just video calling her husband. Mukhang nasa honeymoon phase pa kasi ang dalawa kaya bihira talaga silang maghiwalay.

Kumuha ako ng tater tot at sinubo ko iyon bago ko nilingon si Coal para sana alukin. Ang kaso tulala lang siyang nakatitig sa baso niya ng beer na para bang may nakikita siya ro'n na hindi namin nakikita.

He looks adorable when he's drunk. I've seen him drink, obviously, since the first night we met, when we were both drinking. But I really haven't seen him get drunk. Kapag umiinom naman kasi siya nitong mga nakaraan ay halos wala pang isang baso. I think it's partly because he wanted to make sure that he was always in the right state of mind to protect me and Kaise.

Pero ngayong gabi ay inudyukan siya ng mga nakatatanda niyang kapatid na uminom dahil hindi naman daw iinom sina Thorn, Gun, at Axel. Pierce and Belaya were already drinking with Domino when we all arrived here at the bar.

I have a feeling, though, that Coal's older siblings, aside from Trace who seems to be the one that started scheming to make Coal drunk, were on it too. Sigurado rin ako na ang mga asawa nila ang nag-udyok sa kanila.

"Mabuti na lang hindi lasing ang asawa ko," sabi ni Lucienne na umabot din ng tater tot. "Hindi pa naman ako nakikilala niyan kapag nalalasing siya."

I chuckled when I remembered a scene from her book. Thorn sighed as if he regretted it. "That was one time," he grumbled.

"One time lang talaga dahil hindi ka naman na nagpakalasing ulit." Kumislap ang mga mata ng manunulat. "Hindi ka na kasi nabigyan ng pagkakataon ulit na maghimutok dahil lagi ka ng may binubuksan na... regalo."

Regalo? Kumunot ang noo ko habang pilit na iniintindi ang makahulugan niyang sinabi. I ransack my brain, and I wish I didn't, when I realized what kind of "present" she was talking about and its connection to him getting drunk.

Naglasing lang naman si Thorn dahil akala niya may problema sila ni Lucienne. He said at the epilogue of their story that it was because they hadn't had— well, opened more presents.

Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko. I feel like I'm invading someone's privacy though it was printed on a book that has been read by a lot of people, which is probably more than I imagined.

"Totoo talaga na ganoon sila kung malasing?" tanong ko.

Tumango ang babae. "Kaya hindi na nakakapagtakang hindi umiinom si Axel." Nginuso niya ang lalaki na namula ang mga pisngi nang marinig ang sinabi niya. "Mamaya paghanapin pa tayo niyan ng simbahan kapag nalasing."

Dumako ang atensyon ko kay Domino na kasalukuyang tawa nang tawa. I guess what Lucienne wrote about him is really accurate too.

"Si Trace lang naman ang hindi consistent," sabi ni Lucienne pagkaraan. "Dati pighati at lumbay 'yan kasi wala siyang love life, pero since may asawa na siya, bago na ang role niya."

As if on cue, Trace beamed at a waitress that passed by our table. Akala siguro ng babae ay may kailangan ang lalaki dahil napahinto siya at bahagyang yumuko para marinig ang sasabihin ni Trace.

The man grinned, and he put an arm around his wife's shoulders, who was just shaking her head as if she was already desensitized when it comes to Trace's antics. "This is my beautiful princess. My wife, Ember Nile Calderon Dawson." Kinawayan niya ang isa pang napadaan. This time it was a man who looked like a guest too, who just threw him a questioning look. "Pare, asawa ko."

Muntik akong mabulunan lalo na at napapakamot sa ulo na naglakad na lang palayo ang customer na lalaki habang ang ngiti ng waitress ay parang naging ngiwi na. Puno ng pagtataka ang mga matang tumingin siya sa amin at umiiling na ginalaw namin ang mga kamay namin na parang sinasabing huwag niyang pansinin ang lalaki.

"Ang bago niyang role ay magyabang," dugtong ni Lucienne sa sinabi niya kanina. "Mabuti na lang at mahaba ang pasensya ni Ember. Ikaw ba namang kasama mo 'yang isang iyan lagi ewan ko na lang kung hindi ka maging immune sa kahihiyan. Maaawa ka na lang talaga kay Ember. Sa dami naman kasi ng tao sa mundo siya pa ang tinamaan ng kamalasan."

"You do know that I can hear you, right?" Trace asked, his eyes narrowing into slits.

Lucienne stared at him blankly and blinked. "Who you?"

Nakangusong bumaling ang lalaki sa asawa niya at nagpapaawang sumiksik siya sa babae. "Princess inaaway na naman ako ni Lush."

Ember patted her husband's head. "Remember what we talked about fighting with Lucienne?"

"Alin doon?"

"She can write a part two of the book she wrote for us."

Kumislap ang mga mata ng lalaki. "That's great! Magiging bida ulit tayo sa libro—"

"And break us up tragically."

Napanganga si Trace at saglit na napatitig sa asawa niya. It reminded me of how Ember calmed Lucienne before the fashion show. Mukhang hindi lang siya sa asawa niya sanay kundi kay Lucienne din. I have no doubt Thorn is the same when it comes to the duo that is destined to bicker all throughout their lives.

"Lush," tawag ni Trace sa babae.

"Sorry. I don't talk to strangers—"

"May padating ka na delivery? Dahil bukod sa busilak ang kalooban ko ay galante rin ako, considered them all paid."

Umilaw ang mukha ni Lucienne at pinagsalikop niya ang mga kamay niya sa ilalim ng baba niya. "Best friend! Ikaw pala 'yan!" Kinusot niya ang mga mata niya. "Ang hirap na talaga kapag lumalabo na ang mga mata. Alam mo na. Kakasulat sa napakaganda niyong love story ni Ember."

Napapailing na lang ako sa kanila. Mukhang hindi talaga nila kayang mabuhay nang walang pinagtatalunan. Pakiramdam ko rin kapag nangyari 'yon ay ang daming taong maninibago. Kung hindi kumpleto ang araw nila kapag hindi sila nagbabangayan, parang hindi rin kumpleto ang araw namin kapag hindi sila nagtatalo. Umaabot pa nga sila hanggang group chat.

"Dom." My attention went to Coal. His back was on me since he was talking to Domino, who was sitting on his other side. "Listen."

"To the song here in my heart. A melody I start but can't completeee." Pakanta ang pagkakasabi no'n ni Domino at pagkatapos ay humagikhik siya. "Witty Dominie ahihihi!"

Binatukan ni Coal ang kapatid. "Hello? Can you hear me?"

Domino, who probably has alcohol in his veins already since he's been drinking before any of us did, raised his hand and curled three of his fingers. Itinapat niya iyon sa tenga niya na para bang may hawak siya na landline phone. "Hello, Kuya? Yes, I can hear you."

"Listen, mate. I saw this woman—"

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko. Not just because of his thick accent, which I've been wanting to hear, but because of what he said. I'm not the jealous type unless I'm given a reason to be. Like right now when he's talking about some woman when I'm right here.

"She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."

Wow. Just wow.

"She has this long curly hair, eyes that make me feel warm inside my soul, and lips that I want to kiss."

Wait a minute. Is he talking about me?

"Kuya kapag narinig ka ni Circe lulunurin ka no'n ahihihi!"

Coal's body went tight as he stared at his brother. In the next second, he grabbed Dom on the shoulders to shake him, making the younger man drop his imaginary phone.

"Bloody hell! Why do you know her name?" Hinaklit niya ang kuwelyo ng kapatid. "Did you meet her? How dare you lay your filthy eyes on her?"

Hindi ko na alam kung saan ako matatawa. Sa accent niya na aakalain mong gusto niyang mag-audition sa Harry Potter o sa pinagsasabi niya kay Domino na peaceful pa rin ang mukha at para bang lumulutang sa alapaap kahit na inaalog-alog siya ng kapatid niya.

Shaking my head, I tapped Coal on the shoulder. Mukhang galit pa rin na lumingon siya sa akin pero kaagad nalusaw ang ekspresyon sa mukha niya nang makita ako.

"Y-You... you're here."

I snickered. I want to use his accent as my alarm tone. Maybe I'll ask him later to record a wake-up call audio for me. "Well, yeah."

"You're really here?" he whispered so softly in awe. "Right here?"

Dom started singing loudly. "Waiting for you! Whatever it takes or how my heart breaks, I will be right here waiting for you!"

Naniningkit ang mga matang humarap si Coal sa kapatid. "Close your eyes. You are not allowed to look at her."

Sumunod naman ang nakababatang kapatid ng lalaki na bumungisngis lang at pagkatapos ay pumikit.

Coal turned back to me. "Why are you here?"

"You don't want me to be?"

"No!" he quickly said. "I want you."

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "You want me?"

"I want you here is what I meant." Kumislap ang mga mata niya sa paraan na pamilyar na ako. "And yes, that too."

"You seem to want a lot of things."

"How about you? Do you want me?"

"No." I can hear his family chuckling at my answer and the expression on Coal's face. He looks like the way I do when I run out of cookies. "I don't want you here. I want you somewhere else." I curled my finger and motioned for him to come close. When he leaned down, I whispered in his ear, "Somewhere else where I can show you how much I like your drunk accent."

Halos matumba ang kinauupuan ni Coal nang basta na lang siyang tumayo. Muntik pang bumuway ang tayo niya kung hindi lang siya napatukod sa lamesa.

I laughed under my breath, and I stood up as well. Sumuot ako sa ilalim ng braso niya at yumakap ako sa bewang niya. "Let's go?"

He blinked as if he still couldn't believe that I'm in front of him. It was as if he were asking himself if he was dreaming or not.

Who needs to dream when reality is so much better?

"Let's go," he murmured.

Nakangiting binalingan ko ang pamilya na pinapanood kami. They are giving me their versions of smiles. But for some reason, it was Thorn's that I couldn't look away from. The smile on his lips was small, but I get this sense that he's giving me something that feels monumental.

Like an approval.

"Hello? Guys? Kailan ako pwedeng dumilat?"

I WONDER if there's an end to how Coal and I burn for each other. Pakiramdam ko ay walang nabago mula no'ng una kaming magkakilala at hanggang ngayon. In fact, it's like everything between us is just becoming more intense as we spend more time together.

I never needed and wanted a person at the same time as much as I do with him. It wasn't just about the sex. It wasn't just about the pleasure that a body can get from being intimate with someone. It's the feeling of letting go and being free to do what you desire. How you peel away every layer of what you surround yourself with to protect yourself and get through the day.

One would think that sex is just about its physical aspects, but it's so much more. It's more than stamina and strength. There's also vulnerability, and with it comes beauty.

The beauty of being connected with someone more deeply than the body can reach. Being bared more than the skin, being felt more than touch, and being seen more than the eyes could see.

Coal's name fell from my lips as he continued ramming his iron-hard cock inside me. He hooked an arm on my leg, and he pulled it up while the other stayed curled around his waist so that he could explore the depth of my center more.

I was so near the peak of my climax, and I could tell that he was too. I tightened my hold on his shoulder, and then I planted my other hand on the side of the bed to push myself up and meet his thrusts.

It wasn't long before I finally reached the limit. I called out his name again, my center tightening around his length as my body trembled with my release.

Coal watched everything. His eyes didn't leave mine, as if he couldn't look away from me. It was like he was memorizing everything: the sweat that made my skin glisten, the motion of my breasts as he glided in and out of me, the way my hair was splayed around me, and my lips that calls for him.

"So beautiful," he whispered, his voice rough with desire.

His body covered mine when he leaned down to bury his face in my neck. His movements became hurried, and the friction from his thrusts plus his teeth grazing my neck sent me into another orgasm.

This time, we fell together. His muscles tensed, and in the next second, I felt his warm seed fill me inside.

It was something that we both enjoyed. Feeling each other being slick with our own release without the hindrance of condoms. But for awhile, we settled on using it because we needed to. When we received the go signal after I got my contraceptive shot and we both did our medicals, condoms became history.

Coal pulled out of me, and he collapsed beside me. Like he always does, he pulled me close to him until I was leaning on his bared chest.

Nag-angat ako ng mga mata sa kaniya at napangiti ako nang makita kong may malambot na ekspresyon sa mukha niya habang nakatingin sa akin. "Do you think there would be a time that it won't be as intense as this?"

"I doubt that."

His accent is gone. Maybe the intense cardio made him sweat the alcohol he consumed out of his system.

"Why?"

Marahang nilaro niya ang buhok ko sa pagitan ng mga dailiri niya. "Some things aren't just meant to be extinguished."

"Like the sun?"

"The sun is not on fire. It glows because it's made up of gas, but it's not burning."

"Then what are we? A freak of nature?"

His chest rumbled with laughter. "Maybe. Or a natural eternal flame like that of Mount Chimaera."

I know he's talking about a place in Turkey, but for some reason it's like his brother's rumor rubs off on me. "Close your eyes, give me your hand, darling. Do you feel my heart beating?"

His nose wrinkled, and he shook his head. "Kailangan ata kitang ilayo sa mga kapatid ko. Kung ano-ano ang natututunan mo."

"Fast learner lang talaga ako."

The corner of his lips went up. "Believe me, I know."

I know my face is already red from what we just did, but I'm sure it deepened at the implication of his words.

"Shower?" he asked after awhile.

"You go first."

Umupo siya pero imbis na bitawan ako ay sinama niya ako. He gathered me in his arms, and I shrieked in surprise when he suddenly carried me.

"Coal!"

"Shower is boring without you."

I rolled my eyes. I know what he's planning, and my body is already throbbing in response. He's insatiable. And apparently I am too, since our drives match perfectly together. "Are you not done yet?"

"With you? Never."

My chest twinges at the double meaning of his words. It's possible that he didn't mean anything more with what he said, but that doesn't mean that my heart can control how it wants to react to it. You've got it bad, Circe.

Nasa ganoon akong iniisip nang mapansin ko na huminto sa paglakad si Coal. He put me down gently until my feet were touching the floor, and to my confusion, he put himself in front of me.

"What—"

I didn't have the chance to finish my question when I caught a glimpse of the inside of the bathroom. Hanging from one of the bathroom lamps is the same fabric that is becoming more familiar to me because of how much of it has been haunting me. And written in the mirror, just below the end of the rope, were the words "Right in front of you".

Coal cursed under his breath, and he grabbed a rob thrown on the arm of the sofa. Ibinalot niya sa akin iyon bago niya kinuha ang pantalon niya para suotin.

"He made a move," I whispered.

I knew I was nowhere near danger. It's not like Dagger can install security systems wherever I go. But I wasn't in danger, and I have a feeling that whoever this is knows that too. Kahit pagpunta lang sa CR ay kasunod ko lagi ang isa sa mga kapatid ni Coal kung hindi man siya ang nakadikit sa akin. If someone is in fact following us, then he saw that I'm surrounded by the Dawsons. He didn't mean harm. There's no way he can when I'm with them. He didn't want to attack. Not just yet.

"Another warning," Coal said through gritted teeth.

For what, we don't know. Kahit anong gawin kong isip ay wala akong makitang dahilan para sa mga nangyayari. What have I done that has pushed that person to threaten me?

"Right in front of you," Coal whispered.

Sa pagtataka ko ay naglakad papunta sa kabilang panig ng kuwarto si Coal. I moved to the spot he vacated, turning my body to face him as I watched him. He looks hyper-focused. He walked to the opposite side of the open bathroom, right where the floor-to-ceiling glass wall is situated.

He had drawn the curtains, and I saw how his entire body seemed to stiffen as he turned to look at me, his eyes dark with anger.

With the way I was positioned right in front of the bathroom, from the reflection on the glass wall, I eerily look like I'm hanging on the rope that has been tied to the bathroom lamp.

But that wasn't the worst.

It was the words written in red letters on the glass window.

"No one can take what is meant for me."

_______________________End of Chapter 22.