#DS6Unwavering #CirCoal #SharkFamily #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER THREE: SHARK

COAL'S POV

Binaba ko ang cellphone ko at nakangiting lumapit sa akin si Damian Salazar. Naiiling na inabot ko sa kaniya ang hawak ko at kaagad niya namang kinuha sa akin iyon para tignan ang mga picture niya. Hindi na lang ako bodyguard ngayon. Photographer na rin.

Damian is a family friend. He usually hires Dagger Private Security and Investigation, the company that I own together with my family, to provide a bodyguard for him. Pinili niya kami dahil gusto niya ng kalayaan na hindi niya makukuha kung mismong security unit ng ama niya ang isasama niya. He's the president's son, after all.

Now we're currently in Siargao because he was invited as a guest speaker for a surfing competition. It's not the first time that I've accompanied him to an event like this. He owns a sports manufacturing company, so it wasn't uncommon for him to be invited to events of this kind. Dati ay kasama ko pa ang kapatid ko na si Trace, but this time Damian only requested one bodyguard. And I volunteered.

"Does your father really ask for your pictures as proof? Isn't that overkill? Matanda ka na at may asawa pa."

He finally tied the knot. It was about time. He has been engaged for too long. His father didn't want him to marry the woman he chose to marry, but it's one thing that Damian will not allow his father to control.

Damian scoffed. "No. My father doesn't care about things like that. Para sa asawa ko 'to." Hinarap niya sa akin ang cellphone para makita ko ang larawan. "Gwapo ba?"

"If I don't answer, would you report me to my brothers?"

Ngumisi lang siya at nagpipindot sa cellphone ko. Sigurado akong sinesend niya na ang mga picture niya sa sarili niyang cellphone.

"Why don't you grab a drink or something? Para naman lumamig ng konti ang ulo mo," sabi niya habang nakatutok pa rin ang mga mata sa hawak.

"I'm your bodyguard."

"You don't need to babysit me."

Bumuntong-hininga ako. "You hired me to work for you."

"Para lang matahimik ang ama ko. Alam mo naman 'yon. He doesn't care about me as long as I'm not in trouble and I continue breathing. Dahil kapag hindi na ako humihinga ay hindi niya na ako mapapakinabangan."

His father is preparing him for politics. Damian said he doesn't have any interest in it, but he started having a change of heart a few years ago. Too bad for the president, because his son is far too good to be like him. Damian might be following his father in politics, but I doubt he's going to follow in his father's exact footsteps.

Pakiramdam ko nga ay kaya lang nagkaroon ng interes si Damian sa politika ay para itama ang mga mali ng ama niya.

Ibinalik niya sa akin ang cellphone. "Go. No one's going to kill me here." Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa langit. "The weather is too nice for murder."

"A murderer wouldn't wait for a rainy day to off his target."

Tinawanan niya lang ako, at iginalaw niya ang kamay niya na parang pinapalis ako. "Buy yourself a drink, eat, or swim. Have fun a little, Coal. Ang bata mo para maging cynical sa buhay."

I sighed again. I admit that I'm not at my absolute best today. It's hard to be in a good mood when I barely slept.

Matagal na akong may problema sa pagtulog pero mas napapadalas iyon nitong mga nakaraan. Drinking and women usually help, but for some reason I haven't found it in me to seek those things for a while now.

"I'm fine," I grumbled.

"You're not. You're grumpy. At ayokong maapektuhan ang sunny aura ko kapag nahawaan ako ng makulimlim mo na mood." Tinapik niya ako sa balikat at nginisihan niya ako. "Go have fun. It's an order."

Wala na akong nagawa nang lagpasan niya ako. Naiiling na sinundan ko na lang siya ng tingin bago ko inangat ang cellphone ko at may tinawagan doon.

"Hello, Sir?"

"Nevan," I said as a greeting. "Do you have an eye on Salazar?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Good. Make sure not to lose him. Call me when something happens."

Hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot niya at pinutol ko na ang tawag. Nevan is Dagger's Bolster or what others call a trainee. Hindi alam ni Damian na kasama ko siya dahil nauna si Nevan na lumipad papunta rito sa Siargao.

Damian only asked for one bodyguard, but Dagger wants to make sure that we're ready for any problem that might arise. Isa pa ay kailangan din ni Nevan ng field training.

Hilot ang sentido na naglakad ako patungo sa hilera ng mga kainan na nakita namin kanina. Instead of going into one that is buzzing with people, I walked farther until I saw a small cafe' that is located far from the other establishments. The sun is already hurting my head, despite the black sunglasses I have on. Ayoko ng dagdagan pa ang sakit ng ulo ko dahil sa ingay ng mga tao.

Inilibot ko ang paningin ko sa cafe'. Maliit lang iyon pero malawak ang labas kaya karamihan ng mga upuan ay nakaayos sa labas niyon at natatabingan lang ng malalaking kulay kahel na payong.

"Dine in, Sir?"

Nilingon ko ang babaeng lumapit sa akin at tinanguhan ko siya. Napapakamot sa pisngi na inilibot niya ang tingin sa paligid. "Okay lang ho ba kung may isa kayong kasama sa table? Puno na rin ho kasi kami."

It's not like I have a choice. At least hindi kasing dami ng tao katulad sa ibang mga kainan. "It's fine."

Iginaya niya ako sa dulo ng kaliwang bahagi ng kinaroroonan namin. Nakatapat ang lamesa sa dagat at mas malayo sa ibang mga kumakain. I guess it's perfect then.

Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko nang makita ko na wala namang umookupa ng lamesa. Tanging kulay dilaw na tablet device lang na nakapatong sa lamesa ang tanda na may iba pang gumagamit no'n.

We were right in front of the table when I realized who the occupant was and why I couldn't see her moments ago.

A little girl wearing a weird costume who's probably not younger than two and older than three years old was sitting on one of the four chairs. May unan siyang inuupuan at may hawak siya na french fries sa tig-isa niyang kamay habang tutok na tutok ang mga mata niya sa pinapanood.

"Payag ba ang magulang niya na umupo ako rito?" tanong ko sa empleyado.

"Ay opo wala namang problema. Tinutulungan pa kasi ng nanay niya sa kitchen ang chef namin. Absent po kasi ang isa pa naming taga-luto." Nakangiting hinaplos niya ang ulo ng batang hindi man lang natinag sa pinapanood. "Hindi naman makulit ang isang ito at binabantayan din naman namin kaya hindi niyo po siya kailangang intindihin. Di ba, Sese?"

Nag-angat ng mukha ang bata. For a moment, I could only look at her face. She looked so much like Luna when my sister was just a baby. The only difference is this child's eyes, which remind me of a completely different person.

The girl tilted her head while looking at me. "Sit."

Natagpuan ko ang sarili kong umuupo sa bakanteng upuan. Ang ayoko sa lahat ay inuutusan ako. It's like every fiber I have in my entirety immediately rejects following orders. Tanging mga nakatatandang kapatid ko lang ang napapasunod ako ng matiwasay. Mainly because I know they can make my life a living hell.

But for some reason, it's like this kid has the power to command me to do whatever she wants me to do.

"Order na po ba kayo, Sir?"

Tumikhim ako at kinuha ko ang menu na hawak ng babae. Basta na lang akong nagturo ng kung anumang pagkain at inumin na nakita ko.

"Fifteen minutes po ready na ang pagkain niyo."

Nagpasalamat ako sa babae na pumasok ng cafe' agad. Nang mawala siya sa paningin ko ay ibinalik ko ang atensyon ko sa batang ngayon ay nakaupo sa kanan ko. Maybe I should move? Para katapat ko na lang siya kesa katabi.

Akmang tatayo ako sana pero muli akong napaupo nang tumingin sa akin ang bata. Her little forehead knotted as if she were dissatisfied about something.

"Sit," she said.

"O-Okay."

Isinubo niya ang hawak na french fries at pagkatapos ay kumuha siya ulit sa plato na nasa tabi niya. Sa pagkagulat ko ay inabutan niya ako ng isa.

"Thanks... I guess?"

Hindi niya ako sinagot at sa halip ay muling nakuha ang atensyon niya ng tablet na nasa harapan niya. It wasn't long before her hands began to move.

Is her costume a fish or something? A dolphin? "What are you exactly?" wala sa sariling tanong ko.

"Babi."

"Well... yeah. You're a baby." Paano ba makipag-usap sa bata? I usually just feed my nephews and nieces, and change their diapers. Kadalasan ay sina Domino at Kuya Trace ang kalaro nila. "I mean, what's that?"

Nagbaba ng tingin ang bata sa suot niya na tinuturo ko. When she looked back at me again, it was like she's questioning my intelligence. Bakit pakiramdam ko hinuhusgahan ako ng batang 'to?

"Shak."

Napakamot ako sa ulo ko. Maybe it's a shock to children that adults don't know everything. "Sorry, Kid."

"Shak."

"Yeah, yeah. It's a shock."

Tinuro niya ang tablet at sinilip ko naman iyon. When I saw what she was watching, it finally dawned on me what she was talking about.

Shark.

"Oh. So you're a shark."

"Babi shak."

"Ahh."

"Doo-doo, doo-doo."

I couldn't stop the corner of my lips from tugging up. She's adorable. And smart for someone as small as she is. Hindi rin siya ga'nong kabulol pero mukhang hindi pa niya kayang magsalita ng mahabang sentences.

"How old are you, Kid?" I asked.

Inangat niya ang kamay niya para ipakita sa akin iyon. She's one? Can a one year old talk?

"Another finger, Kaise."

It felt like everything around me stopped when I heard a voice behind me. A voice that there's no way I could forget.

A hand went into my line of vision, reaching for the child. Inangat niya ang isa pang daliri ng bata. "Sorry. Is she disturbing you?"

Hindi ko nagawang makasagot agad. It took all my strength to force my body to move so I could look up.

I wasn't surprised when chocolate-colored eyes met mine. I have no doubt that it would be her. Her voice... her scent, even her skin. It's familiar to me in a way that it couldn't be erased from my memory, despite us only sharing a night that I couldn't forget.

I convinced myself that it was fine. That I'm okay without seeing her. That the piece of accessory she left at that hotel, that anklet that I kept with me, means nothing. That the drawings I have of her are just drawings and nothing more.

I also know I was fooling myself because I wanted to search for her. I wanted to see her again.

Pero wala akong ginawa. Kahit na alam ko na may kakayahan ako na hanapin siya. I tried hard not to look for her. I wanted to respect her decision. She left, and I thought that maybe that was what she really wanted.

And because you're a coward. Mas pipiliin mo na umalis siya ng gano'n habang hindi pa kayo masyadong magkakilala kesa ang umalis siya na kilala ka na niya ng lubos pero mas pinili niya pa rin na iwan ka.

It was like electricity surged right through me, pulling me back to reality. I've managed to do what seems impossible, which is to look away from the woman that I never thought I would see again so that I could look at the child that is oblivious to what's happening.

The child is two years old.

"This is unexpected."

My breath is beginning to thin as I look back at Circe. She looks as taken aback as me, but she's handling it better than me.

"Is... is she..."

Instead of answering me, she reached for my shoulder reluctantly. Para bang inaalo ako na tinapik-tapik niya ako. "Are you okay?"

"I... I don't know." Is it just me, or is the world starting to spin? And why do I feel cold?

She stopped patting my shoulder, and I wanted it back the moment I lost her touch. May maliit na ngiti sa mga labi na hinaplos niya ang ulo ng bata. "Her name is Kailani Sereia." When the girl looked up at us, Circe continued, "Kaise, say hi to your dad."

"Hi!"

I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. It wasn't surprising. Not when I feel like I was hit by a freight train, making me black out in an instant.

CIRCE'S POV

Nakapalumbaba na pinapanood ko ang lalaking nasa harapan ko na ngayon ay mahimbing na natutulog. Kung hindi lang siguro pakiramdam ko ay nayanig ang buong pagkatao ko ay baka natawa na ako sa sitwasyon namin.

He's sleeping peacefully. Nakaupo pa rin siya sa upuan na inokupa niya pero nakasandal na siya roon habang nakaunan sa kulay orange na throw pillow na binigay sa akin ng waitress ng Sand Dollar Cafe'.

Coal Dawson.

No wonder I couldn't find him. Hindi ko alam ang apelido niya pero mas lalo akong nahirapan na hanapin siya dahil akala ko ay Cole ang pangalan niya. Iyon naman kasi ang common na spelling no'n at hindi Coal.

I looked for his wallet when he suddenly passed out so that I could find his ID. Mahirap na kasi kung may kondisyon siya na kung ano at hindi ko alam kung sino ang tatawagan ko. Mamaya inatake na pala siya.

I called for a trained medic, and thankfully, he said that Coal is fine. To be exact, he's just sleeping. Mukha kasing dumiretso na siya ng tulog pagkatapos niyang mawalan ng malay.

"Kawawa naman. Parang kulang siya sa tulog."

"Wawa?"

Nilingon ko ang anak ko na kasalukuyang kinukulayan ang coloring book niya. "Yes. Kawawa naman siya di ba?"

"Daddy?"

I didn't know if it was the right thing to do. For all I know, Coal doesn't want anything to do with Kaise. But whatever his decision is, my daughter deserves to know that she has a father. I'll handle what will happen afterwards. If he rejects her, Kaise will not have her heart broken. I will love her so much more than I already do that the rejection of her father won't touch her.

I wasn't planning on hiding her. Nang malaman kong buntis ako ay sinubukan kong hanapin si Coal. I even went back to the resort in Batangas. But after what went down with my family and how they were pressuring me to not continue the pregnancy, I decided to stay here in Siargao.

Nandito rin kasi ang bahay ni Tala. I would have bought my own home, but she insisted on letting me stay. I think she just didn't want me to be alone. Not when I was going through so much already.

Siargao is a beautiful place. Buhay na buhay pa ang surfing sa lugar na ito. But while I might love surfing, I don't want to be in a place forever where I'm compelled to surf competitively. I love enjoying the ocean in ways that do not just revolve around surfing. Aside from that, I want Kaise to have the best options. Kapag nagsimula na siyang mag-aral ay alam kong kinakailangan din naming bumalik ng Luzon.

I love the simple life here. I'm really considering buying a small house here of my own that Kaise and I could go back to from time to time. A safe haven where we could escape to when the city became too much. But there's a place where I always imagined my dream home would be.

"Yes, Babi," I said to Kaise.

"Babi's daddy?"

Nakangiting hinaplos ko lang ang buhok niya. She's growing up faster than I want her to. Parang kailan lang ay lagi pa siyang nakadikit sa akin.

My Kailani Sereia is far from the version of me when I was her age. I was the perfect definition of a wild child. Kaise is too mature for her age. She cries, but not too much, and she's also quiet and observant.

Physically, the only thing she got from me were my eyes. The moment the doctor handed my dark-haired baby to me, I knew that she would look like her father.

Being a mother at twenty-five is not something I was prepared for at that time. But I wouldn't trade it for anything.

"Yes, my Babi shark."

Hindi ko na siya nagawang pigilan ng sinundot-sundot niya ang braso ni Coal gamit ng hintuturo niya. "Daddy shak?"

I opened my lips to answer her, but before I could do so, as if her words were a magical spell, Coal's eyes fluttered open.

Dumiretso ako ng upo bago niya pa ako makitang nakatitig sa kaniya. My memory of him didn't do him justice. Kahit pa sabihing madalas ko siyang mapanaginipan ay iba pa rin pala talaga na aktwal siyang nasa harapan ko.

He's even more handsome than the first time I saw him— Pinilig ko ang ulo ko. This is not the right time to think about things like that. Ang importante ngayon ay ang anak ko. It's not like we need to have a relationship to be parents to Kaise.

"Circe," he whispered.

"Mommy."

Napakurap na tumingin si Coal kay Kaise na nakaturo sa akin. Ilang sandaling nakatulala lang siya sa bata na para bang pilit niyang kinukumbinsi ang sarili niya na totoo ang mga nangyari kanina at ang nakikita niya ngayon.

"We could get a DNA test."

Umayos ng upo si Coal dahilan para maglaglagan ang dalawang throw pillow na inuunanan niya na kaagad niya namang nasalo.

"What?" he asked, clearly confused.

"A paternity test. I mean... I know this is a surprise to you. I don't expect you to believe me—"

"But I do."

Sa pagkakataon na ito ay ako naman ang nabigla. "You do?"

He looked at Kaise for a moment before his gaze went back to me. "She looks exactly like my younger sister."

She looks like you. "I think we should still do it."

"Is it not a certain thing? Her paternity?"

"It is. It's not like I slept around. You know that you were..." Tumikhim ako at nag-iwas ako ng tingin kasabay ng pag-iinit ng magkabila kong pisngi. "I just think that it's the smart thing to do. Hindi ko alam kung anong balak mo ngayon na alam mo na ang tungkol sa kaniya. I don't know if you plan to work with me, take her away from me, or if you don't want to be in her life—"

"Wait." Itinaas niya ang kamay para pigilan ako. "Hold up. I'm not planning to take her away from you. You're her mother."

Isang parte sa akin ang nakahinga ng maluwag sa sinabi niya. I knew it was one of the possibilities. Ganoon ang mga nababasa at napapanood ko kapag taguan ng anak ang tema ng kuwento. Not that I intentionally hid Kaise. But I wanted to be ready just in case.

It crossed my mind before. Paano kung mas maging komplikado kapag nalaman niya ang tungkol sa anak namin? What if he tries to take her away? Mas mabuti ng manatili siyang walang alam. Sa loob ng dalawang taon ay naging maayos naman kami ni Kaise. I didn't need to find him. Kaya kong buhayin ang anak ko na mag-isa.

But I know that would be unfair. Hindi lang kay Coal kundi maging kay Kaise. I don't want her to grow up like me where she will keep questioning a part of herself that is missing. Ayoko na dumating sa punto na siya na mismo ang gagawa ng paraan na mahanap ang taong makakapagbigay sa kaniya ng mga sagot pero para lang malaman na huli na.

I want her to have everything.

"That's good then," I said.

"I... I need to be honest with you." Huminga siya ng malalim at hinilot niya ang likod ng batok niya. "I'm not really expecting this. I never thought of myself as a... a dad. I don't know if I can be one. That's why I was always careful."

"We were not that careful—"

"I'm not suspecting you of lying to me," muli siyang nagpakawala ng hininga. "I'm just saying that I haven't put a lot of thought about being a parent."

"So do I."

Guilt crossed his face. "It must have been hard for you. To do it all alone."

Nagkibit ako ng balikat. "Sa una. But Kaise is precious. I'll do it all again if it means I get to have her."

Binalot kami ng katahimikan. Tanging ang mahihinang pag-uusap lang ng mga customer di kalayuan sa amin ang maririnig at ang mahinang tunog galing sa ginagawa ni Kaise na pagkukulay.

"Coal." It feels weird to say his name out loud after such a long time. Muli kong pinilig ang ulo ko at binigyan ko siya ng maliit na ngiti. "I don't expect you to take all of this easily. I'm not hoping for anything. I just want you to know that she exists, and I also want her to know that she has a father. If you want to be in her life more, then that's fine with me. If you just want to visit from time to time, then that's also okay. I don't want you to think that I'm forcing you to do anything. Ayoko rin na isipin mo na tinatali kita. My priority is Kaise. I have no intention to be in any sort of relationship with you except for being her parents."

Nakatulalang nakatingin lang siya sa akin. The way he stares at me makes me feel like I said something that he didn't agree with.

"No intention," he rasped out as if he were about to choke.

I tilted my head in question. "Hmm?"

He cleared his throat. "Nothing." He looked at Kaise for a moment. "I don't see myself as a person who could be a dad."

"Coal—"

"But I want to try. I want to." He met my eyes, and there was no mistaking the sincerity pouring from them. "I'm not going to take her away, but I want to be in her life. I'm not someone who will take something important from you. I'm her father, and you are her mother... so that makes me yours."

Is it just me, or does the way he phrases those words seem weird?

"That's great," I whispered.

Another set of silence enveloped us. I let it be since I don't know what to say anyway, and it seems like Coal also needs it since he looks lost in thought.

"Mommy?"

I turned to my daughter. "Yes, babi?"

"Sweepy."

Tinignan ko ang suot ko na relos. Hapon na rin kaya hindi nakakapagtakang inaantok na siya. Sinama ko lang naman siya dahil kailangan ng tulong ni Carson, the owner and chef of Sand Dollar, sa kusina. I used to frequent this place when I was pregnant, and I became close with the staff.

"Okay. Let's go home then." Tumayo ako para iligpit ang mga gamit niya. Isinukbit ko sa balikat ko ang bag at pagkatapos ay binuhat ko si Kaise. That's when I realized that Coal is watching us. "Umm... do you want to come with us?"

"Yes!" Napapitlag kaming parehas ni Kaise sa lakas ng boses niya. Napapakamot sa ulo na pilit na ngumiti siya. "Sorry."

Nope. I don't think he's adorable. Certainly not.

Except I know I already do.

"Do you want to carry her?" I offered.

"Y-Yes."

I transferred Kaise to him, and I waited for a moment to see if she would start to whine. When she didn't, I let go of her and let Coal carry her.

Pinasmasdan ko silang dalawa. Coal looks like he's carrying a bomb. Para ring any moment ay mawawalan na naman siya ng malay. So cute— No. Nope.

"Are you going to faint again?" I asked.

"I'm not sure."

"Is your heart beating fast?"

"Yes," he answered.

"Can you breathe?"

"Not really."

Hindi ko na nagawang pigilan ang ngiti ko. Muli kong kinuha sa kaniya si Kaise na kaagad namang sumama sa akin at pagkatapos ay inabot ko kay Coal ang bag na naglalaman ng mga gamit ng bata.

"Maybe we should take it slow," I suggested.

"I... Okay."

"Don't worry. We have time."

May kung anong nagdaan sa mga mata niya. "Yes. We have a lot of them. I'll make sure of it."

_________________________End of Chapter 3.