#DS7Unbalanced #InoCent #SMCouple #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: SERPENT

TIARA'S POV

Nag-angat ako ng mukha mula sa pinapanood ko at nakita ko ang palapit na mga pigura sa glass house. I immediately clicked a button on my phone to lock the screen, making the device turn black, before I stood up to put on the skirt that I hadn't worn yet.

I've been stretching for a few minutes. It's finally the day that Dagger allows me to have visitors. My coach, Olena, would be coming, as well as my dance partner.

Olena has been telling me that she wants to see the glass house. Sa virtual sessions lang kasi namin niya nakikita ang studio na ipinapagamit sa akin ni Domino. Like me, she also hadn't seen anything like it.

"You're watching Disney again, aren't you?"

I looked up, and I rolled my eyes when I saw the man standing at the door. Mabilis na itinali ko ang palda ko bago ako naglakad palapit sa kaniya. "Shut up, Hawthorne."

Nangingiting ipinaloob niya ako sa mga bisig niya. Adrien Hawthorne has been my dance partner for years. I've danced with other male ballerinas, but I never trusted anyone as much as I trusted him. We've been partners since we were in the academy.

Adrien transferred to Ukraine for a year. He's French. His father, who was an American, married a French woman. He was studying ballet there, but he wanted a different experience. Originally, he wanted to go to Russia, but he has a friend in Ukraine, so he decided to go there instead.

We met in class, we got partnered up, and we've been friends since. Kahit bumalik na siya sa France ay hindi kami nawalan ng komunikasyon. Then when I got recruited into a ballet company, he made sure to apply for them too. Nang lumipat ako sa Pilipinas ay ganoon din ang ginawa niya. It wasn't hard for him to get accepted since he's one hell of a dancer.

He's one of the famous ballerinas of our generation. People always expect to see the both of us because we've performed in countless shows and won a lot of competitions together. To those that followed our journey, it wasn't a surprise to them to know that he's changing companies just to be with me. I even did the same when I went to France to do the same as he did, so that I could study there for a year.

There's not a lot of people that I'm close with and almost next to none that I can call my friends. Adrien is one of those few people. Though technically I can't call him "just" a friend.

The only reason that we haven't been talking these past few months is because he's been on his backpacking vacation, where he spent months far from civilization.

"Comment ça va ?" he said in French, asking me how I am.

"Je vais très bien comme toujours." I'm doing very well as always.

He let out a "hmm". Sigurado namang alam niya na ang nangyari. With the look he's giving me, I have no doubt that he's pissed that I haven't messaged him about it. Something that I planned to do once he's back in the real world, but I ended up forgetting.

"So where do you go this time?" I asked.

"Te Araroa. It's a four-month hike." His eyes narrowed into a slit. "Did you break your fingers recently? Because I could have sworn that I haven't received anything from you telling me that you almost died once and you also almost got kidnapped twice."

"Uhh—"

I could have kissed Olena when she chose that moment to interrupt us. Kasunod niya si Gun na siyang nagbabantay sa akin ngayong araw na ito. Domino was needed in the Dagger's office for a moment, but he's probably on his way back.

"You," Olena said, pointing at Adrien. "Stretch."

The man gave me a look that was telling me that our conversation wasn't over before he did what our coach asked him to do.

Olena turned to me. "Have you been well?"

I nodded and gave her a small smile. "About the incident at the studio—"

She waved her hand dismissively. "It's just blood. Those handsome men cleaned everything up before the day ended."

I wasn't even surprised by her. There's not a lot that fazes Olena. "But the dancers. Are they okay? I was worried that they would drop out because of what happened."

"You survived a plane crash, and all of those things that happened to you—did that stop you from dancing?" Umiling ako dahilan para umangat ang sulok ng mga labi niya. "I don't coach ballerinas without a spine made out of steel."

Pinasadahan niya ako ng tingin. Her eyebrows furrowed, and the jovial mood I was in instantly turned into dread.

"You've gained some weight."

"Sorry—"

"That's good." Inangatan niya ako ng kilay nang makita niya ang pagkagulat sa mga mata ko. "What? I've been telling you to put some in, but did you listen? No. There is a standard weight for ballerinas, yes. But no one told you to be as thin as paper. I certainly didn't. What I want is a healthy dancer." She clicked her tongue as she circled around me. "You've achieved a lot. But if you suddenly collapse, it wouldn't surprise me. In fact, I have been expecting it."

Kung nandito si Domino at naririnig ang mga sinasabi niya ay baka proud na proud na iyon. His hard work has paid off.

"Do not lose this." She held my eyes with her sharp ones. "You can put on a little more. But I like this better than before."

I let out a sigh. "Yes, coach."

With a content nod, she crossed her arms. "Now show me around this beautiful glass house."

I did as she asked. She oohed at ahhed, clearly impressed by the dance studio. Adrien, who's still stretching, did the same while he watched us try the different features of the glass house.

A few minutes later, Adrien and I were both ready. He took off his baggy gray pants. He's already wearing his black training tights underneath, which he paired with his black fitted shirt, highlighting his ripped body.

Male ballerinas are often on the leaner side, but Adrien is different. He's more muscular and bulkier. Mga rason kung bakit nagugulat ang mga taong hindi nakakakilala sa kaniya kapag sinasabi niya na ballerina siya.

Most of the men in the industry are usually looked at as too soft. I've known people who have had their sexuality questioned again and again. They wear tights, people think they are too skinny, they are often on arches and tiptoes, and other more reasons people can nitpick about them. Things that people think are unbecoming for "straight" men. As if being straight should be considered as an achievement.

I've known male ballerinas who probably have more muscles than other men I've seen. They might not be as huge as Adrien, but they certainly have great bodies. They are one of the strongest people I know because it's not every day that you can witness a man fly repeatedly with just the strength of their legs. It's also not every day that you can see someone carry another human while maintaining the grace of their posture.

Even the simplest movements in ballet that look easy weren't accomplished without difficulty. May it be men or women, ballerinas are not just dancers. We're athletes.

We're the kind that need to do our job without losing the beauty of ballet. We can't grimace. We can't frown. We need to do every difficult routine where we feel like we are being stretched while breaking our bones at the same time without showing our pain on our faces.

"We're going to do Romeo and Juliet's pas de deux," Olena informed us.

"Balcony or bedroom?" Adrien asked.

"Bedroom first."

Adrien stepped close to me, and I tried to hide my disappointment about the choice of variation. Romeo and Juliet is a beautiful piece, but it's not what I've been wishing to perform for years.

"Time will come," he whispered.

"I'll be sixty before my mother and Naomi will allow me to play Giselle."

They have already planned the stories that I should perform. Most of them are love stories, though there are some that don't have happy endings. Katulad ngayon. Romeo and Juliet both died. Even Swan Lake ended with Odette's death, though the story still has a bit of a happy note in the last part. But if there's one thing in common with the parts I played, the characters always have an air of youth and innocence.

Giselle was different. I fell in love with one of the scenes where she grew mad because of her love's betrayal. Unlike in Romeo and Juliet, where they died because of sheer bad luck, and if I'm being honest, stupidity,

Inabot ni Adrien and kamay ko at binigyan niya ako ng maliit na ngiti. "Breathe, T."

I returned his smile before nodding. For a moment, we just stood there, looking at each other. Even Olena hasn't started the music yet. Adrien and I just held each other's gazes, and even without speaking, I know that we're both running the story of the scene in our heads.

The bedroom pas de deux has a lot of complicated footwork and lifts. But what makes it challenging is the fact that it's emotionally charged. There's tenderness, affection, and longing, with a hint of fear and sadness from the realization of the characters about their fates.

Adrien pulled me close, and as if on cue, the music started just in time.

We had played this three times before in an official performance, and while the most recent might have been months ago, it's not something you can forget easily, especially if you've trained hours and hours for it. Olena guided us, letting out explosions of command from time to time as we moved around the space of the glass house.

The variation has a lot of contact. It requires a lot of skinship, and if there's a moment that Adrien and I aren't touching, our gazes will remain bound together as if distance is something that we cannot bear to have. Because, as the story demands, we were two people who're desperate to make every second count with each other.

As the music neared its conclusion, our movements became quicker and sharper. We both ended it locked in an embrace, our faces close as if we were about to kiss.

I could feel the heat of his body, and I could smell his aftershave. If one of us stumbles, there's no doubt that our lips will touch. Something that none of us would have minded.

We have played a lot of love stories. We have kissed on stage, and we have kissed off of it. At this point, there isn't anything that will feel awkward for us. After all, Adrien was the only person that I've been in a relationship with.

We were both so deep into character that we barely heard Olena's signal to stop. When we did, we saw her looking at us with appreciation.

The corner of her lips went up. "Are you two dating again?"

Olena is one of the few people who knew about our past relationship. We only told her because she kept asking us about it.

Adrien and I have great chemistry. Most of our supporters never stopped believing that we were secretly dating. Some even believe that we're married, and we're just hiding it. We were never uncomfortable with each other, and the level of ease we have is not something that people believe just comes from friendship.

We are not just two people who know what it's like to date each other, hold each other's hands, be in a tight embrace, and share some kisses. We are also two people who had all that and ended it without losing the friendship we had, because that's how much we care for one another.

"No..." I trailed off when I noticed another presence in the room. Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ko na hindi na lang si Gun ang kasama namin sa glass house, kundi maging si Domino na ngayon ay nakatayo sa may pintuan.

The expression on his face is unreadable, but no one can mistake the fire blazing behind his eyes.

Blyat.

HUMINTO AKO sa pagpapabalik-balik na paglalakad at nilingon ko ang pintuan ng kuwarto ni Domino. I've been pacing outside of his room for awhile now, so I wouldn't be surprised if I'm boring a hole in the floor.

It's been hours since Olena and Adrien left. After what Domino heard and with his tendency to get jealous easily, I was expecting him to ignore me. But he didn't. We did what we usually do. He made me sit on his lap, and he fed me. We talk, though I do most of the talking this time, and he just listens. He returns my smiles, but his looks more forced. He's with me, but he feels distant.

I let out a sigh, and I squared my shoulders. Bago ko na naman mapigilan ang sarili ko ay tuluyan na akong kumatok sa pintuan.

I waited for a moment, but when the door didn't open, I knocked again. I did it two more times before I stepped away from the door with a knotted forehead.

Domino is not the kind of person to ignore me just because he's annoyed about something. He's also such a light sleeper that it's often a wonder to me how he manages to rest when he's always alert.

Nagpasiya akong bumaba ng bahay. I went straight to the kitchen, but he wasn't there. Maglalakad sana ako papunta sa gym nang sa hindi malamang kadahilanan ay napatingin ako sa kinaroroonan ng glass house. I found myself walking in its direction, but instead of going outside to the now dark studio, I stopped in front of the closed door of one of the rooms in this part of Domino's castle.

I looked down, and I saw light coming from the gap in the door. Not letting myself have more time to think, I knocked three times and pushed the door open.

I found Domino sitting behind his dark oak desk. Nag-angat siya ng tingin mula sa laptop at rumehistro ang gulat sa mga mata niya nang makita niya ako.

Before I lost my courage, I stepped inside the room and closed the door.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Are you angry at me?" I blurted out instead of answering his question.

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya. "Of course not. Why would you think that?"

"I don't know. You tell me."

He pressed his lips together, but he didn't say anything more. Lumapit ako sa kinaroroonan niya hanggang nakatayo na ako sa harapan ng lamesa niya.

"Are you angry because I didn't tell you about him?"

He let out a sigh. "No."

"Then what's wrong?"

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin sa akin. "Nothing's wrong."

"Are you really going to lie to me?"

He just stared at me for a few moments before he sighed in resignation. "You look good together," he murmured.

His answer wasn't what I expected. "What?"

"You're the same age, you both love the same thing, and the way you two dance..." His jaw clenched, and at the same time, his eyes went dark. "You fit better with him."

It took me a couple of seconds before I found the right words to say. "We were friends, Domino. We have chemistry. We thought there was something more to it, so we tried dating. He was the first and only man I dated. He was my first kiss."

Despite how it ended, my relationship with Adrien is not something I would ever regret. I might have doubts regarding the longevity of a romantic relationship, but that doesn't mean I believe the same thing about the kind of relationship that I have with him now, which is more of a partnership.

"Even my mother didn't know about it. Iilan lang ang nakakaalam. The relationship didn't last long, and we didn't want anyone making a big deal out of it. We were better off as friends." Huminga ako ng malalim. "I'm not built for relationships, and Adrien knows that there's no future for us. I care for him. I really do. But I wasn't in love with him."

My heart broke at that time. Not because we ended, but because I feel like there was something wrong with me. Adrien is a good person; he's handsome, he's passionate, he came from a great family, he's wealthy, and he's someone anyone can easily fall in love with. But I couldn't.

"You agreed to give me everything. Until..." Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko. I'm not ready to talk about that. Besides, what is there to talk about? Domino and I both wanted a different ending. We both wanted to win, but as of the moment, it is not something that can be decided yet. "I know what it's like to be kissed. You weren't my first, the same way I doubt I was yours."

"Tiara—"

I cut him off. "But with you, it's the first time that I didn't want a kiss to end. It's the first time I feel desperate to have it longer... to have more... to feel more." I put a hand on the desk, leaning closer to him. "With all the no and all the never, with you, I wanted the yes and the—"

I stopped myself just in time. What the hell, Tiara?

My eyes widened, and for a moment all I could think about were the words that found their way onto my lips without me realizing it.

"With all the no and all the never, with you, I wanted the yes and the forever." That was what I was about to say.

As my focus strayed away from the present, I didn't realize that Domino was watching every change that passed through my face. I also didn't notice how the serpent that had been hiding showed itself again, a triumphant smile spreading on his lips. I didn't see all that because I found myself being pulled over the other side of the desk.

The loud noise coming from his things that crashed to the floor dragged me off my thoughts.

"Domino." My lips parted in surprise. "W-What... what are you doing?"

He placed my hands on each of my sides, holding them down. He leaned forward, and I felt his breath on my ear as he whispered, "Just now, you said yes."

"I... I..."

I felt the hair at the back of my neck rise when the bridge of his nose traced a path from my neck down to my collarbone. "You just entered the lion's den, doll."

Sa kabila ng kaba na bumubundol sa dibdib ko ay hindi ko maitatanggi ang iba pang pakiramdam na bumabalot sa akin. There was fear, but the anticipation I'm experiencing has overcome it.

I hooked a leg on his waist before I lost my nerve, the action making me more open to him than I already was. "You're not a lion," I murmured.

Nag-angat siya ng mga mata at sinalubong niya ang sa akin. His face was so close that I could feel the heat coming from his breath.

"Zmiya. Serpent."

My serpent.