#DS7Unbalanced #InoCent #SMCouple #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: CLOSE

TIARA'S POV

I put an arm on my face to cover my eyes as I lay on the cold floor of the glass house. I've been in here for hours since we came back from the meeting at Dagger to discuss the letter that I received.

They don't want to disregard the possibility that this is just a trap. They want to make sure that the meet will happen without problems and that my safety won't be compromised. Their priority is my security, and it's not something I'm going to complain about. Even if it's about my estranged father.

Inalis ko ang braso ko sa mukha ko at kinapa ko kung saan ko ipinatong ang cellphone ko. Inangat ko iyon at napabuntong-hininga na lang ako nang makita ko na wala pa rin akong bagong text message na natatanggap.

I've been waiting for my mother to reply to what felt like a thousand other messages I have sent her after she replied to just one, telling me that she'll talk to me when she's not angry anymore. Hindi niya rin sinasagot ang tawag ko.

Tinawagan ko na rin ang manager ko. Naomi confirmed that she had talked to my mother. She's also the one who booked a flight for her. Gusto raw mag de-stress ng ina ko dahil sa akin na para bang wala akong rason nitong mga nakaraan para maramdaman din iyon. No matter how beautiful this safe house is, it's not like I'm here for a vacation.

"Why now?" I whispered to myself.

Kung bakit naman kasi ngayon pa niya napiling magbakasyon. This is not something that is uncommon when it comes to my mother. She always does this. She goes wherever she wants to go and spends my money. Magugulat na lang ako na nakabalik na siya dahil hindi bababa sa dalawang linggo ang pagkawala niya.

When she goes on vacation, I consider it mine too. There was one time that she went on a luxury cruise, and she was gone for three months. She rarely contacts me, and if she does, it's only because she could remind me not to slack off with training. Not that I ever did.

Muli akong nagpakawala ng buntong-hininga. I don't know how long she'll be gone this time. According to the date in the letter that I received, I'm about to meet my father in less than a month. She'll be furious once she finds out that I met up with him without telling her.

"Even though it wouldn't be my fault that she doesn't know," I hissed.

Inabot ko ang barre na nasa itaas ko at kumapit ako roon para bumangon mula sa pagkakahiga ko. I was about to do exactly that when I noticed something carved on the handrail.

He didn't...

Hindi masyadong kita iyon dahil nasa ilalim na parte iyon. I traced the wood with the pad of my finger, and I blinked in surprise when I realized that I wasn't imagining things.

Napabaling ako sa pintuan at napabitaw ako sa barre nang makarinig ako ng pagbuntong-hininga. I saw Domino standing there, looking at me sprawled on the floor. Lumapit siya kinaroroonan ko at nagbaba siya ng tingin sa akin.

"I thought you were dancing."

My lips pursed a bit, and I didn't say anything.

"I was waiting for you to finish because I need to go to the southern side of the property, and I don't want to leave you here." In a move that almost seems practiced, he freed my hair from my tight bun. "Are you sulking, annoyed, or bored?"

"All of the above."

A smile teases the corner of his lips. "Come with me then." When I hesitated, he took my hand and pulled me up. "You're not going to dance anyway. Instead of being holed in here, why don't you just come with me? I'm more fun to look at than the ceiling of the glass house."

I wrinkled my nose. "Ever so confident."

He just chuckled as a response, clearly not affected by my mood. Inangat niya ang kamay ko at inilapat niya ang mga labi niya sa likod ng palad ko. My cheeks immediately flushed in response.

"Saan tayo pupunta?"

He winked. "You'll see."

Hindi na ako nagsalita pa at hinayaan ko na lang siya na igaya ako kung saan niya gustong pumunta. To my confusion, instead of heading to the pathway leading to the south part of his property, we went in the direction of the pool area.

Kinuha niya ang throw pillow na sigurado akong galing sa loob pero ngayon ay nakapatong sa isang lounger.

I was about to ask him what he's doing when I spotted a huge, intimidating bicycle nearby. Lumapit kami doon at nakangiting bumaling sa akin ang lalaki.

"Just so you know, I don't know how to ride a bike," I admitted before he could say anything else.

"I know." When he saw the question on my face, he grinned. "Like I know that you can't drive."

Napataas ang kilay ko. "How did you know?"

"Dagger has all your documents. Of course, I notice your lack of a driver's license."

Oh, right. "I'm just too busy to find time to learn." Nang manatili lang siyang nakatingin sa akin na parang naghihintay na dugtungan ko ang sinabi ko ay bahagya akong napanguso. "And because I simply don't want to."

Kung wala akong mahanap na magmamaneho sa akin, na bihirang mangyari, marami namang paraan para makapag-travel ako. Ngayon pa na ang dami ng ridesharing companies.

I don't trust myself to drive. When I'm not moving, it's hard for me to focus. I spend most of my life being active. I can't imagine just sitting there for hours and looking blankly in front of me and nothing else. Baka makatulog pa ako.

"Ember has a license, but we all prefer for her not to drive," he shared.

"Why?"

"Diretso man lagi ang pana niya pero hindi niya kayang gawin iyon sa pagmamaneho," natatawang sagot niya. "The rest of the women can drive, but they rarely need to do so. Nakita mo naman ang mga asawa ng mga iyon. Masyadong mga overprotective. Kapag hindi naman sila kasama ng mga asawa nila ay laging may Blade Point or Bolster silang itinatalaga para sa mga misis nila."

"And you? Would you rather I—" I stopped myself. It feels weird to line myself up with his brothers' wives. "Would you rather your woman don't drive?"

He mounted the bicycle, and he offered me a hand. "I would rather that you drive and ride me."

Pakiramdam ko ay kulay mansanas na ako mula ulo hanggang paa sa sinabi niya. My eyes narrowed into a slit, and I crossed my arms instead of taking his hand. "You keep teasing me, but you don't deliver."

Umangat ang kilay niya. "Do I need to remind you of all the orgasms I gave you?"

Why did I ever think that I would win an argument against him? "Y-You know what I meant!"

Natatawang siya na ang umabot sa kamay ko at hinila niya ako palapit sa kaniya. Ipinatong niya ang unan sa harapan ng saddle ng bisikleta bago niya ako pinaupo roon.

I gathered my hair on one side when he started pedaling. Tagaytay has a nice cool breeze, though sometimes it could get really windy. And at night, foggy.

I love the weather here so much that I've thought about buying a property here. There's condominiums as well, so if I decided that a house is too high maintenance for someone who lives alone, then I could just settle for it. With the view here, it won't be much of a difference. Kahit saan atang parte ng Tagaytay, basta magigising ka sa magandang tanawin ay hindi mo magagawang pagsisihan ang kahit na ano.

I looked at the sky when I caught sight of something red being carried by the wind. I reach for it and realize that it's a flower of some kind.

"That's from a Royal Poinciana tree." Itinuro niya ang malaking puno di kalayuan. "Kapag summer mas madami ang bulaklak niya. I heard it thrives better in warm climates."

I twirled the flower in my hand. "It's pretty."

"It is."

I looked up at the tone of his voice, and I was embraced with warmth when I found him looking at me. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at ibinaling ko na lang ang atensyon ko sa bulaklak. "If it's a tropical tree, it's a wonder how it can survive here. Tagaytay mostly has cool weather."

"Some flowers can prosper beautifully even in difficult conditions." Huminto siya sa pagpedal. We were already in the shed-like place in the south part of the property. Inapak niya ang mga paa sa lupa at tinulungan niya akong makababa bago siya sumunod. He looked down at the flower I'm holding, and he took it from me. May ngiti sa mga labi na inipit niya iyon sa tenga ko. "There's beauty in courage, and bravery in resilience."

"Even if all it could do is stay still?" I asked.

"Especially when all it could do is stand proud while braving the harshest of winds." Inabot niya ang kamay ko at ipinaloob niya iyon sa kaniya. "Let's go."

We approached what was in front of us. It looks like a room for tools but bigger, a house but smaller. "What is this place?"

May inangat siya na panel sa gilid ng kahoy na pinto. It revealed a keyless entry system. Pinindot niya ang ilan sa mga numero roon bago niya iyon itinulak pabukas. "It's my workshop," he said as an answer to my question.

When the door swung fully open, I was greeted by the earthy scent of wood. The inside of the place looks rustic but well taken care of. Different project materials are stored properly on one side, and the tools are organized and hanging on the walls.

"You're full of surprises," I note.

"Mystery is good for every kind of relationship." Umangat ang sulok ng mga labi niya. "So you'll have more things to uncover. You get to take off each wrapping one by one until you get to the good part."

Lalong lumawak ang mga labi niya nang unti-unting naningkit ang mga mata ko habang nakatingin sa kaniya. Sa paraan kasi ng pagkakasabi niya no'n ay sigurado akong may double meaning iyon. At kung si Domino ang pinag-uusapan, walang duda na puno iyon ng kaharutan. Harot. That's the one word I kept hearing from his family, and I'm sure by now that it perfectly describes him.

"Nakita ko na lahat 'yan," naghahamon na sabi ko.

"Pero hindi mo pa nararanasan lahat." Napasinghap ako na mahinang ikinatawa niya. "Experience is the best teacher, doll."

"Experience is the best teacher nga pero kung iyong teacher mo laging absent, wala kang matututunan."

"Basta alam ko, hindi ako 'yon. Masipag akong pumasok." Inabot niya ang buhok ko at nilaro niya iyon sa pagitan ng mga daliri niya. "But I'm strict with my lesson plan. The kind that is perfect for this. Ayokong minamadali. Dahan-dahan lang para handa sa finals."

My nose wrinkled. Prosto zdavaysya, Tiara. You know you won't win against him so stop trying. If there's something called the master of none, the master of one, there's also a master of kaharutan. And that's Domino.

Pinaikot ko na lang ang mga mata ko bilang sagot sa sinabi niya. Eyes twinkling with mischief, he pulled me inside the building.

Inilibot ko ang paningin ko sa paligid. May natanaw ako na mukhang dining chair na hindi pa tapos gawin. "Akala ko iyong bahay lang mismo ang gagawin mo? You also want to make the furniture?"

"Not all of them. Bumili lang din ako. Pero may iba na baka palitan ko. Depende sa kung anong project ang gusto kong simulan at tapusin." Itinuro niya ang kinaroroonan ng upuan na tinitignan ko kanina. "Like that chair. Bago 'yan bench ang ginagawa ko. I don't want to pressure myself into finishing an entire project. If I'm going to make dining chairs and a table, it would take a long time, and I might get bored."

"Anong gagawin mo sa mga gamit na nasa bahay mo na? Wouldn't it be a waste to buy furniture just to replace it in the end?"

"There's always someone wanting to buy them. Kung alam mo lang kung paanong mag-unahan ang mga empleyado ng Dagger. Mahilig ang mga iyon sa discounted. Minsan naman pinabebenta namin kina Lia. The proceeds will go to charity, so it's not a waste of money." He pulled out a chair and placed it near me. "Which reminds me that she's going to organize another charity event soon. Do you want to go?"

"Of course," I answered without thinking. Napatigil ako sandali nang may magdaan sa isip ko. What if the case is over then? Can I still go? Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko. I don't want to think about that right now.

I decided to ask him the first thing that came to mind so that I could divert the topic. "Did you make the barre in the glass house?"

Bahagyang bumakas ang pagkagulat sa mga mata niya. It didn't last long because the next second his gaze went light with realization. "You saw the name."

My name to be exact. "I did."

Nagkibit-balikat siya. "It wasn't hard to make."

It was easy for him to say. Kung ako ang nag-attempt na gumawa niyon ay baka kulang na ang daliri ko ngayon. On that note... "Don't tell me you brought me here to teach me carpentry."

"A little, but I also have something to give you."

I decided to tackle things one at a time. "A little? To do what?"

He pointed at the huge piece of wood on top of a table. "I want to create a house plaque to put in front of the gate. Help me make one."

"Inuutusan mo ako?"

Bahagya siyang yumuko at inipit niya sa likod ng tenga ko ang buhok ko. He brushed my nose by touching his own with mine briefly. "Oo."

Seriously, his confidence is astounding. But more astonishing than that is my ability to say no to him. "Whatever." Inilahad ko ang kamay ko. "At ano iyong ibibigay mo sa akin?"

He tilted his chin in the direction of the chair, and with a slight purse of my lips, I took a seat. He walked to the opposite side of the room, and he pulled open a drawer. May inilabas siya roon na may kaliitin na kahon na gawa sa kahoy. Muli siyang bumalik sa kinaroroonan ko at inabot niya iyon sa akin.

I looked down at the box with a puzzled expression. My eyes widened a little in surprise when I saw that my name was carved on top of the smooth, polished surface of the wood.

"How did you ever find time to make this?"

"If there's a will, there's a way." Sumandal siya sa lamesa na nasa likod niya. "When my family comes over or when one of the BP is here, I work on that. It took long because I was always with you." A grin spread on his lips. "Not that I'm complaining. I would rather be with you than anywhere else anyway."

My hair fell like curtains when I looked down, and I welcomed it since I wanted to hide the effect of his words on me.

"Open it, doll."

Without looking at him, I unhooked the metal in front, and I pulled the lid up. To my surprise, a delicate-looking ballerina emerged from it at the same time that a beautiful melody filled the air.

"You..." For a moment, I couldn't find the right word to say, and all I could do was stare at the wooden ballerina gracefully rotating on the platform she's standing on. There's a metal disc inside with small pins rotating, creating the soft and gentle notes. "You made me a music box."

"I ordered the disc." When I stared at him with unchanging awe in my face, the corner of his lips curved up. "But I made the rest of it."

I swallowed. "What song is this?"

"So close."

Ilang sandali na tahimik na pinakinggan lang namin iyon. I'm pretty sure I heard it somewhere. I just can't think of the lyrics. Pero kahit gano'n pa man ay pakiramdam ko ay naiintindihan ko ang gusto no'n na iparating.

"It's not even my birthday," I said in a quiet voice. "Next year pa."

"We can celebrate your birthday every day if you want to."

Despite everything, I couldn't help but chuckle. "That's going to tire you out."

"Why would it?" He stretched his hand in front of me, and I hesitated, not wanting to give him back the gift. But I trusted him not to take the beauty I'm holding away, so I did anyway. Ipinatong niya sa lamesa ang music box na tuloy-tuloy pa rin sa pagtugtog at pagkatapos ay humarap siya sa akin para alalayan ako na makatayo. "I like seeing you smile. It would be worth it."

"I don't need to be showered with gifts." I glanced at the music box. "But that one is enough to last for a long time."

I was never given something so beautiful. It wasn't just because it looks pretty in the eyes or that the music sounds great, but because of the thought and work he put into it. That he made something so precious with me in mind.

For some reason, my eyes suddenly clouded. I wouldn't have realized that they're tears if Domino hadn't pulled me close, his fingers wiping the wetness on my cheeks.

"I want to make you smile, doll. Not cry," he murmured gently.

I do feel happy. I feel it embracing me so hard that I don't even understand why I'm crying. It's like my heart is bursting with the magnitude of feelings that are overwhelming me right now.

I meet his gaze, and I wish silently that he could read the things that I don't know how to say. That he could understand that this means a lot to me. "Thank you," I whispered.

Masuyong ngiti lang ang sinagot niya sa akin. Inangat niya ang mga braso ko at ipinatong niya iyon sa mga balikat niya. He then wrapped his arms around me, swaying me gently with the melody.

I felt his breath touch the side of my face as his soft singing voice waved through the air. "And now, forever, I know. All that I wanted to hold you so close."