#DS7Unbalanced #InoCent #SMCouple #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT: HURT

TIARA'S POV

"You almost gave me a heart attack."

Napalingon ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses. My brows furrowed for a moment until I recognized the man standing at the door of the balcony.

"Mr. Salazar," I said as a greeting.

His handsome face crumpled a bit at what I called him. Naglakad siya palapit sa akin at huminto siya sa tabi ko. "Just call me Damian. Mr. Salazar reminds me so much of my father." Napabuntong-hininga siya nang parang may naisip siya. "If I run for president and I win, they will be calling me Mr. President or President Salazar, won't they?"

"Most likely."

"Damn."

Ibinalik ko ang tingin ko sa harapan kung saan kanina pa ako nakatanaw. There were nothing but endless cars passing by, but I've been staring at them blankly for ages. The party is still going strong inside the event hall here on the second floor of the hotel we're at.

"The good thing about being president is that you can make the whole country call you whatever you want them to call you. You can make them call you President Smile, and they will obey you."

He chuckled. "President Smile?"

I pointed at his face. "You always have a smile on, and you have dimples. You have a pretty smile." He looks taken aback for a second. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "What? I doubt no one told you about that."

"None of them called it pretty."

"Because pretty sounded feminine?" Pinaikot ko ang mga mata ko. "If you're one of those people who feels offended by an adjective, be thankful that I'm not a voter because I wouldn't vote for you."

The laughter that burst out of him was so contagious that I couldn't help but smile. It was all I could afford to give. I don't think I have even smiled truthfully this past week since I lived with the Radleys.

"They told me you were shy. I didn't expect the sass."

"When you're on stage, you're the epitome of confidence. Off stage, you seem shy and quiet. Like a cute little mouse. I wasn't expecting the sass or the eyes that look at me as if you want me to drop dead."

I look away as I try to wrestle with the memory of Domino. I try my hardest not to think of him. It wasn't easy. Not when since we met, he's been occupying my mind. And more. Which seems foolish to deny now.

"I touched a nerve, didn't I?"

Umiling ako. "No."

"You're a great ballerina." Nang kibit-balikat lang ang naging sagot ko sa kaniya ay nagpatuloy siya, "But you're not a good liar."

I threw him a sharp look that just made him smile more. I let out a huff, and I leaned my elbows on the balustrade. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Got it," he agreed easily. "So..."

When he didn't continue what he was about to say, I spoke up. "So?"

"You barely say a word to anyone inside except for a greeting. I've heard that you're shy, so it wasn't surprising, but you don't seem that way now that you're talking to me." Patagilid na sumandal siya sa harang ng balcony. "My wife told me before that I'd be good at politics because people easily talk to me. She said, I have a friendly atmosphere."

"I don't think that's a good quality for a politician. Shouldn't you be more assertive or something?" Tinapunan ko siya ng tingin. "And that's not the reason why I find it easy to talk to you."

"I like being friendly. Maybe I could be Mr. President Friendly," he joked. He raised an eyebrow. "And what was the reason?" he asked, referring to what I said.

"You're friends with my... friends. They like you, so you're probably a good person. And I'm only shy around other people because they're strangers. Minsan naman hindi ko lang talaga gusto ang mga taong nasa paligid ko."

"I feel flattered."

"Don't be," I said in a teasing manner. "The other reason why it's easy to talk to you is because I feel like I know you." It wasn't a lie. The first impression I had when I first saw him didn't change. He seems to be a good and warm person. Iyon siguro ang dahilan kung bakit magaan ang loob ko sa kaniya. "Since I've read the books and all. Nabasa ko kung paanong nabasted ka ni Lia."

Napaubo siya. Pink colored his cheeks, and I bit the inside of my lip to stop myself from smiling at his discomfort.

"Have you read them?"

Nangingiting tumango siya. "My wife did as well. She's a fan of the books." He played with the square silver case he's holding. "Lucienne wrote them well. Litaw na litaw kung paanong wala talaga akong kapag-asa pag-asa kay Lia."

It was me who coughed this time. "Ouch."

"Not that I regret anything. I happen to meet my beautiful wife after," he grinned.

"Imagine when you become president and someone brings it up. Magiging headline ka panigurado."

"Mr. President Friendly, Hanggang Friends Lang Pala."

We shared an easy laugh, which instantly made me feel a little better. I never thought what a smile and laugh could do in a person's life until I experienced what it's like to have it so much and what it feels like when I lose a reason to do it again.

"You can smoke, you know?" I said, after awhile that passed.

Damian looked down at the cigarette case he was holding. "Oh. No, it's okay—"

"I don't mind. I actually like the smell of cigarettes, which is weird. But my grandfather used to smoke, and it's a familiar scent to me. And—" Sandaling natigilan ako. Kahit anong gawin ko talaga naaalala ko pa rin siya. "—sometimes I smell them on Domino too. Hindi siya naninigarilyo kapag nasa malapit ako pero may nakita akong ganiyan na case sa opisina niya."

"Then I really shouldn't if Dom doesn't want to smoke around you. Secondhand smoking is worse anyway."

I let out a sigh, and I reached for the case he's holding. Kumuha ako ng isa at ibinalik ko sa kaniya ang lalagyanan. "Now it doesn't need to be secondhand, does it?"

He hesitated for a second before he took a lighter from his pocket. Sinindahan niya ang hawak ko bago siya kumuha ng sa kaniya. I raise my hand to my lips, the tip of the cigarette glowing on the dark balcony. I try not to let my inexperience show, but it's hard to do when he's watching closely and when I can't stop the small cough as soon as the foreign and harsh sensation stings my throat.

"Yep. No." Kinuha niya sa akin ang sigarilyo at idinikit niya iyon sa pader ng balcony para patayin ang apoy no'n. Ibinalik niya iyon sa case para marahil itapon iyon mamaya at pagkatapos ay sinindihan niya ang hawak niya.

"Your wife's okay with you smoking?"

Tumango siya. "As long as I don't do it a lot." His eyebrows raise a little. "How about you? You don't mind, Dom— someone you're close with, smoking?"

"Not really."

"Smoking can kill."

"Every day we do things that can potentially kill us. I just hope that people know when to stop and recognize when they have enough." Itinuro ko ang hawak niya. "Once in awhile isn't that bad. But if you're going to finish a whole case in a day or maybe more, then you're really killing yourself in the slowest and most painful way possible while causing harm to the environment and other people as well."

"Now I feel guilty."

Bumalik ako sa pangangalumbaba ko. "Don't."

He chuckled. "Sassy and bossy."

I just rolled my eyes, but I didn't turn to look at him. Binalot kami ng katahimikan. The silence didn't feel awkward, like most would in this kind of situation. It's not like we know each other that well. Before I met him at that party, he was just a character in a book for me.

He was the one who broke the silence. "Why weren't you in there with them?"

"I feel like a fish inside an aquarium."

"Ahh." He nodded in understanding.

I'm the love child. The Radleys want to show a united front despite the obvious reason why I exist in the first place. Especially when it comes to Marcella, who's supposed to be the betrayed party in her husband's affair with my mother.

"They're pushing for another party. My father promised them that there would be one soon." I let out an exhausted sigh. "I really can't deal with rich people. Sa dami ng problema sa mundo, talagang mahalaga pa ba na magkaroon ng party para sa akin? They just want to gawk at me because they're all invested in the drama of my existence."

"Or maybe they just really want to get to know you. You're a well-known ballerina after all."

I threw him an incredulous look. "Do you really believe that?"

Umangat ang sulok ng mga labi niya. "No," he answered truthfully. "But it's not like we have a choice, right? This is our lives. This is your life now."

Tumingin ako sa langit. Kahit isang bituin ay wala roon. A perfect representation of myself right now. I feel like I'm a dark night sky without a spark of light in sight.

"I'm not particularly fond of most of the people inside too."

I let out a mock gasp. "The president's son doesn't like his father's people? That's so scandalous."

He gave a low laugh. "I know, right?" Pinatay niya ang apoy ng sigarilyo niya at ibinalik niya ang natira no'n sa case. "But sometimes it's necessary to know them."

"Politics," I said as a statement rather than a question.

He gazed at the starless sky. "There was a time when I didn't want anything to do with politics. But here I am."

"Why?"

"Because I want a change." He looked down and met my eyes. "Nothing would change if I stayed inside my bubble. My life before was easier. I didn't need to pretend to like anyone. But still, despite all that, I was suffocating. I hate that I couldn't do anything."

"So you made sure that you'd be able to do something."

Tumango siya. "I hate politics because all I could see were people who didn't mind getting dirty. People who will lie straight to your face, use you until they can drain everything they can get for you, and people who never feel an ounce of guilt about the things they do. Sabi ko sarili ko, hindi naman ibig sabihin na ito ang buhay ng ama ko ay kailangan na maging buhay ko rin. So I stayed away. But I can't help but look. I can't help but see all the wrongs." Ginaya niya ang posisyon ko at tinanaw din niya ang mga nagdadaang sasakyan. "Now I'm constantly in the presence of the kind of people that I detest. I needed to smile and pretend every day. I need to mind my words and how I act. And yet, I can breathe better now."

"Which is ironic because you were more free then," I murmured.

"That was what I thought too. But I wasn't free, you know? I just had my eyes closed." He glanced at me and smiled. "Freedom is not free. Freedom is not easy. Sometimes you need to work hard for it. Sometimes it means being uncomfortable. Sometimes it means that you need to make a choice that frightens the living daylight out of you. If you want to change something, then you need to accept that it could be painful. That it could be the more difficult path."

For a moment, all I could do was stare at him. I've seen him with Emeric, and I thought they were just some privilege-rich men. Mabait naman sila. I know they have their own businesses that they built from scratch. But compared to most people, no one could deny that they had a head start because of who they were connected to.

But with Emeric and now Damian, I could see that they're more than what I initially thought they were. Iba man ang problema nila sa problema ng pangkaraniwan na tao pero hindi ibig sabihin ay hindi sila nakakaranas niyon. It doesn't mean that they don't have their own struggles.

"You'll make a good president."

The smile that brightened his face looks blinding. Dumiretso siya ng tayo at sa pagkagulat ko ay marahang tinapik niya ang ulo ko. "Everything would be okay, Tiara."

I let out another sigh. "I hope so."

"You have your brother, and now you have me. When everything becomes too much, you can come to us."

He meant it. I could see that clearly. "Okay."

"And one more thing."

"Hmm?"

"Don't trust anyone easily." Nilingon niya ang pagtitipon mula sa salamin na pintuan bago siya muling tumingin sa akin. "Don't close your eyes."

THE STAGE LIGHT dimmed and my body instantly relaxed. Inalalayan ako ni Adrien na makatayo ng maayos mula sa huling posisyon na ginawa namin bago mamatay ang ilaw. Our last performance just came to an end. We're finally done with Romeo and Juliet. Thank the heavens.

Adrien's breath touched my ear as he wrapped me in a hug. "You did great."

"You did okay," I joked.

Natatawang hinalikan niya ang noo ko. "I'm going to talk with my manager first. I'll see you backstage?"

Nakangiting tinanguhan ko siya. Imbis na dumiretso ng backstage ay naglakad ako sa gilid ng platform at bumaba ako roon. I didn't need to search for them for too long. I waved back when I saw that they were all excitedly waving in my direction.

"You were so amazing!" Mahigpit na niyakap ako ni Lucienne bago niya inabot sa akin ang hawak niya na boquet. "I'm going to enroll IC in a ballet class this summer. Baka sakaling magustuhan niya. Thorn and I want her to explore different activities like Cookie does." Her lips pursed a little. "Pero duda ako ro'n kay IC. Parang magmamana pa ata sa tatay niya. Kahapon lang may dinaganan sa park dahil inagawan ang kuya niya sa swing."

"Oh god," I said, chuckling.

"She threw her whole little body at the poor boy. She might look like me, but she has the height of her father. Di hamak na mas bata siya pero nakapagpaiyak nang mas matanda sa kaniya."

"Kay Thorn ba talaga nagmana o sa'yo?" natatawang tanong ni Belaya bago bumaling sa akin para yakapin din ako. "You did great! I want to be like you when I grow up."

Naiiling na natawa ako. Really this people.

Isa-isa nila akong binati. Coal, Trace, and Warrick, who's with them, also did the same. None of them mentioned anything about me staying with my father or how I'm not a client of Dagger anymore. Wala rin sa kanila ang binanggit si Domino. Things for which I'm thankful.

"By the way, may charity event si Lia soon. Do you want to come? You can bring your new bodyguards. Are they as hot as Dagger's men?"

As usual, I'm whiplashed by Lucienne's nonstop questions. Pero nasasanay na rin ako. She's unapologetically herself, and that's something that should be admired. Something that I admired. "I'll check my schedule, but I think I could make it. And for the other question, probably not."

Nilingon ko ang mga bodyguard ko. It's easy to spot them since all of them are wearing suits. There are nine of them. Most of them are the same age as the Dagger men, and there are those that are a little older. Some of them look okay in the looks department, or maybe more than okay if you'll ask other people. I'm probably just biased.

"Do I need to bring anything kung sakaling makakapunta ako?"

"Hindi naman kailangan," sagot ni Lia sa tanong ko. "We're just going to sell food and a few other things. Pero kung may willing ka na ibenta sa maliit na halaga, we're more than willing to accept."

I gave her a smile. "I'll see what I can do." I have a lot of clothes that won't be used again anyway. Naomi rarely lets me wear the same clothes twice.

I stayed with them for awhile until we were approached by other guests. Nagpaalam na ako sa kanila at ganoon din sila dahil dadaanan pa raw nila si Mireia na umattend ng baking conference sa may Pasay.

After mingling with the guests who wanted to take pictures with me briefly, I excused myself and headed backstage to change into more comfortable attire. I was on my way to my dressing room when I caught sight of a familiar build at the other end of the hall.

I've thought about how I would feel if I saw him again. Will I feel guilty because I know that I've hurt him? Will I feel embarrassed because of what I've done? Will I feel an intense sense of longing because there is no way that I wouldn't have missed him?

I expected the pain, but I never thought that it would be this kind.

It was a sight that I never anticipated. I stood frozen, my eyes fixed on the two figures. One is familiar, while the other I don't recognize. They seem to be unaware of my presence.

Parang may sariling buhay ang mga paa na napaatras ako. I was engulfed with a tinge of hurt that I couldn't suppress, because there, not so far from me, he stood with a woman while holding her hand. He was leaning a little towards her and she's looking up at him with a slight pink in her cheeks. They were standing so close to each other.

I have always wondered how I would feel the moment that Domino and I finally parted ways and he found the woman who deserved to stay by his side. I didn't know that I would know what it felt like this soon. That I would witness it this early. But god, I should have known.

I should have known it would hurt this much.