#DS7Unbalanced #InoCent #SMCouple #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE: FLEETING

TIARA'S POV

2 hours ago...

Tutok na tutok sa laptop na sandaling nag-angat ng tingin si Damian. Akmang ibabalik sana niya ang atensyon niya sa ginagawa nang mapatingin siya sa akin ulit. He inclined his head to the side, and there's a look of confusion on his face.

"Did I do something?" napapakamot sa pisngi na tanong niya.

Napakurap ako at napaayos ako ng upo. I didn't realize that I was looking at him weirdly. I probably look annoyed. "No."

"Are you sure? You remind me of Sav when she's trying her best not to tear my head off." His lips pursed a little as he looked at the sky. "Wala naman akong ginagawa. Mabait naman ako."

I blinked slowly and forced myself to look away from him before I suddenly started having the ability to shoot lasers with my eyes.

"I mean, ini-entertain ko lang naman siya kapag pakiramdam ko naiinip na siya. Kapag gusto niyang manood ng favorite TV series niya sinasamahan ko siya, kapag nagbabasa siya sa library, o kapag gusto niyang maglibang sa pool. I even make sure she's okay when she doesn't want to get up from bed."

I have a feeling why his wife is losing patience with him. Kahit naman ako kung gusto kong mapag-isa at laging may nakasunod sa akin baka ganoon din ang maramdaman ko.

He reminds me so much of Emeric. I thought he was childlike, but Damian was in a different league. Emeric knows how to have fun on his own, but Damian seems to be a clingy type of person. Parang kahit saan ata ako pumunta sa vacation house na pag-aari ng asawa niya ay lagi siyang nakasunod sa akin. At first, I thought he was guarding me, but it wasn't long before I realized that he just wanted company.

"What do you think?"

Instead of answering him, I looked at his laptop pointedly. "I thought you needed to work?"

He made an "oh" sound as if he just suddenly remembered that he needed to do something. He's like a Siberian husky, but in human form, while Emeric is the golden retriever. Parehas na high-energy dogs, pero mas maingay nga lang ang husky. Tapos iyong isa puro playtime.

"Parang ang sarap ng pizza. Gusto mo?"

Ang gusto ko si Domino. "At katahimikan," bulong ko sa sarili ko.

"Hmm?"

Nilingon ko ang lalaki at nakita kong inosenteng nakatingin siya sa akin. He really looks like he belongs to the dog personality type category. Something that Lucienne told me na pinaghaharian daw ni Trace. Ang pagkakaiba lang daw si Trace hindi lang personality niya ang pang-aso. Aso daw talaga si Trace na nagpapanggap na tao.

If I'm not irked at Damian, I would have found him cute. He's like a puppy that needs constant attention, and though that could be annoying, it's hard to be really angry at him because there's a chance that it would break his heart.

"I'm good. You can order for you and Jace if you want."

"Hindi namin maaubos 'yon. Ano bang klaseng pizza ang gusto mo?" tanong niya.

I let out a sigh. "Kahit ano." I'll just eat a slice so he'll feel contented.

"Ano bang pizza ang kadalasan mong kinakain?"

His wife must be a saint. Or maybe she just really loves him so much that she's already accepted that she's in for a life without peace and alone time. Wala pa silang anak sa lagay na iyan. Paano kapag nagkaroon pa sila ng mini Damian?

"Tiara?"

Napapabuntong-hininga ulit na sumagot ako. "Domino's?"

He looked at me suspiciously. "Gusto mo ba talaga ang pizza na 'yon o gusto mo lang kasi kapangalan ni Domino?" Nang magkibit ako ng balikat ay bahagyang nakanguso na nagbaba siya ng tingin sa cellphone ni Jace na hawak niya. "Ang dami naman na mas masarap na pizza."

"Sa Domino's lang ako nasasarapan." And that's the only pizza I've tried.

Nalukot ang mukha ni Damian. He looks like he wants to tear his ears off. Pigil ang ngiti na binalik ko ang atensyon ko sa libro na binabasa ko. Mukha kasing alam ni Domino na kakailanganin ko ng paglilibangan dahil nang bumalik siya noong nakaraan ay may dala siyang pointe shoes at mga libro na sinulat ni Lucienne. Wala naman kasi siya rito lagi para libangin ako.

"I really hope we're talking about the pizza," Damian said through his grimace.

I just continued reading, pretending that I didn't hear him. Kung papipiliin ako siyempre mas gusto ko si Domino kesa sa Domino's. That's a no-brainer.

Lihim akong napangiti. I didn't know how freeing it is to stop denying what I'm already seeing. He loves me. When I accepted that, it's like everything shifted in my life. Ang dali ng sabihin ng mga bagay na baka noon ay kahit sa isip ko ay hindi ko magawa.

But still, I know it isn't that smooth sailing. There's still the fact that I haven't really admitted to him how I feel. At least not directly. Bagay na nakakatawa sa sitwasyon namin.

Most people will meet, get to know each other, fall in love, get engaged, and then get married. Some fall in love at first sight, they tell each other their intentions, spend time together, become official, get engaged, and then soon exchange rings.

Pero kami ni Domino ay parang walang pinipiling pattern. He kidnapped me, we survived a plane crash, I moved on, I got almost kidnapped, he brought me to his castle, we do things that somehow make it look like we're dating but we are really not, we have the pak bading thing, I got rained on by bullets, I left him, he kidnapped me again, he told me he loved me, and now we're engaged, and I still haven't told him what I know he's patiently waiting for. Though ewan ko kung matatawag bang "patiently" 'yon eh samantang wala pa nga kaming matatawag na official date talaga ay engaged na kami.

I can try to convince myself that maybe it will be a long engagement. Para magkaroon pa kami ng panahon na mas magkakilala pa. But I know better than to believe that. Domino is every bit a Dawson. Kung ang pagbabasehan ko ay ang mga libro na sinulat ni Lucienne ay mukhang hindi magtatagal ay alam ko na kung saan mauuwi ang lahat.

They're like a bulldozer who works 24/7.

"So..."

I let out a sigh that I don't think will ever stop when I'm with Damian. Sana matapos na talaga lahat ng gulong 'to para— Napatigil ako nang may maisip. I was suddenly faced with the realization that it's not just now that I will get to have him with me. He's not here in passing. He's here to stay. Him and Emeric.

Warmth spread through me. It's a good feeling to know that I have more people in my life. People that I can call family. Those who seem to be able to hear me more than I have ever been heard in my life since my grandparents passed away.

Though I have two brothers with a "doggo personality" as Lucienne calls it.

Gaya ng inaasahan ay nang hindi ako magsalita agad ay nagpatuloy si Damian. "That ring. I didn't see that when I brought you here. Nakita ko lang nang nandito si Dawson. Does that mean that he proposed?"

"He didn't propose."

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya. "Is that only a promise ring?"

More like a punishment ring. Which reminds me of why I'm annoyed at Damian in the first place. Paminsan-minsan lang kasi nakakapunta rito si Domino. Only twice, aside from the first day that I was here. Marami kasi talaga silang inaasikaso at hindi naman pwede na magkasama kami.

Sa ilang beses na nandito si Domino mula nang unang araw na dumating siya rito ay wala ng ginawa si Damian kundi mang-istorbo. He really knows when to pick the right time because he's always knocking on our door whenever Domino's about to do the second part of his punishment. Pakiramdam ko talaga sinasadiya ni Damian.

"Nope. It is an engagement ring," I told him.

Lalong lumalim ang gatla sa noo niya. "But he didn't propose?"

It's not like I can tell him that Domino is punishing me that's why I have an engagement ring on my finger. "We haven't even officially dated. Proposal pa kaya?"

His jaw dropped, and I couldn't help but snicker. He knows the Dawsons. He has read the books. Magtataka pa ba talaga siya na hindi rin normal si Domino pagdating sa pakikipagrelasyon?

"But you're going to marry him?"

Kumabog ang dibdib ko. Who would have thought, right? It's one of the things that I fear the most. "Yes."

"And you love him?"

Napaubo ako kasabay nang pag-iinit ng magkabila kong pisngi. "I-I'm not going to answer that. I haven't even told him that yet."

Damian looks like he's a fish out of the water. Titig na titig kasi siya sa akin habang nakanganga. Nang itikom niya ang mga labi niya ay para bang nahihilo na sinapo niya ang noo niya. "I need to talk to Emeric. Ganito na ba talaga ang mga kabataan ngayon?"

"Domino's thirty-four."

His eyes widened as if that fact had just crossed his mind. "He's what? Ten or nine years older than you, right?"

"Eight... and a few months."

"That's still a lot—"

Tinaasan ko siya ng kulay. "You're older than your wife."

He pressed his lips together. We both know that I'm right. And age is just a number. Trace is older than Domino, but he acts like he's the youngest of the Dawsons' siblings, and that includes Luna.

"I know we're basically strangers. Ngayon mo lang nalaman ang tungkol sa amin ni Emeric. You don't need to call us "kuya" or anything. You don't need to introduce us as your brothers every time because we understand that it isn't something that is easy to get used to. Even Emeric just calls me by my name. But I know without asking him that we both want you to make the right decision. Domino is a great person, and without a doubt, he can protect you and make you happy. But you have all the time in the world to get to know each other. Why rush it?"

He makes perfect sense. I do understand him. Pero naiintindihan ko rin si Domino at ang mga kapatid niya.

"Hindi pa namin napag-uusapan." But again, like I've said, he's a Dawson. "But life is very fleeting... Kuya." His eyes widened in a mixture of astonishment and joy. It clearly wasn't something he expected me to call him. "They have a job that could put them in danger. Domino and I have been through moments where I thought that's it. That it would be the end. I don't know a lot about relationships. I've never been in one where I felt more than friendship with the person I'm with. I've never felt anything close to what I feel for Domino. But I do know that life is too short for me to get enough of having all these feelings. So I understand that we don't need to rush it, but I also don't see any reason why we should delay things."

"You can marry him today if you want. Sagot ko lahat." Inilagay niya ang kamay niya sa tapat ng puso niya. "You just called me kuya samantalang mas nauna mong nakasama si Emeric. That man will throw himself on the first cliff he'll see."

I rolled my eyes. He's being silly.

May sasabihin pa sana siya pero tumunog ang cellphone niya. Inginuso ko iyon. "Tumatawag na ang pizza mo."

"Don't worry, little sis. Tatawag din ang Domino mo. Sa ngayon iyong akin muna," nakangising sabi niya.

Umakto akong nasusuka na ikinatawa niya lang. Naiiling na ibabalik ko na sana ang atensyon ko sa binaba ko nang makita ko na umilaw ang naka-silent ko na cellphone. Kinuha ko iyon at nakita kong si Naomi ang tumatawag. Ibinaba ko iyon imbis na sagutin. I don't have the energy to talk to her.

Nang muling mag-ring ang cellphone ay binaba ko lang ulit ang tawag. When my phone pinged, my forehead furrowed when I saw that it was from my assistant, Daria.

FROM: DARIA

You really should have answered.

Is Naomi harassing her? I was about to ask her what she meant when she sent a picture that almost made my stomach turn. Muling tumunog ang cellphone ko at sa pagkakataon na ito ay galing naman sa ina ko ang mensahe. What she sent was also a picture.

"They have her."

I looked up, and gone was the happy expression on Damian's face. The color was drained from his skin, and his eyes were showing nothing but horror and despair. Something that I know could be seen on me too after seeing what I saw.

"They have her," Damian whispered. "My wife."

My lips moved. Words fell from it. Words that I will never regret. A decision that I know will hurt Domino because I'm choosing to go against what he wanted... but still a decision that I have to make. That I feel like I have to make.

"What I need you to do is be safe. That's the only way I can do my job right, doll. I need you where I know you'll be okay."

"They took her... they..."

"Kuya." I could barely see him through the mist in my eyes, but I gave him a small shaky smile. "We'll leave. It's us they want. Let's go get her."

We'll get them.

I'm sorry.

DOMINO'S POV

Present...

"Give them to me, Salazar."

Nanatiling walang emosyon ang mukha ni Thomas Salazar. Nothing could be seen in his eyes. They were as cold as they had ever been. Kung umakto siya ay para bang nasa salas lang siya ng bahay niya at nagkakape. There wasn't any hint of unease on him.

But he doesn't know. He doesn't know how desperate I am. "It's over."

He met my eyes. There's no fear in them. But he should. He should fear for his life. He should fear what I will do if...

"Right now, every part of the Obsidian in this country is hanging in the balance. In a few, they all will be obliterated. We can't get to you, but we have Radley. He wasn't as careful as you, Salazar."

"Do I need to care about that? He's a grown man. Hindi ko hawak ang desisyon niya."

I could almost hear my teeth grinding together. It took everything I had not to bash his head on the table in front of him. Kinuha ko ang remote na nasa harapan ko at binuksan ko ang screen na nasa isang tabi ng secure interview room ng Dagger.

Sa screen ay nandoon si Luna. She's in Singapore, and she's being interviewed for being one of the most influential Asian women in the world.

"You've written stories about a lot of powerful women. We all commend you for sharing their lives in a way that really has an impact on the different generations we have. Is this your goal? To show the world how powerful women could be and how that power should be cultivated rather than persecuted?"

"I have always loved understanding the dynamic lives of people. I have tried writing about different kinds of topics, but I'm a woman, and most of us are into fashion, right? I mean, who doesn't love a good louboutin?" Nakangiting hinayaan muna ni Luna na matapos ang mga ingay na nanggagaling sa audience. "Fashion is something that seems silly to some. What most don't understand is how it's deeply integrated into our society. How it transcends time and tells more than just stories. How could it also be a weapon and a cause of downfall. Do you know that our country is known for being a poor country, yet there's a lot of people in power that could feed hundreds with just one pair of shoes? There's nothing wrong with that except if it's coming from the pockets of the people."

"When you said people of power... you meant?"

"Powerful people who have sway in the government. And these are not just people working in the government, but people who literally have influence inside it. I'm actually writing one right now. Power by Association: Political Wives Behind Closed Doors."

Pinatay ko ang monitor at binalingan ko si Salazar. "One message, and she'll tell the world about Marcella and Estelle, your wife."

"You can't use whatever you have as evidence, and you know that."

"We can't, but my sister can use it. Everyone will remember your name. There's no going back from it. She will destroy you and everything you work hard for."

For the first time, something crossed his eyes. "And if I gave you the ledgers? It would be the same. I would go to prison."

"But you will still have your children!" Halos bumaon ang mga kamay ko sa lamesa nang tumayo ako at tumukod ako roon. "We have eyes on the members of the Obsidian. We were ready for everything. They were already feeling threatened, and they wanted to hurt Tiara for it. So we made sure she'd be safe. The house she was in was protected by your son, his bodyguard, and our men, who're on standby near them. She was safe until you stole the ledger from the international Obsidian!"

"She and Damian should have stayed—"

"They have his wife. They have her assistant and her mother. Your son and daughter, despite you, despite everything you didn't give them, grew up as decent people."

Tiara's mother didn't go on a long vacation. Turns out she has been missing all this time. Even when Tiara and her mother video called once, it was probably done while she was in captivity. No one knows about it because Naomi, Tiara's manager, has been working for the international Obsidian, when all along we thought she was just working for Thomas Salazar.

Minamanmanan na namin si Naomi. That's why the moment Damian and Tiara left the safe house, we took her, as she was making a run for it. Ang buong pag-aakala namin ay si Salazar lang ang problema namin at ang mga miyembro ng legion sa Pilipinas.

In fact, they are supposed to be our only problem if Thomas Salazar only stopped making problems on his turf. But for whatever reason, he stole the ledger that encompasses all the branches of the legion. So now we all have those countries gunning for his head and his family.

"I did it to protect us," he said through gritted teeth.

"You did it to protect yourself."

He might think that it will serve as protection, but not all people think the same. The legion will wipe out everything that threatens them. We are not only talking about the Philippines here. Even if we gathered all the resources here, even if we asked for help, which we already did, we couldn't go against all those countries. We're just going to have more people killed alongside us.

"We'll help you until the end."

That's what Belaya's sister said. Even if they know that it will put them at risk too. Kayang isa-isahin pero ngayon na sabay-sabay sila na nakatutok sa amin? Even she knows how much her words will cost. How much lost she will need to ready herself for.

There's a reason why, even though we are on the side of what's supposed to be right and what's supposed to be good, we exist in a world with grays. We know people and have worked with people who should be behind bars right now. Belaya's family has worked with those kinds of people and knows why sometimes it is needed. The lesser evil that, instead of going against, we decided to co-exist with.

There is no way that one can destroy all that's wrong in the world. We can only handle our own little by little. Going against that many at once is self-destruction. We both know that.

"One way or the other, it's over for you." I could feel every bone in my body protesting for stopping myself from breaking his neck. "Don't choose the option where you will bury two of your children."

"If I give you the ledger, wouldn't you use it to take the international legion as well? Do you think they won't go after you too?"

"We've already reached out to them for a negotiation. They are more than happy to watch us destroy the Obsidian here. It doesn't matter to them. But if I don't have the ledger you have that will pull them down, I'm telling you, you wouldn't make it twenty-four hours in prison. So is your family," I said acidly. "What you took, I would give it back to them." Nang bumadha ang gulat sa mga mata niya ay mapait na ngumiti ako. "Hindi mo alam ang kaya kong bitawan para lang sa anak mo. I could watch everything I have burned. I could watch this place be destroyed, and I wouldn't blink an eye. I wouldn't care one bit because that's how much I want her to be safe."

"You—"

"She was only happy when she was with you. She was so young, but she didn't want anything more. She just wants those little moments that you gave her. But you took all that away. You broke her." I tap my hand to my chest. "But I fixed all that. I have her now. For once, be her father and let her be happy. Let me have her back."

Bago pa siya makapagsalita ay bumukas ang pintuan ng kuwarto. Pumasok ang kapatid ko na si Coal at inabot niya sa akin ang cellphone ko.

I could feel coldness seeping through my skin before I even took the device. I put it on my ear, my eyes looking straight into Thomas Salazar's unreadable ones.

"I love you."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Tiara—"

The rest of what I was about to say to her was drowned out by the sound of bullets, one after another. The other line was filled by the echo of violence.

She has never said those to me, and I know why she's saying them to me now. Because it could be her last chance.

The last time that I got to hear those words through her sweet voice.

It was a wonder how the phone I'm holding didn't disintegrate into dusk. Not after the sickening and profound emptiness that engulfs me.

In front of me, Thomas Salazar took off his ring and put it in front of me.

"You hesitated too much," I whispered. "I wouldn't when I kill you."

"Dawson—"

"Pray that they're alive. Pray hard."