#DS7Unbalanced #InoCent #SMCouple #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT: PERFORMANCE

TIARA'S POV

Nahugot ang atensyon ko mula sa loob ng conference room ng Dagger. Nagbaba ako ng ng mga mata sa plato ng pagkain na nasa harapan ko na ibinaba ni Lia. Umupo siya sa tabi ko at tinapunan niya ng tingin ang magkakapatid na Dawson sandali bago siya bumaling sa akin. "Avocado and grilled corn salad. You need to eat. You haven't had lunch."

Hindi na ako nagtangkang tumanggi. Kung noon ay si Domino lang ang nag-aalala sa pagkain ko ay ngayon ay pati na ang iba pang miyembro ng pamilya nila. They often send me food, even if I'm staying in Manila.

Magdadalawang lingo na kasi na salitan akong tumutuloy sa condo ko sa Manila at sa bahay ni Domino. I wanted to make sure my mother was okay after everything. Ayoko naman na basta na lang siyang iwanan kahit pa sabihin na nasa bilangguan na ang mga kasangkot sa nangyari. Even Naomi's in prison, probably regretting that her greed got the better of her humanity.

I started eating, but my attention kept going back to the conference room. Pagkatapos kasi ng nangyari sa grocery store ay sumama na ako kay Warrick pabalik ng Dagger. I just took a taxi when I went to the grocery store anyway. For the obvious reason that I don't know how to drive.

"I can't believe this is happening," sabi ni Mireia na kanina pa nagpapabalik-balik ng lakad. "Are they sure? Baka prank lang 'to."

Belaya shook her head. "I called my Tita Eris. She knew Allessio's father, and she reached out to him to confirm what's happening. According to him, his son wouldn't give it to Dagger if he didn't think that it would be something they'd want to know."

"If this is true... does it mean he intentionally hid from his children for years?" Ember asked as she looked worriedly at the men. "That's..."

"That's fucked up," Circe continued, saying what she couldn't say. "Unless there's a good reason."

"It better be good." Lucienne said, her usually bright and cheery disposition replaced by a serious demeanor. "Those siblings went through so much not having both their parents with them. Their mother died, they needed to accept that their father was dead even though they couldn't bury a body, the older Dawsons needed to be the parents while the younger ones needed to grow up quickly, and they also almost lost the company."

Domino told me about his parents before as a passing topic. He said that their mother got sick, and not long after, they needed to declare their father dead. He was investigating a case, and he just disappeared. The Dawsons didn't give up searching, and they waited for years, but knowing the Obsidian Legion now and what they can do, I don't blame the siblings when they decided that they wouldn't ever get to see him. He said that most of the legion's victims just disappeared into thin air without giving the family a chance to have a body to bury and grieve for.

All our attention went to the elevator when we heard it open. My heart clenched in response when I saw Luna and her husband step out of it. Kunot na kunot ang noo ng babae lalo na nang mapatingin sa kinaroroonan ng mga kapatid niya.

"Ano na naman ang pinagkakaguluhan ng mga 'yon? Kakatapos lang ng problema ah." Ngumisi siya at itinaas-baa niya ang mga kilay niya. "Call a friend mode na naman ba sila at kailangan nila ang power ko?" Nakapamewang na pumalatak siya. "Dapat sinisingil ko na sila ng talent fee eh." Luna's amusement turned into confusion when none of us reacted. Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa aming lahat. "What's going on?"

"You need to go inside, Luna." Lia gave her a soft smile. "Your brothers need you."

She looked at each of us again before her gaze settled on her husband. She nodded reluctantly before walking towards the room where her brothers stopped their heated discussion when they noticed Luna's arrival.

"Sit down," utos ni Lucienne kay Magnus na napakunot ang noo sa tono ng babae. "With respect, Boss," she said in a joking tone, though it sounded hollow even to my ears.

The rest of the women filled Magnus in on everything, but my attention remained fixed on the conference room.

They wanted us to be there, but the women decided to stay outside when I volunteered to do so. Despite my involvement with Domino and the way they treat me as their own, this is something that I think would be better discussed by them alone. The other women thought the same, so they stayed with me.

"I'm worried for Luna." We all looked at Lia. "They all love their parents equally, but of course there's always a parent they're closer to. Luna was really close to their father."

At the sound of Luna's voice, every eye in the room turned in the room's direction. We found her in Gun's arms, her knees giving out under her. In less than a second, Magnus strode into the room, rushing to get to her.

My eyes welled with tears, and when I turned to look at the others, I saw that they mirrored the same feelings.

I covered my mouth when I saw Magnus carrying the unconscious Luna out of the room. His eyes were blank, but I could see that his jaw was clenched tight. Kasunod nila sina Thorn at Gun na dumiretso sa mga asawa nila bago iginaya ang mga iyon para sumama kila Magnus.

Hindi nagtagal ay nagsilabasan na rin ang magkakapatid na lalaki at katulad ng mga nauna ay tahimik na umalis sila kasama ang mga asawa nila. Domino was the last to leave the room, while Axel stayed seated on his chair.

Mirea squeezed my hand before she stood up and walked towards the room so that she could be with her husband.

Naglakad palapit sa akin si Domino at tumayo ako para salubungin siya. I opened my mouth to speak when he stayed unmoving in front of me without saying a word. There was so much that I could say. To ask him if he's okay or tell him that it's going to be okay. But I didn't. Instead, I stepped closer and put my arms around him without saying anything.

I felt the tension around his body loosen. His strong arms went around, and he leaned down to bury his face in my neck.

"He's alive," I whispered. "That's what matters."

His arms tightened around me. "All these years... all these years, he has made us believe that he's gone. We grieved for the both of them." I blinked back tears when I felt the skin of my neck become wet. "Now that we know he's alive and that he intentionally didn't try to find us..." He said, raising his head to look at me. "I-I... I don't know what I should feel, Tiara."

I heard footsteps, and I found Mireia and Axel going in the direction of the rooms on this floor. She gave me a small smile, and I watched as they disappeared from sight.

Nang hindi ko na sila matanaw ay binalingan ko si Domino. "You'll get answers to all of your questions once you find him. No matter what he says, no matter what explanation he gives you and your siblings, I'll be there." Marahang nilapat ko ang kamay ko sa pisngi niya. "It's going to be okay." When he tried to look away, I put my other hand on his shoulder. "Even if it doesn't feel like it, everything will be okay. I'll always be here. Even at times when I get scared and want to run away. Even when there would be days when I feel like I don't deserve to stay by your side. And even when the rest of the world leaves, I'll be here."

He pulled me close as his eyes misted over.

"It will be okay because I'll make sure that you will be," I told him softly. "The same way that you always do when I feel like everything is falling apart." Bahagya akong lumayo sa kaniya at inabot ko ang kamay niya. The twinkle of my engagement ring blinked at me. "You always take me off guard with your surprises when I want to curl into a ball and wallow in my despair. How about I do the same now? How about I distract you now as well?"

Napuno ng kalituhan ang mga mata niya. I stroke his cheek tenderly. "Vy vyjdete za mene, pane?"

"What does that mean, doll?" he whispered.

May ngiti sa mga labi na hindi ko siya kaagad sinagot. Instead, I pulled away from him completely. His lips opened, but before he could say anything, I started lowering myself to my knees.

I didn't care if the whole place is monitored and this is being recorded or if everyone in the control room is probably watching this. They know Domino. They all have guesses about what he's into. Now they get to see what he has, through me that is his.

Someone perfect for him.

I put both of my hands in front of me, right at my thighs. I was in a position of complete submission, and yet I feel at ease. There wasn't any struggle to get back the control I'm letting go, there wasn't worry, doubt, or fear. There wasn't anything but my absolute faith in him.

"Will you marry me, Sir?"

INISMIDAN ko si Domino nang mapalingon ako sa kaniya at nakita kong nakatukod ang siko niya sa katabing lamesa ng sa akin. He had his chin leaning on his hand as he stared at me with adoration, as if I were the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

And yet he said no.

Lalo akong napasimangot nang maalala ko na naman ang araw na iyon. Well, fine, I'm being a tad dramatic.

He didn't exactly say no. I can still remember him staring at me for what felt like ages. Then a smile curved his lips until he was chuckling under his breath. He pulled me into my feet, and then he kissed me before saying, "Not yet, doll".

"You're angry again."

Hindi umiimik na binalik ko ang atensyon ko sa salamin na nasa harapan ko. My hair is smoothed into a neat and sleek lower bun. I'm wearing a white, flowy, long tutu that falls just a few inches from my ankle. My make-up is light, and with how fair my complexion is, I almost look a bit sickly. But that means I look the part since I was supposed to be a ghost.

"One moment you're sweet, then the next it's like you want to bite my head off." Nang matalim ang tingin na lumingon ako sa kaniya ay napangisi siya. "But I love both sides of you. Ikaw pa? Malakas ka sa akin eh."

I rolled my eyes, but I can't deny that the butterflies that often appear in my stomach when he's around started making their presence known again by fluttering enthusiastically.

"Are you happy?"

My annoyance completely disappeared, and I couldn't help but beam at him excitedly. I've done the first few acts of the story, and yet I still couldn't believe it; I'm finally playing Giselle. Doing the mad scene felt surreal. I don't think I will get tired of it just yet, and I'm already excited to perform it again and again.

I told my mother about it. Domino told me as well as the Dawson women that I don't need to ask permission, but maybe it was the Tiara who wanted to have her approval that made me do it. Pinuntahan ko siya at sinabi ko ang balak ko na i-perform si Giselle. Daria is now my new manager, and she has no objection to me playing it. She doesn't even report to my mother, which is a big change compared before with Naomi.

"Naomi is an ungrateful bitch, but she did well being your manager. Just well. We can't say that she did the best now that we all know that she's a lying whore."

"Mother," I said with a sigh. "She's not a whore."

"You don't know that." Umismid siya. "She's definitely a money whore, so there's that." She rolled her eyes before taking her glass of wine. "Play what you want to play. If your career falls apart just because of the wrong choice of story you performed, then tell them to go fuck themselves."

"But you said—"

"Who cares about what I said? I'm your mother, yes, but both of us are aware now how foolish I could be, so are you really going to let me continue to dictate your life? Don't put so much faith in me."

"You're my mother."

"And you're a grown woman now. You've been flying alone all these years. It's time to stop hovering over the nest where you came from and fly away so that you can make your own."

"That's not what you wanted before," I said.

"There's a lot of things I wanted before, and look where it got me." She let out a sigh, and she looked me straight in the eyes. "You are not like me. You are not me. You proved that you're better than me a long time ago. You've created a name for yourself without anyone's help, and you've found the right man who is solely yours and no one else's. So don't let me hold you back anymore."

"I am," nakangiting sagot ko kay Domino.

"I am too." Inabot niya ang kamay ko at hinalikan niya ang likod ng palad ko. "Because you are happy."

My cheeks flushed. "When will you stop being sweet?"

"When I stop loving you." Napalunok ako ng maramdaman ko ng pabirong kinagat niya ang hintuturo ko. "Which is never."

Sasagot pa sana ako nang mapatingin kami sa pintuan ng dressing room nang bumukas iyon. Sumungaw mula roon ang assistant manager ng production team. "We need you in five."

I nodded and said my thanks before I turned to the mirror again. Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga. I'm about to perform for the last act. This will also be the last show that I will have this year because I decided to take a break.

Even though what happened to my parents wasn't my fault, there are still a lot of talks about me, and I just want to be out of the limelight for a second and take a breath. Kahit ilang buwan lang ay sapat na iyon sa akin.

Isa pa ay hindi lang naman ako ang nakakaranas na maging topic ng mga tao. Everyone's been revving about Emeric and Damian too. The latter is now facing endless criticism since he's the son that the president has been grooming to take his place in the world of politics. People are questioning his credibility. Kinukuwestiyon din ng mga tao kung totoong wala siyang kinalaman sa mga ginawa ng presidente na ngayon ay kumakaharap ng impeachment.

"Ready?" tanong ni Domino na inilahad ang kamay niya sa direksyon ko.

Tumango ako bago ko inabot iyon. Tinulungan niya akong makatayo at magkahawak-kamay na lumabas na kami ng dressing room. When we reached the backstage area, Domino kissed me on the forehead, and then he let me go. "Proud of you, my Millie Mouse."

My heart warmed at his words. "See you later?"

"You bet you will."

May ngiti sa mga labi na sinundan ko siya ng tingin. He was out of sight when Adrien appeared on my side. He's wearing the costume of Duke Albrecht, a character he's playing and the love interest of Giselle.

"This is it," he said, his eyes shining with excitement.

Nangingiting tumango ako. "This is it."

It didn't take a long time before we were cued to enter the stage. Switching from the real me to the character of Giselle was instant the moment that the spotlight found me.

Giselle, who died because of the betrayal of her love, turned into one of the Wilis, young women who died before their weddings and became vengeful spirits to lead men to their deaths by making them dance all night. Duke Albrecht, who came into her grave to ask for forgiveness, was discovered by the Wilis and their queen Myrtha.

Despite Giselle's broken heart and what she became, she decided to save him by dancing with him until the first light of dawn, where he's freed from the Wilis.

It's often seen as a sad love story, but it's more than that. It's a story where it's shown that even though there's strength in love, the most important thing is bravery in forgiveness. It takes a heart to love, but it takes everything, including the soul, to be able to forgive.

My heart was racing so fast when Adrien and I made our final poses. The feeling was exhilarating, and it intensified when the whole theater was suddenly filled with claps and cheers.

The curtain fell, and when it did, all the cast went back to the stage, and we did our last position with me and Adrien in the center. Kasabay nang pagliwanag ng lugar ay unti-unting bumukas ang kurtina. Holding each other's hands, we all made a bow.

Hinanap ng mga mata ko ang hilera na inookupa ng mga Dawson. To my confusion, only my mother was sitting on the row where she was with the Dawsons awhile ago. Nasaan na ang mga iyon?

Nagtataka man ay ipinagkibit-balikat ko na lang iyon. Maybe they went straight to the backstage area after the curtain closed to meet me. I'll go find them once the curtain closes again.

Tahimik na inintay ko ang pagsarado ng kurtina pero napakunot ang noo ko nang magsimula ng mag-alisan ang mga kasamahan ko na hindi pa sumasarado iyon. I turned to look at my back, but when I did, the whole theater became dark again.

The cast exited the stage one by one, all of them giving me smiles that were full of meaning.

"What—"

I wasn't given a chance to finish my question. As the crowd on the platform started to thin, it revealed a group of people standing behind them. My jaw dropped in surprise when I realized who those people were.

The show's artistic director's voice could be heard from the speakers surrounding the whole place. "We have witnessed the captivating performance of Giselle, led by Tiara Millicent Silvano. Now it's time to revel in the beauty of a man's love for his sweet doll."

Bozhe moya. Is this really happening?

"Let's give a round of applause for the Dawsons!"