#DS7Unbalanced #InoCent #SMCouple #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER FOUR: SUPERHERO

DOMINO'S POV

Nilagay ko ang hintuturo ko sa tapat ng mga labi ko nang bumukas ang pinto at sumungaw mula roon ang ulo ng sister-in-law ko na si Circe. She wasn't alone because from behind her, the other wives of my brothers popped up with curious looks on their faces.

The corner of Circe's lips tugged up. For some reason, she doesn't look surprised at what she's seeing. Something that confuses me since I don't remember telling her about Tiara or that she's the reason why I've been travelling these past few months to watch all of Tiara's performances.

Tumabi siya at may ngiti pa rin sa mga labi na hinayaan niya ang iba ko pang mga sister-in-law na nag-uunahan sa pagpasok. Nilagay nila ang mga dala nila sa lamesa na nasa dulo ng kuwarto bago sila lumapit sa kinaroroonan ko.

Lucienne, my eldest brother's wife, studied Tiara. "That doesn't look comfortable. Dapat sa Dagger na siya natulog."

Mukhang inusog ni Tiara ang recliner chair para idikit iyon sa kinahihigaan ko. She didn't recline it, and instead she has both feet on the seat. Nakasubsob din siya sa gilid ng kama at nakaunan sa mga braso niya.

"Luna said she didn't want to go. I wanted to wake her up, but I didn't have the heart to do it," I explained.

Tumatango-tangong sinipat niya ang natutulog na si Tiara. Even now that she doesn't have makeup on and she's just wearing sweatpants and a hoodie that are both too long for her, she's still the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. If only I could untie her hair without waking her up.

"Nasaan pala si Luna? Tinetext namin pero hindi naman sumasagot," sabi ni Mireia.

Inayos ko ang kumot na ipinatong ko sa balikat ni Tiara kanina bago ko siya sinagot. "Kanina pa umalis. May lakad daw sila ni Magnus. Baka naka-silent lang ang phone kaya hindi kayo masagot."

Hindi na bago sa amin na laging may ibang schedule ang bunso kong kapatid. Dati lagi siyang abala sa trabaho at ngayon naman ay may bago na siyang pinagkakaabalahan.

I tried not to roll my eyes. Magnus is a cool guy, and I like him, but it will take a long time before I can get used to the fact that my baby sister is already married.

My attention went to Lia when she sat on the chair opposite where Tiara was sitting. "What happened to you? Are you okay now? I wanted to ask Gun, but he has a case right now in Davao. Pabalik pa lang siya dapat today."

"Si Pierce din. Kauuwi niya lang nang malaman niya na umalis sina Thorn at Trace para i-rescue si Domino." Humalukipkip si Belaya. "Who did this to you? Nahuli na ba?"

"Gusto mong ipapana natin kay Ember?" tanong naman ni Mireia.

Ember, who lives a vegan life because she doesn't want to hurt living things, nodded grimly. "I'll do it, and I won't miss."

Nag-angat ng tingin si Lucienne mula sa pagtitig kay Tiara. "Sus. Huwag niyo ng dungisan ang mga kamay ni Ember. Ikulong niyo lang sa isang kuwarto kasama ako kapag wala akong ligo at tulog sure akong magkukusang mamamaalam ang hayop na 'yon sa Earth."

I let out a sigh, and I turned to Circe. She's the calmest of the Dawson wives. I would have thought it was Ember, but when provoked, Ember could be really frightening. I can still remember the way she shot an arrow straight into her family's head maid's hand. Sabi ng mga doktor kaunti na lang daw ang natitirang mobility sa kamay na iyon ng mayordoma nila Ember.

Circe shrugged and grinned at me. "I'm just going to support them." She looked at Tiara for a second, and then she raised an eyebrow at me. "So... the ballerina?"

"She's a ballerina?" Lucienne asked before I could speak. "Hmm. Bagay sa kaniya." Nagsalubong ang kilay ng babae at nilingon niya si Circe. "Pero bakit alam mo? Kilala mo ba siya?"

"Manonood sana ako ng ballet kasama sina Coal at Domino—"

Ngumuso si Lucienne. "Bakit hindi kami invited?"

"Kami lang dapat ni Coal pero naisipan naming ayain si Domino tutal siya na lang ang single. Kawawa naman di ba?"

I could feel a headache starting to form when they all nodded at the same time. Talagang pinamukha pa sa akin na ako na lang ang single sa aming lahat.

"Anyway, I got sick on the day of the show. Si Domino lang ang tumuloy. I asked him about it, but he didn't say much, so I thought he wasn't interested in her— I mean the show. Kaya ayon. Hindi ko na siya kinulit."

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko habang pinagmamasdan ko si Circe. I have a feeling that there's something she's not telling us.

As if she sensed my thoughts, she redirected the subject. "But how are you, really?"

"I'm okay." Ang sabi ni Luna ay naikuwento raw sa kaniya nila Kuya Trace ang nangyari. Both my brothers stayed with me, but they were needed at the office to coordinate with authorities because of the plane crash I got involved in. They stationed Warrick and Nevan to protect Tiara and I'm sure they're still here since she wouldn't leave my side. "The plane we were in got intercepted by the co-pilot and the flight attendant. They killed the pilot and tried to kill me to get to her."

I didn't mince my words. I know these women. They had their fair share of nightmares. They're the strongest women I've ever known. Saka isa pa kahit hindi ko sabihin sa kanila ay sigurado akong makakagawa sila ng paraan para malaman. It will probably be in the news anyway.

"Marunong ka namang magpalipad ng eroplano di ba?" nagtatakang tanong ni Mireia.

"Yes, but there was an engine fire. I managed to land the plane, but it took some damage, and I got nicked by a piece of glass."

"Nick? Baka stab kamo," komento ni Belaya. Pinaningkitan niya ako ng mga mata. "Are you sure you're okay now? Kuya Cross said your injury was an abdominal trauma."

I nodded. "They patched me up well. It wasn't really a penetrating abdominal trauma, and it missed my organs, but I bled a lot, so it must be the reason why I collapsed."

She crossed her arms, looking unsatisfied. "Where are the assholes that did this to you? They should be interrogated and tortured."

"Dagger don't torture people."

Her eyes flashed. "I know people who could."

I bit back my smile. Of course she does. She came from a line of family who might follow the same rules today but didn't always back in the day. "I'm afraid that won't be possible. One got killed by the stupidity of his partner, and the other died in the crash."

"Good," they all said in unison.

My sisters-in-law are terrifying creatures.

"Saan mo ba nabingwit ang isang 'to?" tanong ni Lucienne pagkaraan. Muli niyang sinipat-sipat si Tiara. "Parang hindi Philippine made."

Tinaasan ako ng kilay ni Mireia. "Saan nga ba kayo galing?"

"Moscow."

Lucienne's lips formed an O. "So she's Russian?"

"Ukrainian."

Napabaling ako kay Circe dahil siya ang sumagot sa tanong ni Lucienne at hindi ako. She smiled and gave me an innocent look. That's when something hit me. Did she expect this outcome?

"Nililigawan mo? Is that the reason you're in Russia to watch her performance?" Lia asked softly.

Hindi ako nakapagsalita agad. I don't know how to answer her question without sounding like a stalker.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. It's not like there's a way to do that anyway. I did watch her shows in all the countries that she performed in. "I went to all her ballet shows, but I never approached her. I was just there to watch like the rest of the people that attended."

Namilog ang mga mata ni Lucienne. "Kaya ba sabi ni Trace lagi ka raw wala? Paunti-unti mo raw ginagamit ang bakasyon mo kasi kung saan-saan kang bansa nandoon."

I cleared my throat and nodded. They all let out an "aww" that would have made me blush like a teenage boy if I hadn't just almost gotten drained of blood hours ago.

Lumapit si Ember sa lamesa kung saan naroon ang mga dala nila. Kumuha siya ng mansanas at kutsilyo bago siya lumapit sa akin at umupo sa paanan ng kama. "But why didn't you approach her?"

"She's..." I looked at Tiara's sleeping form. It's hard to believe that she's real. It's like she's not from this world, and she's just an angel visiting my dreams. "Too beautiful. Too young. I was okay just being her, well, fan." With a smile on my lips, I looked at them. "I'm Dagger's official fan boy anyway."

"She is beautiful. But you're a Dawson, Dom. If I didn't know you and your brothers, I would have thought you came from a bloodline of Greek gods." Ember handed me a piece of apple. "And what do you mean by too young?"

"I'm nine years older than her."

"Eight years and a few months," Circe corrected, which made all of us look at her. "What?"

"Mareng Circe kanina pa kita napapansin. Parang may tinatago ka eh." Nagdududang pinaningkitan siya ng mga mata ni Lucienne. "May meeting tayo mamaya ha?"

Circe just nodded with a laugh, which confirmed my suspicion. May posibilidad na hindi talaga siya nagkasakit noon. She must have planned all of it.

Nilingon ako ni Lucienne. "Going back to the topic, you think she's too young for you?"

"It's nine years, Lucienne."

"Eight years and a few months." Nilagay niya ang kamay niya sa beywang niya. "Have you forgotten? Eight years din ang agwat ng edad namin ng kapatid mo. What's wrong with that?"

I pressed my lips together, not finding the right words to say, because she was right. Age wasn't really an issue with these women. They're all married to men that have a few years on them.

"It strikes again." My gaze went to Lia, and she smiled tenderly at me. "The gift all Dawsons' have. She's it, right? Your one. And it scares you that she might not understand it."

Nagbaba ako ng tingin kay Tiara. I'm a confident man. I didn't once baulk at approaching a person I liked, and I've been with beautiful and attractive women in the past. But with Tiara, it was different.

She's like a masterpiece that no sculptor in history can replicate. The greatest painter wouldn't be able to discover the right color to create her. Not even the most brilliant writers can find the right word to define her. She's like a gallery of bewitching artworks with a gravitational pull that you cannot fight. You can't help but be spellbound by the secrets behind her eyes or the hidden meanings cloaked in her smile.

She's a beautiful mystery. An enigmatic art.

Watching her, it felt like she was hard to reach. That it was an impossibility. That she deserves more than a man like me can offer. So I kept my distance. Even though I know that Lia was right because I fell in love with my beautiful doll—my little mouse—at first sight.

"So..." Inangat-baba ni Belaya ang kilay niya. "Kailangan mo ba ng tulong para maghanap ng bahay."

Pumalakpak si Lucienne. "DHP! Dawson Housing Plan."

They started talking about locations and properties, and all I could do was smile while listening to them.

Years ago, I only had one sister. But when my brothers got married, it was like I suddenly gained six more. They could be overbearing, intrusive, and too protective, but I wouldn't have them any other way.

"I think a spacious house would be the right fit for them," Belaya mused.

Tumango si Mireia. "Saka dapat may ballet room."

My smile turned into a grin. Circe caught it, and her eyebrow raised. "Girls."

Lahat sila ay napatingin sa akin nang inginuso ako ni Circe sa kanila. I tried to hide the fact that I find them amusing, but I know I didn't succeed in doing it when they all looked at me with suspicion.

"You already bought a house, didn't you?" Ember guessed.

"I did."

"But you didn't plan to approach her?" When I nodded, her forehead knotted in confusion. "So why did you buy it?"

Nagsalita sila Lia bago ko iyon magawa. "What better explanation could there be? He's a Dawson. Thorn bought a house for Lucienne, even though at that time she was trying to move on from him. Gun and I were broken up for years, pero bumili siya ng bahay na ako ang iniisip niya. Belaya wasn't even in Pierce's life when he bought his, but I have no doubt that when he had it built, he was thinking of the woman who gets to live in it in the future. Mireia and Axel hadn't seen each other for years, and they were just friends back in college, but when Axel saw her again, he immediately bought a house." She pointed at Ember, and then she did the same with Circe. "And your men purchased properties that would be perfect for you two. Let's not forget about Luna. Magnus is staying in her penthouse, not the other way around. It doesn't need to make sense. It could be any kind of situation. They don't need assurance in the form of a relationship. They could be buying a house for a woman they already know, barely know, or for a person they haven't even met. It's just the Dawson's way."

For a moment, we all just stared at her, which made her blush. She wasn't wrong, but we just can't help but be in awe of the way she put things together. Lia has the soul of a poet, and I often wonder if it's because she sees life differently than most. It's like she's taking in every facet of existence by feeling everything.

And I'm starting to sound like her. Especially when I think about Tiara.

"Bakit hindi mo pa kami iniimbita sa bago mong bahay?" usisa ni Belaya. "O gusto mong si Tiara muna ang unang makapunta ro'n?"

"It's not because of that. It's just that the house isn't finished yet."

"Inaayos pa? Anong name ng construction company? Gusto mong patawagan namin kay Trace 'yung gumawa sa farmhouse nila ni Ember? Mabilis magtrabaho 'yon."

"I didn't hire anyone."

She looks confused at my answer. "What do you mean?"

Nagkibit-balikat ako. "I wanted to fix the house myself, so I was the one doing the renovation. Ilang taon na rin ang property at hindi naman nagamit iyon dahil hindi natapos gawin iyon ng may-ari." I always wanted a project like this. I spent years living in a condo when we were in Manila and even when we moved here in Tagaytay. The rest of my siblings once lived the same way I did. But since they all moved out, I've been thinking of buying my own house as well. I just wasn't sure what I really wanted my future house to be. Until I saw her. "I already fixed the roof, insulated the whole house, and fixed some of the rooms, but there's still a lot to do. The floors also need replacing, and the whole house needs to be repainted."

Sabay-sabay na nag-aww na naman sila na naiiling na ikinatawa ko. These women are really something.

"Wait lang. Summary ko lang ha?" Nakataas ang kamay na sabi ni Lucienne habang nakatingin sa kisame. "Inaya ka ni Circe na manood ng ballet show pero dahil nagkasakit siya ay ikaw lang ang natuloy. Nabighani ka sa made in Ukraine na ballerina at naging "fan" ka niya." She made air quotations as if emphasizing that she doesn't believe my bullshit and that she knows that I'm head over heels for a woman who I only know by name. "Pumunta ka sa iba't ibang bansa para panoorin siya na mag-perform. This time sa Moscow ang show niya."

"That about sums it up."

Nagsalubong ang kilay niya. "Anong kinalaman no'n sa plane crash? Bakit magkasama kayo?"

"Oh. That." Nag-aalangan na kinamot ko ang pisngi ko. "I kind of... kidnapped her."

To say that they were surprised is an understatement. Nabitawan pa nga ni Ember ang hawak niya na mansanas pati ang kutsilyo na ginagamit niya dahilan para mapatalon palayo sa kaniya si Mireia na nasa tabi niya. The silence that shrouded the room afterward was heavy. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought that they were frozen in time.

"I-It's not what you think, guys—"

"YOU WHAT?!"

Napatakip ako sa tenga ko nang sabay-sabay ang naging pagsigaw nila. Tiara, who was still sound asleep at that point, nearly jumped out of her seat if I wasn't fast enough to reach for her hand. She looked at the room in panic, still hazy from sleep. Tension radiates from her body when she realizes that she's surrounded by people she doesn't know.

"Domino Dawson! Are you insane? You don't just kidnap a woman! Ibalik mo iyan sa pinagkuhanan mo! This is not right!" Lucienne's furious expression turned jovial when she saw Tiara watching her with wide eyes. "Hi! I'm Lucienne. You're so pretty, and I like your name." Muling bumalik ang pagkakakunot ng noo ng babae nang ibalik niya sa akin ang atensyon niya. "Alam ba 'to ng mga kapatid mo? Kung kinunsinti ka ng mga 'yon lahat kayo isusumbong ko sa Mama at Papa niyo!"

"We're so sorry, Tiara," Ember told the other woman sincerely. "I don't know why Domino acted that way. He's not like this. His siblings usually go crazy for the people they lo— like but not to this extreme. He must really like you, but that's not an excuse."

Belaya shook her head in disbelief. "He's a good person. He's one of the best men I've known. I hope you won't hate him too much, but it's understandable if you would."

"We'll straighten him out for you," Mireia promised. "I won't give him baked goods anymore."

"I won't cook for him," Lia added.

Circe crossed her arms. "I'll feed him to the sharks, but we love him, so I'll think of another way to make him suffer."

Nangingiting nilingon ko si Tiara. Her eyes are bouncing from one woman to another until her gaze rest on me. She must have been shocked. She didn't have one clue who these women were. "Help me out here, doll." Nang manatili siyang tulala ay lumawak ang ngiting nakapaskil sa mga labi ko at marahang pinisil ko ang kamay niya na hawak ko. She's still half asleep. "Hmm?"

She blinked and opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She cleared her throat, and she looked down shyly. "H-He didn't kidnap me."

I have seen her interact with other people, and I know she's like this with them. She's naturally shy around people she doesn't know much about. Except that, for some reason, I could bring out the sass hiding inside her.

"He didn't?" Lia asked.

"Kind of... but not really."

Naguguluhang tumingin sa akin si Lia sandali bago niya ibinalik ang mga mata sa babae. "How can you kind of kidnap a person? I don't think that's possible."

"Well... I thought he was an obsessed fan. I was about to go on stage to get my award, and suddenly I was being carried out of the theater."

My sisters-in-law comically threw me a look at the same time. They all look like they want to smack me on the head.

"We got chased by a car, and I thought they were people trying to save me. He evaded them quickly, which made me think that he was trained to do it. So I thought maybe he wasn't an obsessed fan, but he was hired to kidnap me, and some oil magnate or a sheikh is interested in making me one of his wives." Tiara looked up at them behind her lashes and her cheeks went pink when she saw the women gaping at her and her story. "Then we were in the jet, and Domino told me what happened. That he grew suspicious of some men in the theater and he didn't want to risk my safety. His suspicions were confirmed when they came after us. He wasn't my kidnapper. He was the one who saved me."

Lumambot ang ekspresyon ng mga asawa ng mga kapatid ko nang magpatuloy si Tiara sa pagkuwento ng mga nangyari. She didn't leave anything out, as if she was worried that the women would really punish me for something I didn't do.

"So... that's it," Tiara murmured.

My brother's wives looked at me and mumbled their apologies in my direction. Nakangiting pinaikot ko lang ang mga mata ko bilang sagot.

"Dagger can provide security for you. They can also solve your problem," Lucienne said to Tiara. "They can help you if you want."

She nodded, and her beautiful eyes went to me.

"They will probably suggest a safe house. You should stay with Domino," Lucienne added.

Napapakamot sa ulo na bumuntong-hininga ako. "Tiara might not like that. My house has security alarms, but it's not yet finished—"

"I want to stay with you." Tiara scurried to explain when she saw the corner of my lips went up. "I don't really know what's happening here but you're the only person I know here. And you said you're volunteering to be responsible of me." Her face grew heated. "Nevermind. I'm sorry if I'm being pushy. You don't have to—"

"I want to."

"You have already been through a lot because of me." Guilt colored her face as if she were remembering what happened. "It's okay. You don't need to bother anymore—"

"Sesesantihin mo na ako kaagad dahil lang naging hero-in-distress ako at nawalan ng malay? Kulang pa ba ang audition ko? I thought I did a pretty good job landing that plane given the current situation," I joked, trying to lighten the mood. "I thought saving your life was enough, but maybe I need to prove myself more."

"No!" She sighed loudly. "Hindi iyon ang ibig kong sabihin. It's just that you must have other things to take care of."

"Sus. Kahit meron pang pinagkakaabalahan na iba 'yan bibitawan niya iyon agad-agad para sa'yo," singit ni Lucienne na kanina ay pabalik-balik ang mga mata sa amin. Kinawayan niya si Tiara. "Hello ulit! Marunong ka palang mag-Tagalog? Kanina pa ako nauubusan ng English eh. Ilang taon ka na? Saan ka nakatira? Saan ka natututong magsalita ng Tagalog? May kapatid ka ba? Anong skincare mo? Kung papipiliin ka na makasama si Thorn, Captain America, Aquaman, at Superman, o makasama si Domino anong pipiliin mo—"

Hindi natapos ni Lucienne ang sasabihin niya nang takpan ni Circe ang bibig niya at hinila siya palabas ng kuwarto. Giggling, the other women followed, leaving us with just a wave.

When they were gone and the room was finally quiet, I turned to look at Tiara. I flashed her a grin. "I'm curious."

"H-Ha?"

"What would your choice be? The superheroes or me... your superhero?"