#DS8Uncovered #LuMa #BearCouple #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER 13: REST

LUNA'S POV

The familiar clacking sound of a keyboard woke me up. My body's initial reaction was to suddenly sit up as if I were running late for something. Pero halos hindi pa umaangat ang likod ko sa kama ay muli lang akong napabagsak dahil tila walang lakas ang buong katawan ko.

It took a few seconds to register where I was and to understand what was going on. The last thing I remember is that I was at the party for my brother's birthday.

Magnus' voice breaks through the silence of the room. "She's awake."

I felt a rush of movements, and in a second, I was surrounded by my sisters-in-law and my brother Trace, who was trying to squeeze himself through them. Behind them are my other siblings, towering over them while looking at me with equally worried eyes.

Fear gripped my chest, and my eyes searched for Magnus. Ilang sandali na hawak niya lang ang tingin ko bago pagkaraan ay umiling siya na ikinahinga ko ng maluwag. It's okay. We're safe... my secret is safe.

"I'll call the doctor," Magnus murmured before turning to leave the room.

Halos sabay-sabay silang nagsalita para tanungin ako kung kamusta na ako o kung ano ang nararamdaman ko. Even my usually quiet older brothers are throwing in their own questions, adding to the commotion.

"You're overwhelming her. Let her speak."

The noise in the room halted, and they all turned to look at Magnus, who entered the room again. Dumiretso ang lalaki sa bedside table at kumuha siya roon ng tubig para isalin sa maliit na hospital cup. He put it down for a second so that he could lift the back of the hospital bed so that I could sit up.

He took a straw and put it on my cup before he handed it to me. "Do you feel okay?"

I took a sip of the water and I nodded. "I feel very rested. Kaya nga alam kong late na ako sa trabaho. What time is it?"

Magnus' face darkened. "You're not going to work."

"But—"

"You're going to stay here and rest, Luna Alondra, or I'm going to handcuff you to the bed."

I rolled my eyes. "Kinky much, hubby bear?"

He pressed his lips together and I sighed. Nilingon ko ang pamilya ko at natagpuan kong nagpapalipat-lipat ang tingin nila sa amin ni Magnus.

I gave them a small smile. "I'm fine, guys. You all can relax now."

Katulad ni Magnus ay madilim din ang anyo ni Kuya Thorn. "You fell from the stairs."

"Malapit na ako sa baba no'n kaya hindi naman mataas ang kinabagsakan ko." I knocked on my head a couple of times. "And I have a thick skull."

Napatingin ako kay Magnus nang maramdaman kong pinigilan niya ang kamay ko na kinakatok pa rin ang ulo ko at binaba niya iyon. Seriously. He's going to get a lot of gray hairs if he doesn't stop worrying too much.

"You're spreading yourself too thin." It was my second eldest brother, Kuya Gun, who spoke up. He has his arms crossed while looking at me grimly. "You need a break."

"I can't take a break. I'm new to my position as the sole owner of Maven—"

"You've been acting as the sole owner of Maven before it was even put on paper officially," Kuya Pierce interjected. "They won't start a coup just because you're going to take a few days off."

"Make that a week," Kuya Axel suggested.

Muli akong napabuntong-hininga at binalingan ko ang iba ko pang mga kapatid na hindi pa nagsasalita. "Baka may gusto pa kayong idagdag?"

Kuya Coal crossed his arms. "I'm pissed at you."

I blinked in surprise. "What did I do? It's not like I got lazy going down the stairs and decided to try flying down for experience."

"Masama na ang pakiramdam mo pero matigas ang ulo mo. You should have rested instead of coming to the party."

"I'm not going to miss Kuya Thorn's birthday."

"It's not like this is his last time to celebrate his birthday, Luna," Kuya Domino said, glowering at me.

But it could be my last.

I felt Magnus' hand tighten on mine that I didn't know he was still holding. Something I didn't know that I was unconsciously clutching on as tightly.

"Cut her some slack, guys." Kuya Trace tapped my other hand. "Para namang hindi kayo mga adik sa trabaho. Kung hindi pa kayo mga nag-asawa baka kahit magkaroon ng zombie apocalypse ay hindi kayo mapapaalis sa opisina."

"At hindi ka gano'n?" tanong ni Kuya Axel.

"Siyempre hindi. Busy 'yan maghanap ng bagong friends." Pinagdiinan pa ni Kuya Coal ang salitang "friends". Kuya Trace is known for being the landlord of the friendzone. Lahat kasi halos ng dinedate niya ay ginagawa na lang siya na kaibigan.

"Hindi ka kasama sa bilang ng masisipag nating mga kapatid Coal kaya 'wag kang feelingero. Kung busy ako, mas busy ka."

Narinig ko ang mahinang pagtawa ng mga asawa ng dalawa kong kapatid na ngayon ay masama ang tingin sa isa't isa. Nagtalo pa samantalang iisa lang naman ang likaw ng mga bituka.

"Stop fighting. I'm not going to the office for a week." They all let out a sigh of relief, but I continued, "Sa bahay na ako magtatrabaho."

"Luna—"

Pinutol ko ang sasabihin ni Kuya Gun at umiling ako. "It's a compromise. At least hindi ko kailangan bumyahe ng pabalik-balik from Cavite to Manila. I need to work mga kuya. Kasi kung hindi, lalo akong hindi makakapag-relax kakaisip kung anong nangyayari sa Maven."

My sisters-in-law entered the conversation to intervene before any of my brothers could voice out their objections.

"Pupuntahan kita para may kakuwentuhan ka at hindi ka puro trabaho," sabi ni Lucienne na binigyan pa ako ng thumbs up. "O kaya magdadala rin ako ng trabaho para parehas tayong walang matapos."

Lia gave me a soft smile and patted my leg which was covered with a blanket. "I'll bring food."

Nagtaas ng kamay si Belaya. "Magdadala ako ng healthy drinks. I have a new recipe."

Ember also has something to add. "You need more vegetables. I'll bring some."

Nang binalingan ko si Circe ay ngumisi siya. "Wala na akong maidagdag. Pero pupunta rin ako."

"Same with me. You can just tell me what to bring, and I'll buy it for you," Tiara offered shyly.

Lahat kami ay tumingin kay Mireia na sa pagtataka ko ay nakatingin lang sa akin na parang may malalim siyang iniisip. Belaya, who's standing beside her, elbowed her, making her almost jump up from where she was standing.

"I'll bring dessert." She looked at me apologetically. "Sorry. Medyo lutang lang."

Belaya clucked her tongue and turned to look at Axel. "Pagpahingahin mo naman ang best friend ko, Axel. Porke lagi kang puyat pati si Mireia pinupuyat mo rin."

Napuno ng kantiyawan ang kuwarto na ikinahinga ko ng maluwag. I'm lucky that I have my sisters-in-law. Nagagawa kasi nilang kalmahin ang kahit na anong sitwasyon lalo na kapag nag-mo-moment na ang mga kapatid ko.

But that doesn't mean they couldn't be a worry bunch themselves. Alam kong pinipili lang nilang hindi dumagdag sa pag-aalala ng mga kapatid ko. Alam ko rin na naiintindihan nila ako. They've been subjected to my older brothers' protectiveness, so they probably have an inclination for what it feels like if all seven of them are breathing over you.

Bumukas ang pintuan at lahat kami ay napunta roon ang atensyon. For the first time in awhile, I felt relieved to see a doctor.

"I see you're having a party in here," Doctora Abigail Inoferio said good naturedly. "I'll be quick and let you carry on in a few."

My family made a way for her so that she could go to me, but they didn't move away. The doctor shook her head in amusement. Hindi na ako magtataka kung pamilyar siya sa mga kapatid ko at sa mga asawa nila. Halos lahat ng mga hipag ko ay dito nanganak at naoospital kapag may sakit sila. Dito rin dinadala ang mga kapatid ko kapag may nangyayari sa kanila. None of us followed any visitation policy, and at this point, the hospital had already learned to get used to it.

The doctor checked the vital sign monitoring equipment beside me before she did her routine assessment. Inangat niya pagkaraan ang chart na hawak niya at may binasa siya roon. Our eyes met, and I gave her a tight smile.

"You just have a fever and a slight concussion. I suggest that you stay here for one more day, and tomorrow I will discharge you. But you need a week of rest after that."

I tried not to groan in protest, and instead I just nodded.

Binalingan niya ang pamilya ko. "Let her rest first. Pwede niyo siyang balikan mamayang dinner. Her husband will stay with her anyway, so she should be fine. Normally, I wouldn't mind that all of you stayed over since I'm aware of how you do things, but it's really important for Luna to get a lot of sleep. She's overtired, and her body is fighting off an infection right now, so our focus is helping her get the rest that she needs." She cushioned her words with a gentle smile. "Also, I was informed that there would be two bodyguards that would stay with her. That's totally fine. But for the hospital's policy as well as Luna and the other patients' privacy, I suggest that they just be stationed here in her room. Kung sakaling may test kaming gagawin, mas mabuting hintayin lang siya malapit sa elevator ng floor kung saan kailangan pumunta ni Luna."

Kuya Thorn looks like he's rearing to argue. "That won't be ideal for us—"

"I understand, Mr. Dawson, but it's really important that all patients get the privacy they deserve, including your sister. As a compromise, we can allow you to put more people in this hospital so you can monitor who's going in and out of the premises."

The oldest Dawson turned to look at our other brothers, and for a moment, it's like they're conferring with just their eyes alone. Pagkaraan ay tumango si Kuya Thorn bilang pagsang-ayon sa suhestiyon ng doktora.

When the doctor left, my family stayed over for a bit before they reluctantly said their goodbyes. Nang nakailang paalam na si Lucienne pero hindi pa rin siya kumikilos mula sa pagkakaupo niya sa tabi ko sa ibabaw ng kama ay natatawang napailing ako. "Lush, I'm not going anywhere. Hindi naman malayo ang bahay niyo rito. Pwede niyo naman akong puntahan anytime."

"I was the one who found you, you know?" she whispered quietly. There was a lurking fear in her usual bright eyes. Something that I've seen in her before during the darkest period of her life. That was years ago, and I hate that I'm the reason that it's coming back. "I thought you were dead. You weren't moving, and I wasn't sure if you were breathing. Then... then there's the blood."

"I'm alive. Matagal pa..." I pushed all the emotions circling around my heart that felt like they wanted to suffocate me, and I gave her the most genuine smile I could muster. "Matagal pa bago ako kunin ni Lord. Hindi pa tapos ang misyon kong pasakitin ang ulo ng mga kapatid ko at walang balak si Lord na siya ang sumalo niyon. Isa pa ay hindi ko pa nahahawakan ang kopya ng pinakamagandang libro sa series mo dahil hindi mo pa naisusulat ang story namin ng hubby bear ko. So stop stressing, okay? And stop searching about head injuries on your phone para hindi mo ako ginigising kapag napapapikit na ako."

Kanina ko pa kasi siya napapansin. Kahit lahat kami ay tutok sa pinapanood namin sa TV ng hospital room na kinaroroonan namin ay nararamdaman ko na lingon siya nang lingon sa akin. Kapag tinatamaan na ako ng antok ay bigla na lang siyang magsasalita o kikilos para mapadilat ako ulit.

Humaba ang nguso niya. "Sabi ni Google may iba raw na hindi na nagigising kaya raw dapat hindi ka muna matulog."

"Naniwala ka naman do'n." Napapalatak na umiling si Kuya Trace. "Trust the experts. Kapag tinanong mo kay Google kung bakit masakit ang ulo mo ang sasabihin no'n may taning na ang buhay mo."

Though I laughed along with them, an invisible pressure seemed to constrict my heart when my brother's words hit close to home.

"May point ka naman," tumatango-tangong sabi ni Lucienne. "Hindi rin ako masyadong naniniwala kay Google kapag nagsusulat ako kay finafact check ko muna. Kaya nga tinutulungan ako ni Thorn na mag-research kapag mga bed scene—"

Tinakpan ko ang mga tenga ko kasabay ng pag-angal ng mga kapatid ko sa ngayon ay tatawa tawang babae.

Pagkaraan ng ilang sandali ay sa huling pagkakataon ay nagpaalam na sila. Isa-isa silang lumabas ng kuwarto habang pinapaalalahanan pa rin ako na huwag kong biglaan ang sarili ko at para sabihin sa akin na babalik sila.

Hindi ko mapigilang hindi mapangiti habang sinusundan ko sila ng tingin. The last image I have is of them in the hallway, bickering and teasing each other like they always do.

Despite everything that happened in my family and the things that transpired in the lives of my sisters-in-law, I am glad that they found a place where they could be happy again.

While one of the reasons I kept a lot of things from them was for them not to worry, protecting their happiness was the main reason. They've all gone through so much, and I know how hard it was for them when we lost our parents. Alam kong hindi ko sila kayang protektahan ng matagal mula sa katotohanan. Alam ko na dadating ang oras na malalaman nila ang lahat. But I want it to happen when they won't need to suffer for a long time with me.

"You can cry now."

Kasabay ng tila bikig na humarang sa lalamunan ko ay ang pamamasa ng mga mata ko. But when I turned to look at my husband, no tears fell from my eyes. "Not yet."

Something crossed Magnus' eyes, but just like always, it was as if shutters closed down on them, concealing whatever it is that passes through him.

Nilingon ko ang espasyo sa tabi niya kung saan ay nakapatong ngayon ang laptop niya na nakabukas. "You can go to work, you know? May mga makakasama naman ako."

"I can't do that."

"Magnus." I gave him a small smile. "I'm already giving you more problems than you agreed with before."

"You need me here."

I do need him. Everything started between us because I needed someone. But I feel guilty. I feel guilty because I know that no matter how hard I try to rationalize it, I'm being selfish. I could have chosen another person than him. Pero pinili ko siya. Ginusto ko na siya ang makasama ko sa problemang kinahaharap ko. Because I want to give myself a chance to be with the person I fell in love with at first sight—the only man I will ever love in this lifetime—even though I don't want to pursue his feelings anymore.

Kasi ayoko siyang masakan.

"You need me to make decisions for you when you can't. Dahil kung hindi ay ang pamilya mo ang kakailanganin na sumalo niyon."

With my situation... that can't happen. Because I still don't want them to know. Not yet. This is a secret that doesn't mean any harm. It's a secret that carries my wish to protect them.

I wanted a husband so that when the time comes that I'm too sick to think clearly and decide for myself, it wouldn't be my family that would have to do it. Kasi kung may isang bagay na hindi ko makakalimutan noong nagkasakit si Mama ay iyon ay kung gaano naging kahirap para kay Papa at sa pamilya namin ang magdesisyon.

I was too young then, but I wasn't excluded from the family meetings. Hindi rin ako bulag para hindi makita kung gaanong nahihirapan na si Papa. Kung paanong unti-unting nauupos siya sa bawat desisyon na kailangan niyang gawin. If he's going to allow the doctors to resuscitate her, what dress would my mother wear to her burial, what coffin should he choose, what songs should be played, and where would she be buried? She was alive then, but we all need to think about all of those as if we had already lost her. Because someone needs to make a decision, and that is us.

And then there's the other reason. I want my family to think that I have no regrets. Na naging masaya ako kasama ng taong mahal ko.

"I'm awake now. I can make the decisions—"

"I know that we're not much of anything. All we have is the agreement that you proposed. But at least treat me as a friend and not push me away."

"Mags, I'm not pushing you away. I just feel bad for you. This... it isn't exactly easy. You didn't sign up for this."

"I did sign up for this." Nagtatagis ang mga bagang na sinalubong niya ang tingin ko. "Have I ever complained? Have I ever given you the inclination that I wanted an out?"

I'm not the kind of person to be lost for words, but I couldn't find the right ones to say to him. Tumayo siya at lumapit sa kinaroroonan ko. I felt my breath catch in my throat at the intensity of his stare.

He looked like he was about to rip the world into two, and I was in the middle of the destruction he's planning to cause. But when he was within close distance and his hands were raised to reach for me, his touch exuded nothing but gentleness.

Inayos niya ang inuunanan ko at itinaas niya ang kumot ko. He tucked me in, making sure that I'm fully covered and I wouldn't feel cold.

"When you told me everything that is to know, you didn't hear me ask more than you wanted to share with me. When it comes to this, to what you're trying every ounce of you're being to keep from getting out, I never once contradict you."

"Mags..."

"Do the same for me, LA. Don't ask, and just let me be with you."

_________________________End of Chapter 13.