#DS8Uncovered #LuMa #BearCouple #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER 17: SONG

LUNA'S POV

This could top any awkward silence written in history. Kuya Gun is looking at Magnus like he wants to boil him alive, Kuya Axel couldn't meet my eyes, and despite the forced smile on Kuya Trace's lips, the twitching on his left eyes tells me that he's struggling not to look murderous. Pinagmamalaki niya kasi sa lahat noon na siya ang may pinaka-pure na puso sa lahat ng mga kapatid naming lalaki dahil siya lang ang mabilis naka-move on sa kinokonsidera nilang "pagtatanan" ko. Para namang hindi ko alam na takot lang siyang magalit sa kaniya si Ember na kampi sa akin.

"I think it's hilarious," Kuya Domino snickered. "Luna's not a minor anymore."

Tumango si Kuya Coal. "I agree."

Walang emosyon ang mukha na nilingon sila ni Kuya Axel. "You can say that because you were late and you didn't see them. If you both arrived earlier, you'll want to scratch your eyes out too."

Pinaikot ko ang mga mata ko. As ever, mga drama queen. May pa-walk out pa ngang nalalaman ang tatlong pinakanakatatanda naming mga kapatid na kesyo may nakalimutan daw sa baba.

"Para namang eskandalong eskandalo kayo. We were fully clothed. Na-explain ko na di ba? Magnus and I were just goofing around, and we fell from the sofa."

"Saka kasal na ang dalawang 'yan. Alangan namang nagbabahay-bahayan lang sila," pagtatanggol sa akin ni Lucienne na nakaupo sa tabi ko. "Siyempre iyong rated 18 version ng bahay-bahayan na."

"Poker pero strip poker," dagdag ni Belaya.

A playful smile tugged at the corners of Mireia's lips. "Snake and Ladders pero snake ni Magnus ang aakyatin—"

Tinakpan ni Kuya Axel ang bibig ng humahagikhik lang na asawa. I rolled my eyes again, but I couldn't hide the way my cheeks heated at their teasing.

"The bottom line is she's married," Circe voiced out.

Tumango si Lia. "At tayo ang bigla na lang sumulpot ng walang pasabi." She gave me an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that by the way. We should have known better."

I know what she meant. She and Kuya Gun in particular are notorious when it comes to their "activities". Kaya nga dumating pa sa point na pinalitan ng kapatid ko security code ng bahay nila. Iyon nga lang binigay lang ulit iyon sa amin ni Lia. Nagkasundo na lang kami na pwede lang namin gamitin ang security code nila kapag wala sila sa bahay. Gusto kasi ni Lia na makakapunta kami sa kanila anytime kapag gusto naming kumuha ng pagkain. Ang dami kasi talaga niyang nakahanda na pagkain. Sa sobrang dami ay regalo sa kaniya ni Kuya Gun last Christmas na ipa-renovate ang kusina para magkasya roon ang limang refrigerator na binili niya para kay Lia.

"It's fine. Sinabihan niyo naman kami na pupunta kayo. Hindi nga lang namin alam na mapapaaga kayo." Inginuso ko ang cellphone ko na nasa lamesa. "Nag-chat din kayo kaya lang naka-mute ang group chat sa akin kaya hindi ko rin nabasa."

The women's eyes went to Magnus and he shrugged. "I want to spend the day with my wife. That's not going to happen if I don't put my phone on silent because my employees will not stop disturbing me."

"Aww," Lucienne exclaimed with exaggerated delight. "Kung si Mirea ay pagkain ang kalaban kay Axel dati, kay Sir Magnus trabaho naman." Ginalaw-galaw ng babae ang kilay niya habang nakangisi sa akin. "At obvious na obvious ngayon kung sino ang nagwagi."

I could feel Magnus' eyes on me, but I couldn't look at him. Fortunately, it was the moment that my other brothers chose to arrive. Pumasok sina Kuya Thorn, Kuya Gun, at Kuya Pierce na may dalang paper bags ng mga titsirya at inumin. Kuya Gun grumpily threw one of the lighter paper bags at me, and I grinned when I saw that it was full of my favorite chips.

I couldn't help but stick out my tongue at Magnus when I heard him sigh. Wala kasi siyang magagawa dahil bigay iyon ng mga kapatid ko.

"May ginawa rin kami na snacks," pagbibigay-alam ni Lia. "Iyon muna ang unahin natin habang nanonood tayo."

"Bababa pa ba tayo sa family penthouse? Dito na lang tayo. Ang sarap na ng puwesto ko eh," sabi ni Belaya na nakaupo sa isa sa dalawang kulay beige na bean bags.

They call the fifth floor the family penthouse since instead of the rows of apartments that the other floor has, the fifth floor was renovated to look like a version of the main penthouse, which is the sixth and seventh floors where Magnus and I are staying. Ang pagkakaiba lang ay maraming kuwarto roon para sa malaki naming pamilya. Mayroon din na dining table doon para sa amin, bagay na wala rito.

"I'm okay here," Tiara said with a smile. Tumayo siya para makaupo ang iba pa at lilipat sana siya sa carpeted na sahig para tumabi kay Circe pero napigilan siya ni Kuya Domino bago pa niya magawa iyon. Her face turned red when my brother pulled her down to his lap and hugged her close. Newlyweds.

Inilatag ng mga kapatid ko ang dala nilang mga pagkain sa coffee table habang ang iba pa ay iniayos nila sa center island. Beers were handed all around, and I sighed when I was given apple juice instead.

Matagal na rin naman akong hindi umiinom. Kung sakali man na may pagkakataon na hindi naiiwasan ay halos hindi ko nauubos ang isang baso samantalang noon ay ang tapang kong hamunin ang kahit na anong alak kung sinong mas matibay sa amin. I really miss drinking beer though.

The voices of my family died down when everyone decided to focus on what Magnus and I were watching earlier. From time to time, small shrieks could be heard from the women and sometimes from the men who were trying to look tough. Maniniwala pa ako sa iba pero kay Kuya Trace at Kuya Axel? Ilang beses ko na kayang binasa ang chapter sa libro nila Belaya no'ng pumunta sila sa horror village para sa birthday ni Lush.

Impit na napatili ako at napaatras nang bigla na lang sumulpot sa screen ang multo na sumigaw pa. I felt an arm wrapped around me, and when I looked up, I realized that half of my body was almost sprawled on top of Magnus, who was sitting beside me. Umakto akong aalis pero lalo lang niyang hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak sa akin.

Before I could try to move again, both Magnus and I's attention shifted to Lucienne when she suddenly laughed. "Away kasi nang away. Pati 'yung multo naingayan na sa kanila."

Nagkatinginan kami ni Magnus. I pressed my lips together to stop myself from grinning. Bigla ko kasing naalala ang kanina lang nangyari na maging si Magnus ay tumatawa habang nanonood kami ng horror. Dahil sa iba nga lang na dahilan.

"Want me to get you another tea?" he teasingly whispered.

I wrinkled my nose at him. "Ayoko."

"Why not? I want to see my favorite fish again. She's hilarious, and I want to laugh again."

"Anong akala mo sa akin? Clown?"

Umangat ang sulok ng mga labi niya. "Clownfish? Finding Luna?"

Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mga mata. "What was I thinking when I asked you to marry me? I know you were stubborn before. I just didn't know you could be stubbornly annoying."

"Ako alam ko." Yumuko siya at umakto na bubulong. Since natural ang pagiging tsismosa ko ay hindi ko napigilan ang sarili ko na bahagyang ilapit ang mukha ko sa kaniya para marinig ko ang sasabihin niya. "Pinili mo ako kasi ako pinakapaborito mong lalaki sa buong mundo."

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Gusto mong ulitin ang sinabi mo para marinig din ng mga kapatid ko?"

"I don't care if they hear. It was you who said it before, remember?" He caught a lock of my hair between his fingers, and he tugged it playfully. "Sabi mo ako na ang magiging pinakapaborito mong lalaki sa buhay mo kapag pinanagutan na kita."

My lips parted, but I couldn't find it in me to say anything because I did remember what he was talking about.

A glint crossed his eyes, and I felt his hand reach for mine, which was wearing a ring. "I fulfilled my end of the bargain, LA. That spot in your life is taken by me as long as we're wearing our rings and you're carrying my name."

SA DAMI NG MGA pagkain ay hindi mo aakalain na magagawang maubos ng mga iyon. But by dinner time, even the chips were annihilated. Hindi na nakakapagtaka iyon. Sadiya kasing malaki ang sikmura ng mga kapatid ko.

"Gutom na ako," Lucienne, who ate her fair share of food, whined.

"Ako rin," nakangusong sabi ni Kuya Trace. "Kapag nagutom ako baka mabawasan ng one percent ang abs at kagwapuhan ko. How will my poor princess survive?"

Tinapik-tapik ni Lucienne ang kapatid ko. "Okay lang kay Ember 'yon. Ang mahalaga mabawasan ang kayabangan mo."

As they commenced with their bickering, Lia turned to look at me. "Should I cook or are we just going to order?"

"I can—" Natigilan ako nang maramdaman ko ang kamay ni Magnus na humawak sa balikat ko. If eyes could say a thousand words, Magnus' are saying millions of them. I rolled my eyes at him before I turned back to Lia. "I'll help Magnus prepare something."

"Are you sure you don't want me to help too?"

"I'm sure. Bisita namin kayo this time. Kapag pumupunta kami sa inyo hindi mo naman kami pinagluluto." I gave her a grin. "Don't worry, Magnus can cook. Hindi nga lang kasing sarap ng luto mo siyempre."

I moved to push myself up from the couch when I felt Magnus arm circling my waist. Hindi naging mahirap ang pagtayo ko dahil sa tulong niya.

"Saan kayo pupunta?" tanong ni Kuya Domino.

"Magluluto," sagot ko.

Napangiwi siya. "Pwede naman kaming mag-order. Libre ni Kuya Thorn."

In another situation, our eldest brother would have complained, but this time he just nodded. Hindi ko sila masisisi. They've been subjected to my cooking before. Kung may higit na nakakaalam na hit or miss ang pagluluto ko ay sila iyon.

Pinandilatan ko sila ng mga mata. "Si Magnus ang magluluto at tutulong lang ako."

"Do you feel okay enough to help?" Tiara asked.

I nodded with a smile. "Kailangan ko na rin namang tumayo at kanina pa ako nakaupo."

When they felt reassured enough that I wouldn't try to poison them, they went back to the new movie that we were watching. Magkasabay na naglakad kami ni Magnus na nakaalalay pa rin sa akin.

"I'm okay," I told him.

"Good. Stay that way."

Nang makarating sa kusina ay naghila siya ng upuan para sa akin. Nang akmang lalagpasan ko iyon ay nagpakawala siya ng malalim na hininga at sa pagkabigla ko ay bigla na lang niya akong binuhat. He deposited me on the chair before he turned to the empty trays of food on the center island so that he could put them away.

"Napapansin na kita, hubby bear ha. Kanina ka pa buhat nang buhat sa akin. Masama lang ang pakiramdam ko pero hindi naman ako imbalido."

"I didn't say you were."

"So why—"

"I told you, I don't do things I don't want to do."

So he meant to say he's carrying me around just because he wanted to?

I cleared my throat. "I'm not a baby."

The mischievous look in his eyes was back. "But you're my LA."

Really. What's happening to him? Maagang pamasko kaya ito dahil hindi na ako aabot ng pasko?

"Hey guys, we're going out to buy more drinks. May gusto kayong bilhin namin?" Kuya Coal called out to us.

"We're good." Tinignan ko ang mga babae na mga tumayo na rin. "Sasama kayong lahat sa grocery?"

Umabrisete si Lucienne sa asawa niya. "May kukunin lang si Thorn sa kotse. Sasama na ako kasi ayoko siyang mamiss."

I threw her a disgusted look that just made her laugh. Mukhang ganoon din ang dahilan ng iba na mukhang balak sumama kung saan gustong pumunta ng mga asawa nila. Mga kesong mga nilalang.

The house was immediately surrounded by silence the moment my family left. Naiiling na ibinaling ko na lang ang atensyon ko kay Magnus na nasa tapat ng nakabukas na ref at kasalukuyang nakikipagtitigan doon.

"What are you planning to make?"

He glanced at me. "Is there anything in particular that you want?"

"Lahat ng gusto ko tatanggihan mo kasi gusto mo healthy," nakangusong sabi ko.

"You talk like I'm depriving you of the good things. You've been binge-eating chips for hours."

May point naman. "I'm craving for something."

"Ano?"

I lost track of what I was about to say when he rolled up his sleeves, revealing his rippling biceps. Wow.

Hindi man madalas pero nakita ko na ang katawan niya. Well, the upper part at least. Pero kahit kailan ata ay hindi na masasanay ang mga mata ko na makita ang katawan niya na hindi nakakaisip ng mga hindi dapat na bagay.

"Luna?"

"Ha?" napakurap ako. "Umm... baked mac and cheese." Pero kahit kanin na lang na walang ulam pwede na.

"Hmm."

"I told you. What I want isn't healthy."

"My version could be."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Paano? Imbis na pasta, broccoli ang ihahalo mo?"

With a shake of his head, he grabbed a couple of things from the fridge. "Instead of white pasta, I'm going to use whole grain instead. May low-fat cheese and low-fat milk din tayo kaya walang problema. I'll add grilled chicken for protein and neutral-tasting vegetables like cauliflower for an additional nutrition boost."

"You're such a health nerd."

"I wasn't always one," he murmured.

I don't think he intended to let me hear what he said because when he saw that my attention was on him, he quickly looked away.

"We'll make some salad too. Can you chop the vegetables?"

Sumaludo ako. "Sir, yes, sir." Nang naiiling na hinugasan niya ang mga gulay at dinala iyon sa akin ay nagsimula na akong maghiwa. "Ito lang talaga ang gagawin natin? Ang laki pa naman ng mga sikmura ng mga iyon."

"I'm sure they're already buying more food right now."

Humaba ang nguso ko. "I know they don't trust my cooking, but they at least should trust yours."

"Hindi naman siguro dahil sa wala silang tiwala sa ihahanda natin. Though we can't really blame them. We're both busy people who would rather be working than doing anything. It's probably hard to believe that we can do something outside of our offices."

"Sabagay."

"Pero sa tingin ko alam nilang hindi kakayanin na makapagluto ng sobrang dami ng mabilisan. Lalo pa kung para sa pamilya niyo. Lia knows for sure that it can't take just an hour to prepare food for all of you."

Again, he has a point. Kada sama-sama kaming kakain ay parang may fiesta. Lalo pa kung kasama ang mga bata.

After lining up all the ingredients he would need, Magnus walked to the entertainment lounge and he stopped the movie that was still playing, and he replaced it with a music streaming app to play a random song.

"Be careful with your fingers," he said when he walked past me.

I tuck my fingers in a claw-like position. Nang mag-angat ako ng tingin ay nakita kong nakatingin siya sa akin. "I remember my mom telling us repeatedly that no one likes a finger with their food," I explained.

"She taught you all to cook?"

Tumango ako. "Pero mas madalas niyang natuturuan ang mga kuya ko. Tinatamad kasi talaga akong magluto. Isa pa, she's the one who kept saying that the kitchen is not just a woman's responsibility."

"So you chose not to take on the responsibility," he said in an amused tone.

Nagkibit-balikat ako. "If I can't cook then finding a man who can is the alternative."

"It's a good thing you found one."

My heart fluttered at his words. "Well... I guess so."

Thankfully, he let me have a chance to breathe without doing things with my heart or the butterflies in my stomach again. We went into our tasks silently, and I couldn't help but watch from time to time how he worked around the kitchen effortlessly. My choice of food proved to be the right choice since, before we knew it, he had already filled a couple of trays and popped them inside the oven. Nang matapos niya iyon ay lumapit siya sa akin na hindi pa rin tapos sa paghihiwa.

"What was she like?"

"Who?" It took me a second to realize that he was talking about my mother. "She was the best. She's a hellion but the sweetest to her children. She was firm, but she listens and apologizes when it's needed. Something that not all parents could do."

"I agree."

I met his mother twice, and let's just say that I'm grateful that I don't need to see her a lot since she lives abroad with her new husband.

Magnus' father died when he was in college. The senior Aquillan left him and his mother with money. His mother used it to cruise around the world and burn them through luxury things while Magnus used his inheritance to create Quetzal.

Not even one year after his death, Magnus' mother found a new husband. Even without telling me, I know it wasn't something that Magnus liked. He doesn't even talk about his stepfather.

Napatingin ako sa sala nang may marinig ako na pamilyar na tugtog. A smile tugged on my lips when I realized that it was You Are The Best Thing by Ray LaMontagne.

"This is a good song. Ang tagal na nang huli kong narinig 'to."

Magnus looked up from what he was doing. "Hmm?"

"They liked this song. Sometimes my parents would cook for us, and my father would suddenly play this song so that he could dance with my mother." I turned to Magnus who was watching me closely. "It's one of my favorite memories I have of them."

"We're in the kitchen and we're cooking." He walked towards me when I just looked at him in confusion. "Let's not waste the song."

Hindi ko na nagawang makapagsalita nang inalalayan niya akong makababa mula sa kinauupuan ko. In a blink of an eye, I found myself caged in his arms. He pulled me so close that I had no choice but to put my hands on his shoulders.

We've come a long way, baby

You know, I hope and I pray that you believe me

When I say this love will never fade away

Oh, because, you are the best thing

You are the best thing

"You were right," he murmured, his warm breath hitting the side of my face. "This is a good song."

_____________________End of Chapter 17.