#DS8Uncovered #LuMa #BearCouple #DaggerSeries

A/N: Thank you Natachai from Instagram (message niya una kong nabasa pagkagising ko :3) for telling me na mali ang chapter na na-post ko. Buti na lang throwback kaya hindi masyadong nakakalito :3 Sarreh! Hilo na talaga ako. Student mode din kasi.

Anywoo~ here's the chapter 18 ♡

CHAPTER 18: SUPERPOWER

LUNA'S POV

I was in the backseat of the car, holding my tablet. I was busy reading writeups from Maven's writers, and I thank the heavens for today's great technology because I can now simply cross out digitally the sections I don't want.

Nasa ganoon akong tagpo nang makarinig ako ng ingay na nagmumula sa labas ng sasakyan. Mula sa pinagkakaparadahan namin ay kita ko ang mga nagtatakbuhang mga bata palabas ng eskwelahan.

"Why don't you stay here? It's cold outside."

Nilingon ko si Magnus na nasa tabi ko. He's also holding his own tablet, and just like me, he's also working. We're really cut out of the same cloth. Parehas na mga adik sa trabaho.

"Hindi ako nilalamig."

Bumuntong-hininga siya at bumaba ang mga mata niya sa suot ko. I'm wearing black joggers and a mock long-sleeve shirt in the same color. However, the latter was a crop top that fell just above my navel.

Nasa bahay lang naman kasi kami talaga kanina kaya hindi ako nakapang-alis. Sa susunod na araw pa ako makakabalik sa opisina kaya wala namang dahilan para mag-ayos ako. Kaya lang ay nabasa ko ang chat ni Lia sa group chat namin at nagtatanong siya kung sino ang pwedeng sumundo kay Abrial at Aella. Lia was in Manila and Kuya Gun was suddenly called on to an emergency case.

Nagkataon naman na wala rin ang iba ko pang mga kapatid at ang mga asawa nila. Ang karamihan sa kanila ay pabalik pa lang sa mga lakad nila.

Kuya Axel, on the other hand, has back-to-back meetings, so his wife volunteered. Iyon nga lang ay absent ang isang empleyado niya at balak sanang magsara na lang ng maaga para masundo ang kambal.

Mabuti na lang at naisipan kong magbukas ng Messenger at nakita ko ang naka-mute pa rin na group chat. I told them that I would go, and at first they hesitated. But when I mentioned that Magnus would be going with me, they felt more relieved to let me pick up the twins.

"Here." Magnus peeled off his sweater. I caught a glimpse of his solid abs when the shirt he had underneath the sweater lifted a bit. His abs should be a crime. It's so perfectly sculpted that he could fine people from looking at it. "Wear this."

"Baka magkasakit ka pa," sabi ko sa kaniya.

"Kesa naman ikaw."

"I'm already sick." Nilingon ko ang tahimik lang na sina Warrick at Nevan bago ako muling bumaling kay Magnus. "Head concussion, remember?"

"Huwag mo ng dagdagan."

Nang makita niyang makikipagtalo pa ako ay walang salitang kumilos siya at siya na ang nagsuot no'n sa akin. He scanned me over, and I gave him a squinted look when I saw a glint of smugness in his eyes.

"It looks good on you."

I harrumphed. "I look like a child wearing an adult's clothes."

"No. You look like a woman wearing her husband's clothes."

I opened my mouth to speak when I caught sight of my nieces from the window behind Magnus. Abrial Imara and Aella Calynn are Lia and Kuya Gun's twin daughters. They look so identical that it would be hard to guess who they are if we were not their family. Pero minsan kahit kami nahihirapan. Mabuti na lang at may suot sila na kwintas na may initials nila.

Dumukwang ako para sana ibaba ang bintana nang mapakunot ang noo ko. May dalawa kasing batang lalaki na humarang sa daraanan nila.

"Naliligawan na ba ang mga pamangkin ko?" Napapalatak ako. "Lagot sila kay Kuya Gun."

"It's natural for kids to have crushes."

"Tell that to my brother—"

Hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko nang kitang-kita ko kung paanong bumakas ang sakit sa mukha ni Aella nang hilahin ng isa sa dalawang bata ang naka-braid niyang buhok. Abrial tried to put herself between them, but the other child just did the same to her.

"Tell me, I just didn't see what I saw," I whispered, my voice edging into a dangerous zone.

Out of nowhere, my nephews, Arctic and Cookie, appeared. They're older than the two, and it's obvious that they're playing the role of being the eldest.

Binuksan ko ng bahagya ang bintana para marinig ko sila.

"I'll tell your teachers about this so they can call your parents here." Arctic looks so much like his father with how cold he's looking at the two boys. "The school doesn't tolerate bullies."

"You tell them, Arc," bulong ko habang nakasilip. Nangingiting nilingon ko si Magnus na halos sampahan ko na dahil sa bintana niya ako nakikitingin. "Binata na ang pamangkin ko 'no? Dati lagi ko pang buhat 'yan kapag pinababantayan sa akin."

The corner of his lips tipped up. "He's not a baby anymore."

I pursed my lips. "He's still my baby."

"Huwag kang ngengealam!"

Napakurap ako at nilingon ko ang mga bata. The loud voice seems to be coming from the boy who pulled Aella's hair.

Cookie copied Arctic's expression. Hindi pa siya roon natapos dahil pinagkrus niya pa ang mga braso niya. Like a mini-version of his father. "They're our cousins. We have the right to intervene." And speaks just like his mother.

"Isa ka pa!" malakas na bulyaw ng isa pang bata. "Ang pangit mo! Ang pangit din ng pangalan mo! Your mom should go to jail because she named you Cookie! Who names a boy Cookie?"

Cookie pressed his lips together, his chubby cheeks puffing. He looks like he's trying his best not to cry.

"I think we should start calling him by his name," I murmured.

"My name..." Cookie took a huge breath, but it doesn't look like it's helping. Para ngang nadagdagan pa ng pamumula ang mukha niya. "... is Duke Nikolas. I'm named after two great men. Cookie is my nickname, and the only ones who can use it are my friends and family. I don't care if I'm one hundred years old. They can still call me by that name because I love them."

Abrial and Aella are both taking it all in. Nagpapalipat-lipat ang tingin nila sa mga pinsan nila at sa dalawang bata. Despite their young age, I could see that they recognized that Cookie was hurt by the other children's words.

Frowning, Aella looked at the two boys. "Hindi siguro kayo love ng mama at papa niyo. They don't have nicknames for you."

Napanganga ang dalawang bata pero bago pa sila makapagsalita ay naunahan na sila ni Abrial. "Isusumbong namin kayo sa mga tito namin!" She pointed towards our car. "One of them is here now. They're detewtive! Ipapakulong namin kayo!"

Nakangising tinapik ko ang balikat ni Nevan nasa passenger seat habang hindi ko pa rin inaalis ang tingin ko sa mga bata. "Hindi ako detewtive kaya kayo na ang bahala."

Warrick and Nevan both laughed softly. We were all enjoying how the children were standing up for themselves, but any positive feeling that I had melted when one of the boys put his hands up and pushed Abrial, who wasn't expecting it. Dahil nabigla ay napahawak siya sa kapatid dahilan para parehas silang mapatumba sa lupa.

"I'm going to hurt a child." Kuyom ang mga kamay na binuksan ko ang pintuan. "Two of them."

Magnus grunted when I literally climbed on top of him to get out of the door. I could hear Warrick and Neval exiting the vehicle as well.

Tinulungang makatayo ni Arctic si Aella habang si Cookie naman ay itinayo si Abrial. "Lagot kayo sa tito namin—" Hindi natapos ni Arctic ang sasabihin nang makita niya na ako ang bumaba ng sasakyan. "Oh no."

"Uh oh," Cookie whispered, his eyes widening.

Abrial and Aella's faces paled, and they pushed the bullies. Hindi para gumanti kundi para paalisin sila.

"Run!" Aella shouted, and at the same time, Abrial yelled, "That's our Tita Luna! She makes people cry! She's going to throw you into the trash!"

"Or put you into the shwredder!" Aella added.

Hindi ko alam kung saan nila nakukuha ang pinagsasabi nila. I have a feeling they overheard something and took it literally. Marami talaga kong napaiyak. Most of them are writers who cried because— Oh. Because I threw their articles in the trash. Iyong mga malala ipinakain ko sa shredder machine.

I felt someone hook an arm around my waist, but my eyes are fixed on the two children who're trying to act tough, even though they're looking at me like I'm about to lunge at them.

"Do you know what I do to bad boys?" When they both shook their heads, I continued, "I find the things that they most fear, and I make sure that they will follow them forever and ever. You're afraid of the dark? Every night, lights will go out at your house. Fear of clowns? When the curtains in your room move, it's a sign that a clown is standing outside your window, waiting for you to take a peek. Afraid of monsters? You're right to fear it because it's just under your bed."

Their lips trembled, and not even a second later, they both burst out crying. "Isusumbong kita sa mama ko!" palahaw ng isa.

"Isumbong mo. Isusumbong din kita."

Magnus chuckled behind me.

The other child was no better than the other. He's face is all red from crying. "Ang tanda mo na po pero magsusumbong ka pa sa mama mo?"

"Isusumbong kita sa mga kuya ko. I have seven brothers and I'm sure they're all bigger than your fathers." Nameywang ako at tinaasan ko sila ng kilay. "Pero isusumbong ko pa rin kayo sa mama ko. She died a long time ago pero kapag sinabi ko ang ginagawa niyo sa mga apo niya, babangon 'yon at pupuntahan kayo sa bahay niyo."

They're probably imagining all the zombie movies out there that they shouldn't be watching at their age because they both look like they're going to pee their pants.

"Siguraduhin niyong ikukuwento niyo sa mga magulang niyo ang mga nangyari ngayon ha? Siguraduhin niyo rin na walang kulang ang kuwento niyo. Dahil kapag hindi ako natuwa alam niyo na ang mangyayari." I tapped my head and I gave them a smile that frightened even some of my brothers. "Hindi ako nakakalimot. I don't care if you turn eighteen, twenty-one, thirty, or forty. I'm going to haunt you forever if you don't stop bullying my nieces."

Ako mismo ang mumulto sa inyo.

Magnus, as always, can hear my unspoken words because I feel his arm tighten around me.

In a flash, Abrial and Aella were suddenly in front of me. Yumakap sila sa akin hindi lang dahil gusto nila akong yakapin kundi dahil nararamdaman ko na katulad ni Magnus ay pinipigilan lang din nila akong malapitan ang takot na takot na mga bata.

"Tita pretty let's go," pag-aaya ni Abrial. "I'm hungry."

Pinagsalikop ni Aella ang mga kamay. "I want ice cream. Pleaseee!"

I gave the two bullies one final scathing look before I turned to my nephews. "Hindi pa ba kayo sasama sa amin pauwi?"

"I still have class, Tita." Arctic put a hand on Cookie's shoulder. "And Cookie has practiced for their class program. Susunduin po kami ni Papa mamaya."

"Alright." Tinuro ko ang dalawang bata. "I want their names."

Nakita ko pang sumaludo ang dalawa kong pamangkin na lalaki bago ako tuluyang nagpahila kina Abrial at Aella. Magnus and I strapped them to the car seats at the back of the van that Warrick and Nevan borrowed from Dagger before we finally rolled away from the vicinity of the school.

"I find it surprising that your nieces and nephews are more afraid to see you than their uncles." I turned to look at Magnus. He's trying to fight a smile but he's not winning. "You're like Taz. Adorably cute but always causing chaos on his way which is why some fear him."

"Taz?"

"You don't know Taz? Tasmanian Devil from Looney Tunes?"

I blinked at him slowly. "Gramps, your grampiness is showing." Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya at napangisi ako. "And now your grumpiness."

"You really don't know him?"

Tinapik-tapik ko siya sa balikat. "No'ng pinapanood mo si Taz mo, hindi pa ako ginagawa. Tanungin mo na lang ang mga kapatid ko kasi baka sila maka-relate."

He let out a sigh. "Sometimes I forget that you're far too young for me."

Pinaikot ko ang mga mata ko. "Stop exaggerating. Hindi mo na pwedeng gamitin sa akin ang salitang "young" 'no. I'm not in my twenties anymore, Mags."

"You are young." Napailing siya. "And you look like you're twenty-five."

It's not the first time I heard someone tell me that but it's the first time I heard it coming from him.

"Imagine what it looked like when you were twenty-five and you kept telling the world that you were courting me," he added with a shake of his head.

"It looked like a woman going after a hot and handsome man." Itinaas-baba ko ang mga kilay ko. "Stop selling yourself short, hubby bear. Hindi bagay sa'yo."

"Alin ang bagay sa akin kung gano'n?"

"Hmm?"

He reached for a lock of my hair. "Ikaw?"

Halos magkasabay na napaubo si Warrick at Nevan. Mga tsismoso talaga. Hindi na ako magtataka kung makakarating ang mga naririnig nila sa mga kapatid ko.

Pinanlakihan ko ng mga mata si Magnus na umangat lang ang sulok ng labi. He's probably laying it too thick because he knows we're being listened to. Iyon lang naman ang maaaring maging dahilan.

"Tito Magnus?"

My husband turned to look at the two. Si Aella ang tumawag sa kaniya. "Yes?"

"We know Taz."

"You do?"

Magkasabay na tumango ang mga bata. Magnus gave me a look full of pride. Iyon nga lang ay muling may nagsalita sa likod at sa pagkakataon na ito ay si Abrial ang nagsalita. "We like old cartoons because they're funny."

I mouthed "old" to Magnus who narrowed his eyes at me.

"Our favorite is Powerpuff Girls," Aella shared. "I like the one where theyb shwinked."

"I like that one too!" Abrial said, joining in. "The Incredible Shwinking Heroes. The Powerpuff Girls shwinked and became small and their powers became small too."

"It's like compared to Princess Morbucks, they don't have any power at all. That's how much they have been weakened."

Abrial nodded. "But it's still my favorite episode. Kasi kahit parang wala na silang power nakapag-save pa rin sila." Tumingin sa akin ang bata. "They're like you Tita Luna. You're small and you don't have superpowers, but you're a superhero."

"Me? Why?" I asked in confusion.

It was Aella who answered. "Because we saw you when we went to Tita Tiara's ballet lessons. There were bad guys that wanted to hurt us. Mommy protected me and Abrial but we saw you protecting the other mommies. If they get hurt our cousins will cry."

Abrial clapped her hands. "They didn't because you were there to save the day, Tita Luna."

Nagkatinginan kami ni Magnus. He wasn't there but I'm sure he remembered that day since it was the day that we had our first big fight.

"I want to be like you when I grow up," Aella said.

"I'm not a superhero, sweetie. But your daddy is and your uncles."

"You have great clothes and you always look pretty. Tapos rich ka pa po saka lagi pong naglilisten sa'yo ang empowees mo saka kahit sila tito. You don't have superpowers but you're strong."

Abrial clasped her hands together. "And when we grow up, we want to marry someone like Tito Magnus too."

I could feel Magnus eyes at me, but I couldn't look at him when I asked, "Why?"

"Because daddy said that only a strong man..." Abrial looked at her sister, intentionally letting her words hang.

Aella continued her sister's sentence, "... can handle a strong woman."

____________________________End of Chapter 18.