DS8Uncovered #LuMa #BearCouple #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER 21: RAIN CHECK

LUNA'S POV

A few years ago...

"The biceps... I wonder kung anong trabaho niya?"

"Kahit wala siyang trabaho willing akong buhayin siya."

"Baka army? Pero bakit siya imbitado rito kung sakali? The people that have been invited are either dripping rich, famous, or connected to someone famous."

"Maybe he helped someone famous as a soldier, that's why he's here."

Napapailing na napangiti ako sa naririnig ko na pinag-uusapan ng apat na babae. Women are really different animals from men. Most men would just look at a woman and think that she looked beautiful or hot. Pero ang mga babae ay kung saan-saan na nakararating ang mga utak.

Tumigil ako sa tabi nila at nakatingin din sa direksyon na tinitignan nila na nagsalita ako. "Nah. He's the owner of a publishing house."

Tumango-tango sila at hindi man lang lumingon sa akin. They're all still looking in the direction of a man, as if they're all predators waiting for a moment to strike so they can get a part of him.

"May girlfriend na kaya?" tanong ng isa. "Baka 'yang kausap niya."

"Parang hindi. Nilapitan lang din siya niyan. Hindi naman ata sila magkakilala" Pinagkrus niya ang mga braso niya. "Dapat kung may girlfriend na siya dapat hindi siya basta iniiwan. Sa gwapo niya ang dali niyang maaagaw."

Umangat ang sulok ng mga labi ko. "Kawawa naman ang susubok."

Naalis ang atensyon nila sa lalaki at napalingon sila sa akin nang basta na lang akong dumaan sa gitna nila. My feet carried me in the direction of the man they'd been admiring. The man that I have no plans to share with anyone. Not even to the woman he's talking to.

"We really should stop meeting this way."

Parehas na napabaling sa akin si Magnus at ang babae na kausap niya. Magnus' eyes flashed in surprise when he caught sight of me.

I let my inner self do a victory dance when I saw how his gaze dropped to the beige crocheted coverup I'm wearing on top of my white two-piece bikini and how I saw his struggle to look up and meet my eyes again.

The event today is a beach party. Just like what the other women said earlier, everyone that has been invited is either filthy rich, famous, connected to someone famous, or all of the above. Lucienne has been invited, but as expected, she didn't want to come. Which is why I'm here. I might fall into a couple of categories that this party requires, but not all people are comfortable with journalists. Kahit na ba ang tagal na ng panahon nang huling maramdaman ko na doon umiikot ang job description ko. Halos hindi na nga ako nakakapagsulat ngayon.

But anyway, I wanted to be here, and I'm here. Lucienne was willing to give me her invitation. Pwede pa nga akong magdala ng plus one kung gugustuhin ko. But I decided to come alone since I don't have any plans to stay long anyway.

"Why are you here?" he asked.

Matamis na nginitian ko siya. "It's a party." Nang akmang may sasabihin siya ay inunahan ko na siya. "At FYI, hindi kita sinundan dito. Hindi ko nga alam na interesado kang pumunta sa mga ganitong event."

It's not the usual event that he goes to. It's more laid-back here. Probably too much. Some are wearing clothes that could put the word "skimpy" in shame, and there are those that are most likely to lose their clothing soon with the sexual tension they're having with other partygoers.

Hindi ako sigurado kung ano talaga ang okasyon. Not that these rich people need an important reason to throw a party. But it's an event for the daughter of one of the richest real estate developers in the country. Hailey Rothschild invited, in her own words, all her favorite people in the world.

Kahit ata hindi niya kilala personally ay inimbita niya basta may gusto siyang bagay sa tao na iyon. An example of that is Lucienne. Hindi naman siya kilala ng sister-in-law ko pero inimbita niya kasi favorite niya ang libro ng babae.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I'm being rude," I said to the woman beside him. Bahagyang naningkit ang mga mata ng babae pero nanatiling nakangiti lang ako. We both know I'm not sorry for interrupting them. "I just got excited seeing Mags. I need to cash in the rain check that he owes me kasi."

"What rain check?" Magnus asked with a knotted forehead.

"Remember? During the wedding. We were supposed to sleep together—"

Mahinang napatawa ako nang sa isang iglap ay natagpuan ko ang sarili kong hila-hila ni Magnus para ilayo ako sa babaeng kasama niya. I don't mind. He's not only putting distance between me and the other woman so she won't hear the rest of what I'm about to say, but he's also putting distance between the both of them.

Magnus' jaw was clenched tight as he looked at me. "Can you please stop?"

"What? Totoo naman ang sinabi ko. Sabi mo no'n matulog na tayo pero iniwan mo naman ako kay Kuya Pierce."

"I meant separately!" he growled.

Kung iyong iba siguro natakot na sa lalaki. He's huge, and he's towering over me while he's seething with anger. But I don't feel an ounce of fear. Not because I have seven brothers that will empty a gun's bullets on him if he hurts me, but because even though Magnus is angry, I don't feel threatened by his presence. Alam kong hindi niya ako sasaktan.

Although... maybe I could use that. I purse my lips a little, as if I were a child who was about to cry. Umatras pa ako ng kaunti mula sa kaniya at nakita ko ang pagbakas ng pagkagulat sa mga mata niya.

Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga. He brushed his hair up in frustration, and I couldn't help but follow the movement. He always looks like he's in a state of unbreakable perfection. No stray hair out of line or creases on his suit. It's the first time I'm seeing him in jeans and a blue polo shirt that hasn't been fully buttoned. Kung ikukumpara nga lang sa ibang mga nandito ay mas bihis na bihis pa rin siya.

"I'm sorry," he said in a low voice. "I didn't mean to scare you."

Kumurba ang malawak na ngiti sa mga labi ko at patalon na lumapit ako sa kaniya para ikawit ang braso ko sa kaniya. "If you're really sorry, then you won't go back to that woman you're talking to who looks like she's going to eat you for dinner."

"Luna—"

"Wala akong kasama." I looked at him behind my lashes, and I pouted again. "Talagang matitiis mong magpagala-gala lang ako? I mean... siguro may lalapit naman sa akin para samahan ako. A few men tried to talk to me and ask to buy me a drink. Kung hindi mo talaga ako sasamahan, no choice ako kundi sila na lang ang—"

"Saan mo gustong pumunta?"

Asus. Nagpapakipot pa kasi hindi rin naman ako matiis. Ang future hubby bear ko talaga. Itinuro ko ang bakanteng lamesa na halos nasa pinakadulo na ng lugar. May ilang mga tao roon pero hindi kasing rami nang mga nasa unahan dahil malayo iyon kung saan naroon ang mga inumin. But even so, I prefer that area since the view is amazing.

"You could have brought someone with you," Magnus said as we walked in the direction I pointed at.

"Nakakahiya naman kung magdadala pa ako. Nang gate crash na nga ako."

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya. "You weren't invited?"

"Nope. I used Lucienne's invitation."

The look on his face is similar to the one my brothers had when they were about to have a migraine. "So you did follow me here."

"Hindi ah. Hindi nga niya sinabing pupunta ka rito eh. Kung alam ko eh di sana mas nagpaganda pa ako."

He stared at me for a moment, but after a while, he just shook his head. Hindi na siya nagsalita pa ulit hanggang sa marating namin ang puwesto na itinuro ko. Like the gentleman that he is, he pulled out a chair for me.

Inangat niya ang kamay para tawagin ang waitress na malapit sa amin pero may kausap iyon at hindi siya napansin. I caught the attention of another one instead, who quickly approached us. I gave the woman my drink order, and Magnus did the same.

Nilabas ko ang cellphone ko at itinapat ko iyon sa amin. I took what felt like hundreds of selfies, with me beaming at the camera and him showing varying stages of his dwindling patience.

"So..." I put my elbow on the table and rested my chin on my hand. "What exactly are you doing here? This doesn't seem to be your usual scene."

"I'm friends with Hailey Rothschild's father. I've met with him and a director for a future project we are planning."

Napataas ang kilay ko. "May plano ka bang pasukin ang movie industry?"

"It's a good opportunity for my writers."

Napa-wow ako. "Magiging movie din ba ang kay Lucienne?"

"Pwede pero ayaw niya."

I wasn't surprised. Lucienne already received a lot of attention sa libro pa lang. She was already famous before, but she became even more so after what happened to her. Alam ko na kahit hindi niya sabihin ay may parte sa kaniya na nahihirapan sa isipin na iyon.

"Congratulations in advance." Nang tumingin siya sa akin ay nilawakan ko ang ngiti ko. "Lalo kang yayaman niyan. Maganda 'yan para sa future natin."

He let out a sigh, but he didn't say anything more. He just shook his head, grabbed his drink from the waitress before she could even put it on the table, and grumbled, a thank you.

"But really, were you that pissed off?" When he just looked at me, I continued, "Na inistorbo ko kayo no'ng babaeng kasama mo kanina? I mean... you sounded really angry. You like her that much?"

"I was annoyed because you keep blurting out things that other people might misinterpret."

"Ano naman?"

"Luna, you're a young, single woman."

"I'm not that young at pwede rin akong hindi na maging single." I batted my eyelashes at him. "Kapag ready ka na siyempre."

Parang hindi ako nagsalita na nagpatuloy siya. "Ano sa tingin mo ang iisipin nila kapag narinig ang sinabi mo kanina?"

"That I want to sleep with the man that I like? What's wrong with that? Problema ko pa ba kung iba ang iisipin nila at hindi literal na matutulog lang?" He looked lost for words for a moment, so I decided to grab the chance. "I would worry about what other people think if I cared about them. I don't."

"Then what about me?"

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Do you really want to be with that woman? You didn't look exactly comfortable with her flirting with you."

"Like the way I am not comfortable right now."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, please. Alam mo ba kung anong pagkakaiba mo kapag ako ang kausap mo at kapag sila ang nasa harapan mo? You talk freely with me. Well, kasama na roon ang bastedin ako palagi but at least you're not holding back. But with them, you always have a polite expression, masking the real you. Para kang nagiging Mr. Congeniality bigla na hindi marunong maka-offend ng ibang tao."

"Is blatantly turning you down a good thing?" He shook his head. "Sometimes, I really don't understand how you see the world, Dawson."

"It's a good thing because when you're with me, you're just you. The grumpy, moody, you. And I don't mind that one bit. Every relationship should start with the truth, so I would rather that you don't pretend with me."

"How about you, right now? Are you being real, or are you pretending?"

Natigilan ako at ilang sandaling hindi ako nakapagsalita. The corner of his lips tugged up a little, and he leaned forward so he could whisper at me. Kung sa ibang pagkakataon ay baka tumatalon na sa tuwa ang puso ko sa sobrang lapit namin pero sa pagkakataon na ito ay iba ang dahilan nang pagkabog ng dibdib ko.

"You think I didn't notice? You like socializing, but you chose an isolated location. You're talking to me, but I can feel that your attention is divided, and I have a feeling that it's because of that waitress who ignored us and the man she's talking to. And lastly, you took a lot of selfies, and all of those shots have them in the background."

I gaped at him for a moment, like I was struggling for air. I'm in a mixture of shock and awe, and at the same time, I have this strong feeling of wanting to change the rain check for our "wholesome" sleep and turn it into one that is the opposite.

"That man is married to a known personality who's been in hiding for weeks now. His wife is not only a famous artist but also rich. In fact, he wouldn't have the money he has now if not for her. But suddenly she dropped out of the face of the planet, and he became the man on the news desperate to find her. He said he's been under too much stress because of the death of her father, which left her their whole empire. Mula raw nang mawala ang ama ng asawa niya ay ang dami raw nagbago sa babae kaya kung may nakakaalam daw kung nasaan ang asawa niya ay sabihan siya. According to him, she's been suffering from paranoia and depression, so it's important that he find her because he's worried about her safety."

"Mags—"

"Then suddenly news about his indiscretion started appearing. Naglabasan ang pangalan ng mga ex niya na nagkaroon siya ng relasyon o kinita niya pa rin kahit na nasa buhay niya na noon si Leighton Bailey. Maraming nabubuong kuwento na baka kaya nawawala ang asawa niya ay dahil din sa kaniya. Worse, she might be missing because he did something to make sure of that. He, of course, released a statement saying that whatever happened before they were married was something that he and Leighton resolved and that she forgave him for all of it. His argument was that she wouldn't have married him still if it wasn't something they decided to move forward with." He tipped the rest of the contents of his glass. "He's been in the hot seat now for a week, pero wala namang nakikita na may ginagawa siyang masama. Kaya nga hati ang mga tao at marami ang nakikisimpatya sa kaniya. He's married to someone who might not be in the right state of mind, he lost her, and he's been looking for her for weeks, and now the media is painting him as a bad guy. He has no mistress and no reason to do anything to his wife."

"Except he really has a mistress and a reason to hurt her."

Magnus' face cleared. My words confirmed what he's insinuating.

"I thought you're in a different field now?"

Nagkibit-balikat ako. "If I were in the same field, it would be hard to do what I'm doing now. Journalists' ethics and all that."

"Do your brothers know—" Natigilan siya at may nagdaan sa mga mata niya. "Leighton is not missing?"

"No. She hired my brothers, and no one should know about it until this is all over."

His eyes searched my face for a moment. I could have hidden the truth from him, but I decided to trust him. "I saw and heard nothing."

I leaned forward, my head still on my hand, while on the other, I used to touch the tip of my glass with my finger. Sa posisyon namin ay hindi mo aakalain na may ibang rason kung bakit kami ganito kalapit sa isa't isa.

"People will believe Miles if he says that Leighton is not mentally well. Leighton has been seeing a therapist since her mother died when she was seven. It doesn't help that her outlet is her art, and the paintings that she makes are a bit dark."

"The way the media paints them is a hard-working and intelligent common man married to a weird and reclusive heiress," he murmured.

"Yup. People will think that after her father's death, she just finally snapped. Lahat ng kakilala nila magsasabi na walang iba si Miles. He was a doting husband. He doesn't even look like he's interested in the riches of his wife. May sarili siyang business na tinayo niya gamit ng sarili niyang pera. Napalaki niya iyon na walang tulong ng asawa niya." I made my fingers walk from the glass down to his hand that is on the table. Hindi siya kumilos para ilayo ang kamay niya na ikinangiti ko. He's trying to be good while I'm being bad. He doesn't want to do anything that will give me away to the people I'm watching. "My brothers investigated his exes. He met one of them, but it was strictly for business. They have nothing that can say that they have anything more."

"But?"

"I told my brothers that I could try and help them. They're detectives, and I know they can smell a lead from far away, but I have journalist blood running through my veins, and I could smell the same thing. I volunteered to be here because it will be more suspicious if one of them is seen here. Wala namang nakakaalam na kinuha ni Leighton ang serbisyo nila. Isa pa, this is not the first time I crashed a party. If I want to be somewhere, I always find a reason to be there. Swerte ko na lang at nandito ka kaya nagkaroon pa ako ng panibagong rason." Pinagsalikop ko ang mga kamay namin. I felt him still under my touch. There was no reason for me to hold his hand, but I'm a multitasker. I'll think of it as a payment for my good deed today. "Isa lang ang pinagkakaabalahan niya at iyon ay ang business niya. He's in the food industry, and he owns the largest catering company in the country. There's a lot of employees under him." Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata ni Magnus at napangiti ako. "There's one employee who is literally under him. Kung bahay at trabaho lang siya, then where should the mistress he's so adamant that is imaginary be found?"

Ilang sandaling nakatitig lang siya sa akin. Dumiretso ako ng upo pero hindi ko pinakawalan ang kamay niya. Instead, I brush my finger on top of his ring finger.

"Ang talino ko 'no? Kaya kung ako sa'yo sagutin mo na ako para dumami ang lahi nating mga matatalino." Kinindatan ko siya. "Pero siyempre pakakasalanan muna kita."

__________________________End of Chapter 21.