DS8Uncovered #LuMa #BearCouple #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER 31: QUETZAL

LUNA'S POV

"I'll regret it for the rest of my life if you won't give me a chance."

"What else do you want?"

"I want six—"

The cherry I'm holding almost fell to the ground if I hadn't caught it midway before it did. Si Magnus na nakaupo sa tabi ko at umiinom ay mukhang nabulunan dahil sunod-sunod ang naging pag-ubo niya.

My brothers, Trace and Pierce, gave us a weird look before resuming their conversation. Kuya Trace is negotiating with Kuya Pierce regarding the company's new helicopter. But all I could hear was the word sex instead of six, and with the way Magnus reacted, I wasn't the only one.

After we ended that awkward situation on that one awkward night two days ago, we managed to give one another a wide berth. Which almost seems impossible since we live together, but with how busy we are, it became possible not to think about the "list".

Until now.

"As I was saying, I want six hours with it."

"Why the hell do you need six hours to fly the helicopter?" Kuya Pierce asked.

"Hindi ko naman anim na oras papaliparin. Anong gagawin ko sa ere ng gano'ng katagal? "

"Itatanong kay Lord kung pwede ka pang mag-sign up sa itaas at i-cancel ang automatic subscription mo sa ibaba?" singit ni Lucienne na nag-angat ng mga mata mula sa laptop niya.

Inangat ni Kuya Trace ang mga kamay niya sa direksyon ng babae at umaktong may sinasakal bago niya muling binalingan si Kuya Pierce. "I just want to spend more time with it. Study it and—"

Kuya Thorn puts down the newspaper he's reading. "And take a lot of pictures with it."

"Pero bakit six hours? Specific na six hours?" tanong ni Lucienne.

It looks like she asked the right question when Kuya Trace's smile became uncertain. Tumaas ang kilay ng babae nang halos hindi makakurap ang kapatid ko at parang pinipigilan ang sarili niya na tumingin sa tabi niya kung saan nakaupo ang asawa niya.

Ember let out a sigh. "It's my fault. I was curious about the helicopter, so I was asking Trace about it. I mentioned to him that I know someone who pays a lot just for a thirty-minute romantic helicopter tour."

"Si Ember naman pala ang may gusto." Nag-thumbs up si Domino. "Basta ikaw, pwede."

"Pero bakit nga si—"

Pinutol ko si Lush. I really need to stop hearing the word six, which sounds so much like the word I'm trying to forget, or I'm going to self-combust. "Bakit anim na oras? You can enjoy a scenic tour for an hour tops. Kung may kasamang picture picture ni Kuya pwede na siguro ang dalawang oras. Anong meron sa anim?"

Kuya Coal burst out laughing suddenly. "Ano pa nga ba? Of course he has an ulterior motive."

My other older brothers and I gave Kuya Trace a disgusted look. Pinagkrus niya ang mga braso niya at binigyan kami ng masamang tingin. "Huwag mo akong itulad sa'yo, Coal. Malinis ang intensyon ko. I was just planning to take her on a tour, stop somewhere, and have a picnic together."

The other women let out an aww while Ember blushed. Tanging kaming magkakapatid ang nagdududa pa rin na nakatingin sa kaniya.

Kuya Coal smirked, and he put an arm around his wife's shoulder. "Nauna kang pinanganak, Kuya Trace, pero hindi ako pinanganak kahapon. You want to take her on a romantic tour and stop somewhere to wine and dine her. And as my beautiful wife said before, after dining and wining comes the—"

I could see him forming the word. That three-letter word. Kaya bago pa niya matapos iyon inabot ko ang unang nahawakan ko na pagkain, which turned out to be a cookie, at basta ko na lang isinubo iyon sa kaniya.

"Ayan." Binigyan pa ako ng thumbs up ni Kuya Trace bago binelatan si Kuya Coal. "Kumain ka na lang ng cookie tutal favorite mo 'yan."

Circe leaned towards her husband and bit half of the cookie. "Wrong. Ako ang may paborito sa cookies." Kinindatan niya ang asawa. "Pero pwede na rin. I like cookies, and you like my... I mean me. Same thing."

I groan in exasperation. It looks like the pregnancy hormones are causing this couple's harot level to spike up more than it normally does.

"Cookie ni Circe."

Lahat kami napalingon kay Lucienne na nakangising nakatingin sa kisame na para bang nandoon ang kasagutan sa lahat ng tanong sa buong mundo. "Tapos Pancit CanCoal." Kinalabit niya si Mireia. "May bago ka ng pwedeng ilagay sa menu mo kasunod ng Dawsons' Hotdogs."

The Dawson's Hotdogs she's talking about are the different varieties of homemade hotdogs that Lia made that they decided to name after my brothers. As in "hotdog ni" then insert the name of my brothers.

"Ano kaya ang pwede kay Luna 'no? Siya na lang ang Dawson na wala sa menu mo," sabi ni Belaya.

Mireia named the women after food or drinks. She named an angel cake after her name, and there's also the Bun Bun Carrot cake. The entire vegan menu was named Ember Eats, and every time there's a unicorn-colored pastry, it's always labeled as Lucienne's Special. Then there's the alcoholic drinks. Belaya's Black Cat, Lia's Edelweiss, and the latest Tiara's Ballet, which is a kind of cocktail that is best known as the Tiny Dancer. At kung idadagdag nila, Cookie ni Circe.

"Luna's Tapa," sabi ni Kuya Trace.

"Bakit tapa?" kunot ang noo na tanong ni Lucienne.

"TAPAt na pag-ibig. Alam niyo naman kung gaano kahumaling 'yan sa one and only niya—aray!" Akmang ibabato pabalik sa akin ni Kuya Trace ang ibinato ko sa kaniya na magazine pero yumakap ako sa braso ni Kuya Gun na nasa kaliwa ko. Nakangusong bumaling siya sa asawa niya. "Princess, si Luna o!"

Marahan siyang tinapik ni Ember sa pisngi. "Anong pinag-usapan natin tungkol sa pakikipag-away mo kay Luna?"

"Hindi ko na siya pwedeng ipaampon sa intsik kasi malaki na siya at magagalit ang asawa niya na may-ari ng Quetzal at boss ni Lucienne kaya baka magkaroon ng tragic na part two ang libro natin kaya quiet na lang ako."

"Very good."

I scrunch my nose at them before I turned to Mireia. "Ipangalan mo na lang ako sa kape. Tutal coffee is life ako."

Dati. Noong panahon na wala pa si Magnus sa buhay ko. Parang nag-iinventory ata kasi siya kada week dahil alam niya kung ilan ang nawawala sa supplies namin. Kulang na lang pati ang mga nakabote ay timbangin niya para lang sure na sure siyang hindi ako sumusobra ng mga hindi dapat sobrahan sa pananaw niya.

"Otap." Lahat kami ay napatingin kay Magnus na siyang nagsalita. "Name it Ulap ni Luna. Since dati akala niya Ulap ang tawag sa otap."

Napailing na lang ako ng ipakuwento nila kay Magnus ang tungkol doon. Malay ko ba? Sounds like naman at saka parehas silang four letters.

"Ang cute!" Kumislap ang mga mata ni Lucienne na parang may naisip. Magnus stiffened beside me, and my forehead knotted in confusion, especially when I saw panic cross his face. Panis is not a word often associated with Magnus. Pero sa hindi malamang kadahilanan ay parang ganoon ang nararamdaman niya sa mga oras na ito. "Kaya ba may Cloud room sa Quetzal? The Lark, I get. Since Quetzal and Lark are both kinds of birds." Kumorte ng pa "O" ang mga labi niya. "Kaya rin ba may Moon room? Luna means moon."

I glanced at Magnus. The panic was gone, and it was replaced by a blank expression. He didn't say anything, and instead he just shrugged.

Before anyone could speak again, we felt the private plane jolt a little. I looked out the windows, and I felt the others do the same. Right below us, we can see the beautiful crystal-clear ocean and the pristine architecture of the resort, which didn't take away from the natural beauty of the island but instead just added to it.

Bumitaw ako kay Kuya Gun para magawa kong bumulong kay Magnus. "Infernes sa nanay mo nakahanap ng magandang kaibiganin. Libre ba sila?" Sa pagkakatanda ko kasi ay nagbayad si Magnus para sa amin.

"Nope." He wasn't smiling, but when he turned to me, I could see amusement dancing in his eyes. "I talked to her briefly before their flight, and by the sound of it, she's not that close to the owner."

"Baka gusto niya lang makita sa personal para may masabi siya."

"Most probably."

Tumingin ulit ako sa labas. Unti-unti na kaming bumababa. "Ang mahal naman ng bisyo ng mom mo."

"She probably wants to flaunt that she can pay for it."

"Mahal? Wait. Di ba ikaw ang nagbayad para sa pamilya ko?" Nanlaki ang mga mata. "Holy shit! Mags!"

He caught a lock of my hair, and he gently tugged it. "Stop stressing. Para namang papayag ang mga kapatid mo na bayaran ko pati ang sa kanila."

Well, that's true. Kung mas may tataas sa height nila ay ang pride nila iyon panigurado. Ang unfair. Sa akin pride lang ang mataas.

My eyes roam around Magnus's face. He looks completely relaxed. Kabaligtaran ng nararamdaman ko na ngayon ay palapit na kami nang palapit sa isla. "Ready?"

"Ready for what?"

"Seeing her again?" I whispered.

My breath caught in my throat when he leaned down, bridging the distance left between us. "How could I not be? After you bring an army just for me?"

PAMINSAN-MINSAN ay nagkakatinginan kami ng mga hipag ko. Mula kasi ng umupo kami sa mahabang lamesa na hinanda sa amin sa restaurant ng Azureterra Island Resort kung saan naghihintay na sa amin sina Karla at Maurice Ronan, Magnus' mother and stepfather, ay walang umiimik sa aming lahat.

I gave Lucienne wide eyes, but she gave me a "wait gesture" then pointed at her plate before closing her eyes as if she's in heaven.

My eyes narrowed into a slit as I picked up my glass of water, looking at her through the rim of my glass. Siya kasi ang pambansang icebreaker namin. Kahit nga ang nanay ni Tiara na kahit ako ay gusto kong ilagan ay hindi nakalaban sa kakulitan niya.

"So Luna..."

I feel like the water I'm drinking went down a different pipe. Mabuti na lang ay hindi pa sobrang dami ng nainom ko kundi baka nagkaroon na ng fountain sa ilong ko. Ew.

Naramdaman ko ang kamay ni Magnus sa likod ko. He patted me softly, the chink at the corners of his eyes back, which tells me he's finding me amusing again. At least maganda ang mood niya. Mukhang clown pa ata ang role ko today at hindi asawa.

"Are you still working?"

Napakurap ako sa tanong ng ginang. Parang wala naman akong sinabi dati na may balak akong hindi magtrabaho. "Yes."

"Well, that's good."

But? I could hear a but, and by the look on everyone, they could hear the same.

"But how will you focus on creating a family if you're always working?" Binalingan niya ng tingin si Magnus. "He's already working a lot. It's a miracle that he found a wife willing to put up with the grueling hours he spent working. How will you take care of the house if you're doing the same thing?"

Rinig ko ang pagbagsak ng kubyertos sa mga plato. Hindi ko kailangan lingunin ang pamilya ko para malaman na sa kanila nagmula iyon. I could also feel their stares boring into me. I told them she could be difficult. They have experiences when it comes to difficult parents, so I didn't think it would still surprise them.

Si Magnus ang iyang nagsalita. "Mom, it's the modern era."

"I'm just saying. It's not like you're not earning enough. In fact, you could do more if you want." She waved her hand dismissively. "Let's talk about that later. All I'm saying is that she could just relax at home."

"She could if she wanted to. But she wanted a career, and she happens to be great in her field."

"Paano kayo magkakaanak niyan? Hindi na kayo bumabata." She skewered me with a look. "Lalo ka na."

Kung makapagsalita naman siya parang same level na ang wrinkles namin. I don't even have wrinkles!

"Adoption." Our attention went to Lucienne, who spoke through a mouthful of the food from her plate. "Ampon po ako. Masaya namana ang parents ko no'ng dumating ako sa buhay nila kahit na hindi naman na ako baby no'ng kinuha nila ako." Tinuro niya si Kuya Trace na napatigil sa akmang pag-inom. "Siya rin ampon. Napulot sa pinagbagsakan ng bulalakaw."

I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing. Give it to Lucienne to say something like that. At first, my heart squeezed with what she's saying since I knew that her past wasn't something that was easy to share for her, and then as if knowing that it would affect us, she decided to put Kuya Trace on the hotseat.

"It's better if they can have their own while they still can, Miss..."

"Misis po. Mrs. Lucienne Dawson." Nakangiting sumaludo pa ang babae sa ina ni Magnus na hindi alam kung anong magiging reaksyon kay Lucienne. I can't blame her. Kapag unang beses mo pa lang kasing na-meet si Lush, mahirap talagang intindihin kung ano ang nasa harapan mo. She's every bit of a unicorn. "I do get your point, Ma'am, but I don't think people should have children just because their biological clock is ticking, which I don't think is happening with Luna since she's still young. People should have children when they're ready. Not when they are being pressured to do it. At kung hindi sila magkakaanak? There's nothing wrong with that."

"Of course there's something wrong with that." Karla put a hand on her chest as if the mere idea of not having children was a preposterous idea. "Who will take care of them when they get old?"

My family seems to have a lot to say about that, but Tiara beat them to it, which was surprising. She's usually shy around strangers unless she's on stage and performing. "Us." She gave me her small, sweet smile. "We have a big family. We can take care of each other."

I could feel my nails digging into the skin of my palms at her words, but before they could do any damage, I felt Magnus' hand envelope mine in his.

Kita ko sa mga mata ng ina ni Magnus na wala siyang planong bitawan ang topic. But it was a good decision to bring my family with me. There really is safety in numbers because instead of focusing on me, her attention went to Magnus.

"Your stepfather wants to talk to you later."

"About?"

Her eyes scanned the room. "It's better to talk about it when it's just us."

"There's nothing you can't say here, mom. Everyone's family here," Magnus said with a sigh.

Questionable if we're going to include his mother and stepfather in the equation.

Magnus is not holding on to a grudge against his mother just because she got married not long after his father's death. He wasn't that unreasonable. He's not even holding a grudge. That's the problem. He's holding nothing.

The moment his mother got the inheritance from his father, she left us without looking back. His father had recently passed away, and I understand that he felt abandoned. When she got married again, instead of pulling Magnus into the fold, she and his husband excluded him. They didn't even invite him to the wedding. Naaalala lang nila si Magnus kapag may kailangan sila.

"Your stepfather has a great idea." She looked at her husband, who smiled at her encouragingly but didn't try to enter the conversation when it was supposed to be his idea. Idea niya nga ba talaga? "We know you established your business here, but wouldn't it be a better idea to do it abroad? The international audience is far wider than the local ones. Why don't you sell your company and invest in the business venture we're planning? You can still do what you're doing, but you'll have more time with your wife, and you can even go abroad."

What the ever-loving hell? "You... you want him to sell his company so that she can invest the money in the business you're planning?"

She gave me a condescending look. Something she obviously mastered. "I know you can't understand since you've been an employee for years. But Maurice is a businessman, and so is Magnus—"

"Even when I was an employee, I wasn't just an employee." Magnus wasn't the only one holding onto my hand. I was also holding on to him for dear life before I decided to throw and break something. "I do understand where you're coming from. I am a business owner myself, since I now own Maven. So I think I can say with confidence that what you're telling him to do is not just high-risk but also completely ridiculous."

Napasinghap siya at nanlalaki ang mga matang tumingin siya kay Magnus. "Are you going to let her talk to me this way?"

Hinarang ko ang sarili ko ng bahagya sa lalaki bago siya makapagsalita at walang takot na sinalubong ko ang mga mata ng ina niya. "With all the respect I still have left for you as my husband's mother, I'm asking you not to speak to him at this moment because he's too much of a good person to say the things I'm going to say straight to you."

"What—"

"Life is short, Mrs. Ronan. Katulad nga ng sabi mo, hindi na kami bumabata kaya gano'n din ho kayo. Don't waste your time by giving him more reason not to see you anymore. He sees you, what? Not even once a year?" Itinaas ko ang kamay ko nang akmang magsasalita siya. "Before you say it's my fault, I'm telling you now that it's not. Ganiyan na kayo bago pa ako dumating sa buhay niya. I want nothing more than for him to have a better relationship with you, to at least see you more, because I know I would have given a lot to still have the chance to do the same with my mother."

I couldn't look at Magnus, but I could feel his eyes on me.

"You visited your son, whom you haven't seen for a long time, and the first thing you did was question our relationship. The second thing you did was ask him to sell the company that he built from scratch until it has a name that is not only known here in the country but also internationally. Kaya alam kong alam niyo kung gaano kalaki ang value ng Quetzal." Mapait na ngumiti ako at napailing ako. I just can't believe this situation. "He can even go abroad? That's what you're going to throw to sweeten the deal? To have more time with me? He already does those things. No matter how busy he is, he always has time for me. At hindi lang sa akin. Pati sa pamilya ko. He will spend more hours working just to give me and my family his time. He would rather not sleep so that he could be with us. Katulad kung paano siya nandito ngayon. And abroad? He already travels a lot. Do you know how many times he's been to another country in a month? Kung gusto niyang tumira sa ibang bansa kaya niyang gawin. But everything that is important to him is here."

I know she can hear what's embedded in my words. She wasn't included in that category of people in Magnus' life because she made it so that she wouldn't be in it.

"Nothing in this world can make him sell Quetzal. Have you ever wondered why? Kung bakit gaano kaimportante sa kaniya ang kompanya niya? Have you even asked?"

Magnus and I don't really talk about this. But I'm not blind, just as my heart isn't either. He doesn't love working just because he's a workaholic. He enjoys it because he loves Quetzal.

"His father left Magnus some money, and my husband... my husband didn't burn it until there was none of it left. He created something more from it. Aside from Magnus, it's the only thing that is left from his father that is living and breathing."

For the first time since I met her, she couldn't find it in her to hold my eyes. Ganoon din ang asawa niya na para bang anumang oras ay basta na lang maglalaho.

"Belaya? May kamag-anak kayong may isla di ba?" narinig kong tanong ni Mireia.

"Yup. Tara? Kaya ko ring i-refund ang binayad natin."

"Huwag na. Masarap naman ang pagkain nila at saka mayaman naman tayo." Sumubo si Lucienne ng pagkain na para bang hindi nakakalunod ang tensyon sa pagkain. "I mean, hallo? May artista, sikat na singer, sikat na modelo, professional Olympic archer, professional Olympic surfer, a prima ballerina, and an influential journalist slash editor in chief slash company owner tayo?"

"And best-selling author, don't forget that," Ember said.

Nag-thumbs up lang si Lucienne bago niya hinarap si Magnus na may pigil na ngiti sa mga labi. "Boss Magnus, gusto mo hanapan din kita ng aampon sa'yo? Hindi pa naman huli ang lahat. Si Trace nga nahanap ang forever home niya. Si Trace na 'yan ha?"

Magnus chuckled as if his mother and stepfather weren't sitting in front of us. Inangat niya ang kamay niya na hawak ang sa akin. "Hindi na kailangan. I already found mine."

_______________________________End of Chapter 31.