DS8Uncovered #LuMa #BearCouple #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER 35: PRIORITY

LUNA'S POV

Sinundan ko ng tingin si Daniel na huminto para kausapin ang isa sa mga fashion stylist. Di kalayuan sa kaniya ay abala rin ang asawa niya na si Amanda na kasalukuyang hawak ang camera niya at kausap ang fashion department.

The meeting lasted quite awhile. Hindi lang naman kasi sila ni Amanda ang kasama roon at marami rin kasi kaming kailangan planuhin para sa nalalapit na shoot kaya expected na namin na tatagal talaga ang meeting.

I've known Daniel since I was in my second year of college, and he's always been a cheerful person. Kahit may problema siya ay bihirang mapapansin sa kaniya na may pinagdadaanan siya. That's why I was surprised by his mood the moment he and his wife arrived. Hindi rin nakaligtas sa akin ang nag-aalalang tingin sa kaniya ng asawa niya. Ano kayang nangyayari sa kanilang dalawa?

Isa ito sa mga rason kung bakit ginusto kong maging journalist. Kung hindi ako ang lumalapit sa tsismis ay tsismis naman mismo ang siyang lumalapit sa akin. I could smell an issue from a mile away.

Kaya nga hindi ako makapaniwala na sila ang pinaghihinalaan ng mga kapatid ko. I should be feeling something off with them by now, right? But who knows? Iba siguro ang radar ko sa issue at iba ang radar sa mga halang ang kaluluwa.

Pero ayoko pa ring paniwalaan na isa sa kanila ang makagagawa ng ganoon. I mean, let's be real here. I've dated and kissed some of them. I even considered the possibility of falling in love with them, even though, in the end, I didn't. At least not in a way that is more than friendship. But they are people that I care about and always will.

Hindi inaalis ang tingin kay Daniel na bahagya kong nilapit ang mukha ko kay Alex para bumulong. "Dito ka lang. Makikitsismis muna ako."

"Leave those two alone."

Hindi na ako nagtaka na napansin niya rin ang mag-asawa. "Bakit? Hindi ka curious?"

He pursed his lips and thought about it for a moment. "I am, you're right. Go."

Nakangising tumayo ako at naglakad ako papunta sa kinaroroonan ni Daniel. Nang makita kong nagsimula na siyang maglakad ay binilisan ko ang mga hakbang ko dahil baka hindi ko na siya maabutan. Lahat ata ng lalaki sa buhay ko biniyayaan ng height. Kahit si Alex ay di hamak na mas matangkad sa akin.

I could feel my brother Trace and Pike following behind me. When Daniel made a turn, I was supposed to do the same when I felt a hand on my arm stop me.

"What?"

Pinanlakihan ako ng mga mata ni Kuya Trace. "Anong what ka riyan? Bakit papasok ka ng men's room?"

"Makikitsismis," simple kong sagot.

"Sa CR?"

"Yup."

His eyes narrowed. "It's the men's comfort room, Luna."

"Ano naman? It's not like I haven't seen male anatomy, Kuya." Well, at least not in real life.

Nalukot ang mukha niya. "I didn't need to hear that."

I stuck my tongue out at him and shrugged my arms. Lumuwag ang pagkakahawak niya sa akin na tinake advantage ko para tuluyan na akong makapasok ng comfort room.

I was just in time since Daniel was in the act of pulling up his zipper. Halos mapatalon siya nang paglingon niya ay nakita niya akong nakatayo sa pintuan habang magkakrus ang mga braso.

A curse slipped out of his mouth. "You scared me to death!" Nalilitong tinignan niya ang paligid. It's obvious that it's the men's room. "What are you doing here?"

"You rescheduled twice."

"You're here because I rescheduled our meeting twice?"

Lumapit ako sa mahabang counter ng banyo at itinulak ko ang sarili ko pataas para makaupo ako sa gilid niyon. "Nope. I'm just curious why you did and why you look like you have a cloud above your head now that you're here?"

"It's a private matter, Luna."

"Alam ko. I want to know anyway."

He blinked slowly at me, as if he couldn't believe what I just said. I beamed at him and fluttered my eyelashes, which made him shake his head. "Of course you do. You're Luna Alondra Dawson."

I sighed. "Dawson-Aquillan."

"Right."

"So?" I pressed.

"What do you think it is?"

Nagkibit-balikat ako. "Ang sabi ni Amanda may sakit ka."

"And that's not enough for you?" Nang nanatili akong nakatingin lang sa kaniya ay napangisi siya. Now that he's smiling, he looks more like himself. "Siyempre hindi. Kahit ata may taning na ang buhay mo hindi ka pa rin mapipigilan na magtrabaho."

I tried not to let anything show on my face. What he said didn't just hit close to home. What he said was a home run.

"We're the same, Daniel, and you can't tell me otherwise."

Sumandal siya sa haligi ng banyo. "Ano sa tingin mo ang problema ko? I made my sister guess, and the first thing she asked was if I cheated on Amanda."

"If you cheated on her, hindi ikaw ang magmumukhang may galit sa mundo. Amanda should be looking at you like she wants to kill you, but instead she looks worried."

"I can't blame Danny. I have a history."

"There's a reason why history is history. You were an asshole, but you're an ex-asshole now."

He chuckled. "Thanks."

Binalot kami ng katahimikan. I waited for him because I knew that he'd tell me anyway. We've been friends for years. Sa aming dalawa ay mas masikreto ako. Nagkataon lang na nakapag-asawa na siya kaya siyempre hindi na ako ang unang nakakasagap ng balita. But Daniel is a good person, and I hate seeing him with such an expression that it's as if he's facing the end of the world.

"I have cancer."

Wow. "That wasn't what I was expecting," I admitted.

"What were you expecting?"

"Anything except cancer." Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na hininga. "Now I feel guilty for forcing you to speak."

Naiiling na napatawa siya. "Ano ba talagang inaasahan mo? Be honest. It's really cheating, right?"

"Well, yeah. Pero hindi ikaw."

Napataas ang kilay niya. "Huh."

Nagkibit ako ng balikat. "Malay ko ba kung napagtripan ka rin ng langit na ang lakas ng sense of humor."

"I would rather not have Amanda cheating on me. Cancer I could live with." Naging mapait ang ngiti niya. "Or not."

He's already making morbid jokes. It's a bit refreshing. Kadalasan kasi ay ako ang ganoon. Dahil si Magnus lang naman ang nakakaalam ay siya lang ang nagagamitan ko noon. And he hates it.

"What kind?" I asked.

"Testicular."

I nodded my head. "Good."

Surprise colored his face. "Good?"

"It's one of the most curable cancers out there. At least ninety-five percent ang cure rate niya."

"It's still cancer, Luna," he whispered.

He's scared. Even though he didn't want to admit it, I can see it. Sino bang hindi matatakot? It's a life-changing disease, and it has a terrible reputation.

"But they can cure it."

"They're going to cut..."

He couldn't continue his sentence, but I know what he meant to say. One of his testicle will need to be removed. It's a major surgery and a lot could happen.

"Amanda wants children," he whispered.

"She will want her husband alive and breathing more than she will want children."

"I don't know... what if she resents me for it someday? Paano kung iwan niya ako?"

"Do you believe that she loves you? Because if you do, anong kailangan mong ikatakot?"

"You don't understand, Luna. Kahit gaano mong kamahal ang isang tao ang daming pwedeng magbago. Bata pa lang si Amanda gusto na niya ng malaking pamilya. Paano ko maibibigay iyon sa kaniya kung malaki ang tsansa na hindi na iyon magiging posible?"

"A low chance doesn't mean not at all." I could feel my heart tightening. Halos ganoon din ang sinabi sa akin ni Gale. Hindi ibig sabihin na mahirap ay imposible. But this is a different case. Daniel has a bigger chance of being cured. "But if you're dead, then it will really be impossible."

"Luna—"

Bumaba ako sa kinauupuan ko at lumapit ako sa kaniya. "I do understand, because I also have cancer, Daniel," I whispered so quietly that only he could hear. "Focus on getting better and think about the rest later. Focus on living first. You're only at the beginning. You can't give up now."

Heaven knows how much I tried. I was full of hope at first, but that hope was slowly sucked out of me. But he has a better chance. He has better things to hope for.

Tumiim ang bagang niya at kita ko ang pagpipigil niya sa emosyon niya. I just dropped a bomb on him. Something that even my family doesn't know. But I feel like I have to tell him. I needed to tell him so he could fight. Para alam niyang hindi siya ang-iisa. Because, god, this illness... it feels isolating at times.

I know that in my situation, it was a choice that I made, but I don't think being surrounded by my family will change anything. I have Magnus, and he means the world to me, but sometimes I still can't help but feel alone.

No matter what people say, no matter how many times they tell you that they'll be by your side and that they won't leave you, you know deep inside that you're still alone. Because you know when death comes knocking, it will only come for one.

"Dan." Nang tumingin siya sa akin ay binigyan ko siya ng maliit na ngiti. "No one knows."

"I won't tell anyone."

Something passed between us. One that is full of gratitude. From me, it was for his statement. From him, because of what I trusted him with.

"You're going to be okay," I said, still whispering.

"Are you?"

I gave him the only answer I could give him at that moment. "I don't know... but I want to be."

NAPAHAWAK ako sa tapat ng puso ko sa gulat nang pagpasok ko ng opisina ko ay nakita kong nakaupo sa office chair ko si Magnus na nakapalumbaba pa habang may binabasa sa monitor ng computer ko.

"What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for my wife so we can have lunch together."

Pakiramdam ko ay parang may mga naglalarong paru-paro sa sikmura ko. Iba pala ang feeling kapag malaya ka na ulit na humarot.

"Binilan ko na rin ang kapatid mo at si Pike."

Sumilip ako sa labas ng pintuan at katulad nga ng sabi niya ay may pagkain nga ang dalawa na ngayon ay inaabot sa kanila ni Gracie. Kuya Trace gave me two thumbs up. Nang hindi pa siya nakuntento ay inangat niya ang mga kamay niya at gumawa ng dalawang korteng puso gamit ang mga daliri niya.

Binuksan ko ng bahagya ang pinto. "Dito na kayo sa loob kumain."

"Huwag na. Dito na lang kami at ayokong hindi matunawan sa inyo ng asawa mo." Umakto pang nanginig sa pandidiri ang kapatid ko. "Saka gusto pang magpa-cute ni Pike kay Gracie."

Muntik mabulunan si Pike at namumula ang mukha na tumingin ang lalaki sa assistant ko. "Nag-jo-joke lang si Sir, Miss Gracie."

Ngumiti lang ang babae. "Okay lang po. Palabiro naman po talaga ata si Sir Trace."

"Pinaglihi talaga 'yan sa clown," sabi ko sa babae bago ko binigyan ng masamang tingin ang kapatid ko. "Tigil-tigilan niyo si Gracie. Pito ang mga kapatid ko kaya walang problema kahit ibawas kita, Kuya. Pero si Gracie iisa lang."

"Tinawag mo pa akong kuya." Ikinumpas niya ang kamay niya na parang tinataboy ako. "Kumain na kayo ng asawa mong miss na miss ka na para bang hindi kayo magkasama sa bahay. Ilang beses na niyan akong pina-message sa assistant mo para lang tanungin kung pababa ka na."

"Inggit ka 'no? Hindi ka na namimiss ni Ember," pang-aasar ko.

Napasinghap siya pero bago pa siya makapagsalita ay binelatan ko lang siya at nagmamadaling pumasok na ako ng opisina. Para namang hindi ko alam kung gaano sila ka-clingy sa isa't isa ni Ember. Minsan nga kapag naka-duty sa opisina si Kuya Trace ay magka-video call sila halos maghapon.

When I turned to look at Magnus, I saw he had an elbow resting on the desk with his fingers lightly grazing his lips, which curved into a smile. "Done annoying your brother?"

"Not quite."

"Do it later." Bahagya niyang itinulak ang kinauupuan niya paatras. "Come here."

I wonder if I could have held myself back as long as I did if he had started doing all of these before. I probably wouldn't, to be honest. He was stopping himself, just like I was. The moment he saw a crack on my walls, that's when he decided that it's time to start breaking it.

I thought the fortress I built around me was unbreakable. But it has a weakness, just like everything else in this world. Mine was Magnus. The way he cares even though I thought I was just a person whom he married out of pity, and the way he keeps his promises like they're something precious to him. Those were just a few reasons why what I built to protect me started crumbling. Maybe because somehow it recognized that I didn't need to protect myself from Magnus.

Lumapit ako sa lamesa at akmang uupo ako sa upuan na nasa harapan no'n pero umiling ang lalaki. Napataas ang kilay ko pero may maliit na ngiti sa mga labi na umikot ako sa lamesa para mas makalapit sa kaniya. "Gaano ka close, sir?"

"Closer."

Lumapit pa ako sa kaniya. "Mga harot level na close ba?"

Before I could say anything else, he reached for my hand, and he tugged me closer to him. "Mas pa."

I cleared my throat. Hindi pwede 'to. Natatalo ang Dawsoness ko ng intensity ni Magnanimous Magnus. "You're sitting on my chair," I told him.

"Sorry." He didn't sound sorry, which he proved when he pulled me, and I fell on his lap with a small shriek. "Is that better?"

I could feel my cheeks flushing red, but I just rolled my eyes. "Pag-iisipan ko pa." Lies. This is definitely better. "What were you doing while waiting for me?"

"Wala naman."

Nilingon ko ang computer ko na nakabukas at nagdududang tinignan ko siya. "Bakit parang hindi ako naniniwala?"

Ngiti lang ang sinagot niya. Inabot ko ang mouse at hindi pa nagtatagal sa pag-iikot sa computer ay napabuntong-hininga ako. He sent a message on Maven's workspace group chat.

"I love my husband, Magnus Aquillan, even if he's not a sparkly vampire."

-Luna Alondra Dawson-Aquillan

He chuckled beside me, and I rolled my eyes with a shake of my head. I should have expected it.

"Paano ako kakain kung nakaupo ako sa'yo?" tanong ko sa kaniya pagkaraan.

"Pwede naman." Inabot niya ang paper bag ng pagkain na nasa tabi at inilapit niya iyon sa amin. "The only way you can't eat while sitting on me is if I'm the one you're eating—"

"Magnus!"

"What?"

Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mga mata. "Hindi na ikaw ang Magnus na nakilala ko." Inilapat ko ang kamay ko sa noo niya. "May sakit ka ba?"

Inabot niya ang kamay ko at inilapat niya iyon sa dibdib niya. "Nope. Just really in love."

"Ganiyan ka ba talaga ma-in love?"

"I don't know. You tell me."

I blinked. "I have never been in love except when I fell for you. Ikaw itong in love noon kay Lucienne."

"I thought I was, or something close to it, but I have long realized that maybe I really hadn't, and what I felt before barely scratches the surface."

"Why?"

"Because I never felt anything close to what I feel for you."

"Which is?" I pressed.

I was fishing. Not for compliments, but for his words that feed my heart. Mga salita na gustong marinig ng puso ko noon pa at ngayon pa lang iyon nabibigyan ng pagkakataton na marinig.

"There are a couple of things." He gently tapped the tip of my nose. "I miss you even if you're just in the next room, I like looking at your face first thing in the morning, I never had problems with working too much but I started to loathe it every time that I needed to be away from you because of it, I love finding things that makes you rely on me like parking your car that I know you hate and giving you whatever you wish for feels like my greater purpose, your smile is my favorite view and your laugh is my favorite sound in the world, and even though I'm old enough to know better, I still feel ridiculously jealous when you're around one of your exes."

Well, damn. It's no wonder he's great at his job. I've known this for quite awhile, but now it really confirms it. Magnus is really a romantic by heart.

"That's a lot," I murmured softly.

"Marami pa pero baka kulangin na ang lunch break natin." He leaned down to plant a kiss on my nose, which reminded me of the first kiss we shared. Na hindi na nasundan. "Mamaya na lang ulit."

Ang bilis naman ng sagot ng langit. "Mamaya? Bakit hindi pa ngayon?"

Kumunot ang noo niya. "We don't have much time, and we still haven't had lunch."

Namula ang mukha ko pero sa pagkakataon na ito ay sa ibang dahilan. Kung saan-saan kasi nakakarating ang utak mo. "So you only have time to snoop on my computer and to have lunch with me?"

He grinned at my dig at what I knew he'd been doing on my computer. "Yeah."

I'm a strong, independent woman. Career-wise, I never let anything stop me from getting what I want. Pero masasabi kong applicable din iyon sa totoong-buhay. Ang sakit ko lang naman ang iisang bagay na hindi ko magawang talunin.

So right now, sitting on Magnus' lap and wanting to be kissed by him again... why would I let anything stop me? He's my husband. I have always loved him, and now I'm letting myself get used to the fact that he also does. So bakit hindi pwede?

"So..."

"Hmm?"

Pinaglandas ko ang hintuturo ko sa dibdib niya at pinaglaruan ko ang suot niya na asul na necktie. "When can you carve time for me from your busy schedule?"

"I always have time for you."

"Good. Why don't you put something on your daily to-do list for me?" Nilingon ko ang cellphone niya at inginuso ko iyon. "Activate Siri."

"Hey, Siri," he said without a second thought.

I leaned forward, my lips almost touching his. "Kiss your wife, repeat every day, highest priority."

The last word hasn't even left my mouth fully yet when Magnus showed me how fast his reflexes are. He didn't need a moment to think before he had a hand on the back of my head, pulling me towards him so he could do what I've been wanting him to do.

Something I realized about him, his kisses are like an adventure. You don't know what you're getting unless you've already experienced it. At this moment, it was like a soft, slow dance. He was taking his time as if we had all the time in the world. And maybe we have. Because the world could end right now, and it still couldn't pry me away from Magnus' arms.

Nang parehas naming habol ang mga hininga namin ay bantulot na pinutol niya ang halik. Sinandal niya ang noo niya sa akin habang parehas nagtataas-baba ang mga dibdib namin. "Definitely the highest priority, wife."

______________________End of Chapter 35.