CHAPTER 2: UNFORTUNATE

SORCHA'S POV

A few years ago...

I'm in a happy mood. Pinayagan kasi ako ng mga boss ko na lumabas ng tanghali kahit oras pa ng trabaho. Nag-aalangan pa akong magtanong sa kanila no'ng umpisa. It's not like I have a legitimate reason to give them, and I didn't want to lie.

But Dagger is really different from what I imagined it would be like to be in a workplace. There's respect and professionalism, but it's not the inflexible kind, nor is it toxic. It's like being in a loud and big family. Paulit-ulit nga kaming sinasabihan ng mga boss namin na huwag na namin silang tawagin na sir. Which, I admit, is not easy for me. I'm used to calling people by their title, surname, or honorific.

Kahapon ko pa hinahanap si Trace dahil sa lahat ng magkakapatid ay siya ang pinaka-approachable. Sa kaniya ko sana gustong magpaalam dahil sa kabila ng environment na mayroon ang Dagger ay siyempre hindi naman nila ako basta mapapayagan na umalis. Ang kaso wala si Trace at ang iba pa niyang mga kapatid maliban kay Axel at Thorn.

One will think that it's better to go to Axel than to Thorn. He looks shy and gentle, but out of the seven brothers, I could feel that he's someone that shouldn't be messed with. It's also hard to disturb him when he's busy and he hasn't slept for hours. Tanging ang asawa niya lang ata ang kayang makapagpaganda sa mood niya kapag ganoon.

So I went to the eldest Dawson. When I told him my reason and after promising that I would be back to finish the rest of the working hours, he just stared at me as if I were a creature that he hadn't seen yet. That is saying something since he's married to a woman that people describe as a unicorn. Anyway, after that, the corner of his lips went up as if he were amused, and then he told me that I could go.

And here I am. Nagbaba ako ng tingin sa yakap-yakap ko na paso. "I was even considering taking a sick leave just for you."

Nakita ko kasi sa Facebook ang announcement ng kilalang local farm sa Baguio na kasama sila sa gaganaping bazaar sa SM Dasmariñas. Ang kaso natapat naman na may pasok ako.

I could have gone after work, but I have a feeling na wala na akong maabutan. I was right since, when I arrived here at the mall, they were nearly sold out. In fact, there was only one left of the plant that I wanted.

"You're meant for me—"

Hindi ko pa natatapos ang sasabihin ko ay may malakas na bumangga sa akin. Pakiramdam ko ay naging slow-mo ang pangyayari habang pinapanood ko kung paanong kumawala sa pagkakahawak ko ang paso ng Monstera plant na bitbit ko.

Sinubukan kong habulin iyon pero hindi ko na iyon nagawa dahil muli na naman akong nabangga. Alam kong maliit ako pero ganoon ba ako kaliit para hindi nila ako makita?!

I have full intention of giving the person who bumped into me a piece of my mind, but I wanted to try and save the plant first. Kahit naman basag na ang paso niyon ay pwede ko namang ilipat sa ibang paso.

I was about to crouch down to retrieve the plant from the floor when I heard footsteps getting nearer to where I was. A crowd of shoes rushed past me, crushing the poor plant. I tried to save what's left of it, but a hand grabbed me on the arm, and I was pulled away.

"I almost didn't see you there. Are you okay, Miss?"

Galit na nilingon ko ang humila sa akin. I was greeted by a man who towered over me with his height and huge build. He has perfect, slightly tousled hair in what could be a rich medium brown color. It has this streak of lighter tones that makes me think that he enjoys being under the sun. With his amber eyes, strong jawline, and features that show that he's either a foreigner or he has a prominent foreign genetic influence, it gives him a face that could make a million sins forgiven.

Or a nine hundred ninety-nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine. Dahil masama ang loob ko at wala pa akong balak na patawarin siya.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya para salubungin ang mga mata niya. It's not an easy thing to do since he's way taller than me. Inangat ko ng kaunti ang visor ng suot ko na bullcap na pilit ipinasuot sa akin ng kapatid ko bago ako umalis ng opisina dahil mainit daw at ang layo ng pinarkingan ko.

"Ikaw ba ang nakabangga sa akin?" I realized that I just talked in Tagalog which is a language he probably didn't understand. I opened my mouth to correct it, but he beat me to it.

Ignoring the crowd around us, he flashed me a huge smile. "Yes."

Nakakaintindi ng tagalog. He's probably half or he lived here for a long time. "So it's not "almost"," I told him.

"Ha?"

"You said you almost didn't see me. Nabangga mo ako. Ibig sabihin hindi mo talaga ako nakita. Kung "almost", nakita mo na ako pero pinili mo lang na banggain pa rin ako."

He looked taken aback for a moment. Then he grinned again and raised his hand to scratch at the back of his head, the movement making his shirt emphasize how it's perfectly gripping his body as well as the visible bulge of his arm.

Impit na nagtilian ang mga taong nakapalibot sa amin pero nananatiling walang kangiti-ngiting nakatingin lang ako sa kaniya.

"Nasira iyong dala mo," pagpapaalala niya sa isang bagay na hindi ko pa nakakalimutan.

He can also speak Tagalog. "Kasi binangga mo ako."

His smile turned apologetic. "I'll pay for it."

"Kahit bayaran mo ako, hindi na ako makakabili ulit niyan."

Iyon na lang ang natitirang Monstera ng Green Pulp Farm. Kailan pa sila ulit pupunta rito? It's not like I can go to Baguio with how busy I am.

"I still want to pay for it. It's the least that I can do," he said gently.

"I bought that plant for eight thousand pesos."

Napakurap siya. I'm sure it's not because he doesn't have the money. The watch he was wearing alone cost a lot. It's more likely that he's surprised that a plant could cost that much.

"Hoy ate! Modus mo 'yan 'no?"

"Eight thousand para sa halaman? Ayos ah."

"Huwag mong inii-scam ang Daze namin! Ano 'yang halaman mo? Gawa sa ginto?"

Wow. The Variegated Monstera plant ranges in price. It depends on the extent and rarity of its variegation. Ang suwerte na kapag may nabili ka na mura. Minsan ay iyong mga malilit katulad ng nabili ko. I was lucky since the one I bought has a beautiful pattern and colors. It has a mix of white and green, and with the reputation of the seller, what I paid for was already a deal.

The man turned to them, calming them down, before he turned to me again. He didn't look annoyed. Nakangiti pa rin na kinuha niya ang wallet niya mula sa bulsa niya.

"I don't need your money." Nang matigilan siya at mapabaling sa akin ay direktang tinignan ko siya sa mga mata. "Next time, learn how to apologize first. Hindi lahat nakukuha sa ngiti at pagpapa-cute. Hindi rin lahat okay na basta binayaran mo na." I glanced at the women around us. "And teach your fans to educate themselves before speaking. Nagmumukha kayong ignorante."

Hindi ko na hinintay pa na magsalita siya at basta ko na lang siyang tinalikuran.

I might as well go to work. I'm no longer in a happy mood, and it's because of that Daze person.

Grr!

SORCHA'S POV

Present day...

I mumbled my greetings to my co-workers, who greeted me when I entered the office of Dagger's Forensic Department. Ibinaba ko ang mga gamit ko at pagkatapos ay nilapitan ko ang aquarium na nasa isang panig ng opisina kung saan may isang kulay asul at isang kulay puti na mga isda.

Like always, it's like the two betta fish inside know when I'm around. They started swimming in circles as if they were greeting me.

Kinuha ko ang pagkain nila ay binigyan ko sila niyon. I took on the task of feeding them since dati ay kung hindi sila na a-underfeed dahil nakakalimutan ng mga kasamahan ko na pakainin sila ay na o-overfeed naman sila dahil pinapakain sila nang pinapakain.

It wasn't my idea to keep an office pet, but during one of Dagger's many cases, we saw the abandoned bettas that were owned by a murdered victim. Wala namang gustong kumuha sa kanila kaya dinala namin dito sa opisina. Originally, there were five of them. The three died, and the two were sick.

We took pity on them. They didn't seem to be treated like decorations, like most people unfortunately do. Malaki ang tangke nila at kumpleto rin ang gamit. They seem to be cared for and loved.

"Parang may ulap na naman na nakasunod sa'yo ah," sabi ni Pike na lumapit sa akin para panoorin ang ginagawa ko.

Sumulpot mula sa kung saan ang isang lalaki na gulo-gulo ang buhok. Base sa itsura niya ay mukhang hindi pa siya natutulog. He probably stayed here at Dagger. Meron naman kasing kuwarto para sa mga empleyado rito. "Natural feature ni Sorcha 'yan."

"Hindi kita kilala."

"Paanong hindi eh magkapitbahay tayo mula fetus pa lang tayo?"

Walang mag-aakala na magkakambal kami ni Kuya Nevan. We're the exact opposite of each other, may it be through our physical looks or our personalities. He's a people person and I'm not, he's tall and I'm short, I have reddish hair and he has dark hair, I'm pale like paper and he has more color than me, I have deep blue eyes and his are the lightest shade of brown.

Our parents used to say that I got all the Irish and didn't leave much for my twin. It's something that makes me really envious of my brother. While it's obvious that he has foreign blood just by looking at him, I like the subtleness of the features he inherited.

I didn't want to stand out, but it's hard not to do that with my freaky eyes. Mas bagay sa kapatid ko iyon dahil siya ang mas mahilig makipagsalamuha sa ibang tao.

Sinimangutan ko siya bago ako naglakad papunta sa desk ko. Naramdaman kong nakasunod sa akin ang dalawa. Napapabuntong-hininga na inikot ko ang kinauupuan ko at tinignan ko sila. "May kailangan ba kayo? Why are the BPs here this early?"

Dagger employees are categorized into three parts. The first one is Spine Points manages investigative research and security control. Forensics is a part of it. The second is Blade Points takes over field investigations and client security. And the last are the Bolsters which are the trainees.

Every Bolster needs to train for both departments. Maging ako ay pinagdaanan din iyon. We could choose a specialization after. I graduated from the training early since it's obvious what I'm good at.

"May nalaman kasi kami," panimula ni Pike.

Itinaas-baba ng kapatid ko ang mga kilay niya. "Meron ka raw apprentice na dadating."

I shouldn't be surprised that they already know. Mabilis ang tsismis sa lugar na ito. Walang tsismis ang nakakaligtas sa mga SP pero ganoon din naman sa mga BP. Paano naikalat na ng mga taga-SP.

I scanned the room through narrowed eyes, and I found a couple of pairs that tried to avoid my gaze.

Letting out a sigh, I stood up again. Mabibigat ang mga hakbang na kinuha ko ang ang water mist bottle na binili ko para rito sa opisina at sinimulan kong diniligan ang mga halaman na ako rin ang nagdala rito.

"So... who is it?" Kuya Nevan asked.

Nakatutok ang paningin sa mga halaman na nagsalita ako. "Hindi niyo pa ba alam?"

"Wala namang nabanggit na pangalan sa balitang nasagap namin."

"Open my computer and look for the email about it."

Hindi ko na kailangan na magdalawang salita pa. Nagmamadali nilang pinuntahan ang desk ko para buksan ang computer.

"Have you read the file already?" tanong sa akin ng kapatid ko habang tumitipa sa keyboard. He knows my password like I know his. Birthday lang naman namin 'yon with the additional numbers of the time we were born. He was born at 1:43 am, while I was born at 1:49 am.

"Nope."

"Why?"

Ibinalik ko sa lalagyan ang spray bottle na hawak ko at bumalik ako sa desk ko. Tinabig ko siya ng bahagya at pagkatapos ay sumalampak ako ng upo sa office chair. "Hindi ako interesado," simpleng sagot ko.

Kunot ang noong nilingon niya ako. "You need to know him. He's part of your punishment, remember?"

Punishment. What an apt thing to call it. "I already know him."

"You do?"

"Unfortunately."

Full of curiosity, my brother turned to the screen to click on the file that had been sent to me. At the same time that it started to load, the door opened, and I heard a couple of gasps coming from the others.

The face of the man flashes on the screen with an annoying smile plastered on his lips. But it couldn't be more annoying than to see it in actuality, like right now, where he's standing just a few distance away from me.

"Good morning everyone! Daze Henderson reporting for duty." He glanced in my direction and winked at me. "Hi, Torta!"

__________________________End of Chapter 2.