CHAPTER 22: IRISH

SORCHA'S POV

"Parang pasan natin ang daigdig, ah? Miss mo na ang irog mo?"

Masama ang tingin na ibinigay ko Arcane na napangisi lang sa naging reaksyon ko. He's been teasing me all day kahit na ilang beses ko ng pinaliwanag na mali ang pagkakaintindi nila sa nakita nila kaninang umaga.

It's that golden retriever's fault! Hindi ko alam kung naramdaman niyang papahirapan ko siya buong araw o talagang swerte lang na may kailangan siyang puntahan ngayong araw na ito kaya nagawa niya akong takasan.

"Saan nga ba pumunta ang isang 'yon?" tanong ng lalaki.

"Ewan ko. Kung saan man siya nandoon, doon na lang siya bago ko maisipang i-autopsy siya for fun."

Tumawa si Arcane na parang aliw na aliw siya sa kamiserablehan ko. He probably finds it entertaining because I usually don't care about my surroundings before.

"He really could rile you up, huh? Normally dedma ka lang sa mga bagay-bagay kasi may sarili kang mundo."

"Mahirap dedmahin si Daze."

"Bakit?" singit ni Khione. She was busy working but it wasn't surprising that she's listening. Mga tsismoso at tsismosa nga. "Because when he's around, your heart is fluttering and you can't think straight?"

I narrowed my eyes at her, and she and Arcane chuckled. "Hindi. Dahil numero unong papansin ang isang 'yon. I don't think even the most patient person can ignore that man because he's like a persistent bug."

"So no heart flutters and you can still think straight when he's around?" Khione pressed.

"The only time my heart will flutter is when I'm about to have a heart attack, and the only moment that I wouldn't be able to think straight is if I suddenly got a brain tumor."

Parehas na napa-hmm sila ni Arcane na para bang hindi sila naniniwala sa akin.

"Eh bakit parang may pinagdadaanan ka riyan?" tanong ni Arcane.

Tinuro ko ang laptop ko. I was looking at Green Pulp Farm's Facebook page. They have a bazaar in Manila, and I want to go, but I can't because I have a lot of things to do. Bakit naman kasi ngayon pa? Hindi ba pwedeng pagkatapos na lang ng kasunduan ni Daze sa Dagger para matiwasay na ang buhay ko that time?

Magkasabay na nag-ahh ang dalawa. They both know my love for my plants. Well, everyone does.

"Want me to cover for you?" Arcane offered. "Sigurado naman akong papayagan ka ng mga boss natin na umalis."

"Sa traffic ng Cavite at ng Manila? Hindi na ako aabot."

Hindi ko rin naman maiiwan basta ang trabaho ko. I trust everyone here when it comes to being great at their jobs, but we're all busy, and I don't want to put another on their plates when theirs are as full as mine.

"Manghiram tayo ng helicopter."

Pinaningkitan ko ng mga mata ang kapapasok lang na si Zavian. He's our ballistics expert.

Itinutok ko na lang ulit ang atensyon ko sa monitor na nasa harapan ko at pinagpatuloy ko ang pagmumukmok ko. I don't think my co-workers will stop teasing me anytime soon, and if I keep reacting, the more they won't stop.

It's kind of amazing that they can do it without my brother knowing. Clueless pa rin kasi ang kapatid ko sa kung anong sa tingin ng mga taga-forensic na nakita nila. Which was nothing.

Umupo si Zavian sa swivel chair niya at tinapik-tapik niya ang tiyan niya. "May meryenda sa fourth floor. Kumuha na raw kayo sabi ni Ma'am Lia kundi hindi na raw siya magluluto ulit."

Mabilis pa sa alas-kuwatro na napatayo kami nina Arcane at Khione. I might have my own world, but if there's one thing that I'm willing to visit in the real world, it would be the cooking of the Dawsons. Except ang mga luto ni Luna. Mabuti na lang absent ako kasi marami raw ang mga sumakit ang tiyan.

Nang makarating kami sa fourth floor ay naabutan namin na halos kumpleto ang mga Dawson. Ang wala lang ay si Circe Dawson na siguradong nasa Batangas at si Tiara Dawson na sa pagkakaalam ko ay naghahanda para sa nalalapit niyang ballet show sa ibang bansa.

"Nasa pantry ang mga pagkain. Just get whatever you want," Lia Dawson said with her soft sweet voice.

Nahihiyang sumunod ako kila Arcane na akala mo ay mga isang taon ng hindi nakakakain na dumiretso kaagad sa pantry. We all let out a sound of amazement when we saw that almost every surface of the pantry had a tray of food.

Inabutan ako ng reusable tupperware na nasa pinakamalaking cupboard ng pantry. Madaming tupperware doon dahil talagang sanay ang lahat na manginain dito sa fourth floor.

Napansin ko ang tatlong tray ng mga sandwich at doon ako lumapit kesa sa pinagkukumpulan nila Arcane na mga ulam. I love rice, but I have a fascination with sandwiches. Madali kasing kainin at para sa akin na laging busy ay mas madaling i-prepare iyon.

I took half of a Reuben and put it in my tupper and half of what seemed to be a Cheesy Pork Cuban sandwich.

Kasalukuyan kong sinasarado iyon nang sumulpot sa tabi ko si Lia. May hawak siya na dalawang walang laman na tupperware.

"I love your eyes." Nang bumalatay ang gulat sa akin ay ngumiti siya. "And your hair. You're really pretty."

"Umm... thank you po?" naging patanong na sabi ko.

I don't really know how to react to her words. It's not everyday that someone will approach me and tell me that I'm pretty. Except kay Daze.

"I heard that you and your brother are Irish."

"Half—" Gunter Dawson's face flashed in my mind. He's so overprotective when it comes to his wife that I think he will breathe fire at anyone who makes his wife feel disrespected. "—po."

Binuksan nya ang mga naka-cover na tray sa tabi ng mga sandwich. "I made Irish Colcannon. Meron ding Potato Farls." Naglagay siya ng marami niyon sa dalawang tupperware. Nang matapos siya ay nilingon niya ang hawak ko na lalagyan at kinuha niya sa akin iyon. "Let's get you some Irish egg salad sandwich as well."

She stacked one after another and then she gave everything to me.

"Thank you po." Nagbaba ako ng tingin sa mga dala ko. It's like a buffet of Irish food. "Para sa amin po ba 'to ni Kuya? Wala po siya ngayon dito sa Dagger."

"Oh, I know. That's yours. Pinagtabi ko na si Nevan."

I can't eat all of these. Sasabihin ko na sana sa kaniya iyon pero nang mag-angat ako ng mga mata sa kaniya ay nakita kong may ngiti sa mga labi na nakatingin siya sa akin. I don't think my usually cold heart could say no to her.

"I had fun cooking them especially when I heard from Lucienne that you and Nevan are half-Irish. Tell me if something doesn't taste good, okay?"

Marami na akong nakain na mga luto niya. Wala kahit isa sa mga iyon na hindi masarap. At kung sakali man na hindi masarap ang luto niya ngayon ay duda ako kung masasabi ko sa kaniya iyon. Baka gawin pa akong shooting target ng asawa niya.

"Ma'am Lia, German food naman next time," hiling ni Arcane na panay na ang subo.

"You're half-German?" Lia asked.

"Ja."

Lia Dawson's eyes sparkled. Mukhang nakakaisip na siya ng mga recipe na susubukan niya sa susunod.

I thanked her for the food quickly because I have a feeling that she will interview Arcane about his favorite food, and I made my escape so I could go back to the forensic department.

I could feel eyes on me, and when I turned around when I was inside the elevator, I saw all the Dawson women looking at me. Lucienne Dawson waved in my direction, and I returned a tiny wave of my own.

Bago sumarado ang pintuan ng elevator ay narinig ko pa silang nag-uusap.

"Kada nakikita ko siya gumaganda ang araw ko," sabi ni Lucienne.

"Bakit?" tanong ni Luna.

"Grabe na ang inflation ngayon. Kailangan kong magpayaman para secured ang future ng mga bagets ko."

"Para secured kamo ang mga Shopee orders mo," pang-aasar ni Trace sa babae.

Lumalim ang gatla sa noo ko. Anong ibig nilang sabihin? Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko. Baka wala namang kinalaman sa akin ang pinag-uusapan nila at nagkataon lang na nakatingin sila sa akin.

I exited the lift when it stopped. I was so busy looking at the tupperware I'm holding, thinking about what I will eat first, that I didn't notice that someone was walking in my direction.

Kung hindi pa ako nahawakan ng taong 'yon ay baka tumalsik na ako sa kung saan kung sakaling nagkabanggaan kami.

Nag-angat ako ng mukha at nalukot ang mukha ko nang ang bumungad sa akin ay ang nakangiting si Daze.

"I really like how unique your expression is whenever you see me."

Pumiksi ako para mabitawan niya ako pero nanatili lang siyang nakahawak sa magkabilang braso ko. "Do you know that I memorized every bone in a person's body? Want me to help you identify them by breaking them one by one?"

He patted my head as if he found me adorable. "Why are you so adorable? I want to put you in my pocket so that I can carry you wherever I go."

"Anong akala mo sa akin? Wallet size?"

"More on coin size—" Napatawa siya nang iangat ko ang paa ko para sipain siya pero kaagad niyang naiwasan iyon.

"Get out of my way. Kakain ako."

Umalis siya sa harapan ko pero gaya ng inaasahan ay para lang iyon na makasabay siya sa paglalakad ko. "Is that our dinner?"

"Our? Bakit kasama ka? Kumuha ka ro'n sa taas kung gusto mo."

"Gusto ko 'yang sa'yo."

Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mga mata. "Hindi lahat ng gusto mo makukuha mo."

"I know that. Hindi ka pa akin eh."

Muntik akong mapatid sa sinabi niya. Mabuti na lang ay nahawakan niya ako sa siko bago pa ako makipag face-to-face sa sahig.

I let out a growl that only made Daze grinned more. Kinuha niya sa akin ang mga dala ko at inipit niya iyon sa isang braso niya, at pagkatapos ay inabot niya ang kamay ko at hinila ako sa direksyon ng opisina ng forensic department.

"I want to show you something," he said.

"Kailangan hawak mo talaga ang kamay ko?"

"Hindi." Kinindatan niya ako. "Hindi kailangan pero gusto ko."

I would have said something but he quickly pulled me as if he couldn't wait to show me something. Nang makapasok sa opisina ay kaagad kong napansin ang malaking paper bag na nasa ibabaw ng desk ko.

"Is that food? Meron na akong pagkain."

"Nope." He let me go and then gently pushed me on the small of my back. "Look at it."

Napapabuntong-hininga na nilapitan ko ang desk ko para silipin ang nasa paper bag. Nalalaki ang mga matang napaatras ako at nilingon ko si Daze na ngiting-ngiti. I step forward again to take a peek inside the bag and what's in it remains the same.

Holy shit.

"I remember the logo on the pot that you were carrying when I first met you. I can still remember what the plant looks like, but plants looked the same to me, so I researched about it and asked around."

It's a Monstera. Hindi iyon basta-basta. It's from Green Pulp Farm. Katulad no'ng halaman na binili ko noon na hindi ko man lang naiuwi bago iyon nasira. Ang pagkakaiba lang ay mas malaki ito at mas kitang-kita ang kakaibang variegation niyon. I'm pretty sure that it cost more than the one I bought before.

"I followed their page after I met you, you know? Kaya nalaman kong nasa Manila sila."

"Why?" mahina kong tanong.

"Hmm?"

Sinalubong ko ang mga mata niya. "Why did you buy it for me? Why do you even remember it in the first place?"

It's not like that day was so special that he has to remember it. Ang daming mga tao na nakapaligid sa kaniya. I'm just one of the many people who crossed his path. So why?

"I remember everything about you." Nagkibit siya ng balikat. "Besides, it's the first time that someone kicked some sense to me."

"What do you mean?"

He shrugged. "I was a bit entitled. Lahat ng tao hinahayaan lang ako sa kung anong gusto kong sabihin o sa kung anong gusto kong gawin. No one corrects me or tries to stop me. It became a habit. I feel like everything I do is the right thing, and even if I do something wrong, people will forgive me even if I don't ask for forgiveness."

Lumapit siya at inilabas niya mula sa bag ang halaman. Nakangiting humarap siya sa akin. "Sorcha Byrne, I'm sorry for being an entitled prick before and for ruining your plant that you clearly adore. I know that this plant couldn't replace the one you had before, but I hope that you'll love this one just the same."

Ilang sandaling nakatingin lang ako sa kaniya. His apology seems genuine. His actions tell me that too. Just for the fact na finallow niya ang page ng Green Pulp Farm for years at katulad ko ay inabangan niya rin na magkaroon ng bazaar iyon sa malapit ay sapat ng katibayan para roon.

He's entitled, yes. He's an actor loved by many. He also grew up rich. But I met a lot of famous and rich people that don't even know how to utter the word "sorry." They justify their actions, they'll deny it, or they'll blatantly ignore it. Minsan naman nag-so-sorry pero kung hindi monetize ay gaslight apology naman. It's rare for people like them to actually mean it.

Daze is the typical rich and famous... and yet I'm slowly learning that he's so much more.

"Fine," I cleared my throat. "You're forgiven."

"Really?"

Imbis na sagutin siya at inabot ko ang mga tupperware na pinatong niya sa desk. "I'll share my food with you."

"Food lang? Wala bang kiss?"

Normally, I would have said something to him. But for some reason, I found myself hesitating.

I looked around us. The place is deserted. Paakyat pa lang siguro si Kuya Nevan at ipinarada lang ang sasakyan o nasa fourth floor din siya at kumukuha ng pagkain.

"Sorcha? Are you okay? Namumula ang mukha mo—"

Hindi niya nagawang tapusin ang sasabihin niya ng basta ko na lang hilahin ang kuwelyo niya dahilan para mapayuko siya at inilapat ko ang mga labi ko sa pisngi niya.

It was less than five seconds... and yet when I pulled away, I could feel my whole face burning.

"Wha... what?" Daze has a disoriented look on his face. "What happened?"

"Wala."

"Ahh okay." Parang nanlalambot na humila siya ng upuan at sumalampak siya roon. He started opening the tupperwares but he stopped and looked at me. "Did you just kiss me?"

"I-It's just a kiss on the cheeks. And... and you kissed me on the cheeks before!"

"That's different. Iba kapag galing sa'yo." Kumislap ang mga mata niya. "Wala ba sa lips?"

Pakiramdam ko ay hanggang talampakan na ang pamumula ko nang pumikit pa siya at ngumuso.

Before I could stop myself, I grabbed a piece of Potato Farls and threw it on him. I could probably have a career as a baseball pitcher because the food smacked dab on his pursed lips.

"Ku... K-Kumain ka na lang diyan!"

Kinuha ni Daze ang pagkaing nakasabit sa nguso niya at exaggerated siyang bumuntong-hininga. "Pwede na 'to. Irish food." He winked at my direction. "Next time ibang klaseng Irish naman."

_________________End of Chapter 22.