CHAPTER 9: SPY

SORCHA'S POV

"You know, the animated movie Brave reminds me of you pero pwede rin pala ang Little Mermaid?"

Dumulas ang pagkakakapit ko sa pool handrail at walang dudang babagsak ako ulit kung walang kamay na umabot sa akin at hinila ako pataas. I found myself at the edge of the pool, with Daze holding my hand tight. Halos ramdam ko ang init ng katawan niya sa lapit namin sa isa't isa.

"Move." Nang hindi siya kumilos ay sinubukan kong hilahin ang kamay ko. I'd rather fall back on the water than be this close to him. Iyon nga lang ay hindi niya pa rin ako pinakawalan. "You're going to get wet!"

"Aww!" He batted his eyelashes at me. "I need more foreplay than this before I get we—"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Daze!"

Tatawa-tawang umatras siya at dahil hawak pa rin niya ako ay nahila niya ako. When I was no longer in danger of falling, he let me go.

"It's too early for me to be this annoyed," I grumbled.

"People say that it is within our power to choose how we want things to affect us. So don't choose to be annoyed." Kinindatan niya ako at pagkatapos ay inabot niya sa akin ang tuwalya ko na ipinatong ko sa isa sa mga lounger na nandito sa pool area ng Dagger. "Piliin mong kiligin."

Nanggigigil na hinawi ko ang basang buhok ko at hinablot ko sa kaniya ang towel. Daze straightened, his eyes going to my forehead. Whatever. "May spy camera ka ba rito at parang alam na alam mo kung kailan nandito na ako sa opisina?"

Maaga akong pumasok dahil gusto kong mag-swimming. My house doesn't have one. Hot tub lang ang meron ako dahil mas pinili ko na magkaroon ng malaking garden. Kuya Nevan has one, but I don't want to break into his house. I did that before, and I happened to see his current "lady friend" walking around the house naked.

At saka mas malaki ang pool dito sa first floor ng Dagger. It also has the best view of the sunrise here in Tagaytay.

Nakatingin pa rin sa noo ko na sumagot siya. "Wala akong spy camera pero meron akong spy."

"Sino?"

"Secret."

My eyes narrowed into a slit. "Kapag nalaman ko kung sino, pagbubuhulin ko kayo parehas."

"Even if it's one of your bosses?"

Mariing tinikom ko ang mga labi ko. Alam ko na agad kung sino kahit hindi niya pa sabihin. Isumbong ko kaya sa asawa niya?

I have the numbers of the Dawson wives because they're a friendly bunch, and they gave it around so that we can call them if there's anything we need. I have a feeling, though, that it's their silent way of telling us to call them if their husbands are in trouble and we need help to straighten them out.

"Ewan ko sa'yo. 'Wag mo kong kausapin."

"I can't do that."

"Why not?"

He grinned. "I like talking to you."

"Lahat na lang ba about sa gusto mo? Eh paano ang gusto ko? Hindi mo ibibigay?"

"Ibibigay."

"Iyon naman pala—"

Pinutol niya ang sasabihin ko. "Kung ako ang gugustuhin mo, iyong-iyo na ako."

I let out a growl of frustration and the irritating man, of course, just laughed. "Go to the office. Magsha-shower muna ako."

"Okay," he murmured, his eyes flashing.

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko sa kinikilos niya. He's also still looking at my forehead. Hinawakan ko ang noo ko pero wala naman akong naramdaman na kahit na ano roon. Kanina pa kasi siya titig na titig doon na parang nandoon ang sagot sa lahat ng katanungan na mayroon sa mundo.

"Why are you looking at my forehead?"

"H-Ha? Wala naman." This time, his gaze went to something behind me. "Go take a shower. Baka lamigin ka pa."

Lilingon sana ako sa likuran ko para sundan ang direksyon ng tingin niya pero hininto niya ako. With his eyes back on my forehead, he took the towel and put it on my shoulders. He secured it on my front before taking my hand and bringing it to where he gathered both ends of the towel so that it wouldn't fall.

Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ko sa kaniya at sa tuwalya. When I looked up at him, that's when I noticed how red his ears were.

It finally dawned on me what's happening. I'm wearing an army green one-piece swimsuit, and it has a decent neckline, but it's low enough to show a hint of cleavage. Nang umahon ako sa pool ay natatakpan ang harapan ko ng mahaba kong buhok.

"Para sa taong parang nakaimbento ng kaharutan, ikaw itong napakaarte."

Lalo siyang namula. "I'm being a gentleman here, Red."

"Gentleman my foot. You were talking about foreplay just moments ago." Tinabig ko siya at pagkatapos ay nilagpasan ko na siya para kunin ang mga gamit ko na ipinatong ko lang sa isa sa mga lounger.

"Red?"

I collected my things and started walking away, but I couldn't help but ask, "What?"

"Do you want me to buy you a rashguard?"

"No. I'm fine with my swimsuit, you flirty maiden."

Nasa pintuan na ako papasok ng gusali nang tawagin niya ako ulit. "Red!"

"What?!" I hissed.

"Do your freckles go everywhere or..."

"Shut up!"

PABAGSAK na umupo ako sa sofa na nandito sa opisina ng Forensic department. Daze is out to get lunch for us that he volunteered to buy. Mula kaninang umaga ay ngayon lang ako nagkaroon ng isang minutong kapayapaan na wala siya sa tabi ko.

"This is new. Ngayon lang ata kitang nakitang pagod na pagod."

Hindi ko iminulat ang mga mata ko kahit naramdaman ko ang paglundo ng espasyo sa tabi ko. "Huwag mo akong kausapin."

"Is work stressing you or your shadow, who is persistent in spending every second with you from sunrise to sunset?"

My eyes snapped open, and I turned my head, which was still leaning on the sofa, to look at my brother. "It's you!"

Itinuro niya ang sarili niya. "Me?"

"Daze's spy!" He implied that it's one of my bosses, but who knows? Baka sarili kong dugo na pala na kapitbahay ko sa loob ng siyam na buwan ang pinagkakaluno ako. "It's you, isn't it?"

"No, but I know who it is." Nagdududang tinignan ko siya nakangising itinaas niya ang mga kamay niya. "I'm not lying."

"Tell that person to stop."

"Try telling one of our bosses to stop doing what they want to do," he challenged me.

"Tell him to stop o isusumbong ko siya kay Ma'am Ember."

Tawa lang ang naging sagot sa akin ng kapatid ko. The betrayal!

Inangat ko ang paa ko para sipain siya pero gaya ng inaasahan ay naiwasan niya lang iyon. "What are you doing here? Hindi welcome ang mga BP dito."

"Is that a new rule?"

"Yeah."

"Bawal na rin ako rito?" tanong ni Pike na kasama pala ng kapatid ko at kasalukuyang nakaupo sa tabi ni Khione na abala sa pagtipa sa keyboard na nasa harapan niya.

"Hindi. Si Kuya Nevan lang."

My brother acted as if he were about to pinch my cheek, but he pulled his hand back when I bared my teeth at him.

"What a thing to say about your only brother."

Tinignan ko siya ng masama. "Who's helping someone irritate the hell out of me."

"Technically, Daze is just doing what is in the agreement. He's supposed to shadow you as long as you're on the premises of Dagger."

Nakasimangot na tinalukuran ko siya at humarap na lang ako sa aquarium. Inilapat ko ang hintuturo ko sa salamin no'n at kaagad namang lumangoy palapit doon ang kulay asul na betta fish. "Enjoy your Daze free life, fish. At least you have a world that he hasn't invaded yet..."

My voice trailed off when I noticed something in the tank. May nabago roon. There's a couple of moss balls around and a new cave. The white fish is busy playing with one of the balls, clearly enjoying it.

"Iyan ang patunay na kahit maging isda ka ay hindi ka tatantanan ng Daze mo."

Simangot na simangot na nilingon ko ang kapatid ko. "Alam mo sa lahat ng kuya, ikaw itong okay lang kahit may kumukulit sa kapatid mo. Look at how protective the Dawson men are when it comes to their sister."

Luna Dawson-Aquillan got married before Coal and Domino Dawson did, but they're still giving her and her husband grief from time to time. Even if Luna turns sixty, she will always be their little sister.

They have always been protective of her, and I know that they have employees watching over her, and it only intensified after what happened to her and that ex-boyfriend of hers who turned out to be a serial killer. There's also the thing about her health. She gave her family a scare a couple of times, and the last one was the worst one.

I could remember how Dagger was vibrating with suffocating energy at that time. Our seven bosses sometimes feel like they are larger than life and could conquer everything, but at that moment, that was the first time I saw them on the edge of breaking. Thankfully, she's back to fighting right now, and she looks healthier and better every day.

"If I have an inclination that Daze is going to do something stupid, of course I'll do something about it, you dwarf." Pinitik niya ang noo ko na tinangka niyang ulitin ng akmang kakagatin ko ang daliri niya. "But I know I don't need to."

"Bakit? Has he charmed you like he did to the rest of the world?"

"No. It's because I know you can handle yourself. And you know why I'm not acting like a protective brother?" Umakto siyang pipitikin ang ilong ko. "Kasi kilala kita at alam kong mas dapat protektahan ang ibang taong iinisin ka kesa ang mag-alala sa'yo. You might look like a cute racoon, but I know better. You're a crazy, rabid racoon that has been bitten by a zombie."

I stared at him without blinking long enough to make him squirm in his seat. Bago niya pa maisipang takasan ako ay nagawa ko ng abutin ang throw pillow at malakas na hinataw ko iyon sa mukha niya.

I might have been smaller than my brother since we were babies, but even our mother kept telling us stories about how strong my hands are. I have such a tight grip that she cut her hair short so that I wouldn't pull on it. Ilang ko na rin daw napahandusay sa sahig ang kapatid ko kasi paborito kong kapitan si Kuya para maitayo ko ang sarili ko.

That's why it wasn't surprising that my brother almost fell backwards with how hard I hit him with the pillow.

"Aray! You midget!"

Pinalo ko siya ulit. "Rickety giant!"

Umabot siya ng unan at ihahampas sana sa akin 'yon bilang pagganti pero may kamay na sumalo roon. I looked up, and I saw Daze standing between my brother and me, looking like he's amused at the two of us.

"Is this a pillow fight?"

"No," I grumbled. "It's me being annoyed at my stupid brother."

"Bakit? Anong ginawa niya sa'yo?"

Bago ako makasagot ay naunahan na ako ni Kuya Nevan. "Bakit parang ako ang may kasalanan? Hindi ba pwedeng siya ang may ginawa sa akin? She hit me with a pillow!"

Pinandilatan ko siya ng mga mata. "You called me a rabid racoon that got bitten by a zombie!"

Daze turned to my brother. "Ikaw naman pala talaga ang may kasalanan, pare. She's too cute to be a rabid racoon."

Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin sa amin ng kapatid ko bago pagkaraan ay napailing siya. "Ewan ko sa inyong dalawa." Nag-iinat na tumayo ang kapatid ko at nilingon ako. "Kumain ka na para hindi laging mainit ang ulo mo."

"Normal feature na niya 'yon." Kinindatan ako ni Daze. "One of her adorable qualities."

Umaktong nasusuka si Kuya Nevan. Tinuro niya si Daze habang nakatingin pa rin sa akin. "Isa mo ang isang 'to sa reunion. Magaling sa pagtatanggol sa'yo eh."

"Sino namang may sabing sasama ako ng reunion?" tanong ko.

"You have no choice. The school plans to give you an award." Nakangising ginulo niya ang buhok ko. "Pagpahingahin mo naman ako sa pagtatanggol sa'yo at umattend ka na. Our parents wouldn't like it if they found me behind bars if I lose patience this time."

Pagkasabi niyon ay naglakad na siya palabas ng opisina habang nanatiling nakasunod lang ang tingin ko sa kaniya.

When I looked at Daze, I saw him already staring at me. "I'm going with you. Kailan ba 'yan?"

___________________________End of Chapter 9.