For Luna Alondra Dawson, marriage is a word so simple but holds so much weight. Some people are scared of it, some don't care much about it, for some it's just a paper, while there are those that just use it as a form of agreement, and there are tho...
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LUNA'S POV
If there's one thing we can't force, it would be love. That's why I don't hate him for not loving me. Not even a little bit.
I mean... paano naman niya ako mamahalin eh baka nga hindi niya pa alam kung sino ako? I'm not saying that love is the same for everyone. It certainly is not the same for me. Because here I am, using the word "love", when I just met this man who hasn't even looked at me.
"I told you, I'm not just doing this because you're one of my writers."
Pain. Kung nandito lang si Jane na character sa vampire movie na kinaadikan ko noon, baka nagkikikisay na ako sa semento. Sakit naman. Halatang in love ang isang 'to sa future sister-in-law ko.
I want him to be happy. But I love my Kuya Thorn, and Lucienne is perfect for him.
"Alam ko naman na hindi na iba ang trato niyo sa amin na writers ninyo. Kaya maraming salamat, Boss."
Pain na naman. Though this time the pain is for him. Kita iyon sa mga mata niya habang pinagmamasdan si Lucienne na inosenteng nakatingin sa kaniya. Ang cute ni Lucienne talaga. Bagay na bagay sila ni Kuya.
At bagay na bagay kami ng boss niya.
Magnus Aquillan, the man I fell in love with at first sight without even him knowing and without me knowing why. Not that I want to question it. That's just the Dawson way. When we see our "one", we just know.
I put one pair of my favorite black Manolo Blahnik ankle boots after another. Tinapik ko ang balikat ng lalaki. Wow, ang hard. And he's so tall. I'm already in heels, and yet he towers over me. Yum.
"Wag mo na ipilit. Boss-zone ka na. Nandito naman ako na magandang single na ready to mingle."
Hindi pa ako nakuntento at ikinawit ko ang braso ko sa kaniya. There's a combination of surprise and annoyance evident on his face. Surprise because I'm a stranger who's holding on to him right now, and annoyance for what I said and maybe for interrupting him and Lucienne. But not even that could deter me. Matamis na nginitian ko siya dahilan para lalong magsalubong ang mga kilay niya. Para ngang gusto ko na lang maging koala bear para forever akong nakakapit sa kaniya.
Bago pa siya may masabi ay hinila ko na siya palabas ng interrogation room. Nang marinig kong sumarado ang pintuan sa likod namin ay binitawan ko siya. Reluctantly. Very reluctantly. Pero ayokong magkaroon ng super bad impression sa kaniya.
"Who are you?" he asked with a knotted forehead.
Hindi na ako nagtaka sa tanong niya. The moment he arrived, all his attention was focused on Lucienne. Pain.
"I'm Luna Alondra Dawson." Your future wife. I gave him my winning smile. "You can call me Luna. O kahit ano. Kung ikaw ang tatawag sa akin, kahit ano pa 'yan, lilingon ako."
Hindi siya nagsalita at sa halip ay nanatili lang siyang nakatingin sa akin. Lines appeared on his forehead as he kept looking at me, and I kept looking back at him with a sweet smile that was just becoming sweeter and sweeter as the second passed. Baka kasi madaan si ngiti. Though alam ko naman na malabo.
Una, in love na siya sa iba. Pangalawa, hindi niya ako kilala. Pangatlo, kilala niya ang apelido ko at sigurado akong may inis siya sa kapatid ko na karibal niya kay Lucienne.
"I need to get back in there."
I waved my hand dismissively. "Huwag na. Ma-i-i-stress ka lang doon."
"At dito hindi?"
I blinked at him innocently. "Mas maganda ang view dito."
He looked at me as if he didn't know what to do with me. I can't blame him. My brothers don't know what to do with me most of the time. Dapat nga wala ako rito pero dahil gusto kong makasagap na chika ay nakikiusyoso ako. And because I'm also concerned for Lucienne.
My journalist self is highly interested in her, but I'm not going to write anything about her. I'm not going to betray her trust.
"I need—"
"Masasaktan ka lang doon," putol ko sa sasabihin niya. "Dito hindi."
"And why is that?"
Nangingiting tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "You know the answer to that." I tip my head in the direction of the interrogation room. "I like you, but I'm not going to let you take my sister-in-law."
Umigting ang panga niya. "She's not your sister-in-law."
"Sure ka? Want to bet? If I win, then I'm going to take something from you instead."
For a moment, he said nothing. I can almost hear his mind whirring. I don't know much about him, but I know that he's Lucienne's boss. He's familiar with writing. He owns a company, and he's also the editor-in-chief. On the other hand, I'm a journalist.
We're both in the field of words. We're used to reading countless passages and possibilities. Our only difference is that he's on the creative side of our field, while I'm in a world that is more objective, reality-based, and straight-forward.
I believe I have the upper hand. He's an idealist, and I'm a realist.
"I'm not giving up," he said gruffly.
"Of course you won't. So..." Inangat baba ko ang kilay ko. "The bet?"
"I—"
"Or are you scared?"
Halatang hindi niya nagustuhan ang sinabi ko. His reaction is what I'm aiming for. "I'm not." Inabot niya sa akin ang kamay niya. "What do you want?"
I looked at his hand and reached for it, instantly rejoicing at the feel of his warmth. "What would I want to take if I won this bet?" I slowly raised my head and met his eyes. "You. You're the prize I plan to take, Magnus Aquillan."
