In the Midst of the Crowd (Loser #1)

Chapter 44

In my uncertain life, one thing is certain—Dior Kobe Gallardo is still the one I want to see the rest of the world with.

"What do you mean?" he asked as we stood right in front of each other.

The view of the moon from his living room gleamed brightly, unfazed by the shadow that fully consumed everything. He took me outside the room after hearing what I said, and right there, I knew I had to talk to him about it.

"Narinig ko kayo ni Ate Clea," pag-amin ko.

He exhaled sharply. "Let it go. I'll stick to my guns."

Bahagya akong lumayo sa kanya. Alam ko kung gaano siya kagalit sa pamilya niya. Nakalimutan ko na ang poot na minsan kong naramdaman sa mga Gallardo dahil hindi ko naman iyon itinanim at inalagaan. But to him, it was still new. He was still reeling from the betrayal.

I wanted so badly to convince him to view things differently, because I didn't want him to be filled with regrets. Ayokong magdesisyon siya nang nakatuon sa sariling emosyon.

"Kapag ba naipakulong ni Ate Clea si Tita Penelope... may magbabago ba?" I asked softly. "Kapag ba ibinigay ni Don Lucho ang kalahati ng shares ng company niya sa akin... sasaya ka?"

"Those are the consequences they have to pay, Karsen." His expression hardened. "I trusted them... pero sinaktan ka lang nila. I can't turn a blind eye to that."

I pressed my lips together. He was reasonable, but right now, I didn't want us to live throwing rocks at people who hurt us. Alam kong sa likod ng galit niya sa pamilya ay ang matinding pagmamahal para sa kanila. Na ang desisyon niya ay masakit din para sa kanya—the very reason why I hid Gayle from him.

"Hindi naging mabuti sa 'kin si Tita Penelope, pero naging mabuti siyang ina sa 'yo."

Umiling siya. "We won't justify her mistakes, Karsen."

Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi at yumuko. "Kobe, mali ba 'ko kung ayaw kong talikuran ang pamilya mo para sa 'min ni Gayle? Mali ba 'ko kung wala akong makapang galit sa kanila? Mali ba 'ko kung gustuhin kong sundin mo na lang 'yong gustong gawin ni Ate Clea?"

"Karsen, my mother tried to kill Gayle." Madiin ang pagbigkas niya sa mga salita, para bang ipinapaalala sa akin ang ginawa ng ina.

Umiling ako. "Hindi naman natuloy, 'di ba? Tumakbo naman ako, eh."

"No." I heard him grit his teeth.

I raised my head and sighed. "Kobe, 'wag na tayong gumanti, ha?" I smiled lightly. "Ang bigat-bigat kasi sa loob no'n."

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin sa akin.

"Hindi ko kailangan ng yaman ni Don Lucho kaya alam kong hindi ko tatanggapin 'yong sinasabi n'yong shares. Wala naman akong alam do'n, eh." I chuckled. "Saka, 'di ba? Nagastos naman na 'yong parte ng tatay ko. Basically, wala na 'kong habol do'n."

He massaged the space between his brows. "Why... just why are you being too kind, Karsen?"

I took a step closer to him, dahilan para mapabaling ang atensyon niya sa akin. I smiled to assure him that I meant everything I said.

"Alam kong nasaktan ka rin sa ginawa mo," marahang saad ko. "Your family has already learned their lessons. Okay na 'yon. Masaya naman na tayo... 'di ba?"

"But—"

I shook my head to cut him off. "Mag-focus na lang tayo sa pagiging mabuting magulang kay Gayle. Hindi natin kailangang manakit din, Kobe. May sakit ang nanay mo. And given her past, mas kailangan niya ng tulong."

"Kailangan nilang magbayad, Karsen," he insisted.

"Hindi pa ba kabayaran 'yong nangyayari sa kanya ngayon? Si Lord na ang kumilos para parusahan siya. Your family is living with guilt, at mabigat na punishment 'yon. They're physically free, but emotionally imprisoned, Kobe." I reached for his hand and gently brushed it. "Ayokong mangyari sa 'yo 'yon. Ayokong makulong ka sa galit."