Delgado Cousins 1: Anthony Wayne Delgado (To Love Again)

CHAPTER VII: SECRETARY

Chapter VII

Secretary

"I'd like to talk to Anthony first. Please leave us, Millicent."

Pero wala rin akong nagawa sa utos ni Don Antonio.

Huling beses ko na tiningnan si Anthony bago ako umalis na rin muna...

But I was really worried for him. After Don Antonio talk to him ay kakausapin ko rin si Don Antonio. I know that he's sensitive when it came to Damian. Pero kailangan niya rin magdahandahan kay Anthony dahil hindi rin basta ang mga pinagdaanan ng isang apo niya...

I hope we can just solve this right away.

ANT

"What happened, Anthony? Did you hear things about your cousin Damian?"

"Is it true na pinagtakpan mo lang ang mga krimen niya?" seryoso kong tanong.

And his eyes widened a fraction. "How could you say that and accuse your own younger cousin? Kung ano man ang nalaman mo tungkol kay Damian ay walang katotohanan lahat ng 'yon."

I saw him gritting his teeth a bit.

Pero wala akong pakialam kung magalit man siya sa akin at kahit palayasin pa niya ako rito sa mansyon ng mga Delgado...

I can't stand na hindi napaparusahan ang isang tao na nanakit lalo na ng isang walang kalabanlaban na babae...

I gritted my teeth, too. My jaw clenched. Yes, I was also a murderer, but I only murdered those men who abused women...

And I'm not here to justify any of my actions, but I just can't tolerate what I learned about Damian. When there were women who died because of him—or he probably drove them to their deaths, and worst could be that he was the one who killed them...

"Are you sure about that?" I questioned him.

He sighed. "Listen here, Anthony. Hindi kita dinala rito para husgahan ang pinsan mo... I only want you three to have a good relationship with each other lalo na at kayong tatlo na lang ang maiiwan ko sa huli..." aniya na muli pang nagbuntong-hininga.

"Anthony... as you're older than Damian, I want you to be the one who's more understanding and to instead look after your cousin, can you do that? Huwag mo na sanang pag-isipan pa ng masama ang pinsan mo. Bata pa lang siya ay marami nang napagdaanan si Damian... And as his family we should support him."

Nanatili lang ang tingin ko kay lolo. Hindi ako tumango o umiling sa sinabi niya...

And after the talk that we had about Damian, I heard that Millie also went and talked to him. And she mainly explained for my side.

Inabangan ko siyang matapos kausapin si lolo at nandoon lang ako naghintay sa labas ng opisina ni lolo rito sa mansyon.

The door opened and Millie went out. Natigilan din siya nang makita niya akong nakatayo roon at hinintay ko siya. "What are you doing here? Dinner will be ready in a while. Nagpahanda na ako kanina habang magkausap pa kayo ni Don Antonio..." She said.

"What did you say to lolo?" I asked her instead.

Bahagya naman siyang nagbuntong-hininga. "I just told him what happened, that Damian also said words that are not right to you..."

Umiling naman ako. "It's fine. What he said was true, anyway... I came from prison..." I said.

At nanatili rin ang tingin ko kay Millie. Nakatingin din siya sa akin at umiling siya. "There's a reason why it all happened to you, and as well as to Damian, Ant... Pareho lang kayong naging biktima rin ng mga nakaraan ninyong naging karanasan..." she told me.