CHAPTER VII: TRUST ME

I went home to the Delgado mansion after I brought Kali back to her house from my condo. I talked to Millie on the phone earlier. And she's told me that my grandfather misses me kaya inuwi ko na rin muna.

"Sir Damian,"

"Where's lolo?" Tinanong ko ang isang kasambahay na sumalubong at bumati rin sa akin.

And I was told that my old man was in his office here. Kaya tumuloy na rin muna ako roon to greet my grandfather.

My kind and loving grandmother, Donya Maria, had already passed away long ago...

I was also sad when she left us...

She was the first woman who I ever trusted. And she was also more like a mother to me. Siya lang ang nagparamdam sa akin ng pagmamahal na parang sa isang ina sa kaniyang anak.

But her life was short lived...

Kaya ako at si lolo at Millie na lang. And also my cousin Kuya Kaden. Pero hindi na siya nakatira rito sa mansion because he already has a wife now and they have their own house. Ako naman ay madalas din akong umuwi rito sa mansyon. Pero minsan ay sa sariling condo ko rin ako umuuwi. Medyo malayo na rin kasi itong Delgado mansion sa city.

Then I overheard Millie and lolo talking about me in his office. At natigilan ako nang marinig ko na pinag-uusapan na rin nila si Kali...

I know that my grandfather monitors where I was and the people I'm with. Simula rin noon ay pinapabantayan na rin niya ako kay Millie.

And after knowing about what horrible things I experienced in that place, pinasara niya rin iyon and no one knows what else he did to the people and workers of that club. Pero alam ko na pinagsisihan din ni lolo na huli na niya akong nakuha sa lugar na 'yon...

And now I even hear them talking about my grandpa also wanting to do a private investigation on Kali.

Tumuloy na ako sa loob ng office ni lolo na bahagya rin namang bukas ang pinto.

"There's no need for that, lolo." Nagpakita na rin ako sa kanila.

Agad naman silang bumaling sa akin. "Damian..." Lolo called me.

Umiling naman ako sa kaniya. "Kali is different, lolo. Alam ko na hindi ka pa nagtitiwala sa mga taong napapalapit sa akin... But trust me when I'll tell you now that Kali is different. You can trust your grandson." I smiled adoringly at him.

Alam ko na may nasira na rin sa tiwala ni lolo sa mga tao lalo na pagdating sa akin. But he doesn't really have to trust the other people. He only have to have trust in his grandson. He can at least trust me.

At sa huli ay nagbuntong-hininga na lang din si lolo. Alam ko naman na pagbibigyan din niya ako. Kailan ba hindi?

I smiled at him more. At sa huli ay ngumiti na rin siya sa akin at pinalapit pa ako sa kaniya. Sometimes my grandfather still see me as that small child from the past that he's given a name, clothes, and a home. He spoils me and had given me everything. He's also overprotective towards me.

"Are you sure about this girl, Damian?" Sinundan naman ako ni Millie pagkalabas ko ng office ni lolo.

Bumaling ako sa kaniya at tumango naman ako. "Yes, Millie. Don't worry about me too much, okay?" I smiled at her.

She sighed. "I'm sorry, Damian. We trust you. But we just can't help it but to worry about you..."

Tumango naman ako sa sinabi niya. I understand...

Nanatili pa ang tingin ko kay Millie. When we were young she was my only playmate. She was always kind and understanding. That I believe I also developed some feelings for her somehow. But then in the end I decided too that we remained friends or like siblings...

Because I just didn't want to ruin our already good relationship with each other...

Other women might have hurt me, but Millie's different because she's more like a family to me. And I'll just leave it like that.

KALI

Simula rin noon ay napadalas na ang pagpunta ko sa condo ni Damian. His place was huge. Kompleto pa siya roon sa appliances lalo na sa kitchen niya kahit hindi naman siya nagluluto. So I started cooking food in his kitchen as well. At madalas na rin akong kumain doon. And then I would also play video games in his living room. He taught me how to play it. And I must admit that I was starting to have fun, too...

I shook my head and looked at my own self reflection on the mirror of my bathroom now. Nakauwi na rin ako sa hahay at hinatid lang din muli ako ni Damian.

I should seriously think about my plans. At hindi kung ano-ano ang ginagawa ko kasama si Damian...

Binuksan ko ang gripo at naghilamos din ako ng mukha ko. I let the cold water wet my face. At para na rin mahimasmasan din ako.

But was I actually having some kind of a doubt now? At bakit... dahil ba sa pinapakita sa akin ngayon ni Damian at nakikita ko pa sa kaniya na mukhang hindi naman siya masamang tao...

But how sure can I be? The devil can look good in my eyes as well, too. So that he could lure and deceive me. And make me forget about my revenge...

But then I shouldn't. I should be more strong. Hindi dapat ako masyadong nagpapadala sa mga pagpapanggap ni Damian Delgado.

Because I still believe that he was not a good person. At may mga namatay nang dahil sa kaniya. At pinagtatakpan lang itong lahat ng pera ng pamilya niya.

Pero alam ko na hindi rin nila habambuhay na maitatago ang mga krimen na nagawa ni Damian. And one day he should also pay the price for his sins.

"Kali? Ayos ka lang?" pukaw sa akin na tanong ng isang kaklase ko rin dati sa university.

Natulala na lang kasi ako nang pagbaba ko pa lang sa building kung saan na kami nagtatrabaho ngayon ay nandoon na si Damian nakatayo sa labas ng kotse niya at mukhang hinihintay ako. My lips parted.

"Boyfriend mo?" excited na tanong sa akin ng katrabaho ko nang makita niya rin si Damian.

Tiningnan ko lang sandali ang kasama at binalik ko ang tingin ko kay Damian. He was smiling at me as I approached him matapos ko rin magpaalam sa kasama kanina.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him.

"Didn't I tell you na susunduin kita ngayon?" Nakangiti niya namang sinabi sa akin.

Then I slowly nodded to him when I remembered. And I realized na masyado na siyang maraming alam sa akin including my home and my work. Pero ayos lang. I also told myself from the beginning that I don't care what will happen to me after I avenge my sister. Kasi iyon lang naman ang mahalaga sa akin.

Sumakay na ako sa kotse ni Damian at umalis na kami sa workplace ko pagkatapos.

Author's note: hi! You can read more chapters of Damian's story on Patreon and Facebook VIP group! Also Delgado Cousins 1 Anthony's story that was already completed. Kindly message my Facebook account Rej Martinez to join VIP group. Thank you for your support!