Palabas na ako nang maramdaman ko ang kamay niya sa braso ko. I didn't look back. His hand was cold and shaky. Natatakot akong lumingon sa kanya dahil baka mawala ang galit ko. He disrespected me. Hindi niya na inisip na masasaktan ako sa sasabihin niya.

"Karsen," he whispered.

"Bitawan mo 'ko, Kobe..."

His grip on me tightened. "H-Hindi pa ako nakakapag-sorry..." He sounded nervous. "D-Don't stay away just yet... I owe you an apology..."

"I'm not expecting much from you, so it's okay."

Iniharap niya ako sa kanya. His face was full of tears, and his eyes seemed to be lost. Bahagyang nakaawang ang nanginginig na labi niya at kapansin-pansin din ang pamumula ng pisnging sinampal ko kanina.

"Ano pa bang gusto mo?!" galit na tanong ko.

He was taken aback by my anger. Dumaan ang takot sa mata niya ngunit hindi niya ako binitawan.

"Did my mom... really..." He swallowed. "H-Hurt you?"

"Why don't you ask her yourself?!"

He breathed heavily. Bumaba ang tingin niya sa kamay ko at bumalatay sa mukha niya ang labis na sakit. His eyes slowly traveled down to my body, up to my face again. Tumitig siya sa akin na para bang anumang oras ay mawawala ako.

"So, the reason why we suffered..." he whispered. "Was her?"

"Oo! Hindi dahil kay Marcus na pilit mong idinadamay!" sigaw ko. "Ano? May idadagdag ka pa ba? Your words hurt me enough, Kobe. Kung gusto mong ipilit na lumandi ako—"

"I'm sorry..." Nanubig ang mga mata niya. "N-Nagkamali ako, Karsen. Nagkamali ako."

Huminga ako nang malalim at pilit na pinatatatag ang sarili. "Naiintindihan ko ang galit mo, but you've said enough, Kobe."

He looked defeated. Muli siyang tumitig sa akin, tila ba naghahanap ng sagot sa mukha ko. I kept my stern expression. He needed to understand that his accusations really did hurt me.

"Let's go," biglang sabi niya.

I tried to remove his grip on me, but he only tightened it.

"Kaya kong maglakad, Kobe."

Umiling siya at marahan akong hinigit palabas. I could feel his hand trembling.

"Kobe!" sigaw ko nang mapansin kong hindi kami patungo sa silid ni Gayle. "Ano ba!"

Hindi niya ako pinansin. May mga nakasalubong kaming nurse at pasyente na napapatingin sa amin. I tried calming myself because I didn't want to create a scene. Pinagpatuloy niya ang paghigit sa akin hanggang makalabas kami ng ospital. I was fuming mad, but I couldn't take his hand off of me because he was holding me tightly.

"Pasok," utos niya nang tumapat kami sa sasakyan niya.

I faced him. "Ano na naman ba 'to?! Hindi ka pa ba tapos?!"

He gritted his teeth. "Pumasok ka, Karsen."

"Sino ka para utusan ako?"

His expression softened. "Please..."

Nagmatigas ako. Pinilit kong kumawala sa hawak niya ngunit kagaya kanina ay hindi niya ako binitawan. I was about to shout at him when he slid me into his car. He locked the door and before I could protest, umikot siya sa driver's seat at agad na pinaharurot ang sasakyan.

Galit ko siyang hinarap. "This isn't the right time for your games, Kobe! Nasa ospital ang anak ko!"

Hindi niya ako pinansin. Kinuha niya ang cellphone niya at kahit nagd-drive ay nakapag-text pa siya. Nagniningas ang galit sa loob ko pero sinusubukan kong kumalma dahil nagmamaneho siya. Sumandal ako sa upuan at bumuga ng hangin. Ni wala akong dalang cellphone at wallet.

"I wasn't the only one who owed you an apology."

Dinaga ang dibdib ko sa sinabi niya. I observed his face only to see anger flashing through his eyes. His grip on the steering wheel was firm, causing his veins to protrude.

I looked around, and my heartbeat doubled when I noticed the familiar road we were on.

"Saan mo ako dadalhin, Kobe?" natatarantang tanong ko.

Lalo akong kinabahan nang hindi siya sumagot. Namuo ang pawis sa noo ko at naramdaman ko ang panginginig ng buong katawan ko nang makita ang mansyon ng mga Gallardo.

"H-Hindi mo 'ko mapapababa!" sigaw ko. "H-Hinding-hindi mo na 'ko mapapabalik d'yan!"

Pinatay niya ang sasakyan, dahilan para sabay-sabay na maglaglagan ang luha ko sa takot.

"Please... Kobe..."

He shook his head. Mabigat ang bawat paghinga niya at pansin ko ang pamumuo ng luha sa mga mata niya. He turned to me, and I got to see a full view of his face.

"I have to do this," mahinang aniya. "It will not heal your wounds, but I have to do this."

Wala akong nagawa nang lumabas siya ng sasakyan. I was trembling. Parang hindi ko kaya. Hindi pa ako handang makita ulit ang nanay niya. Hindi pa ako handang pumasok sa lugar na nasaksihan lahat ng tahimik kong pag-iyak. Saying the truth to him was enough. Hindi ko na kailangang harapin ulit ang mga taong hindi ako kayang tanggapin.

Kobe opened the door on my side.

Umiling ako sa kanya. "Hindi na kailangan 'to..."

Inabot niya ang braso ko at marahan akong hinigit palabas. Kagaya kanina ay malamig at nanginginig ang kamay niya. Pagtapak ko palang sa semento ay namuo na ang takot sa puso ko. Kung hindi ako hawak ni Kobe ay siguradong natumba na ako.

I was too weak when he dragged me gently to the door. My heart was pounding heavily against my chest, bracing itself for more pain. Pakiramdam ko ay walang dugong nananalaytay sa ugat ko. I was shivering just thinking about seeing the person who had caused me so much misery.

Pagpasok na pagpasok namin sa loob ay parang ulan na nagbagsakan ang mga alaala sa isip ko. Ang parang tangang paglilinis ko ng mga pasimano, ang paulit-ulit na pagkuskos sa inidoro, at ang taimtim na pananalangin na matanggap nila ako.

I held back my tears. I had cried enough for them. Hindi ko na puwedeng hayaan ang sarili na maging biktima nila.

"Pababain mo silang lahat," malamig na utos ni Kobe sa isang kasambahay. "Tell them I'm here..."

Namutla ang babae. "S-Si Ma'am Penelo—"

"Even her."

Yumuko ako at pilit na inalala ang ngiti ni Gayle na tanging nagpapakalma sa akin. Naramdaman ko ang pagbaling ni Kobe sa akin ngunit umiling lang ako. I removed his hand on my arm before taking deep breaths to bring my heartbeat back to its normal pace.

I heard several footsteps... making my knees tremble. Dahan-dahan akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kanila at naramdaman ko ang paninikip ng dibdib ko nang makita ang pamilyang minsan ay hiniling kong yakapin ako. Ang pamilyang gustong-gusto kong maging kabilang noon. Ang pamilyang kahit napakalapit ko ay napakalayo ng loob sa akin.

Maybe Kobe was right. Maybe I had to face them. Not for my wounds to heal, but to show them what I've become after they abandoned me.

My eyes landed on Tita Penelope, who was now in her wheelchair, thin and pale. Nakaawang ang bibig niya at basang-basa ko ang takot sa mukha niya. She looked weak and ill, in stark contrast to the heartless woman who had attempted to kill my child.

Behind her stood her husband, who was staring at me closely. Sa magkabilang gilid nila ay sina Elliot at Ate Clea. Both of them looked surprised, but no one said anything.

Nasa akin ang atensyon nilang lahat, siguro ay nahihiwagaan kung ano ang ginagawa ng isang katulad ko sa pamamahay nila.

There was a complete silence between us. Parang pinakikiramdaman namin ang isa't isa. I looked at them intently... one by one... and realized that none of them really cared about me. Nakasama ko lang sila, pero hindi ko sila nakilala.

"What is this all about, Dior?" Ate Clea said, breaking the silence.

I clenched my fist and took a step forward to level with Kobe. I glanced at his balled hand, and my heart fell into the pit of my stomach when I saw how much he was trembling.

"Tell them, ma." His voice was cold. Ni hindi maririnigan ng kaba. "Tell them why I brought Karsen here."

Tumingin ako kay Tita Penelope na ngayon ay tahimik na umiiyak na. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out of it.

"Tell them!" malakas na sigaw ni Kobe, dahilan para mapaigtad ang ginang.

"'Wag mong sigawan si Mama!" suway ni Ate Clea. "If this is because of what happened before—"

"So, you knew?" Nanginig sa galit ang boses ni Kobe.

Ate Clea looked away. "S-She's not on her right mind..."

"Y-You knew?" He breathed deeply. "Pa, ikaw? Alam mo ba 'to? Elliot?"

Elliot shook his head quietly. Walang imik na napayuko si Don Lucho.

I looked at Kobe and saw tears streaming down his face. He was eyeing his family like he was betrayed and abandoned... like they were horrible strangers to him.

"Fuck," mahinang bulaslas niya.

Huminga siya nang malalim kasabay ng patuloy na pagdaloy ng luha sa mukha niya.

"P-Pinagkatiwalaan ko kayo..." he whispered. "Putangina, pinagkatiwalaan ko kayo!"

Walang nagsalita sa amin. I wanted to hold his trembling hand to calm him, but his emotions were all over the place and I knew he had to release them.

"Bakit, ma?! Bakit mo pinaglilinis si Karsen kapag wala ako sa bahay?! Bakit hindi mo siya pinapakain?! Bakit mo siya pinagbuhatan ng kamay?! She's my girlfriend, ma! Alam mong mahal ko 'yong tao! Putangina, bakit hindi mo siya inirespeto?!" Humikbi siya. "Nanay kita... pero bakit sinira mo ang buhay ko, ma?"

"Dior, calm down... let's talk about this calm—"

"Isa ka pa, ate!" sigaw niya. "Alam mong ginagago na si Karsen dito pero hindi mo man lang nasabi sa 'kin! Nagtiwala ako sa inyong lahat! Kasi pamilya ko kayo! Kasi kilala ko kayo! I placed her here knowing that she'll find a family in us... pero tangina, ginawa n'yo lang katulong."

"K-Kobe, tama na..." bulong ko.

My heart was aching for him. I knew how much he loved his family. I knew how much he trusted them. Ito ang dahilan kung bakit ayokong sabihin sa kanya... kasi ayokong makasira ng isang relasyon na hindi ko naranasan.

"Ma, naniwala ako sa 'yo..." nanghihinang sabi niya. "Na kaya nabangga si Karsen kasi bigla na lang siyang tumakbo habang magkasama kayo." He sobbed. "Y-You forgot to mention that the reason why she ran was because you were planning to kill our child."

Elliot gasped. Napatingin siya sa ina, nakaawang ang labi at punong-puno ng pagtataka ang mukha.

"M-Ma... ginawa mo 'yon?" he asked.

"Elliot," sabi ni Ate Clea.

Elliot took a step back. "God, who are you, people?!"

Inabot ko ang kamay ni Kobe at marahang hinaplos iyon. Galit ako sa kanya, pero alam kong hindi niya kailangan ngayon ang galit ko. He needed someone who would calm him and soothe him. He needed someone who would hold his faint hope after being betrayed by his loved ones. He needed someone... and no matter how much I wanted to hate him, I knew I needed to be that someone for him.

"D-Do you see this?" tanong niya sa kanila bago ipinakita ang kamay kong nakahawak sa kanya. "T-The victim... was calming me. The victim... was comforting me." Nalaglag ang luha ko. "Ganito siya kabait, ma. Siya dapat ang nagagalit ngayon sa inyo... siya dapat ang sumisigaw ngayon sa inyo... pero tingnan n'yo... h-hinawakan niya lang 'yong kamay ko."

Yumuko ako at tahimik na umiyak.

I felt Kobe's hand on my palm as his thumb softly brushed my hand. Hindi ako nag-angat ng tingin. This confrontation was too painful for me... not only because I saw the one who abused me, but because I knew Kobe was fighting his own family to avenge me.

"K-K-Karsen..."

I trembled when I heard his mother's voice.

"I-I'm sorry..." Tumangis siya. "I-I'm so sorry, Karsen... I'm so sorry..."

I lifted my head and my lips parted when Tita Penelope stood up. Muntik pa siyang mapaupo dahil nanghihina na ang mga tuhod niya.

"Ma," Ate Clea called her but her eyes were directed at me.

She walked slowly towards me. Kuba na ang likod niya at payat na payat ang hita at braso. Pinigilan ko ang sarili na mapaawa sa kanya. Basa ang mukha niya ng luha, pero desidido siyang makalapit sa akin.

And when she finally reached me, she fell on her knees.

I heard gasps. Humikbi si Tita Penelope at wala sa kanila ang lumapit sa kanya. My heart throbbed when the scene reminded me of the day I knelt before her. I didn't know what to feel. Gusto kong magalit ngunit wala akong makapang ganoong emosyon sa puso ko. Maybe I already let my anger go because Gayle fulfilled and showered my heart with nothing but love. Maybe it was my child who taught me that anger wasn't something that should keep us going.

"S-Sorry, Karsen. K-Kasalanan ko ang lahat at tatanggapin ko kung ano'ng gusto mong gawin sa 'kin..."

Hindi ako nagsalita. Hindi ko alam ang dapat sabihin.

"Penelope, stand up," utos ni Don Lucho na hindi ko namalayang nakalapit na sa amin.

Hindi sumunod ang ginang kaya napilitan ang lalaki na patayuin ang asawa. He held her arm and assisted her back. Humihikbi ang babae, diretso pa rin ang tingin sa akin.

"It was my fault," Don Lucho uttered. "Penelope was traumatized... and it was my fault."

"Pa!"

"You know this, Clea." He exhaled. "I almost abandoned you to be with Yumi."

"Stop this, pa! Naririnig ka ni Mama!" desperadong sigaw ni Ate Clea.

Don Lucho stared at me. "I fell in love with Yumi. She's my business partner's girlfriend... and she always brings Dominic food with a cute and warm smile."

Narinig ko ang paghikbi ni Tita Penelope. I held onto Kobe's hand tightly because I knew that my parents were the reason why Tita Penelope treated me like that.

"She's not normal... like us. But every time she talked, it was as if she was comforting you," pagpapatuloy niya. "I fell in love with her not as a woman... but as a pure and beautiful soul." He smiled sadly. "Alam kong ganoon din ang nakita ng tatay mo sa kanya... at alam kong mahal din siya ni Yumi. People judged Dominic for being with her, but he fought for her... and then you came."

"I'm sorry..." Tita Penelope sobbed.

Her husband glanced at her. "Umpisa pa lang, I wanted to get myself involved. I wanted to be your father. I don't know what I was thinking at that time, but I told Penelope that I would be with your mother." He swallowed hard, his eyes filled with regrets. "Yumi died giving birth to you, and I just lost it... pinlano kong kunin ka kay Dominic dahil hindi ka niya kayang alagaan. Yumi's death ruined both of us. But he's your father and he couldn't even give you a name."

Lalong lumakas ang paghikbi ni Tita.

"I planned to adopt you."

Kobe's grip on me tightened.

"But Penelope didn't agree... and so I almost leave my own family to be a father to you." Yumakap sa kanya si Tita. "When your father killed himself, all his shares in our company went to his funeral and the debts he left at the hospital where Yumi gave birth. Doon nagmakaawa sa akin si Penelope na ilagay na lang kita sa Bahay Tuluyan. It was a slap in my face, Karsen. I gave my wife trauma... and I couldn't afford to torture her more."

Sising-sisi siyang tumingin sa amin ni Kobe. Nasa balikat niya ang mukha ni Tita Penelope na ngayon ay hindi pa rin tumitigil sa pag-iyak.

"I'm the root of the problem, Kobe... sa akin n'yo idirekta ang galit n'yo," sabi niya. "You know that your mother has Major Depressive Disorder, and the main reason behind that was her regrets about what she did to Karsen." He breathed deeply. "S-She already learned her lesson. She even established the YN organization in honor of Yumi Navarro because the things she did backfire to her... please... sa akin kayo magalit."

It was too much information for me. Parang wala nang rumirehistro sa utak ko.

"You're an asshole," matigas na saad ni Kobe. "But I'm sorry, no apology would be enough to make up for Karsen's pain. Yes, you're hurting, and though your feelings are valid... I think your actions are not."

"Kobe," tawag ko sa kanya. "U-Umalis na tayo."

He brought my hand to his lips and lightly kissed it. He pressed his eyes shut hard as if clinging to the last piece of sanity he had. All of us were silent, but I could feel his sincerity towards me. And though I didn't want to admit it, I loved the way he defended me against his own family.

When he opened his eyes, now void of any emotions, I knew he would say something that would surely break him.

Buong tapang niyang hinarap ang pamilya, hawak-hawak pa rin ang kamay ko.

"Pa, give half of your company's shares to Karsen."

My eyes widened. "Kobe!"

"I'll do it..." Don Lucho replied. "I've been meaning to do it."

"H-Hindi na po kailan—"

"Ma," Kobe uttered coldly. "I want you to be punished."

Tumango si Tita Penelope. "O-Okay... anything..."

Kobe breathed deeply and grasped my hand firmly.

"Legally."

"Kuya..." sabi ni Elliot.

Napatingin ako kay Kobe. Walang bahid ng emosyon ang mga mata niya ngunit sa higpit ng kapit niya sa akin, alam kong durog na durog siya.

"I want you to be punished legally," mas klarong saad niya.

Walang nakapagsalita. Nakita ko ang mahinang pagtango ng ginang habang nakatingin sa mukha ng anak.

"Ate Clea." His voice echoed. "Convict her."

"Kuya!" sigaw ni Elliot na nalunod lang sa tindi ng galit ni Kobe.

"You hurt the woman I love and attempted to kill our child." Muling nabasag ang tinig niya. "These are the consequences you have to deal with... for breaking my family." He smiled sadly. "I have a lot of fixing to do, but right now, I want you to know that I am choosing this woman... over you."

Kasabay ng pagtalikod namin ay ang malakas na pagtangis ni Tita Penelope. I'm not sure if it was regret, sadness, or the way her beloved son had hurt her... for me.

"And before I forgot." Tumigil siya sa paglalakad. "Our daughter is alive... but I will never... never let you lay your fingers on her."

We continued walking. Malalim ang bawat paghinga niya, pulang-pula ang mata, at bahagyang nanginginig ang labi.

Nang makasakay sa kotse niya ay kitang-kita ko kung paano niya pigilan ang sariling emosyon.

Napayuko siya. "What made you think that I wouldn't choose you, Karsen?"

"Pamilya mo sila."

He shook his head. "Pamilya ko rin kayo."

Sumandal ako at nagbuntong-hininga. "Bumalik na tayo sa ospital. We'll sort things out after Gayle has recovered." I gulped and looked over at the window. "Parehas tayong pagod. Saka na nating pag-usapan 'yan."

He started the engine of the car.

"The same thing applies to me, Karsen," he whispered. "Nagselos ako dahil nakita kong niyakap mo agad si Marcus samantalang ako, hindi mo man lang matingnan. Nagselos ako kasi nakita ni Marcus kung paano lumaki si Gayle. My mom showed me pictures of you and Marcus before... and my mind pulled a trigger when I saw you together."

Hindi na ako sumagot.

"I was so jealous... and while my jealousy was valid, I knew that the words I told you were not." He sighed. "I'm so sorry for inflicting more pain on you," he said gently. "Karsen, I was wrong, but it's still me... I'm still your Kobe..."