In the Midst of the Crowd (Loser #1)

Chapter 45

Some events, no matter how painful, are meant to happen. Some people had to leave for us to learn how to stand up on our own. Some things had to be sacrificed in order for us to realize that our plans wouldn't always work out. Some words had to be said for us to let go of the emotions that had been bottled up inside us.

All of this was destined to unfold, not just to mold us as humans, but also to give us a clear picture of what really lies ahead.

If we trust the process, we'll see that our plans were just a fraction of what we were supposed to be.

"I love you," Kobe whispered as he showered my face with kisses.

I pursed my lips to stop a smile from showing. "Makita ka ng anak mo," pag-iinarte ko.

Napatingin siya kay Gayle na nag-d-drawing sa maliit nitong mesa sa gilid ng kama. We were in his pad, particularly in his room. Natutulog kaming tatlo kanina nang magising si Gayle at agad na pumunta sa mesa niya. Since then, hindi na kami tinapunan ng tingin ng bata.

He chuckled. "She's busy."

Humilig ako sa dibdib niya at napangiti. "Kung ipapa-frame mo lahat ng drawing niya, baka makapagpatayo ka na ng museum."

Tumawa lang ulit siya bago ako yakapin. We were like this every weekend. We'd spent Saturdays and Sundays at his place, and the rest of the week in our small apartment. Hindi siya roon natutulog pero gabing-gabi na siya kung umuwi. He'd pick us up early in the morning and bring us home after my duty. Iniisip ko ang trabaho niya, pero mukhang wala naman siyang nagiging problema roon.

"We beat Soul Production," bulong niya.

"Hmm?"

"Before Sunrise Production dethroned them." He kissed my temple. "Most of the most successful artists and bands are signed under our company. Kahit 'yong mga rising talents ay tayo ang number one choice."

I smiled. "You did it."

"Because you fueled me. So... you did it, too." His chest heaved. "At first, I just wanted to get back to them, but when I started doing this, I realized that my main aim was to let the artists' voices be heard without risking their private lives."

Napangiti ako sa sinabi niya. Sa ilang taong pagtatrabaho niya noon sa Soul Production, hindi naman lingid sa kaalaman ko ang pagiging pribado niya. He was always careful. Kahit may mga lumalabas na issue ay hindi niya iyon pinapakialamanan. He just wanted to sing and compose songs. Kung hindi dahil sa akin ay baka nagtatrabaho pa rin siya roon.

"Bakit Before Sunrise?" I asked curiously. "Akala ko ba DK ang napagkasunduan natin?"

He glared at me. "You left me before I even named the company. Baka mahalata mong gustong-gusto pa rin kita kapag DK."

Umiling ako. "No. Iisipin kong Dior Kobe ang meaning no'n."

"You'll just fool yourself."

Kinunotan ko siya ng noo. "Bakit nga Before Sunrise?"

"Slow mo." He laughed.

I punched his chest. "Ano nga?"

Hinuli niya ang kamay ko at iniikot iyon sa batok niya. Tinitigan niya akong mabuti at mabilis na pinatakan ng halik sa labi.

"Before Sunrise means dawn. Hindi mo ba talaga na-gets?" he asked, smiling. "Everything I do, it will always have a big part of you."

We spent the next days together as a family. Nagpatuloy ang therapy ni Gayle at nakikita na namin ang speech improvement niya. The therapist said that when our daughter finally learned how to talk, she might talk nonstop.