XXXV Know one's weakness

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I now had more clues about my grandpa's case. First, the CCTV footage had been tampered with, which meant foul play was involved. Next, there were two people linked to the case. But what made things even more suspicious was that Lara had also been in an accident. I needed to find out when and where it happened. She might or might not be involved, but the connection was unsettling.

I suddenly remembered what Sir Diego had said—the university director was the one who deleted the CCTV footage. And now, I finally knew who it was. Lara mentioning her accident only added fuel to the fire.

I didn't want to entertain the thought forming in my mind—it hurt too much to consider the possibility that Lara might have been the one who hit Grandpa. But at the same time, I wanted to prove myself wrong. Maybe it wasn't her. Maybe it was just a coincidence. But if that was the case, then why did her father erase the CCTV footage?

Just then, my phone rang. The number was unfamiliar, but I answered anyway.

"Hello?"

"Kaesu? Is this you?"

I immediately recognized the voice on the other end and smiled. "It's me, Sir Diego! How are you? How are Arwin and Gimley? Also, how did you get my number?"

"I'm sorry for calling so suddenly. I asked Anthony for your number. I told him I discovered something important about the CCTV footage, and he suggested that I tell you directly."

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me, and quickly told Sir Diego I'd meet him right away. I hailed a taxi and went straight to his place.

When I arrived, I was immediately greeted by a tight hug from Arwin and Gimley. I smiled and hugged them back just as tightly.

"How are you?" I asked gently, ruffling their hair.

"We're fine! But where's Anthony? Why isn't he with you?" Arwin asked, looking surprised. Even Gimley had the same expression.

I opened my mouth to answer but hesitated. I didn't know what to say. Fortunately, Sir Diego and his wife appeared just in time, greeting me warmly and inviting me inside.

After a while, the children and Aunt Lus left, leaving only Sir Diego and me in the room.

He let out a deep sigh before speaking. "I contacted a former colleague of mine to help get information about the second man who erased the CCTV footage. Luckily, he didn't disappoint me."

I straightened up at his words, anticipation rising in me.

"He only managed to provide a picture. We're still working on identifying his name and background."

Sir Diego handed me the photo he was holding. I studied it carefully, but the man in it wasn't familiar.

"Are you okay?" he asked, noticing the surprised and conflicted look on my face.

I nodded, even though I wasn't sure what I was feeling. Somehow, deep inside, it felt like I knew this person—even though I didn't.

"Have dinner here, hija. I cooked a delicious fish dish. Arwin and Gimley caught it from the river," Aunt Lus said with a warm smile.

I couldn't refuse, not when I saw the pleading expressions on Arwin and Gimley's faces.

"Come here!" I pulled them both into a playful hug and tickled them, their laughter filling the room.

It was already dark when we finished eating. I helped Aunt Lus with the dishes while the others prepared the sleeping area. Then, I stepped outside for some fresh air.

"It's been so long since I last looked at the stars like this," I murmured. "I almost forgot how beautiful they are."

"They really are mesmerizing," a familiar voice replied.

I shivered—not from the cold, but from what the voice triggered in my mind. I was starting to think I was losing it because all I could think about was Antonio.

A sudden loud crash made me jump. I hurried back inside, heart pounding.

"What happened?" I asked, worried, as I looked around for the others.

Sir Diego scratched his head, looking exasperated. "It's Arwin and Gimley. I think they were playing too much and ended up rolling under the bed."

I let out a deep sigh of relief. When I reached Arwin, he was crying while Gimley was being scolded by Aunt Lus.

"You really don't stop until you get hurt, do you?" Grandpa's voice suddenly echoed in my mind. He always had that mix of anger and worry in his tone whenever he scolded me.

I had struggled with the pain back then, but his gentle touch on my head always made it a little better.

"It's okay to cry if it hurts too much," he had once told me.

Confused, I had confronted him. "But you said we shouldn't show weakness."

A soft smile had spread across his lips. "You're not brave all the time. It's exhausting. Sometimes, you don't even know if you're truly strong or just pretending to be. When you allow yourself to be weak, you learn where your weaknesses are. And that's how you grow. That's how you know where to start."

"How?" I had asked.

"You are strong and brave when you know your weaknesses. Remember that."

His words replayed in my mind as I looked at Arwin, who was still sniffling.

I gently stroked his head and said softly, "You can cry."

"But I don't want to look weak," he mumbled. "Besides, Mom will scold me again if she hears I haven't stopped crying yet."

Without another word, I pulled him into a tight hug, running my fingers through his hair. After a while, I felt him growing heavier in my arms.

I peeked down at him—and smiled.

He had fallen asleep.