Chapter One

Boyfriend

I've known Aaron since we were young. Nakilala ko siya noon sa school. Since then we became friends and our families got closer, too. He's the eldest of three siblings. And his younger brother and sister had admired me. Especially Rachel who treated me like her older sister. It wasn't a secret that Aaron was an illegitimate child.

Tito Axel had Aaron with another woman while he's married to Tita Eris. They said it was a mistake. Si tita ang mahal ni tito. Aaron and his brother Jarvis did not grow together immediately. Tita Eris was abroad with her and Tito Axel's child, Jarvis, mainly because of Aaron's mother... and maybe Aaron, too. Hindi agad natanggap ni tita na may anak na sa iba si tito. Tito Axel just gave his wife the time and when Tita Eris came back ay naging maayos pa rin ang pamilya nila because they still love each other. And Tita Eris accepted and genuinely cared for Aaron. While Aaron's mother lived abroad since then. Natahimik na ang pamilya and Aaron lived with his dad and its family.

While on my side, I grew up with my parents being unmarried for years despite already having me. My mom and dad married when I was around seven or eight years old. And then they had my younger brother and we became a real complete family.

Iba-iba ang istorya namin ni Aaron but both our families ended happy and content at the end. So we grew up fine. I grew up with complete affection from my parents and relatives. Kahit noong una ay naguluhan din ako sa set up ng parents ko pero hindi iyon naging dahilan upang lumaki akong hindi kontento sa buhay. I had everything and my younger self did not cherish all the things she had enough.

Maybe my younger self was looking for some challenge back then... Maybe my younger self got bored at some time in her early life... The reason was uncertain but the thing I'm sure of was that I ruined my own life.

"Don't be so nervous!" I laughed watching Aaron as he looked like he was going to pee in his pants.

After confessing our long feelings for each other he said that he'd face my parents especially my dad to ask for permission to court me properly. Hindi ko alam kung uso pa ba iyon sa time namin as our classmates and schoolmates are doing relationships like it's so normal na hindi na kailangan pa ang mga ganito. But Aaron seemed to be quite traditional or maybe he just really respected me and my family. So he's doing the right thing.

Lalo pa at mga bata pa kami noon. I was a junior high school and he was in his senior year when we decided to have a relationship. Well, ako pa ang nagsabi sa kaniya na pwede na dahil sinabi niya pang maghihintay siya. Maghihintay siya hanggang kailan? Iyong mga ka batch nga namin sa school ay mas maaga pang pumasok sa relasyon kumpara sa amin. So I don't really see the need to wait. We both love each other at papayagan naman siguro kami ng parents namin so why wait? Aaron's just really like that. Ayaw niyang nagpapadalos-dalos and he's responsible. He's a responsible son to his father and stepson to Tita Eris. Responsable rin siyang kuya sa mga nakababatang kapatid niya that's why they love him more. He's a responsible student and friend to me even before we became officially together. He's just really responsible with everything. He's a responsible boy who later on turned a man for his family.

Ako na yata ang pinakamasuwerteng babae dahil ako at ako lang ang nagustuhan ni Aaron Jaxon Ledesma. Kahit pa alam din namin ang dami ng mga babaeng nangangarap sa kaniya. Pero hindi naman sila nililingon ni Aaron. He wasn't rude to anyone and he's polite. Pero kapag sinasabi ko sa kaniyang nagseselos ako sa isang babaeng lumalapit sa kaniya ay iiwasan nalang niya ito.

"I can't help it, Teen. Paano 'pag hindi pumayag si Tito Tristan na ligawan kita? What if I'm not good enough..." he quietly said the last words like to himself and lowered down his head.

I sighed and cling my arms to his. "Ano ka ba, Aaron? Kung ano-ano ang iniisip mo. Alam naman nating pareho na malakas ka kay Daddy." I said a matter of fact.

Tumango lang siya at pumasok na kami sa sasakyan nila para ihatid kami sa bahay namin. Nagpasabi na ako na ako na huwag na akong sunduin ng driver namin ngayon dahil sasabay nalang ako kay Aaron at pupunta din siya sa bahay namin ngayon. My dad has this weird look on his a little funny face when I told him that Aaron's coming to our house. But he agreed to it. He said he'll come home early tonight at magsasabay kaming pamilya sa dinner kasama si Aaron.

"We're here." I can't help it but to laugh at Aaron's funny face who's still nervous just because he's meeting with my family. As it's still his first time meeting them. I did not really understand him and his worries.

Why would he be afraid of my dad? Hindi naman nakakatakot si daddy. And among my boy friends siya lang ang naging close sa family ko.

"Yaya!" I greeted Lance's nanny when she was the one to welcome us at the front door when we arrived.

Ngumiti siya sa akin at kay Aaron. "Nasa dining na ang Mommy at Daddy mo, Teen. Nandoon na rin si Lance."

"Oh." I reacted for my younger brother. Kasama pa ba siya dito? He's just in grade school. Well, dinner nga lang naman ang sinabi ko kanila Mommy. And it's normal for Lance to eat his meal with us.

Dumeretso na ako sa dining room kasunod si Aaron. It's okay to eat with my uniform now at ganoon din naman si Aaron. Isa pa ay naghihintay na sa hapag sina dad.

"Dad, Mom," I went to my parents and kissed their cheeks. Nakangisi ko ring pinuntahan ang kapatid ko at hinagkan din siya sa pisngi which annoyed him at parang nandidiri pa na nagpunas ng pisngi niyang hinagkan ko gamit ang table napkin na para bang nandidiri sa ginawa ng ate niya. I rolled my eyes at Lance and just smirked.

"Tito, tita, good evening, po." Aaron also politely greeted my parents.

We found our seats after.

My dad was about to open his mouth when my mom spoke first. "Kumain na muna tayo." She looked at dad and he just nodded.

I smiled watching my parents and started getting food for myself and started eating. I also checked on Aaron's food and my dad cleared his throat. I turned to him and only smiled sweetly. He just resumed eating.

"Boyfriend at girlfriend na ba kayo?" Lance spoke after a while as he looked at me and Aaron.

Natigilan kaming lahat sa hapag. Hinanap agad ng mga mata ko si daddy. Nagkatinginan kami. Nilipat ko rin ang tingin ko kay mommy para manghingi na ng tulong. And mommy never failed me as she made the dinner light despite I can already feel dad's impatience. I secretly smiled to myself for my father's reaction.

Sa huli nang patapos na ang pagkain namin ay nagsabi na nga kami kay daddy. Nagsabi si Aaron na manliligaw pa lang siya sa akin pero alam naman namin na papunta pa rin kami sa pagiging boyfriend nga at girlfriend gaya ng sinabi ni Lance kanina. Mommy just looked happy for me and Aaron while my dad was serious.

Kinausap ni daddy si Aaron na sila lang dalawa pagkatapos namin kumain. And then after tinanong ko pa si Aaron kung ano ang pinag-usapan nila ni daddy but he only said na may ilang mga bilin lang sa kanya ang daddy ko. So I went to my dad after all.

"Daddy." I hugged his side. Sinubukan kong maglambing sa kanya. "Huwag ka na po masyadong strict sa amin ni Aaron. I know naman na gusto mo rin siya para sa akin. Bakit po? May iba ka pa bang gusto na guy para sa akin bukod kay Aaron?" I gave my father a big smile on my pretty face.

Until he sighed and now he looked like he's defeated. I chuckled. Niyakap na rin ako ni daddy at hinagkan sa noo ko. I knew that he's just a little worried for me too as a father. "I just want you and Aaron to know your limitations, Tristeen. Lalo at mga bata pa kayong dalawa. I just want you to be responsible."

I nodded my head as I smiled out of happiness.