*24*
Fault
I did everything I can. I tried to tell Heanndra what Aro told me that day but she won't listen and always cut me off everytime I try to explain. She left with her mom to California at halos namatayan kaming magkakaibigan, Cirrus won't talk about it kahit obvious naman na nahihirapan siya at naaawa sa kapatid. Samantalang sina Quinn naman ay pilit na iniiwas iyong topic para matahimik na ang lahat. Everything went okay and went back to normal again after a year at hanggang ngayon ay parang wala lang nangyari.
Siguro nalilimutan mo ng madali ang isang bagay kapag hindi mo na ito pinagtutuonan ng pansin and just like what everyone always say, time heals. Sumabay lang sa agos ng panahon and everything will be okay again.
Pinagmasdan ko si Aro na kinakausap ang tatlong bodyguards na nakabantay sa labas ng kanyang bahay— his mom's house. It's already four PM and we are getting ready for his Uncle's birthday party.
When he first said it to me ay gusto ko na kaagad na umayaw doon. The last time he introduced me to his family ay hindi lang ako ang nilait nila pati na rin si Papa. I don't wanna go through that again but then I realize something— in one way or another he will eventually introduce me to his family. If I want to be with Aro for a very long time then I have to accept his family. Bastusin man nila ako ng ganoon, I can put up with them as long as kasama ko si Aro. Kaya ko iyon, basta kasama ko siya. Isa pa, two years had already passed at hindi naman ako makakapayag na hindi makilala ng buong pamilya niya. I mentally prepared and planned for this for a very long time. Ayaw ko na masayang iyon.
Besides, I know Architect Ferdinand Maceda. I met him once when Aro took me to one of the Maceda's architectural and engineering firms sa Iloilo last year. I was third year that time and getting ready for my internship for the last year in college. Maganda ang firm nila at kilala sa buong Pilipinas kaya naisipan ko rin na doon na lamang mag internship kung iyon ay papayag ang school at si Architect Maceda, at dahil girlfriend ako ni Pyro Allen MacKenzie Maceda Chua, ay walang kahirap-hirap akong nakapasok at naka-secure ng slot kahit pa third year pa lang ako noon although I know na kahit wala si Aro ay makakapasok pa rin ako doon. The standing of my grades are great and I am aslo running for Summa cum laude. Two more steps closer to my dream of being a licence civil engineer.
"Congratulations iha! I am looking forward to working with you in my firm? Mabuti na lamang at magaling pumili ng girlfriend itong si Aro!" Natutuwa na sabi ni Architect Ferdinand sa isang lunch na pinagsaluhan naming apat ng kanyang asawa at ni Aro.
Aro smirked at his Uncle's comment samantalang ngiting tipid lamang ang iginawad ni Madame Minerva Maceda sa akin.
"Thank you po Architect and Madame sa opportunity. Hinding-hindi ko po ito sasayangin." I said wholeheartedly.
Tumango si Architect at uminom ng juice sa kanyang baso. Nabaling naman ang tingin ko sa kanyang asawa nang tumikhim ito at ngumiti sa akin.
"The Macedas are all into architecture especially the guys in the family samantalang ang mga babae naman ay nagdo-doktor. The only girl Architect in their family was Pauleen." Madame Minerva's talk stop Aro from eating.
I know that because Aro told me about it. Compared to his Dad's family na purong Chinese at malaking pamilya, his mom's family is the opposite. May lahing Chinese rin but malayo na. Maliit lamang ang pamilya dahil tatlo lang sila na magkakapatid. Architect Ferdinand as the eldest and only boy, a girl that I haven't meet yet dahil nasa ibang bansa daw ayon kay Aro and their youngest, Aro's mom, the late Architect Pauleen Maceda.
"Ah. Yes po, Madame. Naikwento po iyan ni Aro sa akin." I replied.
Tumawa si Architect Ferdinand kaya napatingin kaming tatlo sa kanya. He really is a jolly person dahil kung hindi tumatawa ay palagi naman nakangiti.
