03

FLASHBACK PT. 2

"Happy 4th year Anniversary, love." I sweetly greeted Jacob beside me. We're at my condo's balcony stargazing. He prepared a simple yet beautiful dinner date to celebrate our 4th year together.

"Happy 4th Anniversary, love." He snaked his arms around me and gave me a kiss on ny lips.

"We had been through many trials. It's hard to keep our relationship a secret but, look are we now. We're still going strong..."

"I really want to spend the rest of my days here in this world love, so I guess, I'm ready to let my parents know about us. I'm sick of hiding, and going into a date with you secretly. I want the world to know that you are my boyfriend." Nilingon niya ako and smiled at me.

"I would love that, I want you to be my last, baby. And my parents likes you to be with me. If anything happens, we'll stay together. Our love will keep us strong. We'll fight for us, okay?" He caressed my cheeks. My tears pooled my eyes.

"What's wrong, love?" He asked worriedly as he wipe my tears falling on my cheeks.

"Nothing... I just... I'm happy..." I'm so weired! Gosh! I'm crying here tapos natatawa ako!

"I love you," I said. He smirked. tss.

"I love you, more." He leaned to give me a kiss on my lips. Akala ko saglit lang iyon at mababaw lang pero maya maya ay lumalim iyon.

Hinihingal kaming dalawa ng bitawan niya ang labi ko. We're staring at each other's eyes. I could'nt help to smile. "I'm so lucky, I thank god for giving me you..." He chuckled.

My phone suddenly beeped. I quickly checked it and I was shock that my picture is going viral now. I also recieved an email from the company that I audition for modeling. And...

"Oh my god... Love! look!"

"What is that?" His brows furrowed.

"My picture is viral! And I got an email from the company that I auditioned! I was accepted! Oh gosh! I'm on cloud nine!"

"You did a great job, love. Congrats!" He greeted.

"After I graduate, I'll focus on my career. And of course, you." I pinched his nose making him smirk. Tss. Favorite?

We took some pictures because this day is very memorable not only for me, but for the both of us.

I wanted to upload it on my Instagram, so I did.

aeri_garcia:  This man beside me is one of the reason why I keep on dreaming ♥ I really am on cloud9...

I uploaded our selfie together medyo madilim iyon at hindi masyadong maaninag ang mukha ni Jacob. Hindi ko na siya tinag kase ayaw kong maflood ang notifs niya.

Mabilis iyon napansin ng mga tao since nahanap na nila ang acc ko. Sobrang daming nag fofollow saakin. Sabog na rin ang notifs ko dahil maraming nag comment, naglike doon at sa iba ko pang mga picture. I also recieved some dms from my friends and admirers saying 'congratulations'...

Ngunit sa dami ng mga notif noon, Isa lang ang napansin ko.

It was a photo of me that was taken earlier. It was a candid one pero nakatingin ako sa camera. He was taking a photo of me earlier and napalingon ako sakanya.

Even though it's candid, maganda ang kuha niya. Nakaawang ng kaunti ang labi ko habang may wine glass ako sa kanang kamay ko.

jacob.castillo: I'm so proud of you. Congratulations, Amor ♥

He's account is private so, Hindi yon makikita ng mga taong kilala na ako.

"Garcia, Aeristelle, Top student in BS- Media & Arts..." I cried as I hear my name being called by the emcee. Naglakad ako papuntang entablado para tanggapin ang diploma ko. FINALLY!

"Congrats, Aeri. But I'd be more happy & proud if you graduated Architecture." Dad said bitterly.

"Sorry, dad. But this is what I want to be. I'm sorry for disappointing you and mom, but I promise, I'll make you proud po, soon."

"We'll see, hija." Si mom.

Nagulat ako ng biglang may umakbay sakin. It was Jacob. He was holding a boquet of red roses. He's on his white button down polo and a pair of black pants. He looked presentable.

May trabaho siya ngayon pero lumiban siya dahil graduation ko. He graduated Engineering last year and he's working on their own company. Na kalaunan ay ipapamana na rin sa kanya ng daddy niya.

"Congratulations, love. You did a great job. I'm proud of you, always." He whispered.

Tumikhim si daddy. Napalingon kaming dalawa ni Jacob. I was so damn nervous, I don't know what to say! Damn it.

Ngayon talaga namin plinano na ipapakilala ko siya kayna Dad.

"Uh.. dad, this is Jacob... Jacob Castillo... Uh, my b-boyfriend." I said nervously.

"Good afternoon, Ma'am, Sir." He greeted my parents.

"You're my daughter's boyfriend, huh? Gaano na kayo katagal?" Diretsong tanong ni Dad.

"4 years na po kami, Sir." Si Jacob.

"I didn't know may boyfriend ka na pala, Aeri? Well, sabagay, hindi ka namin naiintindi masyado dahil sa trabaho." Si mom.

"Let's go, hijo. Sumama ka sa bahay, may inihanadang party para sa graduation ni Aeri." Anyaya ni dad na ikinagulat ko.

Tumango na lang si Jacob. "D-dad, can I go with him? To our h-house?" Tanong ko.

Ilang saglit pa tumitig si daddy sakin bago siya sumagot. "Okay, we'll wait for you."

Umalis na sil dad. Pumunta naman kami ni Jacob sa sasakyan niya. Then he drove our way to our house.

Sa garden ang party, naroon ang mga kaibigan ko nung highschool, si Ara syempre, si Mich, Kelly, Hera Royce at Ethan ay nandoon rin. Ang ibang guests ay mga colleagues nila mommy at mga partners nila sa buisness.

Nang gumabi na ay nagsiuwian na ang mga bisita. Ang natira na lamang ay ang buisnessmans na kakilala nila daddy. Si Jacob ay umalis na rin kanina because it's getting late.

I was seating alone sa breakfast table, drinking a glass of water. I am still wearing my white cami dress and a flat sandals. Nagulat ako ng biglang sumulpot si mom.

"Hija, come here. May ipapakilala kami saiyo." Agad naman akong sumunod patungong living room.

Doon, namataan ko ang isang babae at isang lalaking pwawang mag asawa at sa tingin ko ay kaedad nila mom. At isang lalaking, well may itsura na mukhang kaedad ko.

Mukhang may lahing amerikano ang lalaking kaedad ko dahil sa tingin ko'y ang kanyang ina ay may lahing amerikana.

"This is Aeri, Aeristell Garcia, Our daughter." Ani dad.

"Hija, this is your Tita Ella and your Tito Axcel."

"Oh, oo nga pala, this is Elisha Gonzales, our son." Anang Tita Ella with american accent. Pero fluent siya magtagalog ha!

"Nice to meet all of you." I smiled.

"Congrats nga pala, hija. So, I heard that your a model? Plano mo raw mag showbiz?" Tanong ni Tita Ella.

"Uh, yes po."

Bumaling siya kay daddy. "Pumapayag na kami, Troy.  Axcel and I decided to let our son marry your daughter."

"Maganda ang magiging samahan natin sa kumpanya kung mag iisa tayo ng pamilya." Ani Tito Axcel.

"What?! Mom, Dad! What is this?!" Galit kong sabi.

"Sandali lang ha, kakausapin lang namin si Aeri. Excuse us." Hinila ako ni mom patungong office. Kasunod namin si Dad.

"Mom, Dad! Ano nanaman ba ito?! Ipapakasal niyo ako sa taong hindi ko naman mahal?! Para saan?! Sa buisness na yan? God! Mom, naman!" Hinilot ko ang sentido ko.

"Diba nga po, pinakilala ko na sainyo si Jacob kanina?! May boyfriend na po ako!" Pasigaw kong sabi.

Dad is just listening while mom is looking at me with a fire in her eyes. "Then, leave him. Mas gusto kong si Elisha ang mapapangasawa mo dahil alam kong mas gaganda ang future mo."

"What?! Fuck that future! You don't know that! Hindi mo naman malalaman kung gaganda ang future ko kung siya ang kasana ko! I think my future would be better if I'll marry Jacob. Because he's the one I love! I don't want to get married if it's not him!"

"Break up with him, Aeri. Or I will not let you continue your modeling and showbizness carreer. You choose." Mapait na sabi niya.

Tears pooled my eyes. I muttered a curse. "I will give you time to think of this. We'll talk about this next week after our conference in New York."

"You choose wisely, dear. If you rejected our offer, bahala ka na sa buhay mo." Aniya tsaka lumabas ng office room.

"Kahit ito lang, Aeri, pagbigyan mo na kami. We let you choose modeling instead of architecture..." Ani dad.

"But dad all my life-" he went out of the room.  Not hearing what I wanted to say.

Ilang saglit pa akong nagtigil sa office. Umiyak ako ng umiyak hanggang sa mapagod. Lumabas ako at nagtungo sa frontyard. Umupo ako sa swing at doon nag isip.

I felt my eyes heated again. Humikbi akong muli.

"Mind if I join you?" Tumingala ako at nakita yung Elisha.

"Why are you crying?" He asked. I didn't answer.

Nanatili kaming tahimik...

"Gusto mo rin bang, ipakasal sakin?" I suddenly asked ng hindi siya nililingon. Naramdaman ko naman na nilingon niya ako.

"Yeah, when I first saw you, I liked you. Mas maganda ka nga talaga sa personal."

Doon ko ma siya nilingon. "Elisha, please, I'm begging you. Please wag mo na ituloy... I have a boyfriend, and I love him so much."

"That's not easy, Aeri. Gusto rin ng daddy ko na ipakasal tayo. Kaya wala rin akong magawa kasi kahit anong tanggi ko noon, ayaw talaga ni daddy."

I sighed. "I don't know if we'll work together, but hindi kita gusto and hind rin kita kayang mahalin, Elisha. Jacob's really the one who I want to be with until my last breath."

"Yeah, I know. But I'll be patient with you, Aeri. Until you develop your feeling for me. Sigurado akong magbabago oa ang nararamdaman mo."

"4 years, Elisha. 4 years. Ganon kami katagal and sa tingin mo magbabago pa nararamdaman ko? I've seen his flaws and imperfections, ganon rin siya sakin and I accepted him. Kaya nasasabi kong sya na ang gusto kong makasama habang buhay ay dahil sigurado na ako."

"Like I said, Feelings change, Aeri."

"Now, my mom tells me to break uo with him or else she won't let me countinue pursuing my biggest dream, which is to be an actress." I cried again. Hinagod niya ang likod ko, tila pinapatahan ako.

"Hush, you should think about it, then. Pero wala na akong magagawa para sayo..." Aniya.

"But I hope you'll choose to be with me, Aeristell, because I am willing to give you my everything..."

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