Am I allowed to fall in love with him?

Chapter 1

For my other idol! :)

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“Aaron, pananagutan mo si Cassie. We owe this to your Tita Cathy and Tito Darwin. Pinayagan nila si Cas na umattend ng party having faith that nothing bad could happen to her.”

Oh my God, Tito Dan, please, no. He was right though. Daddy never allowed me to go to parties with alcohol beverages, except now because I am not considered as a minor anymore, and I graduated from college already, and because I proved to him that I can handle it. Well, until now, though.

I looked at Dwayne, his face remain passive. I don’t know what’s running through his mind.

“We already decided. Di namin alam ano nangyari at nagkaganto kayo. Pero alam namin na you won’t disappoint us further.” My father used his commander-like tone, na miminsan niya lang gamitin.

With that, napayuko nalang ulit ako. My dad’s really nice, pero takot ako sa Daddy ko. Iba kasi magalit ang taong sobrang bait.

I did not realize I was fumbling with the edge of the pillow case in my lap and was shaking until Dwayne held my hand. I felt secured, but then I looked at him with a questioning look.

Nakatingin lang siya kina Daddy. “I understand Tito. I agree, Pa. I wouldn’t oppose. I’m guessing, we’re engaged as off this moment, right?” Sabi niya.

My father loosened up a bit and nodded, I guess he saw Dwayne was serious about this as well. Daddy had high regards for responsible people. I bet he’s even imagining his darling daughter and Dwayne married in the future, kasi his eyes were sort of twinkling.

My mother placed her hand on daddy’s arm soothingly, and said, “Yes, hijo. I’ve always liked you for Cassie. You were always a good friend to her. You’re funny and easy to get along with. Very magalang pa. I always wanted a son-in-law na kilala ko mula pagkabata niya.”

At this sentence, everyone lighted up, well except for me and Dwayne I think. Pero nakahinga na kahit papaano.

“Ako rin, Cath, Cassie’s always so nice and knows her manners. I wouldn’t ask for anything else. My, package ang dalaga niyo! Although, I wish they fell in love like normal couples, undergo the normal courtship stage and didn’t just come together as if they got forced into this because of this morning’s incident.” Natahimik nanaman after what Tita Arlene said.

“A-ano po.. I..  I’m sorry. I really am. I didn’t know what happened either. You know how I hate disappointing any of you; how we hate making you said.” I shortly said. Dwayne gripped my hand tightly. He probably knows I’m about to cry soon, and placed an arm around me. Despite my tough exterior, alam na alam ng mga kaibigan ko when I’m about to have a breakdown. “A-alam ko naman po, na k-kahit parents namin kayo.. Na k-kahit masaya kayo d-dahil y-you want us for each other, n-n…..nasaktan p-p-parin po namin kayo.” Ayun, tuluyan na kumawala ang hikbi ko.

“I guess ang gusto niya po sabihin is, we’re sorry if we ruined your trust, and n asana hindi ito magcause ng lamat sa pamilya ng isa’t isa.” He sighed, tapos kumuha ng tissue sa mesitang katabi ng lovecouch na kinauupuan namin, at iniabot sa akin.

I mumbled a ‘thanks’, not bothering to look at anyone else in the room, not wanting to see any hint of sadness in their eyes. And yes, nagtaka ako, di ko alam na na-gets pala ni Dwayne yun gusto kong sabihin. I mean, he was always goofing around, and I never thought he understands me at all.

“You’ve always been honest sa amin, Anak. Dun palang alam mong proud kami sa’yo, sa inyo.” Tita Arlene told Dwayne in her loving motherly voice.