Delgado Cousins #3: Kaden Theodore Delgado (Someone You Loved)

CHAPTER V: HURT

CHAPTER V: HURT

AYLA

I was happy when my parents and Don Antonio Delgado finally decided to unite our families through a marriage between me and Kaden.

He was the only guy I was ever truly comfortable with...

I was aloof as a child, probably because I thought that people and children from wealthy families like mine would never be true to themselves or others...

I felt that they weren't being genuine because they followed certain expectations based on their status in life. Even friendships could be fake...

I'm grateful to my parents and our family's wealth because I was able to live a comfortable life. Pero may mga bagay lang din talaga na hindi ko nagustuhan bilang nagmula sa isang may kayang pamilya. I felt like I couldn't have the relationships I wanted with people.

But when I met Kaden Theodore, I thought he was the truest person there was...

Pinakilala kami ng mga magulang ko at ni Don Antonio noon. I was still in high school when I met Kaden, who was also a few years older than me.

Unlike the other kids or people introduced to me before, he didn't hide his feelings or act like he liked me right away.

Noon kasi, kapag may nakikilala ako at nalalaman nilang isang Del Valle ako, biglang ang bait na agad nila sa akin. As if that was already a given just because I was the daughter of the Del Valles. My family came from the old money of the Del Valles, at maimpluwensya rin ang pamilya ko. So others would always think it was a good thing to get close to someone like me, the only heir to the Del Valle family and its wealth.

Kaya naman natigilan ako at bahagya pang nagulat nang makita kong parang wala lang kay Kaden ang unang pagkikita namin. When my parents and Don Antonio started talking about their businesses and we were left alone, he didn't come to talk to me like the others usually did.

I sat beside him while he stood there, facing a lake. We were at one of Don Antonio's properties, where he invited us to meet his grandson and spend time together. My dad is the son of Don Antonio's closest friend from back in their days.

"What are you doing?" I asked him.

Bumaling siya sa akin at bahagyang umiling. "Nothing... Just watching the lake..." He sighed after his answer.

Bahagya na lang din akong tumango. At pagkatapos ay wala na siyang sinabi. Kaya ako na ang nag-isip ng panibagong topic. He seemed uninterested, but that was what interested me. I thought he was a bit intriguing.

"You've just met Don Antonio? Hinanap ka niya," I said.

Tumingin siya muli sa akin at tumango. "Oo..."

I smiled a bit. "I'm glad that he's found you..."

He just nodded.

At wala na siyang sinabi. I sighed, and when I sighed, he turned his attention back to me. "Are you bored?" he asked.

Nakatingin ako sa kaniya at unti-unti akong tumango.

"I thought so... Bakit hindi natin subukan sakyan 'yong bangka?" he suggested, pointing to a small boat.

Napatingin ako roon, at pagbaling ko sa kaniya, tumango ako at ngumiti.

Nagpaalam kami kina Mommy at Daddy, at nagpaalam din si Kaden kay Don Antonio. They allowed us to use the boat.

"Marunong ka ba?" I asked Kaden.

Tumango naman siya sa akin. "Yeah."

Tumango rin ako at nilagay niya ang kamay niya sa harapan ko. Napatingin pa ako roon bago ko nilagay ang kamay ko sa kamay niya. Inalalayan niya akong makasakay sa bangka, at siya na rin ang nagsagwan nito...

Napangiti ako at saglit na napapikit. It was peaceful to slowly have a boat ride on the quiet lake. I was glad that Kaden had thought of this.

While we were there, we talked about ourselves—basic questions like our likes and dislikes, and hobbies. We enjoyed our time boat riding in the lake...

Simula noon, parang naging magkaibigan na kami ni Kaden. Although we couldn't see each other all the time. Magkaiba kasi kami ng school ni Kaden, and busy rin siya sa pag-aaral ng negosyo nila aside from his college life. But sometimes I'd go to their company office building to see him.

"Maria Ayla,"

I met Don Antonio. Lumapit ako at humalik sa pisngi niya. Bata pa lang ako, kaibigan na ng pamilya namin si Don Antonio. As a child, he spoiled me with new toys and sweets like candies or chocolates.

I smiled at him. "Is Kaden here, Don Antonio?"

Ngumiti rin siya sa akin at tumango. "He's probably in the office. You can go to him now. Alam ko patapos na rin ang trabaho niya."

I smiled more. "I will. Thank you, Don Antonio!"

He only smiled in return, and then I left to go to Kaden's office. I thought he was amazing—still in college but already working at their company, helping Don Antonio with their family businesses.

Kung sabagay, matanda na rin si Don Antonio. Although he's strong and still healthy, we know he needs help from his grandchildren in managing their businesses. It was just unfortunate that all his sons passed away early. And his other grandson, Damian, ay hindi pa maasahan sa negosyo. Kaya sabi nga ni Daddy, mabuti na nandito na si Kaden ngayon. Because he's the one helping his grandfather.

And Kaden Theodore must be a genius too, because my Dad said Kaden learned fast and it wasn't hard to teach him, especially about business. I felt proud of him. It made me smile just to think of him.

Kumatok ako sa office niya. Pinatuloy naman ako ng nakangiting secretary na kilala rin ako. I smiled too, and then my eyes turned to Kaden, who looked up at me from his desk. "Hi!" I greeted him with a smile.

Tumayo naman siya mula sa swivel chair niya. "Ayla. What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Hmm. Just visiting you... your office." Nilibot ko ang tingin ko sa opisina niya, which was nice and tidy.

"I'm done with work. Uuwi ka na ba? Ihahatid ka na lang din namin ng driver sa inyo," he said.

Bumaling ako muli sa kaniya. "Uhm, can we eat snacks out first bago n'yo ako ihatid?"

Unti-unti naman siyang tumango sa akin. "Okay."

I smiled happily.

Then we went out to a dessert shop. I have a bit of a sweet tooth, so I really enjoyed sweets. Si Kaden naman ay hindi masyado, but I saw him eating the cakes and other desserts with me. Kaya nga lang, "Too sweet," he commented, and he grimaced like he couldn't take it anymore.

While I couldn't help but chuckle at his reaction, he looked cute as his face scrunched up from the sweetness of what we were eating. He looked at me while I laughed. I stopped. "Hmm, it's delicious," I said.

Tumango lang siya sa akin bago muling kumain sa gusto kong pagkain...

And I just smiled while watching him enjoy the sweets with me.

I thought that he was perfect, and that we could be perfect together...

So I was really hurt when I found out about Raya—Kaden's ex...