Engr. Antonio Castañeda, founder of Castañeda Holdings, died after suffering from a serious lung condition over the years. The confirmation of his death was made by his grandson Alaric Hermes Castañeda when he was cornered by the media at SDL Air, where Summer and Spring Mendrez were seen taking off a private jet along with the renowned personalities Daniel Mondragon, Ethan Montezor, and Reid Santa de Leones.

That's all I got after I went through the internet yesterday. I messaged Aidan about it but didn't receive any reply. I called him last night but he's not picking up, rather his phone is cannot be reached. I waited for his call and stayed up all night, but nothing came.

I can't think of why Aidan didn't tell me about it. We were on the phone almost every night. Whenever I ask him how his day was, he always gives me a reassuring answer that everything about him is fine, that he's just quite busy with stuff he does.

I didn't know. Had I known, I would've been there for him.

There goes my stubborn tears wouldn't keep from falling. I wiped it with my hand as I walked through the university hallway.

All I can think about is how bad I wanna be with Aidan. He needs me. For Pete's sake, my husband needs me, and I wasn't there for him!

"Paris, can we talk?" It was Wendell. I tried to be nice by keeping my mouth shut. "Paris, about last Saturday night-"

"Wendell, I have no time for you." I cut him off, doubling my steps down to the carpark.

"Paris, I mean everything I said. I mean it." Matigas niyang sabi habang patuloy na nakasunod saking likuran.

I saw Karen Hanover across the parking space with her friends. She gave me a strange smile and shook my head, I have no idea what was that for.

"Listen, Paris. Like it or not we have to talk about it." He snatched my arm, making me look at him.

"Wendell, I don't care about everything you said. Now if you'll excuse me, I have something much more important to attend to."

He was about to say something when a baritone voice from behind called our attention. I saw his gaze move to see who was behind me.

"Do yourself a favor and leave,"

"Aric," I recognized his voice without having the need to look at him.

Hindi na inantay pa ni Alaric ang sagot nito, sa halip ay iginiya niya ako sa kung saan nakaparada ang isang pulang sports car na alam kong pag-aari niya.

Hindi ko na naisip pa ang sasakyan kong naiwan sa parking, I turned to Alaric when he started driving off the road.

"I need to talk to you, Paris."

"A-ako rin, how's Aidan?" Iyon ang unang lumabas saking bibig, I placed my hand above my lip to keep my sobs from coming. "Aric, I didn't know..."

Nakita ko kung paanong bumalatay ang pagkalito sakanyang anyo, sandali niya akong binalingan ngunit hindi siya nag-salita. He turned his focus back on the road.

"Had I known, I should've been there for your brother... Aric hindi ko alam, I'm sorry." Tahimik akong umiiyak habang nakabaling ako sakanya.

I know Aric. I knew him even before I knew Aidan. His fist clenched tightly at the steering wheel. His eyes were furious on the road ahead of us. Hindi parin siya nagsasalita. I don't know how long he'd been driving before he pulled off to someplace secluded.

He killed the engine and leaned on his seat. Giving me one deep and heavy sigh. Nanatali parin ang paningin niya sa aming harapan.

"I envy Aidan for everything he has in life, Paris. Lahat ng gusto ko'y nakukuhang madali ni Aidan, why I? I have to work my ass for it," he said in a while. "He's everyone's favorite. Father loves him in a way I can never tell he loves me. My grandfather, Antonio Castañeda, adored Aidan so much. I don't know if it was his charm that made them go crazy for him, but Lolo sees Aidan differently."

I have no idea where this conversation is going, but I know I have to be the ears for Alaric. I know where he's coming from. I understand his pain.

"I knew this time would come, Paris. Death is inevitable. Alam ko na darating at darating ang panahon para sa lahat ng tao, I had seen it coming. Aidan wouldn't take this easily, I know, it will wreck him. Aidan loves Lolo so much, he's his old man. He loves making him proud. He even thought of throwing his dreams away just to make him happy. Alam ni Aidan na gusto ni Lolo na siya ang sumunod sa yapak na sinimulan nito, he wanted him to be an Engineer. But Aidan was never interested of becoming one."

My chest tightened, hearing stories I had never heard. I bit my lower lip, all that Alaric was saying reminds me of how less I know my husband.

"He was ready, Paris. He was ready to give up his passion for arts just to make our old man happy. I was the one who told Lolo what Aidan really wants, I don't want my brother throwing away what he really loves. And so it was Lolo who talked to him and encouraged him to take the path he wants to walked through." He shook his head momentarily. "I dreaded this day when Aidan will lose an arm, I've never seen my brother broken, Paris."

I've only seen Antonio Castañeda a couple of times, but I felt the pain of his death. What more will it cause for Aidan?

"I know, Aidan will lose his mind, Paris. Hinayaan namin siya ni daddy nang agad siyang lumipad patungo dito matapos siyang madurog ng nangyari. We let him, because maybe here, with you, he'll find his cure." Doon niya ako nilingon. "Why are you asking me how's Aidan? I should be the one asking you that, how's my brother Paris?"

Wala sa loob akong napailing. Aidan is here? Aidan is here and I didn't know it!

"H-he's here..."

"Right after he heard the news, lumipad siya papunta sayo. Ni hindi na niya naisip pa si Ricos, I get that, he's broken and you have nothing to worry about Ricos, he's been taken care off. All I'm worrying about is Aidan, you didn't know, so you mean he hasn't showed up?" Tinitigan ako ni Aric. "Then where is Aidan? Where could he be?"

"I don't know..." fuck! How I hate the fact that I know nothing!

"Dad is worried about him, he isn't returning any of his calls. Si mommy ay kinakalma lang ni dad, he kept on telling mom that Aidan has been calling from time to time, truth is, he's not. I went here to check on him and that maybe I could convince him to go back. Not only for my parents, but Castañeda Holdings needs him. Dad and I can't do it all by ourselves, Paris. We need Aidan, we can't afford to lose another post."

I closed my eyes as pain sliced through my heart. What have I done? I messed up being a wife that matched him. Oh my God, Aidan, forgive me.

"Paris, sinadya ko na dito ka puntahan because I want to personally talk to you about Aidan." He reached for my hand and held it tight against him. He said the next words, almost begging. "We need him, I know you want him around and what you have here means half of your life. I understand. I know, Paris, I know in the process you have learned to love my brother at ganoon rin siya sayo. You two aren't difficult to love. But Paris, my family needs Aidan. If you may, please convince him to go back, Paris I swear, I owe you my life-"

"Aric, I don't know where your brother is..." halos wala na akong tinig nang sabihin ko iyon, it hurts me so much knowing that Aidan is probably drowning himself in misery at this moment.

"Ikaw lang ang siyang meron siya, iyon ang pagkakaalam niya. Kaya alam ko, ikaw at ikaw pa rin ang pupuntahan niya. Please, Paris, send him home."