Chapter 20: Aiden's Flashback
Taking a deep breath, he took a small bite of the yolk and duck embryo. The texture was unusual, and Aiden's face quickly contorted in discomfort.
"It's... not really my thing but yeah, the broth is good," he said, forcing a polite smile as he put the rest of the balut aside.
Marcus and Emily then burst out of laughter.
"Good effort, Aiden!" Emily laughed while Marcus pats Aiden's back.
"Eto, tubig oh," Aria, barely holding her laughter, took out her water jug and handed it over to Aiden.
"Thanks," Aiden immediately took the offer and hastily drank opened the jug.
Aria watched with a mixture of amusement and respect for Aiden's willingness to step out of his comfort zone, even if the result wasn't favorable. She especially appreciated his effort since he tried something far from his taste.
As they continued to chat and laugh together, Aiden tried to wash down the taste with some water, but he couldn't help but smile a bit at the unfamiliar warmth.
The unfamiliar warmth brought Aiden back to the happier times, to his childhood.
----- Start of Flashback -----
He remembered the sunny afternoons spent at their house, where the smell of the freshly baked cookies that his mom made filled the air. The kitchen was always warm and the sight of his mother humming as she pulled trays of cookies out of the oven was a comforting routine. Aiden loved sneaking a warm cookie before dinner, the chocolate melting on his tongue.
Outside, in their backyard, his father would play basketball with him. Aiden, barely reaching his father's waist at that age, would clumsily dribble the ball while his father patiently taught him the basics. His mother would often watch from the veranda, her laughter ringing through the yard whenever Aiden made a particularly wild shot or stumbled trying to defend against his father's gentle teasing.
"Come on, Dino! I'll steal the ball from you if you don't guard it properly," his father encouraged, tossing the ball gently to Aiden.
"These boys really...," his mother chimed in with a smile.
Those afternoons felt endless, filled with warmth and love. Aiden cherished those moments, the feeling of security in their cozy home.
But amidst these cherished memories, darker moments lingered in Aiden's mind like shadows creeping in from the edges.
It had been a day much like those sunny afternoons, but instead of the comforting smell of cookies, there was an uneasy tension in the air.
Aiden saw the frequent visit of the Mr. Blake, dad of his childhood friend, in their house and saw that during one dinner, when it was time to was the dishes, his mom and Mr. Blake, were talking closely and as his mom laughs, she places her hand on his arm, Aiden watches as the touch lingers longer than it should, and the way Mr. Blake looks at his mom makes Aiden's stomach churn. Aiden just thought that he was just overthinking so he the thought just passed by.
Then the 2nd time came, the one which truly made the word "family" disappear from his dictionary.
One weekend, as Aiden was about to practice his shots in the backyard, he heard muffled voices coming from behind the tall hedges separating their yard from the Blakes'. Curious, he tiptoed closer and peeked through a gap.
There, hidden from view, he saw his mother and Mr. Blake standing very close.
"Di ko alam kung gaano pa katagal natin tong gawin Blake," his mother's voice sounded strained.
"Wag kang mag-alala Veronica, hahanap tayo ng paraan," Mr. Blake replied softly, his hand reaching out to hug her.
".....What the.."
Aiden's heart sank as they shared a quick, intimate moment—a kiss.
A kiss that shattered the fragile illusion of his family's happiness. He felt a surge of conflicting emotions—rage, confusion, and hurt as he struggled to process what he had just witnessed.
He stumbled back, overwhelmed by the realization that his mother was cheating on his father. The images replayed in his mind; the subtle touches, the secretive meetings... all the signs he had brushed off as overthinking suddenly fell into place.
Backing away silently, Aiden retreated to his room, his mind racing with questions he didn't want the answers to.
'How long had this been going on? Did Dad know? Did my friend also know about it? Should I confront mom?' Aiden thought as he stared at his phone, not knowing if he should message his Dad.
Later that evening, at dinner, Aiden's mother tried to engage him in conversation, but he couldn't bring himself to meet her eyes. His father, oblivious to the turmoil brewing within his son, chatted cheerfully with family.
"Dino, sweetie, is everything okay?" his mother asked, her voice tinged with concern.
Aiden forced a tight-lipped smile and replied. "Everything's okay mom, I'm just tired."
His mother exchanged a glance with his father, a flicker of concern passing between them before they resumed their meal.
That day marked the beginning of a new reality for Aiden—a reality where the warmth of those sunny afternoons was tinged with a bitter truth he couldn't ignore.
------ End of Flashback --------
As Aiden took a long gulp from Aria's water jug, hoping to wash away the strange taste of balut, he felt a moment of relief. But almost immediately, a wave of nausea hit him like a punch in the gut. He spat out the water, coughing.
"Whoa, Aiden, okay ka lang?" Aria asked, being the one near him at the moment.
Aiden nodded, trying to catch his breath. "Yeah, sorry about that. The uhhh... the balut is just not agreeing with me."
Emily chuckled nervously.
"Uhm, sorry bro, napilitan kita kumain ng balut," Marcus admitted sheepishly.
Aiden managed a weak smile, waving off Marcus's apology. "No worries,"
Aria handed Aiden a tissue, concern still etched on her face. "Here, take it easy."
"Thanks, Aria," Aiden replied gratefully, dabbing at his mouth.
As they walked home together, Aiden couldn't help but reflect on the evening. Arriving at his spacious mansion, he felt the absence keenly. His father's demanding lawyer work often left the house quiet and empty.
Wandering through the hallway, the sound of his shoes clicking against the polished marble floors emphasized the solitude. "Another night alone," Aiden muttered, tossing his keys onto the minimalist table.
Sitting on the edge of his bed, he replayed the evening in his mind. Aria handing him a tissue with genuine concern, Marcus admitting guilt over the balut, Emily's nervous chuckle—all these moments felt more significant than his usual club scene.
"Maybe there's more to life than clubbing," Aiden murmured, thinking back to the friendships he'd kept at arm's length. He realized he'd been wary of opening up to anyone.
As he lay down, staring at the softly lit ceiling, Aiden resolved to explore this newfound realization. Before sleeping, he made sure to message and remind everyone to practice the dance routine properly.
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