CHAPTER 05

            Rome took a deep breath as she stood in front of her aunties. She needed to calm herself so they wouldn’t notice the anxiety that was filling her chest at the moment. 

           As much as possible, she wanted to keep her distance from everybody before they noticed the distress on her face. She knew it wouldn’t take long for them to spot something was off about her. It was always so easy for them to feel that negative energy surrounding her. 

           She couldn't take the risk. 

           Not until she found a solution to her problem.

            What she was more worried about was her mom. She had a weak heart, and it would devastate her once she learned about her secret. So, she had to do her best to keep this information confidential until she sorted it out with the father of her child.

            Her mom was the second of five sisters. Her Auntie Maritess, the eldest, was a short lady with short curly hair and a chubby body. She was more strict compared to her mom. 

            The third one was her Auntie Maureen. She was an old maid who never had a boyfriend all her life, which was bizarre because she was the prettiest and tallest amongst all her sisters. She also had fair, flawless skin that she loved so much. 

           

            The fourth one was her Auntie Marife; her favorite. She was the kindest and the most generous of all sisters. She was also an old maid.

            And the last one, her Auntie May. She was the coolest and the closest to her and Connie. Just like her Auntie Maureen and Auntie Marife, Auntie May was also an old maid at thirty. She was loud and funny, but she wasn't a rebel like her. Her Aunt May followed the rules as opposed to her who would always go the other way.

            Her aunts and her mother were teachers, and they were all employed in the biggest private college in the region; the Montemayor International Colleges.

            Yes. Montemayor. 

            And that was the worst part. 

            Because the university where her mother and her four aunties were teaching, including her father who worked as the university's accountant, was founded and owned by her baby daddy's family!

            And from what she heard— Cayson Montemayor was the only successor of the family. Which means he would be the next School Director once his grandmother retires. He would soon be her parents—NO, basically her entire family’s— future boss.

            "Why do you look so pale, Rosenda Marie? Are you sick?"

            She blinked and turned her attention to her Aunt Maureen after hearing what she had just said.

            "I am not sick, Auntie. I'm just tired from strolling around the town."

            "You strolled around the town?" her Auntie May asked. "Who was with you?"

            "I was alone." She couldn't tell that she was with Jiggy because even up to this day, her entire family wouldn't still accept her best friend's sexuality.

            Yes—even that was in their control. It always felt like people who wanted to befriend her needed to hand in a resume just to be accepted by her family. And she didn't have the right to befriend anyone until they have passed her aunties' standards. 

            Yeah. That's how miserable her life was.

            And she hated it, but she couldn't do anything about it. If she and Jiggy had to meet, they would do it somewhere away from her family's radar.

            But the worse part was... it was only her who the family restricted with the rules. Donny and her sister Conny could befriend whoever they wanted. They could even invite their friends to their house!

            She was just thankful that Jiggy understood her situation, and was never offended by this. In fact, her friend was always worried whenever she thought of breaking the rules. Jiggy didn't want her to be reprimanded by her parents. 

            And now... this. 

           Jiggy was also problematic about her condition. She was worried about her and was pissed about the situation.

            "Don't lie to us, Rosenda Marie. It's very obvious that you met with Jenny Grace," her mom said, sitting beside her Auntie Maureen who was sipping her tea quietly as she eyed her. 

            "My God, Rosenda! Why do you keep hanging around that girl?" her Auntie Maritess said, scowling in annoyance. 

            Her Aunt Maureen commented, "Aren't you embarrassed to be with that girl? The last time I saw her at the mall, she was wearing a men's shirt and ripped jeans. If people we know saw you together, what would they think? That you two are in a relationship?"

            She almost rolled her eyes. "Jiggy looks prettier than I, Aunties. And she never wore men's shirts. She may be a tomboy, but she has class."

            "Oh, shush, Rosenda. Stop covering her up," her Auntie Maritess said again. "A woman wearing men's clothes would never be classy."

            "To you, perhaps..." she uttered quietly. Oh, she so wanted to answer them back and defend Jiggy, but she knew her family too well. If she did what she was thinking, it was the end of the world for her.

            "I've warned her a few times already," her mother noted. "She just wouldn't listen! Jenny Grace's body was filled with tattoos the last time I saw her, and it was outrageous! She looked like a newspaper rather than a person!"

            "That's too much, Ma," she said with a warning. She wanted to say more; she wanted to say that no matter what they say, she wouldn't stop seeing her best friend. But... she's got too many problems at this point she couldn't handle more. "I'm going upstairs to rest. Enjoy your afternoon tea."

            And before her mother and aunts could say another word, she turned her back on them and walked toward the stairs. 

            She barged into her room, slammed the door, and dropped herself in bed. The voices of her aunties talking poorly about her best friend echoed in her ear. 

            Jiggy didn't do anything bad to them. But they speak about her as if she was some kind of a criminal.

            That was why she was so nervous for her family to learn about her condition. They were all very opinionated people, and they wouldn't let this slide. 

            Oh! If she could only change the family she was born into, she would! 

            The family's rules and regulations were choking her. She was already twenty-four, for heaven's sake! Why couldn't they just allow her to live the life she wanted? 

            Yes. She did a couple of stupid things in the past. She had caused her family humiliation, almost ruined their name. Those were the reasons why everybody was so strict when it came to her.

            But that was over a decade ago! 

            Had they allowed her to live her life as freely as Connie and Donny, this wouldn't happen. She wouldn't have gotten pregnant by that jerk!

           Oh! Now things went from worse to worst. 

           She clutched her head and thought about the scheduled private meeting with Conny and Jiggy tomorrow. She wondered how and where to start explaining things to them. Jiggy already knew who got her pregnant, and her friend wouldn't surely have a great night thinking about it. 

            But Connie? Her sister would surely have a heart attack. 

            She closed her eyes and thought about why exactly she considered Cayson Montemayor an enemy.

            How did she and Cayson Montemayor become an enemy again? 

            She breathed in and let her memory travel back... ten years ago, to the time when she recklessly fought her family just for love.