The Only Exception

Chapter 1

"You know what, you should be more thankful that they adopted you. They love you so much. I've seen your mom cry every time she goes to our house, she's completely lost, and she always say that it's her fault now that you hate them, that you're ruining yourself, at our age. Kasalanan daw niya at hindi niya agad sinabi sayo."

That caught me off guard. I wanted to cry pero pinipigilan ko, not in front of a stranger. I only know his face but not his name. Hindi siya nagsalita, and so I am. It took him a minute before talking again.

"She's crying, like she's losing you forever. Umiiyak siya na parang isang araw, mawawala ka na sa kanila. And they are right, you're running away. Iiwan mo na ang taong nagparamdam sayo na hindi ka iba, na parte ka ng pamilya niyo."

Oo, hindi nga sila nagkulang sa akin. Never did they make me feel like I'm an adopted. Ramdam kong mahal nga nila ako.

"This, isipin mo, kung hindi ka nila kinuha, do you think you'll live comfortably like how you live right now? You think you'll get the education you need kung hinayaan ka nila kasama ng tunay mong mama? No, you'll die too. Pero hindi diba? Naglihim sila sayo para sa ikabubuti mo. You won't be here without them." Sabi niya.

Unti unti pumatak ang luha sa mata ko. Damn! I'm so stupid! How can I do this to them? They only showed me love and I choose to return that with hatred? Im so stupid. I sobbed, inabutan niya ako ng panyo. Tinaggap ko iyon.

"Now, stop being a brat and go home, they are waiting for you." He softly said.

Tumango ako, Pinunasan ko ang namumula ko'ng mukha bago tumayo, tinulungan niya naman ako. He offered to carry my duffel bag, hindi na ako nagreklamo at binigay na lang iyon sa kanya. Besides, I feel too weak to carry that. Baka matumba lang ako.

Tahimik kaming naglalakad, only the crickets ang our steps are the only things I can hear. Nauuna ito sa akin, so I can freely stare at his back. Hmm, matangkad, and he has a bulky body, pero hindi iyon ganon kabulky, sakto lang. I looked away before clearing my throat.

"Uhm, ano nga pala ang pangalan mo?" I asked with a little voice, hindi siya sumagot, kaya nahiya akong magtanong ulit, baka hindi niya narinig dahil sa liit ng boses ko.

We continue walking, natatanaw ko na ang bahay naming bukas ang ilaw. In front of our gate was my mama, who is crying so hard. Aligaga rin ito sa paligid. Biglang parang gusto ko na lang tumakbo papalapit sa kanya at aluin siya. Muli na namang nanubig ang mata ko, I stopped when my faced bump into the back of this guy.

"Conrad Wayne," he said, without looking at me, deretso lang itong nakatingin sa harapan. Noong una ay nalito ako, he's sudden introduction made me puzzled and only to realize that he just answered my question a few minutes ago.

"Curns?" Narinig ko ang boses ni mama kaya dali dali akong lumingon, agad din nagbaba ng tingin. I feel ashamed of everything I said and everything I did. Ramdam ko ang nakakatusok na tingin ng nasa tabi ko. Maging ang hagulgol ni mama ay narinig ko na.

"Why are you just standing there? Go on, reconcile with your parents." He said. Natatakot man ay humarap na ako sa mama kong naghihintay sa paglapit ko. I did what he said, lumapit ako, at nang nasa harapan kona ay hindi ko na napigilan ang kanina ko pa pinipigilang iyak.

I hugged her so tight— never wanting to let her go. Ganoon rin siya, mahigpit ngunit marahang paraan niya ako hinawakan. Like I am the most precious gem she only has.

"Ma, sorry po." I said in between my sobs.

"'Wag mo na kami iiwan, anak. I'm sorry, hindi na kami ulit maglilihim sa sayo." She said, tumango lang ako, at muli siyang niyakap ng mahigpit. Nasa ganung posisyon kami nang dumating si papa kasama ang isa pang lalake. Pareho silang hinihingal.