The Only Exception

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

"Salamat." Isinara ko ang pintuan at hindi na hinintay ang sagot niya. I run inside our house. I even heard the cutesy little voice of Charm, but I didn't bother to look at our sala.

I jumped on my bed while heaving so much. I shouted on top of my lungs while my face was covered with pillow.

"Curns, are you okay there?" napabalikwas ako ng upo when I heard a soft knock on my door. I took a deep breath first before answering.

"Opo, 'ma. Ayos lang ako." I made sure that my voice sounds normal. Hindi halatang halos mamatay na sa kilig.

"Bakit ka tumakbo paakyat? Hindi mo man lang binati si Charm. Nagtampo tuloy ang kapatid mo sa'yo," Mama said.

Now that I calmed down a little bit, I felt guilty for ignoring my sister.

"Aaluhin ko na lang po mamaya, mama," sabi ko naman.

"Okay, bumaba ka na mamaya,"

Nag-umpisa na akong magtanggal ng uniform para magpalit.

"Opo."

While I was taking shower, I can't help myself from wondering of what had happened kanina.

"Fancy seeing you here in this crowded place, Mr. Valtierra." biro ko nang makalapit ito sa pwesto namin.

My friends are still watching the night sky and the band. Hindi napansin ang paglapit ni Conrad.

"Fancy meeting you here too, Ms. Samillano." biro rin niya pabalik. We smiled at each other while staring at each other's eyes deeply.

He smirked and reached out his hand to pinch my cheeks.

"Aww," reklamo ko pero hindi naman inalis ang kamay niya sa pisngi ko. I heard him chuckle.

Medyo nabawasan na ang mga tao dahil ang iba ay mas pinipiling hindi tapusin ang concert.

"Anong nagdala sayo rito? Akala ko ayaw mo sa noisy and crowded places?" sigaw ko nang umingay ang crowd. Nasa bandang chorus na kasi ang kanta.

"You..." my heart skipped a bit. Namula at nag init ang pisngi ko nang marinig ang sinabi niyas.

I saw a hint of smile in his lips na para bang nagpipigil ito. Malakas ang ingay sa paligid ko pero hindi yun hadlang para hindi marinig ang sinabi niya. We are that close to each other right now.

"What do you mean I brought you here? Hindi nga kita niyaya o pinilit na manood dito." I laughed a bit to ease the nervous heart.

Please, stop being a sweet talker or I going to drown from these feelings.

"I want to go home..." tumingin ito sa stage bago itinuloy ang sasabihin. "...with you, that's why." hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili na matuwa sa mga naririrnig.

"And the person I want to go home is here...watching a concert... screaming like it's the end of the world...jumping like a crazy and enjoying herself so bad that I can't afford to ruin her happiness, so I stayed and watched her instead." he casually said like his words didn't weigh something.

Damn! Ayaw na yatang tumigil ng puso ko sa pagtibok ng sobrang bilis. Halos mas malalkas na nga ito kaysa sa tugtog ng banda. Sana hindi niya nga marinig!

"I enjoyed your show, Curns," he added.

And just like that, I found myself drowning in love. I have fallen and I don't think I'm savable. I am doomed but I found myself wanting this feeling of drowning. Ayaw ko'ng umahon. Ang gusto ko ay lumubog na lang ng lumubog hanggang sa hindi na makahinga, at tuluyan nang malunod sa pinaparamdam niya.