The Only Exception

Chapter 21

But I don't want to hurt Yngrid more. She's in love with the man I love.

Dalawa silang masasaktan ko kung pipiliin ko ang sarili ko.

And I am not that selfish.

"Why do you need to stop it, Curns? Because it might go deeper? Or it is already deep?" si Yngrid.

Hindi ako nakasagot. Hindi ko na kayang itanggi ang nararamdaman.

"You are in love with him!" She confirmed her own thought.

"I'm sorry..." I said.

"Don't be sorry for your own feelings, Curns!" si Leesha na naiinis na.

"And so what if she loves him, Yngrid? I can see that Ryan loves him too!" she added.

"Yes, I can see it too." Si Cian.

"Alam natin yun, umpisa pa lang! Alam natin yun bago pa malaman ni Curns ang sarili niyang nararamdaman!"

They what?

"No!" ayaw pa ring tanggapin ni Yngrid. "You said you won't fall for him! You said you won't even like him a bit! You said you will only love Conrad? Nasaan na ang mga 'yon? Kinain mo lang!" ngayon ay galit na ang titig na ipinukol sa akin.

"Yngrid, tama na! Is that the reason why you were so mad at Curns the last time, too?" si Leesha at tumabi sa akin.

Walang nagsasalita sa iba kong mga kaibigan, at si Leesha lang ang may kayang pumagitna sa amin.

"I'm really sorry, hindi ko alam na mamahalin ko si Ryan ng ganito—"

"Shut up! Sinungaling ka! You're not a woman of the your words! Kinain mo lang rin ang sinabi mo." she yelled.

"I will not take him away from you."

"Don't just say it! Patunayan mo, Curns. Why don't you walk the talk and go back to Conrad! Make him your boyfriend. At hayaan mo na si Ryan!" hamon niya.

I gulped at her.

"I can't do that..." I said.

"What do you mean? You said you'll go back to Conrad, right? Then why are you changing your plans now?"

"I will, pero hanggang kaibigan na lang siguro..." that's the only thing I can offer.

Hindi na kaya ng sarili ko ang unang plano—ang sagutin si Conrad. I am fucked up. Sobrang gulo na.

"No! If you won't really take Ryan away, then make Conrsdyour boyfriend! Saka lang ako mapapanatag!"

"I can't really do that, Pleease, hayaan mo naman na ako sa desisiyon kong ito. Believe me, I won't take him away from you." pakiusap ko sa kaibigan pero iling lang ang sinagot sa akin.

"No. I will only believe you if, you promise to make Conrad your boyfriend. That guy is in love with you! At sinasayang mo 'yon dahil lang sa lalaking pagmamay ari na ng iba?"

"I love Ryan, Yngrid." masakit na sabi ko.

Nasasaktan ako na kahit ang pagmamahal kong sa malayo na lang ay hindi niya kayang tanggapin. I don't even know they were a thing.

Hindi niya sinabi sa akin, hindi sinabi ni Ryan sa akin! If I know, malamang iiwas ako!

"And I love him too. Nauna ako." ang sabi niya.

"Don't be selfish here, Yngrid." si Leesha.

"Shut up! Hindi ako ang selfish rito, kung hindi si Curns! Patunayan mong hindi ka selfish para piliin mahalin ang taong may mahal nang iba, Curns."