The Only Exception

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Tahimik kaming dalawa habang nagmamaneho si Conrad. Nakayuko lang ako, at nilalaro ang bracelet sa kamay ko.

Ryan ditched me. Hindi siya nag abalang puntahan man lang ako. Or does he even care about me?

Hindi nga siya nag react noong nakita niya akong hinahalikan ni Conrad! Baka guni-guni ko lang iyong nakita ko sa mga mata niya. It is just my own bubble that I created. Dinaanan niya lang ako na parang hindi kami magkakilala!

I sighed and looked at the dark side of the road. Narinig ko ang bahagyang tikhim ni Conrad kaya nilingon ko siya. I noticed how his perfect eyebrows are a bit creased. Malapit na iyon magdikit, madilim rin ang tingin niya sa daan na parang galit ito.

Malalim ang iniisip nito dahil hindi niya man lang napansin na nakatingin na ako.

When I saw Conrad a while ago, standing in front of me, nagulat ako.

What is he doing there? Paano niya nalamang nandoon ako? Is he watching me the whole time? O binalikan niya lang ako para kunin?

Also, seeing him there for me, I felt safe and special for a second. He really is my comfort zone. His presence can comfort me when I'm in chaos.

He's the pillow that I can cry whenever I feel like to. The handkerchief that catches my tears, he's my rant absorber.

He is my solace...but not my home.

I am thankful that I've given a chance to meet him, to be comforted by him, to love him, and to be loved by him. I am thankful that I have a Conrad Wayne by my side. I am thankful that he became my best friend.

And at the same time, I am hurting. I am hurting that I have fallen out of love. If I didn't meet Ryan, I'll be forever in love with this man.

But fate is more playful than Cupid.

He will let you meet someone you never thought would matter to you.

He will let you meet someone, and it will scare you but still wanted to risk everything.

Ganoon kalala kapag ang tadhana na ang naglaro sayo. He would be playing you like a chess pieces.

And I was played by fate. We were played by fate.

"Hindi ka pa bababa?" lumingon sa gawi ko si Conrad pero hindi ito tumingin sa mga mata ko.

Nangunot ang noo ko sa kanya. Tumingin ako sa paligid at saka lang napansin na nasa tapat na pala kami ng bahay namin.

"Uh, sorry..." paghingi ko ng tawad saka binuksan ang pintuan ng sasakyan niya.

Hindi na ako nakapagpasalamat dahil agad niya ring pinasok ang kotse nila sa kanila. Mamaya na lang siguro.

"Curns, ginabi ka?" nakita ko ang paglabas ni mama habang nakatingin sa gawi ko.

Napalunok ako, hindi ba sila galit? Hindi ako nakapagtext dahil hindi ko na naisip yun kanina.

"Sorry, ma. May ginawa lang po," I lied.

"I know. Sinabi ni Conrad."

Nagtaka naman ako.

"Nandito siya kanina? Inutusan niyo po siyang kunin ako?" I asked.

She looked at me with her brows furrowed.

"Paano siya nandito kanina, e kasama mo raw siya, hihintayin ka na lang daw niya. He even told me that you asked him to text me." kinuha niya ang bag sa sofa at kinakikot saglit ang cellphone niya.

Fuck! Ibig sabihin ay noong pinapauwi ko siya ay hindi siya umuwi? Ibig sabihin, hinihintay niya talaga ako? Ilang oras? Saan siya naghintay? At pinapanaood niya lang ba ako? O saka niya lang rin ako hinanap noong nakita niya ako?