The Only Exception

CHAPTER 8

"Grabe, you lucky son of a bitch." sabi ni Seulgi at natawa lang kami ni Jisoo.

Hindi naman namin namamalayang nasa harap na pala namin si Roseanne. She's only wearing black cropped top, topped with a blue hoodie and a boyfriend jean. She removed her cap at hinawi ang buhok na humaharang sa mukha niya tsaka naupo sa tabi ko.

"What are you guys talking about?" pagsali nito sa usapan namin.

I handed her a bottled of water and a handkerchief for her to swipe her sweat away at 'di naman nakawala sa paningin ko ang simpleng pagtitinginan ng dalawang kaibigan ko.

"Wala naman, just our dates for tonight." sagot ni Jisoo.

"Oh. Okay." simpleng sagot ng babaeng katabi ko at ininom na ang tubig na iniabot ko sakanya.

"How about you Roseanne, do you already have—" hindi naman natapos ni Seulgi ang sasabihin niya nang may lumapit samin na isang lalaki with wide smile printed on his face.

Oh I know this guy, he's actually from the same class as mine. What was his name again?

"Hi Roseanne." bati niya sa katabi ko. Napatingin lang din naman kaming apat sa lalaki nang nag abot ito ng bouquet of roses sa katabi ko.

"Oh, hi Jaehyun. Uhm, thank you for this, I guess?" alangan namang sagot nito.

"Yeah, well hindi na ako magpapaligoy ligoy pa, I heard kasi na wala ka pa daw date for tonight's acquaintance party?" nanliit naman ang mata kong tiningnan ang lalaki.

"Oh, who said that?" tanong naman ni Roseanne.

"Uhh, my friend Taeyong, from the basketball team." sagot nito. "Yeah, so that's why I wanna ask sana if you wanna be my date—"

"Actually I do have a date na eh. Didn't the other guys from the field told you that kanina?" sabi niya at itinuro ang kinaroroonan ng mga lalaking nag-approach sakanya kanina.

"Uhh? pardon?"

"She's actually here, my date. Lisa." sabi nito at sabay sabay naman silang napatingin sakin.

"Oh." sabi naman ni Jaehyun at tinignan ako.

"Sorry pare, I didn't know. Sige una na din ako. Have a great day, Roseanne." tugon nito at bumuntong hininga pa bago naglakad papalayo.

Nagpalipat lipat naman ang tingin ni Jisoo at Seulgi at samin ng katabi ko while waiting for an explanation kaya tumikhim ako.

"Why did you say that?" tanong ko.

"Said what?" takang tanong mo.

"That I'm your date." gulat ka namang napatingin sakin while you dramatically put your hand on top of your chest.

"Grabe, did you really not consider me to be your date??" nagtatakang tanong mo kaya mas lalo pa kaming naguluhan ng mga kaibigan ko.

"Well, I never asked you?" sagot ko and you glared at me. "..yet. I haven't asked you yet." tuloy ko.

"Did you know how many guys asked me to be their date since the announcement but I rejected all of them kasi nga I already considered you to be my date. It's like, I don't even need to wait you to ask me kasi it's already been decided that way. Like, automatic na yon." you said and rolled your eyes at me.

"Sussss. Yun naman pala eh, Rosè pagpasensyahan mo na itong kaibigan namin, pinanganak kasing insensitive yan." sabat ni Seulgi and they both high-fived.

Pasimple lang naman akong nangiti at matamang pinigilan ang sarili after I processed what you just said.

"Oh oh ano yang nginingiti ngiti mo jan, tangina mo kinikilig ka ba?" sabi ni Jisoo at binato ako ng dahon. Sinamaan ko lang naman siya ng tingin pero she just sticked her tongue out to tease me.