The Only Exception

CHAPTER 8

"Sinong kinikilig?" interested na tanong mo.

"Si Lisa daw." natatawang sabat ni Seulgi pero you only rolled your eyes at me.

"Gago." sabi ko naman at binato ng bottled water si Seulgi at agad na sinalo ito para hindi matamaan sa mukha.

"Aba gago, nananakit. Tama yan Roseanne, irapan mo lang yan akalain mo hindi ka pala cinonsider as her date."

"True. Siguro may iba siyang gusto maging date." pagsasang-ayon mo naman kay Seulgi kaya sinamaan ko kayo ng tingin.

"Bakit, sino ba gusto mo maging date, Lis? Don't tell me you're meaning to ask your ex." paggatong naman ni Jisoo.

"Can you shut up? tsaka wala akong ex."

"Wehh, wala daw ex, Seul." sabi ni Jisoo at humagalpak ang dalawa sa kakatawa. Interested ka naman ulit sa usapan kaya nakisali ka.

"Sino ba ex ni Lisa? Gwapo ba?" tanong mo kaya mas lalo pang natawa ang dalawa.

"What do you mean gwapo? allergic sa hakdog yan si Lisa. Maganda kamo." sagot ni Jisoo and even winked at me.

"What? akala ko ba straight ka???" takang tanong mo sakin.

"Wala akong sinabing straight ako."

"But I can still clearly remember what you said to me before nung sinabi ko na I thought you're gay, sabi mo "what made you think na I'm gay?" you mimicked me at gumulong na nga sa damuhan ang dalawa sa kakatawa.

"So all this time, you thought straight si Lisa? Tangina mas baliko pa yan dun sa kanto papasok sa subdivision niyo." natatawang tanong ni Seulgi.

"Tangina hahahahaha. Gago tama na, ang sakit na ng tiyan ko pffffttttt."

"Mga gago. Hindi ba kayo titigil?" inis na pagsuway ko sa dalawa kaya nanahimik naman sila at umayos na ng upo.

"So it's a she? Yung ex ni Lisa, i mean? Sino ba yun?" tanong mo ulit.

"She's not my ex nga—"

"Manahimik ka, I am not talking to you." pagputol mo sa akin.

"Krystal Jung. BSMT, 2nd year college. Class 1-A." sagot ni Jisoo. I know they're not gonna drop this topic kaya sa inis ko ay tumayo na ako.

"Bahala nga kayo jan." pikon na sabi ko at nagsimula nang maglakad papalayo.

"Hey, Lisa! Joke lang eh! Hintayin mo kami!" pahabol na sigaw ni Seulgi pero hinayaan ko nalang sila at nagdire-diretso sa paglalakad.

Tahimik lang akong nagd-drive not minding you na kanina pa nakatingin sakin.

"Hey, sorry na nga kasi. I was just trying to tease you naman." rinig kong sabi mo pero hindi kita pinansin.

"Lisaaaaaa, sorry na ngaaaaa." pangungulit mo pa at hinatak hatak ang isang braso ko.

"Tigil nga. Do you want us to get into an accident?" pagalit na tugon ko sayo.

"Eh sorry na nga kasi. Hindi mo naman kasi ako pinapansin hmpp." pagmamaktol mo.

"Oo na, wag ka nang makulit jan." sagot ko at nakita ko naman ang pagngiti mo.

"Bati na tayo? You're not angry na?"

"Bati amputa, what are you? 5?" 'di makapaniwalang tanong ko sayo.

"KJ." I heard you muttered. "Anyway, daan ka muna sa condo mo so we can get your clothes, dun ka nalang sa bahay mag-ayos. I'll help you." pag-oopen mo ng panibaging topic at tumango lamang ako.

As we got in your place, dumiretso muna tayo sa kwarto mo para tumambay. I picked up your nintendo switch that was placed on top of your table tsaka comfortable na humiga sa bed mo. Maaga pa naman, it's still 4 pm and 8 pa ang start ng party, we decided to rest for a while muna at mag prepare nalang by the time 6 strikes.

Ikaw naman ay nagsalpak ng earphones tsaka nahiga sa tabi ko.

"I'll take a nap muna, I'm tired. Just wake me up pag 6 na." sabi mo at tumango nalang din ako.

🎶 Sunday morning, rain is falling
Steal some covers, share some skin 🎶

I got woken up by the alarm na I set a while ago. Inatake din kasi ako ng antok kaya natulog na rin ako. Marahan kong kinusot ang aking mata when I felt something heavy on top of me. I lifted my body a little only to see you hugging me so tightly with your head on top of my chest. Pati sa pagtulog ang clingy mo parin.

I lightly tap your shoulder to wake you up.

"Roseanne, 6 na." I said pero you only buried your face more.

"Hey, we're gonna be late if we still don't prepare for now." sabi ko kaya tamad ka namang naupo with your eyes still closed.

Ilang minuto pa before you finally stood up at nagtungo sa bathroom.

(fast forward)

We are now dressed with our chosen outfits. 7:30 na rin. You just finished tying my tie and went back in front of your make up table to do a retouch. Naupo naman ako sa may bed and wore my patent leather shoes.

"I'm done." sabi ko at tumayo na.

"Come here, let me put some lip balm on your lips." lumapit naman ako sayo at nilagyan ng kung ano ang labi ko. You popped your lips gesturing me to do the same and so I did.

I observed you wearing that black, crystal cutout drapped dress. That's the same dress na I told you is still your best find. You eventually end up buying it and I didn't know what made you changed your mind. Pero one thing is for sure, you totally look good in that dress and I know na you'll be the prettiest among the rest once we arrived in the venue.

"All set?" tanong ko at tumango ka naman.

"Let's go." sabi ko pero held my wrist at kinuha ang camera na nakalagay sa taas ng table.

"Let's take a picture muna." sabi mo as you leaned your head a little closer to mine. This feels like deja vu.

Naaalala ko nanaman yung nangyari sa mall last time. All the feels came back rushing to my body as I stared at our reflection towards the mirror. I put my hand around your waist tsaka ka hinapit papalapit.

"There, we look good together nga." sabi ko tsaka nangiti when you click the camera.