The Only Exception

CHAPTER 9

(Acquaintance Party)

We're now inside the venue and sakto lang din yun dating natin because the emcee just started the introduction. Napalinga linga naman tayo sa paligid while looking for my friends. I just received a text kasi from Jisoo na kanina pa pala sila nasa assigned table natin.

"Have you seen them yet?" tanong ko sayo pero you only shook your head.

Just as I'm about to compose a text to Jisoo, bigla naman nag vibrate ang phone ko receiving a phone call from Seulgi. Agad ko namang sinagot 'to.

"Dude, I can see you na, tingin ka dito sa dulo, left part malapit sa stage." I wondered my eyes around at tumingin sa may stage.

"Dito pre, look, I'm raising my hand." and there I saw Seulgi waving her hand at me.

"Got it. 'Ge punta na kami jan." sagot ko and ended the call.

Since maraming tao and maingay sa loob, I leaned closer to Roseanne and whispered to her ear.

"Found them. Nandun sila sa harap, tara." sabi ko at inoffer ang braso ko for you to hold it.

You immediately linked your arms to mine naman and we started walking.

Habang papalapit tayo sa gitna, the hired photographer gestured us to moved sa center, sa may red carpet, for them to take a picture. Napansin ko namang halos lahat ay nakatingin sa'tin ngayon but I just didn't mind them.

The photographer gestured us to pose and so we did. Just like what I always do, I pulled you close to mine, one hand in my pocket and the one made its way to your waist. While you, you did a side pose placing one of your hand on top of my shoulder and placed your chin above it.

While posing for different angle, you leaned in closer and whispered something to me. "We look like runway models." which made chuckle.

A few more clicks, and the photographer finally brought down his camera and gave us a thumbs up.

"Let's go, I wanna sit down na." you complained and pouted.

I placed my finger on your lips. "Don't pout." sabi ko which made you raised an eyebrow.

"Why? Don't I look cute?" sabi mo at umiling lang ako.

"No, you look like tanga." sabi ko at hinampas mo ang braso ko pero tumawa lang ako ng bahagya.

Have I already mentioned how I've been laughing and smiling around you lately? Not even realizing na there are other people around. Wala lang, I just feel comfortable around you na kasi and maybe that's why. Just like now, bigla kong realized na nasa gitna pa nga pala tayo and all eyes are directed towards us already.

"Everyone's looking at us, tara na, may magp-picture pa kasi tapos paharang harang tayo dito." sabi mo at hinatak na ako papalayo.

As we got to where our other friends are waiting, nagsitayuan naman ang mga ito.

"Kita namin yun kanina, grabe yon." pang-aasar ni Jisoo sakin at kumindat pa pagkatapos nito akong tapikin sa braso.

"Looking good, Roseanne. You look like a runway model kanina grabe, nag feeling patatas tuloy ako." Bati naman ni Seulgi sa kasama at parehong tumawa bago nagbeso.

"That's what I said kay Lisa rin kanina." dagdag pa nito at bumeso kay Jisoo.

'Di ko naman namalayang nasa harap ko na ang girlfriend ni Jisoo.

"Lisa." tawag nito tsaka nag gesture for a hug. Ngumiti naman ako at niyakap ito.

"Good to see you again, Jen." bati ko. "Yeah, long time, no see." sagot nito. Lumapit din naman si Irene tsaka bumeso sakin.