And For Ever More

The Only Exception (Paramore)

Yaya Lucy has been with us since even before I was born. My parents took her in when she was just a teenager on the streets, impoverished and on the brink of starvation. She is deaf, so we "speak" to her in sign language. People tend to react awkwardly when they see us communicating with her with our hands. The most common mistake they make is to raise their voice and speak louder to her, as if it will make a difference.

When she places RJ's glass before him, he smiles up at her and quickly signs, "Thank you," keeping his hands low as if he's embarrassed and doesn't want anyone else to notice but her. This pleases Yaya Lucy, and she beams down on him, giving him a toothless grin. He notices me watching, and it makes him blush, the tips of his ears flushing even redder until it looks like they're on fire. He shrugs sheepishly.

"Screen's little brother is hearing impaired," he explains softly, clearly not wanting to draw attention to himself. "Sa kanya ako natuto mag sign."

And this, more than the fact that he seems to have singlehandedly won over my entire family, is what makes me like him even more—the fact that he learned a whole new language just so he could communicate with his best friend's little brother. I simply smile back at him without saying anything, and I keep smiling all throughout the light meal.

**********

RJ stays for dinner, and Nanay is inviting him for coffee, but he turns her down, saying he has a long drive back and doesn't want to be out too late. When it's time for him to leave, I walk him to his car as my brothers boisterously bid him farewell before running upstairs to play video games. My heart is happy; it's content, and I hug myself tightly as a cool breeze swirls around us.

RJ leans back on the door of the driver's seat with his arms crossed, smiling. He seems a bit reluctant to leave. "Well, that was interesting experience," he remarks, chuckling slightly.

Impulsively, I put a hand on his arm. "Salamat, RJ," I thank him sincerely, looking gratefully up at him. He looks surprised.

"Para saan?"

"Para sa lahat," I say, waving vaguely. "For doing this, for meeting my family. They're a crazy bunch, and I know they gave you a hard time, but I'm sure they appreciated you coming here and introducing yourself. Medyo protective kasi sila sa akin eh, since I'm the youngest daughter and all."

RJ laughs and runs a hand through his hair. "I should be thanking you," he says, and it's my turn to look surprised. He squares his shoulders and gazes into my eyes. "It's been a long time since I've felt that kind of...family atmosphere. Alam mo yun? Only child kasi ako, so since my mom died it's just been me and my dad and he's always working...it gets kind of lonely sometimes, you know? Ang saya ng family mo, ang cool nilang lahat." He chuckles again. "Ang kulit nila Dean at Nico."

His expression softens and he looks deeper into my eyes. "You're lucky to have them," he says quietly.

There's a lump in my throat that I can't explain. I reach over to take his hand and squeeze it lightly. "Come back anytime," I tell him, and I mean it with all my heart. His smile widens, and for a moment we just stand there in silence, looking meaningfully at each other.

There's one other thing I want to tell him. "Thanks for proving me wrong," I whisper. "You're not how I expected you to be at all. Hindi ka yung stereotypical na player."

He pauses for a beat, thinking this over, then he cocks his head to the side and says, "I think I'm a better person when I'm around you."

Since I met RJ, I've been collecting moments—sweet little instances when he says or does something that stirs me deep within, and I keep them all in an imaginary box in my head, like a treasure chest. This moment, he and I standing in the driveway of my home on this cool, starry night, just smiling at each other like we understand each other completely—this is definitely going into that treasure chest. He licks his lower lip, and I think he might move in to kiss me, when I see the curtain in the living room shift, and I know either Nanay or Tatay is watching us and this is my cue to say goodnight.

"Goodnight and thank you, RJ," I say softly, smiling at him one last time. "Ingat ka sa pag drive."

"Goodnight and thank you too, Menggay."

**********

As I go back into the house and lock the front door, I notice Tatay standing at the foot of the stairs, one hand on the bannister, about to go upstairs for bed. He pauses thoughtfully before speaking,

"Gusto mo ba talaga si RJ, Menggay ko?" He asks, his voice light and neutral, yet I feel the weight of his question, and the undercurrent of electricity charging through it.

I could never lie to my father. "Opo, Tay," I answer back truthfully and unflinching.

He nods to himself before looking me in the eye. "Gusto ko rin siya. Mabait siyang bata. Pero mag ingat ka pa rin ha, Menggay? Kilala ko kasi yung tatay niya. Basta mag ingat ka lang, anak."

I ponder his meaning all throughout my bedtime ritual of brushing my teeth and changing into pajamas, but my last thought before I fall asleep is that of RJ signing at Yaya Lucy and smiling that sweet, boyish smile at her.