My Only Exception

Chapter 4

"Raffy?!" reklamo ni Allie.

"I'm kidding," she smiled at her.

They were all laughing when her phone rang. It was a call coming thru Skype. Lagi kasi naka-on ang data sa phone nya.

It showed Seff's name on the screen. She answered it. It was a video call.

"Hi Seff!" she greeted him.

"Hi Raf! I got some good news for you," he said.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Here, I'll let Cali talk to you," he said and had Cali join the vid.

"Nanay!" he greeted her excitedly. "I miss you!"

"Oh my baby boy, I missed you too. How are you?"

"I'm good Nanay. Dada and I played earlier. We had ice cream too before we went home. We're on his house," he said.

"Really? Tell Dada not to give you too much sweets while I'm away. Always brush your teeth. And sleep well," she reminded him. "Seff, don't spoil him too much."

"I won't Nay," he smiled. "Cali will tell you the good news."

"Nanay," Cali started. He then waved something.

"What's tha - " she was about to ask when she realized what he was holding. "Oh my! You got your passport munchkins!"

"I did. Dada and I are coming!" he said excitedly.

"When?" she asked excitedly. "I would pick you up at the airport."

"Secret!" they both said.

"What?! You Dada and son, why are you hiding things from me?"

"We want to surprise you," he laughed.

"Surprise me? That's not fair. You both tell me your secret. C'mon. Spill it," she forced them.

"Bye Nanay! I have to sleep now. It's late. Dada would be putting me to bed now. I love you Nanay! I love you!" he said and kissed the camera.

"Unfair kiddo. Okay, go to bed now. Put Dada on the cam now. I love you. I'll see you soon."

"Dada! Nanay wants to talk to you!" the kid shouted and ran away from the laptop.

Shortly, Seff was facing her.

"Said you want to talk to me?"

She nodded and they talked about some details about their flight. Still, he didn't say as to when they would be arriving.

"I'll send you my credit card details once you book the flight," she told him.

"Don't fuss," Seff said. "Where are you?"

"I'm on a coffee shop. Seb and Allie are here," she said and turned the cam on the two. Seff waved.

"It's nice to see you still together guys," he told the two. "When are you getting married?"

"Soon. You'll find the invitation at your doorstep," Seb laughed. "You've got a handsome kid."

He laughed. "Cali is."

••

Two days passed and she was jumping from one mall to another for her book. She went to Cebu and Davao for a few hours for it. And, she hasn't received any call from Seff nor Cali yet. That afternoon, she went to their alma mater to discuss an invite she got to attend a talk for journalism students. She agreed to their request and headed to a newly established restaurant in Manila. She was dining on the said restaurant when someone approached her.

"Sino ka?"

"Hi, I'm Albert Lozada. I'm working for a publications company," he said, showed her his ID, and extended his hand. "I noticed you come in and I know this is a good chance."

"So this is about work?"

The man nodded.

"I don't work while eating," she said but felt bad right away for rejecting him. Baka sabihin nito, ma-ere sya. "But we can discuss what you have in mind after you make an order and once we're done eating."

Ngumiti naman ito agad sa kanya. Pagkatapos kumain, she opened up the topic right away.

"So now that we are done eating, what was it that you wanted to tell me?"

"Miss Raffy, we read your book and we all admire your humor and wit when it comes to writing and kahit publisher ako, what you printed is one of those I learned to love. Until one time I learned that you are going here. Sabi ko di ko na palalampasin yung chance ko. We want you to have a book that we can publish."

She laughed. "Wow. Ang dami na pwedeng gawing proposal at authors sa mundo, ako pa talaga gusto mong mahirapan," she said. "About what?"

"Nothing specific but we're thinking of something inspirational while you are maintaining your style and identity. You can tell us what you have in mind as a topic and we will discuss it."

"That's fair," she said. "I'll think about it."

"Will you consider?"

"Yes. I am considering. Kumbaga, ako ang empleyado na nilapitan ng amo para i-hire. Tatanggi ka pa ba nun?"

Albert laughed. "Hindi na."

"I'll consider. Give me a proposal as to what our agreement would be regarding this. Isa pa, I need it specified that I do not need to be physically around daily, what you will do after since I have to go back sa US in two months, what will happen pag babalik na ako sa US. Gusto ko makilala kung sino yung pinaka-boss mo, and as to who prints it. Compensation. And syempre, deadlines. I would ask for a copy, have my brother review it. Then I could get back to you in a week's time to see if I would take it."

He nodded after taking note of all the things she said. "Yes, sure. We would have our team draft a proposal for you."

"I have another request. I know hindi naman din mabilis tumapos ng libro but we would have to consider the time as to when it would be released. Hindi pwedeng biglang tabunan yung ginagawa ko ngayon ng mabilisan," she smiled. "I know you understand that."

"I understand that Miss Castillo. I will explain all of these to them and for me, they are all manageable. We can contact you as soon as it is ready," he said.

She gave him her work contact number while he handed her his calling card before leaving and agreed to meet the following day to meet his boss and go to the printing company.

She went home tired from the day's work and checked her e-mails. She got a message from Seff that they have already booked a flight and would be coming soon. Tinawagan na muna nya din ang anak para kumustahin bago natulog.