My Only Exception

Chapter 6

"You don't have to. He wouldn't know anyway. Besides, if he finds out, I can make an excuse that I declined," she told him.

He took a deep breath. "I didn't want this either," he said. "But I don't break other people's trust on me. This is very awkward for me as it is for you."

Napatingin sya dito. She knew he was trying to imply something.

"Trust," she said with sarcasm. "Yeah, trust."

"Sasakay ka ba o hindi?"

"Hindi."

"Okay," he said and got inside his car. Pinaandar nya na iyon at iniwanan si Raffy magisa. Raffy just ignored him and decided to head back to the elevator area. Babalik sya sa main lobby of the building.

She hasn't even reached the elevator area when she felt a hand grab her wrist at hinatak sya.

"What are you doing?!"

"I'll send you wherever you need to go," Ethan told her while pulling her with him pabalik sa sasakyan nya. He opened the car door for her. "Get in."

"No," she said stubbornly.

"I said, get in," he repeated.

"Ayoko nga di ba?"

"GET IN!" he shouted. She was startled when he did and scrambled to get inside the passenger seat. He moved to the other side of the car and drove. "Put on your seatbelt."

No one spoke for a long time as they passed thru the streets of Ayala. When they reached the mall area, he asked where she would be heading to.

"You can drop me off anywhere," she said, not looking at him.

"I don't know any place named anywhere," he said, looking straight ahead.

"Ibaba mo na lang ako sa next unloading area."

"Anong gagawin mo? San ka pupunta?"

"None of your business," she said.

She heard him sigh. "Look... I know we had something before. I know it's not that important to you anymore but we do not have any choice but to deal with each other. Let's do this as professional as we can," he told her calmly.

"Hindi kasama sa trabaho ang paghahatid ng katrabaho sa pupuntahan nya," she argued.

"I know. Think of it as a favor that I am doing because I didn't have any choice either," he said.

No choice.

"Decline when you have to."

"Sure. Next time. Trust me that I will," he said and pulled over. She looked at him but he didn't say anything. She glanced outside and saw a sign that said 'Unloading'. She understood and got out of the car without closing the door as she went away.

••

"Can you make a copy of this possible cover in multiple colors?" Barry asked him. They were on his office that time, working on the book that they would be doing. They have agreed so far to make the story evolve about miracles. Raffy wasn't on the office yet.

"Yes, that should be manageable," Ethan said. He always had been hands on whenever they are starting a project and the details are not furnished yet. He always believed that the success of a project is 50% dependent to the planning process. "Do you need it now?"

"Yes, please. Even if it's not the exact. I just need to really see how it might look depending on the color," he answered.

Ethan gave instructions to Fred, their graphic artist. His subordinate nodded and started working on his laptop. They were still talking when his secretary knocked.

"Sir, Miss Castillo is here. Can I let her in?"

"Yes, sure," he answered.

She came in after a few seconds. She was wearing a black haltered top matched with white pants fitting her perfectly. It definitely took his attention until she was seated.

"Sorry, I'm late. Traffic kasi," she said and smiled at everyone. "Where are we?"

Albert discussed to her what they have agreed so far and she didn't have any complain. She just added some suggestions for the cover.

"Coffee?" Ethan asked her. "Tuna sandwich?"

She smiled sweetly. "No. Tea please. I prefer to have a bagel if it's not too much for me to ask your secretary buy me some."

"Yeah... You shouldn't drink coffee anymore. Yeah, right," napapatango lang na sabi ni Ethan. He dialled a number and asked his secretary to bring in tea.

They continued working and Raffy detached herself from the rest who were working. She started creating a draft for her plot that Albert's team can check. She was busy typing when a call came in on her computer. Since she didn't have any headset attached to it, they all heard the ring. She had second thoughts in answering it. Napatingin sa kanya si Ethan.

"Why are you not answering it? It might be your son calling," he said.

"Yeah... I'll take it," she smiled and accepted the video call.

"Nanay!" Seff and Cali greeted her in chorus.

••

She smiled upon seeing them.

"Hi Cali! Hi... Dada," she said. She didn't know if she could mention Seff's name so she rather called him that way.

"Hi Nanay," Cali greeted her. "Where are you?"

"Hi baby," she smiled sweetly. "Nanay is working. And you? How have you been?"

"I'm good. Dada and I went to the park again. Shauna was there and she gave me a bar of chocolate," nakangiting kwento nito.

"Really? Are you courting Shauna baby? Nanay's not your love anymore?" she pretended to be jealous.

"Of course not. You're still my number one love, okay?" he answered. "Nanay, can I eat that chocolate please? Dada said I have to ask for your permission first."

"Hmm... Depends as to what good thing you did today," she told him.

The kid thought for a while. "I helped Dada clean his car."

"Hey, hey," Seff suddenly butt in. "Nanay, I didn't give him a tough job, okay? He didn't get tired, we promise. He was only standing beside me."

"Yes, that's right," Cali agreed. "I promise. Can I eat Nanay?"

She laughed. "Okay. You can. But if it's big, share it with Dada, okay?"

"Yes! Thank you Nanay!" he jumped happily and went to the fridge.

"Sorry. He'd been fussing about it. Where are you?" he asked.

"Office. The one I talked to you about," she answered.

"Oh... That's good," he said. "Writing?"

"Not really? Just writing down some ideas. I'm at the printing office," she said.

"What's the name of the printing office?"

She paused and suddenly looked at him. He was still but kept his head bowed down. She couldn't see his reaction so she mentioned the name of it. Seff also paused, knowing that it's Ethan's. The mood slightly changed.

"I see," he said, forcing a smile. "Well maybe you can say hi to him for me."

She decided not to say anything. She was about to end the call when Seff decided to bid her goodbye.

"Cali, Nanay's about to say good night, come here please," he called him.

The little boy approached him and waved his hand. "We'll sleep now Nanay. I miss you."

"I miss you too Cali," she said sadly.

"Smile, Nay," Seff convinced her.

"Good night guys," she said and ended the call.