My Only Exception

Chapter 8

She smiled sweetly. "I know you want to. I'll do my best here and you gotta do the same, okay?" she winked at him.

Raffy stood with the rest of the ladies with Ava getting ready to throw the bouquet. She laughed when she saw Raffy lined up with them.

"Okay, at the count of one..." the host counted. Ava turned her back from them.

"...and two," Ava raised her hand slightly above her head.

"...and three!" the host said and Ava threw the bouquet. It continued to jump from one hand to another until Raffy got a tight grasp on the handle and held on to it.

"So one of our maids of honor catches the bouquet!" they exclaimed happily. Raffy kept on laughing and raised the bunch of flowers she was holding.

"Now the lady in front of us would be our proof if she would indeed be getting married soon," the host said. "Now, we're calling the male species. Those single, stand up and let's see who catches the chance to put it on our beautiful lady."

Ethan stood up and joined the rest of the males lined up, along with his brother. Paul did the same and threw the garter. They all tried to catch it but being a basketball player, Seff jumped as if he was doing a rebound and caught the garter with his hands. Ethan laughed and felt relieved when he saw that it was at least his brother.

"What's your name?" the host asked her as Seff stood up beside Raffy.

"Raffy," she answered.

"Pretty name," he commented. "And you?"

"Seff."

"Are you excited to wear this garter on our fair lady here?" he asked.

"Well, not really," he laughed. "Raffy's my brother's girl and I didn't want to catch it so he can get it but the other guys were all fighting for it so I thought of getting it. But here, Ethan..."

Seff called his brother.

"Come up here, this is for you bro," Seff laughed.

"Oh, so the brother is giving it to the boyfriend. What a sweet brother," the host smiled.

Ethan came up to them and Seff handed the garter to him and patted his back.

"Take care of Raffy," Seff told him. They didn't notice Paul walking up to them.

"I should be telling you that as well. Ethan, you have to take good care of my sister. Remember, I am your brother-in-law," he reminded him. He laughed.

"I will Attorney," he said and shook his hand.

••

"Raffy? You're here?" Seff asked her, surprised. He just got home from work that afternoon.

"Yes. I wanted to surprise your brother. He's so busy with the restaurant. Sabi nya uuwi sya for dinner so I prepared this for him," she answered while facing the stove.

"I see," he answered. "I'll go up now. If you need anything, just let me know, okay?"

Raffy nodded and Seff was about to go upstairs when he asked her a question.

"Will you be sleeping here?"

"No. I have to go home. I'll be out of town tomorrow and I have to leave early," she answered. Seff retreated to his room.

Past 7 PM, the rest of the family members were already home. Niyaya sya ng mga ito na sumabay na sa kanila kumain but she declined and decided to wait for Ethan. It was past 10 in the evening and he hasn't arrived yet. Hindi nya na napigilan ang sarili na makatulog. She didn't know how long she stayed there until she heard someone waking her up. When she opened her eyes, she saw Seff.