My Only Exception

Chapter 9

"Raffy, have Ethan send you home. For sure, he missed you. Ethan can spare some hours, right bro?" he said and gave his brother a look.

"Yeah... We can catch a movie if you want to," he said even if he needed to cancel a meeting. Hindi nya na sinabi yun.

"I prefer to go home," she said. "Are you sure you'd be okay Seff?"

"Of course," he said and left.

Ethan and Raffy went to his car and he drove going to his condo. She didn't complain when he did and went inside his place.

"I got a new DVD. I think you'll love the story," he said and went inside his room. Few minutes later, he went out with the movie he was talking about.

He took a seat beside her and played the movie. She just remained looking at the screen until he spoke.

"Raffy..."

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry for what we became. That's not my plan. That's not what I wanted," he said. She didn't react. He took something out of his pocket. "And if you still love me, I hope you'll say yes."

She looked up to him and to what he was holding. It was a red box with a ring inside it.

She held his face. "I love you Ethan and it never changed. But no, I can't marry you."

"Why? You said you love me,"

"You keep on asking me for all the wrong reasons. You are just trying to secure me but you're not changing and you are not doing what I am asking of you," she said. "Ethan, I want a husband who would be there for me. I want a guy who will wait for me at the altar, someone who will be home with me, prioritize his family, and not have his brother be a proxy when he couldn't make it."

••

Seff and Raffy became closer. She knew Ethan did his best to be there for her. There was an improvement but it was still the same. It was becoming tiring for her.

Seff didn't say anything but he grew feelings for Raffy. He knew it wasn't right but he was not able to  stop himself. He respected his brother so he kept his feelings well and didn't speak of it.

Saturday night.

Raffy went out with Ethan. They were on a restaurant for dinner and he planned to watch a movie after. They were quiet the whole time and he could tell she was distracted.

"Tell me what's wrong. Let's talk about it," he asked her as they headed out of the restaurant.

She took a deep breath. "I'm tired of trying to understand you. I'm fed up Ethan."

"What do you mean?" they stopped walking.

"We need some time off from each other until you realize what your main priority is," she told him.

"Are you breaking up with me?"

"Not exactly. Yes. No. I just want you to be on your own until you realize what you wanted," she said.

"It's you who I want. I offered you marriage multiple times but you declined me," he said desperately.

"Para ano? Kung kasal tayo ngayon, nakikihati pa din ako sa oras mo. Hindi pa din kita nakikita, hindi kita nakakasama. Kasama man kita, nasa malayo naman iniisip mo. Trabaho pa din. I know that what you are doing is for me, pero habang tumatagal, hindi mo alam na ako na yung nawawala sayo."