My Only Exception

Chapter 9

She left him alone after their argument. He didn't want to let her go, she didn't want to either but she needed to have space and let him realize what she wanted him to do and that was simply to learn how to balance his business and their relationship. He became too comfortable knowing that Raffy would understand and that Seff would always be around when he cannot.

Seff.

Ethan immediately went home mad. As soon as the gates were open, he looked for his brother. He found him on their garden finishing something for work.

"You were looking for me?" Seff asked when Ethan appeared. He was surprised to see Ethan furious. "What happened?"

"Are you inlove with my girlfriend?!"

He was surprised.

"Just answer my question, are you in love with Raffy? Are you planning to take her away from me?" galit na tanong ni Ethan. His parents came rushing to them and stopped Ethan. He was drunk and they knew Seff has more self control.

"Hell, no! She is my friend and she is your girlfriend! Why are you accusing me if such things? Di ka na ba nahihiya na pinagdududahan mo kami ng ganyan?"

"Make sure that you are not stealing her from me. Otherwise, kakalimutan ko na kuya kita!"

"Ethan, stop saying such things to your brother!" his Dad said. "Go to your room and do not go out ng hindi ka nag-iisip ng maayos."

After that incident, the two never talked again. Though Seff knew within him that he fell for Raffy, he never told anyone about it and never planned to do anything either about it.

She on the other hand was refusing to talk to him while he was too persistent to win her back.

She was with Seff that lunch time. They haven't talked since the day that she broke up with Ethan and when the encounter between the two happened. She only learned about it when Seff told her during lunch. He knew it was difficult for her to be away from him and to decline his proposal twice but she wanted him to realize what they were missing. They dropped the topic and decided to just talk about other things. They were laughing as they went out of the restaurant but what they found was Ethan whose eyes turned cold the moment he saw them. Instead of saying a word, he punched his older brother and cursed him.

"Stop it Ethan!" she tried getting in between the two. "Just stop it!"

"I trusted you! Pati sarili kong girlfriend inaahas mo sa akin! Anong klase kang kapatid?!"

Seff wiped the blood on the corner of his mouth. "I am not stealing her away from you. If you got a dirty mind, that's your problem, not mine."

"Ano pa ba yung ginagawa mo na 'to? Nagtatake advantage dahil alam mo na wala na kami?"

"Kung wala na kayo, kasalanan mo yan. Hindi ko kasalanan," Seff told him.

"Kasalanan ko? Yeah right, it was my fault to let you see her on my behalf. Akala ko kasi kapatid kita. Hindi mo ako tataluhin. But I was wrong. Apparently, hindi mahalaga sayo kung girlfriend ko yung inaahas mo!"

"Tama na, Ethan. Nasasaktan na ako," Raffy cried. His grip was on her arms. It took his attention. "Wag mo na idamay si Seff sa problema natin."

"Hindi ko sya idadamay? Bakit hindi? Di ba he's the main reason why you broke up with me?"

"Hanggang ngayon ba hindi mo pa din naiintindihan? I broke up with you because of you. Not because of anyone else," she cried explaining.

"Raffy, enough," Seff said and held her arm. "Ethan, give her space."

"No, you're not to tell her what to do!" Ethan shouted and held her on the other arm. "Bitawan mo si Raffy."

She continued crying.

"Seff, sige na... Ethan, don't involve Seff here. Mag-usap tayo. Let him go home now," she cried.

"Are you sure?" Seff asked her.

She nodded in between sobs. Seff got inside his car and left. Raffy on the other hand left with Ethan and they went to his condo.

••

"You'll live here with me. That's my condition."

Raffy looked at him and waited for him to say that it wasn't true. They were already on his place arguing about Seff. He was still thinking that Seff was stealing her from him and that the main reason why she broke up with him was because of Seff.

She'd been so tired explaining that none of it was true, that Seff is only a close friend, and that they would never cheat on him. She begged for him not to involve Seff on their problem.

"What?"

"I'll stop involving him with us but on one condition. You live with me here. You can't go out with him either."

"Nakikipagbalikan ka sa akin thru blackmail?" she said with sarcasm.

"I don't care how you put it but that's my condition. Take it or leave it."

She found herself moving in her items on his place. Walang alam ang parents ni Raffy what the real situation is between her and Ethan so they never made any complain. She lived with him and things between them got better. He devoted time for her, he goes home on time, and spends quality time with her. Though she felt that he was doing it so he'll make sure that she wasn't seeing his brother.

Ethan and Seff never had a word with each other from that day on. Ethan never went home if he knew Seff was around. They never talked despite occasions, and he never allowed Raffy to be near him either.

Raffy was busy with her work when she got a call. She took it on her extension.

"Seff!" her voice became lively when she heard him speak. "How are you?"

"I'm good. I just called to tell you that I'm leaving," he said.

"Leaving? For what? Where are you going?" she was surprised.

"I'm leaving for the US. The company I am working for opened a managerial slot and it would be based in the US. I considered it and I thought, it's a rare opportunity. I decided to take it," he said.

"When are you leaving?" she asked.

"This weekend," he answered.

"This weekend? That's like two days from now! You and Ethan haven't talked yet. You guys have to talk before you leave - "

"I already tried but he pushed me away. It's better off this way Raffy. At least, he's taking care of you now."

She smiled bitterly. She didn't want to tell him what had been going on between them. Ayaw nya ng bigyan pa ito ng iisipin bago umalis. "I'll miss you Seff."

"Me too. I'll see you soon."