My Only Exception

Chapter 11

The following morning, she woke up early and found Cali watching TV with Seff. He was dressed and ready to leave. They bid him goodbye as he took a cab going to his parents.

"It's just you and me now," she told her son. "It's time to meet your Lola and Lolo."

They were home in two hours. Raffy's parents were so fond of Cali and gave in to everything that he wanted. Gavin also came with Paul and Ava for dinner. They agreed to have Cali and Gavin spend the night there with the oldies.

"Was Seff with Cali when he arrived?" Paul asked her.

"Yes," she answered. She was on their garden staring at the stars.

"Nagkita na ba si Seff and si Ethan?"

She said yes and told him what happened at her place. Napatingin na lang sa kanya si Paul. He never understood what she was doing. She was close to Seff, has a child with Seff, but continues to mourn and live for Ethan.

"Raffy, you know that I never questioned you with what you are doing, pero you need to put things on their proper places. It's for your own good, for Cali's benefit. He's too young to be confused with what is going on."

"Babalik kami ni Cali sa US and all of it would be done," she said. "Hindi na namin kailangan pa na mag-usap. I can move on completely from this point."

"Hindi mo naisip yan dati. What made you think you can do it this time?"

"Hindi ko alam. How I will do it, I do not know. I am just hoping and praying it would happen eventually," she honestly said.

Ava walked up to them and embraced her. "I'm sorry for what my brother is doing to you. I'll talk to him."

She smiled at her sister-in-law. "No need Ava. He's old enough for him to start realizing things on his own."

••

He was hugged by his Mom for a very long time.

Seff came in knocking on his parents' bedroom as soon as he arrived. It was his mother who opened it and as soon as she saw him, she never stood away from him.

"Why didn't you tell us you were arriving?"

"It was meant to be a surprise," he smiled at her.

"Wait, if Raffy is here and you are here too, nasaan ang apo ko?" his Mom asked. Napatigil sila sa pagkain.

"Relax. He's with his mother," he answered. "We arrived yesterday and went straight to see Raffy. They are on her parents' house."

"I want to see my grandson. Dalhin mo dito yung mag-ina mo bukas. I want them to be here for lunch,"

He was about to answer when Ethan came in and greeted their parents but didn't say anything to Seff. He was about to go out when Seff stopped him.

"Hold on Ethan, we have to talk," he said.

"I'm tired. Let's talk some other time," Ethan declined and was about to leave but Seff pulled him outside.

"Ano na naman ang ginawa mo kay Raffy? Lumayo na nga yung tao sayo, ganyan ka pa din?!" he confronted him. "What explanation do we have to give you for you to stop putting malice on our relationship?"

"Yang mga explanation nyo, sana ganyan din ang nakikita ko! All your actions prove that what I am thinking of you are true!" he shouted.

"Because that's what you choose to believe! For heaven's sake, five years Ethan! You did not do anything for Raffy. You did not do anything para alamin ang totoo!"