My Only Exception

Chapter 16

"Raffy..."

"I love you Ethan," she said, still sobbing. "I never stopped."

He stood up partly and embraced her. "I love you too, Raffy. We'll start again," he said. He knew he was sure and ready for it. "With Cali."

She woke up with her head feeling heavy. Aalis sila pabalik sa Manila that morning and she has to start packing her things. When she opened her eyes, she was surprised to see a different place.

"Good morning," he greeted her with a sleepy but smiling tone.

Napatingin agad si Raffy sa tabi. Beside her was Ethan with his arms wrapped around her. She removed it and stood up. Nagulat sya pagtayo and immediately opened the curtains. What she saw was the beautiful beach with the bright blue sky and the sun just about to greet everyone.

"Bakit tayo andito?" she asked him. "Bakit ka nandito? Bakit ako andito?"

He sat beside her. "You were drunk last night. Hindi ko nasabi sayo na I reserved this one for you. Napansin ko na you liked this nung naglibot tayo kahapon," he said, sleepy.

"Bakit dito ka natulog? Akala ko ba para sa akin?"

"Well... I was really about to go but someone cried and made some confessions," he smiled wickedly.

She felt herself blush. "What did I say?"

"I didn't say it was you," he teased her.

"Bakit, may kasama pa ba tayong iba? Ethan, what did I say last night?"

"What you feel," he answered. "Come, let's have breakfast before we leave."

"Hindi ako sasama sayo hanggat hindi mo sinasagot tanong ko," she warned him.

"You said what you feel. Yun na nga yun. Ano ba nararamdaman mo?" he said and stood up. He went out of the nipa hut and she followed.

"And what exactly did I do? May ginawa pa ba ako?"

"Yeah... You did," he said and continued walking ahead of her. "That's why I changed your shirt."

"Shit," she said and realized that she was no longer wearing the skirt she wore yesterday when they had dinner but rather they were both wearing the shirt na binebenta sa kanila ng salesman sa souvenir shop. She ran to catch up with him. "Ethan! Sagutin mo nga ako, sinong nagpalit sakin ng damit?"

"Ako. Ako lang naman naghatid sayo dun," he said casually.

"Argh!" she exclaimed. "Tell me, did something happen between us?"

"Happen? Ano?" patay malisya nyang tanong.

"Wag ka ngang inosente dyan! Ano, meron ba? If yes, did you use protection?!" she demanded.

Ethan laughed at her.

"Don't laugh at me!" she said at hinampas ito.

"Relax, okay? As much as I want something to happen, walang nangyari. You were too drunk and emotional. Isa pa, you threw up kaya napilitan akong palitan ka ng damit. So relax, walang magiging kapatid si Cali."

"Why are you doing this? Kahapon hindi ka pa sigurado sa sinabi mo. Kung nakikipaglaro ka lang, give me some warning so I know what to expect," she stopped walking. "I guess I said I still love you and that's true. Kung laro lang ang gusto mo, tell me now and I will agree to what you want. Ayoko na lang masaktan ulit."

He walked up to her and held her chin. "Kahit kelan, hindi kita kayang paglaruan. I want to be with you. Even if that meant I would accept Cali and Seff. I would gladly give my name to Cali. Yes, you admitted you still love me. You cried. Just so you know since you were drunk last night, I cried too and I told you I still love you. I haven't been with anyone since you left," he explained.