My Only Exception

Chapter 16

She was quiet and he then held her hand. "Ganito yung design dapat ng shirt na suot natin," he smiled at her. "Magaan sa pakiramdam di ba?"

She smiled at pabirong pinalo ito. She waited for this for five straight, uninterrupted years.

"I'm tired of loving you without you Raffy, I want to have a long rest now," he said.

When she was young, what her father experienced with the death of her mother made her believe that once broken, it can never be fixed. What was thrown can never be picked up again. Itinapon mo na, isusubo mo pa ba? And so with all the decisions that she made, she never did the same thing twice. She was practical and independent.

But for the first time in her life, she knew Ethan wasn't one of those things she would just let go in a blink. He was the exception of all the rules she lived with, the only one she would say yes to when she normally says no.

Mahabang panahon na ang nawala sa kanila and she wouldn't let it happen again.

So she gladly took him in, walked hand in hand with smiles on their faces.

Bahala na si Batman at lahat ng superheroes sa mundo, she thought.

••

"Until when will you keep it this way?"

Raffy stood up straight. She was busy watching Cali and Ethan play outside that she did not notice Seff when he came in and stood beside her.

"Cali's happy," she sounded sad.

"Are you going to leave him again?"

She didn't answer right away. "I don't know. We haven't talked."

"Ikaw naman nagpapaasa ngayon? Iiwan mo ba ulit si Ethan? What if he couldn't leave what he has now but he's willing to make it up to you and Cali this time but you'll stay? Are you willing?"

"If he wants to make it up to us, would he not be willing to leave with us?" she asked him back. "You know Cali's situation, Seff. I can't take him away from the place where he could be safe and saved."

"Raffy, you have to tell them what's the real score. It can't always be just between you and me, especially that they already met each other," Seff said. "Seeing them, he'd be surprised but ready."

"I don't think Cali could take that in," she was worried.

"He can. He's a strong boy. You've seen him. We both know what he went thru. He is as stubborn as his dad," he laughed."I know he's a baby but don't baby him too much. Besides, no one's going away from him. Just... additions."

"I don't know how to put it to him," she admitted. "It's quite sensitive. He's young and I do not know if he will understand. I don't know how Ethan would react."

He took a deep breath. "It's done. What we can do at this point is not to prolong it."

"Nanay! Tito Ethan's cheating!" Cali ran up to her para magsumbong. They were playing basketball. Ethan bought a small shooting ring for Cali.

Ethan followed him.

"That's not true, little boy. I wasn't cheating," he said. "I got the ball."

"Who's saying the truth?" she asked them.

"Me!" Cali said and raised his hand.

"I'm not lying, Nay," Ethan smiled.

"Okay. Since no one wants to give way, playing's enough for now. Cali, you are tired. Remember what Doc Sam told you?"

Cali's shoulders dropped. "Yeah, I can't be tired."

"There's still tomorrow, don't worry. Dada and Tito Seff would be playing with you some other time."

"Come Cali, we can just play video games but first, let's go take your clothes off and change," Ethan took him in. She just let him take Cali inside.

Seff smiled at her. "See that?"

"I still do not know, Seff," she said. "It's not just about changing clothes and diapers. It's not just about surviving the afternoon."

The days that passed were better. Ethan was even spending more time with Cali than with her. He was hesitant and scared at first but he felt how Seff gave way for him and he easily got Cali's approval and attention. The three of them spent some days going out together and like what he promised, brought him to different places. It was the longest time that he had been away from work so he can spend time with the two.

Saturday morning and Ethan woke them up early. They spent the night on her parents' place so it wouldn't be hard for them to leave that morning. He planned a surprise for the two of them. Cali was still sleepy while Raffy prepared food for them during the drive. Around 6, they were on their way. He didn't tell them where they were going.

"Cali," Ethan called him. He was seated at the back with his seatbelt on.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Is it okay if... You call me Tatay? Or maybe Daddy?" he asked and looked at him through the mirror.

The question made Raffy surprised and scared as to what Cali would answer. It was a moment that she wanted and dreaded at the same time. She wanted to be with Ethan but scared with what will happen when Cali becomes included on the equation.

"Why, I'll have two daddies?" he asked innocently.

"Well... Sort of. I mean, Dada is still your Dada. I just want you to think of me as your second Dada too but instead of you calling me Dada, you can call me Tatay, like how you call Nanay, or you can call me Daddy. So you have Dada, Pop, Daddy Paul, Lolo, and Tatay."

"That sounds cool," Cali answered. "My friends will envy me if they find out."

Ethan smiled a smile of relief and happiness. He winked at her. "I got the approval."

He drove happily and an hour later, they were already on their destination. It was a private beach resort in Subic. Cali was hyped when he saw the sands and the blue calm water ahead. They got out of the car and checked in. Ethan carried Cali as they headed to the room.

He helped him change into his swimming attire and when they were all ready, he took them out to eat before heading to the beach. Cali ran and was very happy since it was the first time that he got a chance to be on such place. He tried swimming but it was on a pool.

"Tatay, can we go there? That far? Do you see that guy over there? I want to go there," he said.

"Ask Nanay, not me," Ethan answered.

"Nanay, can we please?"

"Sure, let's go," she smiled at him and they dipped into the water. Cali was having a great time. They got him his vest and he was freely floating. Ethan taught him patiently how to swim, and promised him a lot of things that Cali wanted.

After hours of staying on the water, they all went back to the shore and decided to explore the place. Cali was running ahead of them. He was having the time of his life.

"Be careful Cali! Stop running! Just walk!" she reminded him.

"Yes Mommy!" he shouted back and continued running.

"He's happy," Ethan smiled. "But isn't he quite thin? I mean, he can run fast but he's thin and light. Is that normal for him?"

"Yes. He'd been like that since I gave birth," she told him. "He's very happy. I spend time with him but not that often. I mean, we're together but we didn't have much time to go out when we were in the US."

"Raffy, we have to talk about that," he took a deep breath. "I know you're leaving soon."

"I know. And I do not know what to tell you," she said.

"I'm willing for some compromise," he said. "We have to talk about it seriously if we want this to work."

"Ethan..."

"Want to tell me something?"

"How much do you love me?"

"Raffy, that's a nonsense question," Ethan answered. "You don't know?"

"I know you love me but what if you found out that I lied to you about something. Will you forgive me?"

"What do you mean?"