My Only Exception

Chapter 18

Cali hasn't changed his treatment when it comes to Ethan and still calls him Tito. Ethan did what he needs and wants to do. He changes his clothes, makes his milk, bathes him, takes him out for a walk, plays with him, sleeps beside him but Cali was still distant.

"You want to go out with Nanay this weekend? We could ask her to give us some hours," Ethan told him. They were watching his favorite cartoons.

"She does her grocery on weekends," he answered.

"Then we can come help her, can't we?"

"I don't know," he answered timidly.

"Want to help me make something for Nanay?"

He shook his head. "I want to watch."

Ethan remained silent. He couldn't make him do anything with him other than the things that were necessary. He'd been with them for a month now and there wasn't any improvement.

"Boys!" Raffy called them and went upstairs. She found them watching. Cali stood up to kiss her and Ethan followed. "How's your day?"

Ethan forced a smile and she understood what he meant. She held his arm.

"You're doing good, don't worry. He'll be used to it and soon, he will call you his Tatay again," she comforted him.

"Yeah, I hope so," he said sadly. "Need help for dinner?"

"It's okay. I called for pizza. We'll tell him you called for it," she answered.

They had dinner together and Cali's eyes grew bigger when he saw the box that Raffy took out. She opened it and saw Cali's favorite.

"Wooow!" he said. "I haven't eaten this for a while!"

Ethan smiled and took a slice immediately for Cali and placed it on his plate. He sliced it into smaller pieces and offered it to him.

"Tatay asked me what your favorite is and he called your favorite pizza place for this," Raffy winked at Ethan. "Want to say something to Tatay?"

"Thank you," he answered, almost inaudible.

"You're welcome," Ethan smiled at him. "Just tell me if you want more."

"Tatay asked me if I'm free this weekend. We're going out to have some fun. Are you okay with that?" she asked him.

"Can we just stay?"

"Dada is coming," she smiled at him.

••

Seff picked them up that Sunday morning and went to church together. Cali stayed closed to Seff the whole time. After church, they went to the mall to buy him some items.

"Dada, I like this," he said, holding a brown leather jacket.

"Hmm... Let's ask Tatay. He's better than Dada in clothes," Seff asked and pushed him. "Tatay, Cali wants the  jacket. Any idea?"

"That's cool. Yes, that would look good on you," Ethan said. "It's better if it goes with this."

Ethan took a plain white shirt to match it with the jacket Cali wanted. He took as well a bigger size for the jacket that would fit him. After fitting it on him, he went to the cashier and paid for it.

"Just tell me if you want anything, okay?" Ethan reminded Cali and the latter just nodded.

Cali was walking ahead of them with Seff. The two missed each other. Cali was joyful and was laughing with Seff. Raffy saw Ethan's pained reaction.

"O... Give up na? Wag. You'll get there," she smiled at him.

"He's still the same. He wouldn't do anything with me," he said sadly.

"Ethan, Cali's appreciative. He just doesn't show it. He's your son. You know him because he is yours. He is very much like you. Stubborn and has a lot of pride. You won't give up on him," she reminded him.

He took a deep breath. "I'll do my best."

"I know you will," she said and gave him a quick kiss on his lips which made him smile. "Let's go now and follow them."

They went to the playhouse as what Cali requested. He spent an hour there and Seff wanted them to go out for some coffee but Ethan declined, wanting to stay and watch after Cali.

"Something might happen and I don't want to rush just to get here. It's better that I am here," he said. He pushed them to go and Raffy agreed to go to the grocery store with Seff. When he was done playing, he found him waiting.

"Where's Nanay?"

Ethan took his shoes and started putting them on his feet. "Nanay went to the grocery store. Said she'll buy some items that you need. I told her you liked the chocolate drink you had last time so I think she's getting you some."

"Why didn't you go with her? She might need help."

"Dada went with her. I wanted to look after you," Ethan tied his shoelaces.

"You could have went with Nanay and Dada could stay," he said. It hurt Ethan's ego but didn't say anything. He was just done putting on his shoes when Raffy and Seff got back to them.

"Hey honey! Did you have fun?" Raffy asked him. "I forgot to leave your clothes with Daddy so he can change it."

"It's okay," he said and took his bag from her. "I'll take care of it. Cali, let's go to the restroom so I can change your shirt."

Cali retreated to the restroom with his father and Seff was left outside waiting with Raffy.

"How are they?"

"Still the same. Cali is just being polite to him but hasn't called him Tatay eversince. Sure, he does follow him but it's different compared to the way he treats you."

"Is there anything that I can do to help them?"

Raffy smiled at him. "No, it's okay. We can handle it. You've done enough for us. It will just take time but I'm confident that Ethan can do it."

"Just let me know if you need anything," Seff said. The two went out shortly and they headed home.

When they put him to bed, Ethan was about to share his story. He had been preparing for Cali's bedtime story every day as if he would be having an exam. Raffy on the other hand talked to Cali and requested for him to listen to his dad. He obeyed though he wouldn't say anything to him, not even good night.

He told Cali the continuation of the story about the prince that he had been narrating for the past few months. He knew Cali was getting bored with it and he himself was getting irritated with it. He doesn't know what to do to make it end and at the same time, he doesn't know what he would tell Cali next once he ends it.

"Can't I read him stories based on books?"

"No. Cali doesn't want stories on books. He doesn't want you to look at anything other than him when telling stories. If you want it to be based on a book, you would have to memorize it."

"I'll try harder," he answered. "Let's sleep."

The following morning, the first thing that Ethan did was call his mother and asked her if she knew any stories that aren't that long he could look up for Cali. He wouldn't be memorizing it but rather read it and know the flow of the story. He got some ideas and looked it up online.

He was spontaneous but Cali still didn't make any reaction. He didn't sleep right away though and waited for the story to be completed before he closed his eyes. He did the same the following day after having a quick meeting online with his hired manager.

Nights passed and he was becoming comfortable with story telling. Sure Cali didn't ask him anything nor made any comment with the story but he now got his attention.

A little more stretch, Ethan.