My Only Exception

Chapter 24

I decided to walk outside for a while to compose myself and act normal as if I didn't hear anything. After five or ten minutes, I went back in and headed straight to the dining room. I pretended to be surprised.

"Seff? Kelan ka dumating? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I've been busy. I'm sorry... Something just came up and... I didn't get the chance to tell you and Cali," he answered.

"Do you have a problem?" I asked him. His eyes were swollen and I know that it was appopriate that I ask.

"Me? N-no, I'm okay," Seff told me. "What made you go home? Buti pumayag sila Raffy and Cali?"

"I needed to fix something here. Kelan balik mo? Are you sure you are okay? Hindi mo ako tinawagan nung nandoon tayo. I'm here if you need me," I acted as normal and casual as possible.

"I gotta spend some time home. I missed Mom," he said. "I'll go up now."

I just looked at him as he left and went up to his room.

"How's the bar? Naayos mo na ba yung problema?" Mom asked me when we heard a door close. It was Seff's.

"Yes. Pero I'm not decided what I will do next."

"I'm not pushing you away, Ethan. Ang tagal mo na dito. Hindi ka ba hinahanap ng anak mo?"

"He does but I'm not sure what I would do yet."

"Remember why you needed to do this. Don't let what happened before happen again. Some things cannot be mended twice once broken," my mother reminded me before retreating to her own room.

And that was when I realized of marriage.

Don't get me wrong. I am not marrying Raffy just because I am scared of losing her again to my brother if he ends up confessing but rather, if my brother made this big adjustment and sacrifice so I can be with Raffy, why don't I take it?

I want Raffy to be my wife. I love her and I know she loves me too. Seff wants us to be together. Mom wants us to have a family too.

If Seff sacrificed for me, why wouldn't I do and take it?

••

"Good morning."

She smiled as she heard Ethan's voice. It was a Saturday morning. She woke up by seven and saw the beautiful sunrays passing thru her room. It was as bright as any summer day but it looked glittering with little sparkles of dust and the bedroom vase was filled with fresh flowers. The wind was blowing softly, the curtains slowly dancing. It was quiet inside her room while she can hear the frantic walking of people outside.

"Good morning, Love," she answered. "Ready?"

"Nervous but we'll get there. I just wanted to say thank you for making me the happiest man alive," he said.

She smiled, a heartfelt one.

"And for making me the most loved woman on earth," she told him.

"Cali's on the bathroom now. He said he will drop by and see you later," he answered.

"Sure. Kiss him for me. I gotta stand up now. I love you Love. I'll see you in a bit."

"In four hours, to be exact," he smiled. "I love you too, my soon to be legally wedded wife."

It was the Saturday that they will finally would be meeting the end of their road to stand before God and say their vows, be bonded in holy matrimony.

She stood up from her bed and saw the overflowing messages and card greetings from everyone. Some were from her colleagues and friends from the US. One of her closest friends Brianna and Cali's doctor Sam even flew all the way just to witness the most special event in her life. When she opened the door, she saw Brianna walking on the hallway.

"What a pretty bride," she smiled and kissed her on the cheeks.

"Thank you," she smiled. She went down and grabbed a small serving of vegetable salad. She needs to start preparing and she couldn't go on without getting something to eat. As soon as she was done, she got a couple more greetings until she finally got to the room where she would be taken cared of by their artists.

She was given a bath by the attendant and after an hour, wrapped on a robe, and sat in front of a mirror.

The make up artist stood behind her, facing the mirror.

"Ready for today?"

"I've been ready since I was two," she said and smiled.

••

"Did you ask what Raffy's doing by now?" Ethan asked his brother. They last spoke two hours ago and no one bothered tell him or give him an update.

"Relax. I am sure she's okay. If something happened, Mom surely would have called by now," his best man answered as he was fixing the sleeves of his white coat.

The door went open and his dad came in. They were on their parents' home.

"Are you nervous?" his dad asked him.

"Very."

Natawa naman ang daddy nya sa sagot nya.

"That's normal, don't worry son."

"I have to relax. Hindi ko na alam gagawin ko. Hindi ako mapakali," he said, walking back and forth inside the room. There was a photographer and videographer inside documenting it.

"Well... What did you feel when you first saw her?" his Dad asked.

"The first time I saw her was in college. She came in all of a sudden and took the seat that was supposed to be for Em," he said. "And I felt nothing."

Seff laughed. "Then think of that day."

After ten more minutes, they all decided to leave to go to the church where they were getting married. Some guests were already there, including his parents.

Cali was sitting on one side patiently waiting beside Gavin. Ten minutes before the start of the mass, everyone was inside the church and their event planner walked up to Ethan.

"She's here now," she said and smiled.