The Only Exception

Song 18: I Won't Give Up

Recap:

It took me a couple of seconds to process all the things that he said. He looked for me? He followed me? And… and he loves me? Ha. This must be a prank or something.

“You what?” I asked him, just to confirm what I heard.

“I said, I LOVE YOU. I loved you all this time Denise. If only you could give me a chance to prove it to you,” he looked at me with pleading eyes.

I shook my head.

“No. I don’t wanna fall for you. I’m scared that you would just fall for me too.”

He stood up and faced me.

“Too late for that, Denise. Because I already fell for you, more than a year ago. Don’t worry Denise. Don’t be afraid to fall for me. Because I will always be there to catch you.”

*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

(Denise’s POV)

“…-Because I will always be there to catch you.”

Nananaginip lang ba ako? Nag-iilusyon? Here I am standing, with the pieces of my broken heart. Tama ba ang naririnig ko? Si Seth, isang lalaking hindi ko pa kilala ng lubusan, ay nag sasabi sakin na matagal na niya akong mahal? I smiled bitterly. Kung siguro nakilala ko siya bago pa si Jiro, I would’ve fallen for him instantly. Don’t get me wrong, I AM attracted to this beautiful man in front of me. Pero ayoko. Ayoko nang umasa, ayoko nang magmahal. I’m still not ready for another heartbreak. I need more time.

“s-Seth. Salamat. Sorry hindi ko pa masusuklian ng pagmamahal ang nararamdaman mo para sakin. Sorry hindi pa ako handa. Hindi ko alam kung kailan ako magiging handa. Ayaw kitang paasahin sa wala, Seth. Sana maintindihan mo,” sabi ko sa kanya. Napayuko naman si Seth. Ilang Segundo pa’t inangat na niya ang kanyang ulo at tumingin ng diretso sa aking mga mata.

“Alam mo Denise, this is the first time that I confessed to someone. Hell, this is the first time I fell in love with someone. This is the first time I actually made an effort for a girl, the first time I wore my heart on my sleeve. Eto din ang first rejection ko. But sad to say, I’m here to stay. Hindi ako susuko Denise. Di kita susukuan. Yes I am annoyed at the situation we’re in. but hindi ako galit sayo. Galit ako dyan sa gagong ex mo na sinaktan ka. He damaged you too hard, to the point na ayaw mo nang magtiwala sa iba. Pero Denise, dahil dun nabigyan ako ng chance. I should actually be grateful to him now. Di niya alam kung ano ang pinagpalit niya.”

Di ko namalayan na umiiyak na pala ako. Niyakap naman ako ni Seth ng mahigpit. I buried my head on his chest. He drew me closer to him as he whispered sweet nothings in my ear. Umiyak lang ako ng umiyak. At hinayaan niya lang ako, kahit na nababasa na ng sobra-sobra yun suot niyang damit.  

“Wow. You really are something, Denise. You took away my firsts. First love, first confession, first rejection. And now, look. This is the first time a girl cried on my shoulders. I wonder how many firsts you’ll be taking from me,” he joked.