The Only Exception | Armin x Annie

Chapter 18

Annie's Point of View

I took a hot shower before going to my living room to watch the television. It was almost eight PM and I was anticipating what Bertholdt told me to watch so here I am, getting ready.

I sat down the comfortable cushion of my sofa before turning on the television at exactly eight PM.

My eyes widened as I saw two familiar guys sitting in front of a table, doing a live conference on national tv.

"Good evening, everyone. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Bertholdt Hoover, together with Armin Arlert, we'll be clarifying the current issue and rumors going on in this industry at the moment."

I covered my mouth with my hand as several emotions came in my body. What are they doing? What are they thinking? Bertholdt...Why is he doing this? The management...The management won't be pleased by him.

"The allegations that Armin Arlert cheated on Christa Lenz is false. Moreover the allegations that Annie Leonhart is cheating on me is absolutely incorrect for we don't have a relationship built on the foundation of love to begin with. I am only her on screen partner but behind the cameras, we have our own personal lives that we are living and pretending to be a couple is not one those. I am incredibly sorry to all the people who supports us both. But this is our own lives that we are living, and I won't let the media nor the paparazzi ruin our healthy friendship."

Bertholdt looked straight in the camera before exhaling sharply.

"In fact, I am here together with her REAL boyfriend, Armin Arlert. Who will be discussing to you about his relationship with Christa Lenz."

I saw Bertholdt put down his mic before nodding at Armin. I heard all the people in that press conference gasp as they heard about Armin being my real boyfriend.

"Good evening. I am Armin Arlert, an author. I have been in a relationship with Christa Lenz for five years but everything she said in that video is false and can be considered as libel. I am displeased by her immature behaviour despite me breaking up with her two years ago. I had only recently met Annie Leonhart this year and there is no way that I've cheated on my EX and that Annie Leonhart stole me from her. Christa Lenz, if you are watching this right now, this is the same exact reason why I broke up with you. Your psychotic behaviour made me leave you and there is no way that I will forgive you for what you have done to my girlfriend."

I bit my lip as I saw Armin's expression. He was angry. He was mad. Every bit of his face was filled with frustration as he spoke.

"I had enough of your sick behaviour and I will not tolerate you any longer. To everyone who believed her without knowing our side of the story, shame on you. My heart broke as I went to my girlfriend's place, seeing her perfect skin be torn just by your hate. You people go through such lengths just to make us suffer. And I will also not tolerate such behaviour. From now on, to anyone who speaks ill of us and spreads nasty rumors, shall be arrested."

I was literally shaking as I watched the both of them speak up. They were both fighting for me. For our rights.

"To Christa Lenz, I have already filed a restraining order against you. The way you manipulated me during our relationship and the way you blackmailed me for trying to leave, is unacceptable. And now that you're trying to ruin my current relationship just for your selfish reasons, are you happy now? Are you happy for hurting our feelings? When we've done nothing to you. I broke up with you so stop being obsessed with me. I have no more romantic feelings for you and I hate you more at what you did to Annie."

Armin stopped and looked at the camera. It was as if he was looking at me through the screen.

"Annie, I know you're watching right now. I'm sorry it took longer. But I want you to know that I love you. And I want everyone to know, that I'm hers and she's mine. I want everyone to know that we love each other. That we are in a happy and healthy relationship together. Annie Leonhart isn't just my girlfriend. She's my savior. She saved me. She saved me from my depression that my past toxic relationship inflicted upon me. Without her, I wouldn't even be here, alive and well, right now."

My vision started to get blurry as tears formed in my eyes. Finally...Finally he said what he always wanted to say.

"I'm speaking to everyone right now. Please...Please accept our relationship. Love and support us just like you did with Bertholdt and Annie. And mostly, respect us. Our privacy and our feelings. We us human beings. I have nothing to hide to you anymore. All I want to say is, Annie Leonhart, I love you so much. I'm sorry if you got into this meaningless issue. But right now, we have nothing to hide anymore. I already told the whole world how much I love you. So please...Smile. Bring your happiness back as we prove everyone wrong."

The moment he said that, tears fell down but it wasn't from sadness. It was from pure happiness. The side of my lips curled as I saw his face smiling on the screen.

Their personal speech ended and the question and answer came right after. They answered each and every question fluently and gratuitously. All rumors made on us were clarified and the people won't have to believe such bullshit anymore.

Just like Bertholdt said, I opened my social media accounts after I watched them.

#ForgiveUs - 3.5M tweets

I looked at the posts made by the netizens and it was all positive and contrasted all the words they told me before.

Post from @ fushigurodilf: I am disgusted with myself for siding with the wrong person. Turns out she was a psycho. Annie Leonhart, I'm sorry #ForgiveUs

Post from @ MatsuokaSupremacy: Y'all notice that every time Annie gets on a scandal it turns out she was always right and never on the wrong side? When will we learn? Annie #ForgiveUs

Post from @ Luffysmeat: I'll say goodbye to my BeruAni ship and say hello to my new favorite ship AruAni! Again, Annie I'm sorry for everything please #ForgiveUs I wish you all the best in your relationship

I smiled as I read each and every post. I know I shouldn't get validation from them but it's always great when strangers compliment me. So that's why it hurts more when they judge me but feels good when they commend me.

I got off social media and dialed my mom. I wanted to tell them the good news and at the same time, tell them about Armin and me.

"Annie! Bertholdt and Armin's press conference was all over my social media! Oh honey I'm so happy for you that these men fought for you." My mom said on the other line.

"Thank you mom...So you probably know now that Armin and me are--"

"A couple and he's my future son-in-law!" I blushed at what my mom said and chuckled as I shook my head.

"Hey Annie! Don't come here to America if you aren't with him okay?!" I laughed loudly at what Einna said.

"Einna that's harsh...But I agree! Bring him over here if you're going to visit us okay?"

"Hmmm okay mom." I said as I chuckled softly.

"So how is my dear daughter doing?"

"I'm fine absolutely alright compared to last time. Where's dad?"

"Oh you know how emotional he can be. He's still at the bathroom crying because his little girl is already a big girl and has a boyfriend now." Serotonin filled my body just by talking to them.

"So Annie. Tell me and Einna more about Armin. Please!"

I sighed before laughing. It has been a while since I told them about my life so I like how they're getting themselves involved.

"Okay so first of all...He's so hot!"

The night went on with us talking about me and Armin's relationship. I'm glad that I didn't give up on him in our darkest days. I'm glad that I had experienced going through hardship with him before earning our right to happiness.

I'm happy because we have all the right to be free now. To spend time together without the need to hide ourselves from other people.

Armin Arlert, I love you so much.

And I could shout to the world how proud I am to have you as my boyfriend.