The Only Exception

Prologue

March 31, 2021

The Only Exception

There will come a time when you'll actually fall in love. Mahuhulog ka sa taong least expected mo, sa taong kailanman hindi mo naisip na magugustuhan, or worst, mamahalin mo.

Mahuhulog ka sa taong magiging dahilan bakit babaluktot lahat ng standards mo. He's going to be your only exception sa lahat ng bagay - na kahit ikaw- the rules you've set for yourself ay babaliin mo para sa kanya, kasi mahal mo-kasi sa lahat ng rules mo na kahit hindi siya pasado ay siya pa rin ang pipiliin mo, and you know what? It's gonna be the best ride of your life.

Yes, the best ride, yet the most painful one.

"I'm sorry, Curns. I just realized that what I am feeling for you is nothing but something we can't label as love." Tumingin ito sa mga mata ko.

"You're my best friend, and I was fool for thinking that we can take it to the next level. I'm sorry I got confused with our set up."

Bawat salitang lumalabas sa bibig niya parang punyal na tumatama sa puso ko.

"Yes, it's true that what we have is special, you're amazing and you're not hard to like kaya nalito ako. I thought it was love, but it was just an affection for someone I can see as my sister." This time, ako na ang nag iwas ng tingin sa kanya.

"You are dear to me, you are special but I'm so sorry that I cannot reciprocate what you feel towards me, I like you but I dont't think we love each other the same way. I only see you as a sister and I'm sorry my actions lead you to feel something deeper, I'm sorry that you misunderstood my gestures towards you."

Nanlalabo na ang mga mata ko sa naririnig. Nag uumpisa na ring sumikip ang dibdib ko.

"Hindi ko sinasadyang saktan ka, at lituhin. Gaguhin mo ako, matatanggap ko iyon, I'd fucking take it, tatanggapin ko ang galit mo sa akin kung sakali." Lumamlam ang boses niya. Bawat salita ay parang pinapahirapan siya, na nasasaktan rin siya para sa akin.

"Magalit ka, pero sana pagkatapos ng galit mo, tumigil ka na, please stop it already, masasaktan ka lang sakin. Hanggang doon lang talaga." Conrad told me in a serious face, but he's eyes is telling something, something more.

Awa, and he's in pain too.

Even the kiss, Conrad? Are you sorry for that too? Why did you kiss me in the first place if you only see me as a sisteror a best friend?

fuck! you're not supposed to know how the taste of your friend's kiss!

Bakit mo ako hinalikan? Hindi ko kasi maintindihan kung bakit.

I can't stop myself from laughing anymore. Natatawa ako dahil sa katangahan ko. Why did I confess right now? And why did I even try when it was so clear from the very beginning that we're only friends.

but his actions tell otherwise!

Alam ko, kasi ramdam ko! Pero bakit? Magkaibigan kami? Nagpapatawa ba siya? Friends? Yun lang, hanggang dun lang talaga?

pagkatapos nniya akong bigyan ng motibo, halikan, ituring ng higit pa sa kaibigan ay 'yan ang ssasabihin niya?

I laughed so hard in front of him that I cried out of it, yet he's still looking at me, seriously.

"No, you don't see me as a friend or sister!" i started yelling with my broken and shaking voice.

I took a deep breath before continuing speaking despite the pain and blurry vision because of those hunshed tears.

"You see me as someone you can play! Tang ina! You gave me all the motives and gestures telling me-" itinuro ko ang sarili ko habang humkbang ng dalawang beses papalapit sa kanya at saka naman ay madiin ko siyang idinuro sa dibdib.