My Only Exception

Chapter 21

They were at the airport that morning. It had been a week that Raffy and Ethan stopped talking to each other. Ayaw man ni Raffy na umalis si Ethan, she wasn't able to stop him from doing so. Napilitan syang ihatid ito dahil kay Cali.

"Be a good boy, okay?" he reminded  Cali. "And you promise me you'll call me. Behave well so your Nanny and Nanay wouldn't have a hard time."

Cali smiled. "I will."

"Still remember all our agreement? The deal?" he asked him and Cali nodded. "Make sure you do them."

"I promise Tatay," he smiled.

"Raffy..." he called her but her face was emotionless. If she's mad, it didn't show. If she was sad, it wasn't seen. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Ethan, I told you my conditions. You didn't take them," she said.

"Alam mo naman na para sa inyo din ito di ba?"

"Save the argument. Wala na din naman pupuntahan ito. Ganito na lang tayo palagi. Away, bati. Aalis, babalik. No one wanted to settle. Ayos na, ginugulo mo pa," she said. "Kung aalis ka, wag ka na lang bumalik."

"Magsasagutan talaga tayo sa harapan ng anak mo?" he answered. He preferred to answer in Tagalog dahil hindi naiintindihan ng bata. He was trying to hold on to his temper. She didn't answer.

"Gusto mo ito. Kung mawala man ulit sa'yo ang loob ng anak mo, wala na akong magagawa para sa'yo," she pointed out.

"The thing I said to you last night," he brought up. "That offer still stands."

She paused. Last night, Ethan tried talking and explaining to her why he needed to leave but she didn't listen. Her answer was the same. He again proposed to her, knelt on the floor and gave her the ring. But she said no. He was so upset that he decided to sleep beside Cali.

Nagiging casual conversation na lang yata sa kanila ang pagpapakasal. Kasing dalas itanong kung kumain na ba sya.

"I still have the same answer."

Ethan took a deep breath. "Okay. I respect it that that's what you want."

"Nanay... Tatay, are you arguing?" he asked sadly.

"No, babe. We're not," she answered stiffly. "Say goodbye to him now. Mom has to go to work. Your nanny would be home by now."

"Bye Tatay," Cali said and embraced him one more time.

What welcomed Ethan was a mess. The complain that got to him was indeed true and he was able to prove the mismanagement that happened while he was away. Ibinalik niya ang ilan sa mga empleyado na tinanggal and his crew was relieved that he was back. Sa unang araw pa lang ng pagbalik nya, madami agad na sumbong ang natanggap nya mula sa mga empleyado. He took time listening to them and promised that he would bring back what they learned from him.

"Sir, mabuti naman na dumating na kayo. Ngayon, kampante na kami na hindi kami mapapabayaan," someone commented.

He smiled. "I'm sorry I've been away. Kailangan ako ng mag-ina ko. I will fix these issues and make sure that everyone's settled and happy before I go back."

"Babalik pa po kayo dun Sir? Mas maganda po kasi kung kayo ang nagpapalakad. Alam namin na walang magiging problema," sabi naman ng isa.

"I have to go back. Andun yung pamilya ko," he said. "Hinihintay na ako ng panganay ko."

"Bakit po hindi nyo na lang sila papuntahin dito? Sayang naman. Panigurado naman na kaya nyo ibigay lahat ng kailangan nila kahit na nandito kayo," komento ng isa.