My Only Exception

Chapter 13

She laughed.

"So you really think you can just walk up to me, tell me you want me back, and that I'd say yes? Seriously, that easy?"

I hid my hands on my pockets. I have expected this. I know it wouldn't be easy to earn her trust.

"Raffy, I know I made a mistake. I owe you and Cali more than apologies. There's nothing I can do to make it up to you and -"

"You know that there's none, why are you still trying?"

"Because I love you. Raffy, I might have mistreated you but it doesn't mean that I didn't love you, that I stopped. Those things are not justifiable but I love you. And it just grows more and more whenever I see you," I told her. It is true. If I said anything that was hurtful, it was because I was hurting.

"Thank you but what? I will say yes again and you don't trust me? You can make me fall in love with you over and over but it wouldn't make any difference if you never believed me and if you will never listen to what I will tell you," I told him.

"I want to prove it to you. Less words, more actions. I want you to give me another chance to be with you and my son -"

"Excuse me," she stopped me. "Your son? Cali's not your son."

"Let's stop these lies, Raffy," I told her. We were trying to keep our voices as low as possible. Other than having Cali hear us, we don't want to cause a scene either on this hallway. "Seff told me."

She stood up straight. I noticed her shaking but remained calm.

"You are not Cali's father."

"Raffy, you left for the US just a few days after you moved out of the house. And something happened between the two of us two nights before that. Two months later after you went to the US, I learned that you were pregnant. You gave birth after eight months of being in the US. Considering that timeline, anak ko si Cali. What, when you went there, something happened to you and Seff right away? Akala ko ba wala namang kahit ano sa inyo?"

"If I gave birth eight months later, it was because Cali was born prematurely! Hindi mo alam kung ano ang pinagdaanan ko giving him the life that he has now. You don't have an idea what Cali did to fight for his life!" she exclaimed and pushed me.

I restrained her wrists.

"I don't know what you went thru but I know it wasn't easy," I tried to calm her down. When she stopped fighting and resisting, I released her hands. "Raffy, I know I am at fault here. Kung ako man ang tatay ni Cali, I have to make it up to the two of you. Kung si Seff, it's okay. I am willing to take the responsibility. Whoever Cali's father is, it doesn't change the fact that I still want you."

She smirked. "Ethan, after all that you did to me, do you think I still would want you? Cali is my life now and whoever Cali's dad is, do you think it matters at this point? Cali loves Seff and treats him as his father. Seff treats him as his son. They love each other and Cali is happy with him. You should realize that being a father is not just about your blood running on Cali's veins. Who does the role and who has been there for my son makes up the real father," she told me. "And obviously, that is NOT you."

"How can I do that when Seff is always in the picture? If you do not give me a chance to be with him? To be with you? You didn't tell me you were pregnant, you never told me that you are carrying our child!"

"Why will I tell you? If you wanted to be a father, dapat sumunod ka! Dapat hindi mo hinayaan na umalis kami sa tabi mo. Dapat gumawa ka ng paraan para hindi ako mawala sayo," sumbat nya and her tears started welling up. "Pero kahit na, sino ba ang nagsabi sayo na anak mo si Cali?"