'Di Madama

• Last Chapter (Part Two) •

He's really different. I can feel it.

"So..." he said when we were already outside. "Do you have a ride home? I can take you home if you'd like."

"Ah, no, no," iling ko kaagad. Baka mamaya nandoon pa si RR, mahirap na. Buti nga wala masyadong napunta na taga-SFA dito sa café. At saka medyo late na rin.

"You'll be safe, right?"

Hindi agad ako nakasagot.

"Right?" ulit niya.

I nodded. "Y-yes..." sabi ko. "Malapit lang apartment ko."

"Goodnight, Mentor Anya," he said before sending off a salute to me just like what he did two years ago.

"Goodnight, Rean," I said.

"Will I still see you in the morning?"

I nodded. "You will," sabi ko bago ko siya tinalikuran at tuluyang pumatak ang mga luha.

For the first time in my life, someone actually wanted to see me in the morning. Someone out there's actually hoping to see my presence... and that's more than enough for me.

* * *

I smiled looking at myself on the mirror. After a year, ngayon ko na lang ulit binuhay ang camera ko. Magkikita ulit kaming dalawa ngayon at hindi ko alam kung bakit gusto ko siyang picturan.

"Bakit?" I asked. Pinalabas niya ako ng bar dahil nandoon daw mga kaibigan niya sa loob.

"I'm sorry," sabi niya. "Please don't ever think that I'm not proud of having you as my friend. It's just that... my friends are, you know? Masyado kasi silang ma-issue. Hindi nila ako titigilan hanggang hindi nila nalalaman ang lahat. At ayoko rin na guluhin nila ang buhay mo."

Napatawa naman ako sa kanya. "Ano ka ba, okay lang. Hindi mo kailangan mag-sorry."

"Let's head somewhere, is that okay?"

Tumango lang ako.

Naglakad kami hanggang makarating kami sa isang park dito sa siyudad. Tumigil ako nang mapansin kong maganda ang lighting. Napansin niya kaagad 'yon kaya napatigil siya at napatingin sa akin.

Itinaas ko ang camera at tinapat hanggang naka-focus na sa kanya. "Say cheese," sabi ko.

"Keso," he said.

Shutter.

"Isa pa," I said.

He stood there waiting for me to take a picture and I just looked at him through the lenses of my camera.

How could someone just stand there and be so damn beautiful?

Yes, he is beautiful.

"Let me see," he said. Ipinakita ko naman sa kanya ang mga nakuhanan kong pictures niya. "Nice. You really have a talent in photography."

I smiled at what he just said. Ngayon na lang ulit may nagsabi sa akin noon. Ang Lolo ko pa ang huling pumuri sa akin. "Sus! Ngayon nga lang ulit ako humawak ng camera. Bolero ka talaga," I told him.

"Give that to me," he said. Tinanggal ko naman 'yung strap sa leeg ko at ibinigay sa kanya. He took steps backward as he put his right eye on the camera's viewfinder.

I smiled. "Bagay sa'yo maging photographer."

Nanatili lang siyang hawak ang camera. "Pose," sabi niya. "I'll take a picture of you."

I just smiled.

"Say gwapo ni Rean, magaling pa."

I laughed. "Ang haba naman!"