'Di Madama

• Last Chapter (Part Two) •

Pinicturan niya lang ako nang pinicturan hanggang ma-lowbatt na 'yung camera.

"Ako ba talaga may ari ng camera o ikaw?" I asked him.

We were now just walking. I'm sure no one would recognize us. Madilim na at ang tanging ilaw lang naman dito sa parke ay ang mga nagmumula sa mga poste.

"You're a good subject, didn't mean to drain your camera's battery."

"Good lang talaga? Hindi beautiful? Hindi great?" I asked.

"Whatever you like," he said.

"Rean," I called.

I stopped walking and he did too.

There was almost a meter apart between us.

He didn't bother looking back.

"It's the first time I've been this happy again, so thank you."

"Actually, I changed my mind," he said. "It's beautiful."

Lumapit ako sa kanya. I nudged him. "Sus! Ikaw ah!"

"I mean the moon!" sabi niya. "It's beautiful tonight."

Inunahan ko siya sa paglakad at napa-iling iling na lang ako sa kanya. "Sige, sabi mo e."

"It's really the moon," sabi niya pa.

"Wala naman akong sinasabi ah..." sabi ko.

I looked back only to see him frowning at me.

Oh, jersey number six.

The things you make my heart feel.

"Tara na. Gabi na kaya," sabi ko.

Sumunod lang naman siya sa akin. Nang makabalik kami sa may Spiral kung saan naka-park ang kotse niya, hinarap niya na ako. "So, I guess this is how our session ends?"

I nodded as I smiled at him. "May natutuhan ka ba naman?"

"Yes, but maybe not about the part where I'm asking you to teach me, but today I learned that photography is fun."

Mas lalo akong napangiti. "Goodnight," sabi ko.

"Good morning," he said showing me his watch. It's already past twelve. Hindi pa naman delikado umuwi dahil marami pang tao. "So..." sabi niya.

"I'll still see you in the morning, right?" he asked.

I smiled again. I've lost count of how many times I've already smiled at him tonight. "You will."

"Keep safe," he said again before sending off a salute and turning his back at me.

Tumalikod na rin ako sa kanya at kaagad napahawak sa kanang bahagi ng aking dibdib.

Reyes Anghel Ximenez.

I think you really are an angel.

* * *

"Welcome to my safe zone," I told him. Nandito na ulit kami ngayon sa bahay ni Lolo. The place where I feel safe the most. Although he knew about this place, he would never think that I'd go here. Kasi mukha na talagang abandonado 'yung bahay. Mukhang wala nang pumupunta.

Hindi ko rin alam kung naaalala niya ba na dito ko rin siya dinala nung gabing una ulit kami nagkakilala.

"Who owns this house?" he asked.

I shrugged. "It's my grandfather's, but he doesn't live here anymore and this place is already abandoned," sabi ko.

Tumango-tango lang siya bago umupo sa couch na may takip na puting tela.