One Hundred Fifty

26 - Three Hours

He looked like he's probably older than me, siguro mga four years old? He just wore this simple white long sleeve polo and black slacks as if he came here straight from work. Pero dahil katabi ko s'ya, nagmuka tuloy s'yang groom. His hair is messy, and his lips looks like he's always smiling. And he has this pair of brown eyes. Really really light brown. Have I told you that his smiling face is pretty and comforting? Ba't hindi n'ya nalang kuhanan ang sarili n'ya?

I'm not worth a picture. Not in this gown, with this sad face. I was not even the priority from the beginning, nor the choice.

"There's no reason for me to smile." I whispered but it seems like he heard it. No one ever heard my murmurs...

"There's always a reason for you to smile."

"What a guy, hindi ba halata na may nangyaring hindi maganda sa araw ko ngayon?"

"Binibini..." Nakangiti animong nangloloko pa n'yang tawag. "Hindi ako bulag para hindi makita ang mata mo." Mahina n'yang sabi.

"Iyon naman pala, ba't ka pa nandito??"

He scooted closer. Bahagyang nakangiti ulit. "Kasi..."

I just stared at him seemingly hesitating from the sentence he's about to say.

"Kasi gusto ko sanang ibenta itong litrato na kinuha ko sayo. Pwede kahit pang jeep lang? Bente pesos, ano?" He said arching his eyebrows.

My mouth gape at him and then burst into a laugh. I don't know what's funny. Him being broke? Or him expecting that I have money? Or me, being miserable? I don't know. I just want to laugh this off, this encounter is just so random and inappropriate considering the situation. But it's funny.

Sinabayan n'ya ako sa pagtawa ng malakas, dinadala ng hangin ang mga tawa ko sa kung saang parte ng dagat. Nang mahimasmasan ay napatingin ako sakan'ya na nakaangat muli ang camera at kitang kita ang silay ng ngiti sa baba.

"Told you, there's always something to be happy about."

"But sadness demands to be felt." Seryoso kong saad. Ngunit bahagyang nabawasan ang bigat sa dibdib.

"Yes. But for a moment, remind yourself to smile, or the things that makes you smile. So you won't drown into sadness."

I pouted, bahagyang kinuha ang camera sa kamay n'ya at tinignan ang mga kinuha n'ya. "Philosopher ka ba?"

"Ah, yun oh, glad you asked! I'm Clark Natibidad, a freelancer photographer. Part time ko lang pagiging philosopher, secret lang yun ah?"

Magaganda ang kuha n'ya, simple scene, simple flower, simple rock, but with an angle and perspective that makes it stands out.

"What kind of photographer are you na wala kang pamasahe?" I asked.

Hindi natinag ang ngiti nito ngunit tumaas ulit ang mga kilay. "Gusto mo bang tanungin rin kita kung anong klaseng bride ka at wala ka sa simbahan?"

"Funny."

Natawa ito. "Hay naku. Basta ninakawan ako. And the first place that was on my mind is how I don't want my baby to get taken away. Kaya yun yung inagaw ko, pero nakalimutan ko wallet ko."

I laughed again with the way he narrate it.

"Kaya ayun, napadpad ako dito, tapos nakita kitang ngumangawa. Rinig kita mula doon oh." Turo n'ya sa malayong parte ng pampang...

"Pa'no mo nakayanan yung init?" Tanong n'ya pa.

I don't know he did it. But he's the most comfortable stranger now.

"That's how it is when you're sad." Sagot ko naman. Sumunod ang katahimikan na hindi s'ya sumagot at ako naman ay naengganyo sa mga kuha n'ya.

"You're shots are good! Creative..."