ONCE UPON A SIGN

Chapter 22 - Frames and Frequencies

 🌻 Chapter 22 – Frames and Frequencies

(Shaniah POV)

They say a camera captures what the eye sometimes misses.

But that day, it felt like it captured everything I was trying to hide.

It was our first official shoot day for the regional worship campaign.

We were assigned to a church in Tumauini—a beautiful, sunlit sanctuary with whitewashed walls and large windows that poured in golden light.

Ava and Tin were already inside when I arrived, both crouched near a table full of camera batteries and memory cards. Tin was labeling clipboards while Ava organized the shot list.

"Perfect timing!" Tin greeted, waving her pen. "Na-test na ni Elijah 'yung lights. Kailangan na lang i-double check 'yung angles."

Ava looked up and smiled at me. "Your turn to charm our interviewees into being comfortable."

"Pressure agad?" I laughed nervously, placing my bag down.

Behind them, Elijah was adjusting the tripod, sleeves rolled up, camera already mounted. He looked up, caught my gaze for a second, and offered that soft, steady smile that always felt like a quiet assurance.

"Hey," he said. "You made it."

"Of course," I replied. "Wouldn't miss it."

After a while...

"Need help fixing the bounce light?" I asked as I walked over to Elijah.

He nodded. "Yeah, I adjusted the shadows, pero baka ma-wash out 'pag sobrang lapit."

He handed me the reflector as our fingers brushed slightly—nothing intentional, just enough to freeze the breath in my throat for half a second.

"Btw, you brought the 50mm lens, right?" I asked, trying to sound composed.

"Of course," he replied. "Alam ko 'yan ang favorite mo. Yung background soft, pero 'yung subject sobrang focused."

I smiled lightly.

If only feelings were as easy to focus as lenses.

Our first testimonial was from a worship leader in Tuguegarao—graceful, composed, and carrying a quiet strength as she talked about singing through grief and finding God's voice again.

While I asked the questions, Elijah manned the camera. Ava monitored audio, and Tin took notes for timestamps.

But in between responses, I felt it again, that subtle pull.

When I glanced at Elijah, his gaze wasn't on the screen.

It was on me.

Observing. Not with judgment. Not even curiosity.

But with understanding and confusion at the same time

And my heart—already crowded with feelings I didn't know how to file tightened.

During a quick break, Elijah and I ended up near the side hallway where the equipment cases were stacked.

"You okay?" he asked gently, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

I nodded, lips tight. "Yeah. Just... this testimony hit close."

"I figured," he said. "You looked... somewhere else during the second take."

"Was it distracting?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No. It was human."

I didn't know what to say to that.

So we just stood there, quiet. But not awkward. Just present.

After lunch, the rest of the team was still in the dining area. Ava and Tin had stayed behind to clean up cables, leaving just me and Elijah to back up footage.

"I admire how calm you always seem," I said, half-chuckling. "Like kahit pressured na, you just... keep going."

He looked down, his fingers gliding across the touchpad.

"I get overwhelmed too," he replied. "But I try to anchor myself sa purpose. If I know why I'm doing something... it helps."

Then, after a beat, he added, "But recently, it's been harder to stay unaffected. Lalo na if the person I'm working with matters to me."

My heart skipped.

Before I could respond, we heard Tin's voice echo from the hallway.

"Elijah! Naiwan mo 'yung extra battery sa pew!"

"Sakto," he muttered with a sheepish smile, then grabbed the drive and stood.

We packed up late that afternoon. The sun was lower, the light softer—just like my heart, which was trying to pretend it didn't feel every pause, every silence filled with something unsaid.

Elijah handed me the flash drive with the backed-up footage.

"All set," he said. "Labeled na rin."

"Thanks," I said quietly. "You always make things easier."

He smiled, but this time, there was something behind it. Something deeper.

"It's not always easy," he replied.

Then his voice softened—just enough for only me to hear.

"But it's worth it."

📖 Verse of the Day:

"The purposes of a person's heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out."
— Proverbs 20:5 (NIV)

- Miss Swada -