Golden Cuts

Prologue

GC0

Prologue

Nakangiti kong pinanood ang babaeng nasa harap ko na halos tumalon at sumigaw habang hawak ang librong kakabigay ko lamang sa kanya. My eyebrow lifted a little as I smile. She's cute. Sa tantya ko ay nasa 18 siguro ang edad nya or around it, maybe? I know she won't be older than 20.

"I love you po, Ate!" she said to me. "Pwede po pa-picture?" she said to me without waiting for my answer.

"Sure!" sagot ko naman.

Lumapit siya saakin. She ducked down a little so she could be at my level. She lifted up her hand that's holding her phone for a selfie. I smiled at the camera.

"Thank you po!"

I chuckled. "Thank you din..."

She said goodbye to me and I waved my hand to her while smiling. Hindi iyon nagtagal dahil kailangan ko pang humarap sa kasunod niya.

"Ate Io!" salubong saakin nito. Babae din at parang kasing edad noong kanina. "Ang ganda mo, Ate!" she said while looking at me with a wide eyes. Yakap-yakap niya ang libro sa kanyang dibdib at parang ako lang ang nakikita.

"You're pretty, too..." saad ko habang nakalahad ang aking kamay.

"Ay!" she jumped a little before she smiled at me.

I chuckled. She's also cute.

"Sorry Ate, shocked kasi ako sayo..." dagdag niya habang inaabot ang libro saakin.

I smiled at her. "Anong name mo?" I asked.

"Selene po..."

"Selene..." I said while writing her name in the front page of book. Tinaas ko ang tingin ko sa kanya habang nakangiti. Mangha niya pa din akong pinagmamasdan. "Goddess of the moon..."

Binalik ko ulit ang tingin ko sa libro. I wrote a simple word of thanks to her before I signed her book.

"I hope you can shine as bright as the moon..." I said while handing her the book.

She looked mesmerize by me. Hindi niya pa agad nakuha saakin pabalik ang libro niya. She pursed her lips before she slowly moved her hand to get the book that I was holding.

"Kinikilig ako, Ate..." she chuckled. "Iba pala talaga kapag nakita ka. Salamat po..."

"No, thank you."

Katulad ng mga nagdaan ay nagrequest din siya ng picture mula saakin. Agad ko iyong pinaunlakan. May gusto pa sana siyang sabihin ngunit masyadong mahaba ang pila kaya limitado lang ang pwedeng ibigay sa bawat isa.

"You're here again, huh? Nice to see you..."

"Hala, Ate! Tanda mo ako?"

I chuckled before I nodded. "Of course! Palagi kang umaattend ng book signing event ko hindi ba?"

"Opo! Hala, omg! Hindi ako makapaniwala, Ate!"

"Thank you for always supporting me."

"Kahit 70 years old na ko tapos may bago kang release na libro, pupunta pa din ako! I love you, Ate Io!"

My heart warmed when I heard her words. I know that's on exaggeration but it's really good to hear. Sanay na naman akong makarinig noon pero hindi pa rin nawawala ang epekto noon kapag naririnig ko.

"Io, totoo bang narereflect sa mga sinusulat ng mga writer ang emotions nila?" tanong ng isa.

From the book she gave me, my eyes went to her. Ngumiti ako at tumigil sa pagsusulat.