Hiding Behind the Lenses (Arte del Amor #3)

Chapter 33

Since I've been really trying to become a morning person, after Nikolai came by and left this morning, I jogged around the village for a while. When I passed by the playground, there were a lot of kids running around.

My brothers and I, we never really got to do that.

But I can imagine us laughing while running around like that, carefree. Napangiti ako at dahan-dahang naglakad upang mas makalapit sa mga batang naglalaro.

Come to think of it, I was never fond of kids nor was I good of dealing with them except Sydney's little sister, Arthemisia, who is now by the way a fine lady.

Now, it warms my heart seeing little children. They remind me so much of my brothers, and my childhood... plus the childhood that I dreamt of but never had.

Hearing them laugh and seeing the smiles on their faces makes me want to protect them and make sure that those smiles will never fade away. I want to protect those smiles.

I have always been protected all my life, by my brothers, by my family.

Maybe that is why I'm so keen on wanting to protect someone too. Thanks to everything that they have given me.

Umihip ang malakas na hangin at dumapo sa mukha ko ang iilang hibla ng buhok ko na hindi nasakop ng pagkakatali ko.

Gael loved children. We have a lot of photographs back when I was baby where Gael's just hugging me with a huge smile on my face. Growing up, I saw how he cared for others too. He would have made a great father.

Did he see and feel what I am feeling now? Am I seeing the world like he did?

Sa gitna ng mga nagtatakbuhang mga bata sa kalawakan ng madamong parke ay may nakatayo na matayog na mga slides na tila sinadyang magmukhang barko ng mga pirata. Sa itaas noon ay batang babae, nakahawak sa mga barandilya, pinapanood lang ang mga bata sa baba.

Hindi ako nag-isip, kusang gumalaw ang paa ko at inakyat iyon hanggang sa makalapit ako sa batang babae.

I knelt on the wood flooring to meet her gaze but when I realized I was too tall for that, I sat down instead.

Napatingin na sa akin iyong batang babae. She's so pretty with those light brown eyes. "We have the same hair," sabi ko, hinawakan ang dulo ng buhok niya at ng sa akin para ipakita iyon sa kaniya. "Look."

Her face lit up when she realized that we really do have the same hair, but it confused me when that smile immediately turned into a frown. "But yours is prettier, Ate. I don't like mine..."

"That's not true. Yours is the prettiest." malambing kong sabi sa kaniya, at mabilis namang bumalik ang ngiti niya. Kinuha ko ang ribbon na itinali ko sa buhok ko kanina, at ginamit ko iyon para itali ang sa kaniya, pero ang mga nasa taas lang. "The red ribbon looks good on you."

"Thank you..." nahihiya niyang sabi. She even blushed and looked away.

Napansin ko na sa pag-iwas niya ng tingin ay natuon na naman ang atensyon niya sa mga batang naglalaro. "Do you want to go down the slide?"

Umiling siya, "I'm scared."

"I'll be right behind you."