Behind the Lens [COMPLETED]

17

If I just didn't really know Cliff's background in life, I might have 'still called' him a bystander. A handsome bystander.

Well, pwedi naman siyang papasang tambay no. May mga tambay naman na gwapo. I'm not sure, but I think they're still handsome bystander. Hindi naman natin alam. Sa laki ba naman ng pilipinas posibling makakahanap ka talaga.

Akala ko talaga na isa syang tambay sa lugar na ito. Ang isang mayaman na lalaki kagaya niya ay dito pala namamalagi.

So from now on I call him...

The Rich Bystander. A handsome, rich bystander.

"I'll tell you later." sabi niya at ginaya ako palabas sa kotse.

I don't know if this place is a squatter or not. Only cliff can say it to me.

Hindi naman madumi ang lugar. In fact, malinis nga e. Ang ibang kabahayan ay samintado, at ang iba naman ay kahoy lang but still maganda pa din' naman.

It doesn't matter if the house is beautiful or ugly. The important thing is to have a stay with loved ones.

"Uy cliff, Ali ka dito inom. Ilang araw kanang hindi naka punta dito ha." napalingon ako doon sa lalaking tumawag kay cliff.

There's a group of old men drinking some beer outside of their house.

"I'm busy of my work manong june."

"Gano'n ba? Jowa mo ba 'to?" The men in white sando pointed me.

I'm trying to smile to them. I don't want to be rude to them, especially if they're Cliff related.

"Uh—yeah." he said and held me in my hips.

"Kay ganda naman nang jowa mo. Parang pamilyar yung mukha sa' kin." sabi nung isang lalaki na walang damit pang itaas. He's bald and has a big tummy.

"We'll going manong June." paalam ni cliff at hinila ako paalis don'.

Hinila niya ako don' sa isang karenderya na may nagtitinda nang barbecue sa labas. May maliit na mesa sa labas nito at nagtitinda din' nang balot.

"Do you eat barbecue and balot?"

"Yes, of course, the last time I ate balot and barbecue when I was still in college. That was a long time ago."

Syempre kumakain ako nang balot at barbecue. Alex was the one who introduced me to that kind of food. No'ng time na ni libre niya kami ni Ali sa isang street food malapit sa school namin. At first, ayaw namin ni Ali kasi hindi kami sanay na kumakain nang ganyan, because they say that street food is dirty. That's what my mom told me also. Alex forced us to eat because its masarap daw. And he didn't lie. Now I can say that street food is one of the best.

"Cliff, 'tong batang 'to ngayon lang nagpakita uli." sabi nong matandang nagtitinda pagdating namin. "Gusto niyong kumain? Sige, upo kayo do'n."

"Dalhin mo 'yang maganda mong jowa mo do'n sa upuan. Libre ko na ito sa inyu." pahabol nung sabi nong matanda.

Nahihiyang ngumiti ako sa matanda. I think she's still in the early 50s. Ginaya niya kami don' sa upuan na malapit lang sa may kalsada. Nakikita namin yung mga batang naglalaro parin' kahit gabi na. I wish naranasan ko din' ang ganyan.

"Why everyone here knows you?" I start to ask questions.

"Okay I tell you while waiting for the food."

I'm so curious about him. Marami pa talaga akong hindi alam sa kanya. Kagaya nito. I'm confused why everyone here knows him. Hindi naman siya taga dito pero kilala nila. He really that famous ha.