SEIRI GRAGNE
Umayos ako ng tayo at tinignan ng mabuti kung si Calix ba talaga ang nakasalo sa'kin.
"Is that you, Calix?" Tanong ko.
"Uhh, yes?"
"Really? Totoo? Talaga?" I asked while shaking his shoulders.
He chuckled before nodding. He pinched my cheeks causing me to frown.
"Masakit diba? Meaning, andito nga ako," sabi n'ya. "You're so clumsy, palagi ka nalang nahuhulog tuwing makita kita."
"Sorry ha? Bet ata ako ng lupa," sagot ko. "Anong ginagawa mo dito?"
"Ah, nandito ako para mag hanap ng pwedeng i-jowa," seryosong sagot n'ya at nilibot ang tingin sa mga tao.
"Congrats! May nahanap ka na," sabi ko.
"Sino naman?" Tanong n'ya. I grinned at him and straightened my posture.
"Sino pa ba? Edi ako!" I exclaimed.
"Talaga? Then let's go, girlfriend."
Nag-umpisa s'yang maglakad kaya sinundan ko s'ya. We stopped under the shade of the tree. The summer wind was cold but the sun was still hot.
"You want me to take pictures of you?" Tanong n'ya.
"Nice! Instant photographer!" I gave him my camera and posed for different shots. After a few clicks ay tinignan ko ang mga kuha n'ya.
"Ang ganda! Parang kuha ng professional photographer," puri ko sakan'ya.
"Well, I am a photographer," he trailed.
"Really? Totoo? Talaga?" I jumped up and down after hearing him. "Ako din!"
"Just a part time though, I'm a model," sabi n'ya.
"Hmm, I'm actually looking for a model. I wanna try different techniques. Gusto mo ba mag-apply?" Tanong ko. "Mag-apply bilang jowa ko."
"Silly," he chuckled. "I'll think about it first."
I nodded and gave him my card. "You can contact me anytime. Pwede ka ring pumunta sa studio ko. Pero kung gusto mong diretso sa simbahan aba't gora na."
He just laughed at my remark but accepted the calling card. We decided to have a picnic there and took a few more pictures.
I secretly took a picture of his silhouette and edited it to make it look more aesthetic at mas matago ang itsura n'ya.
"May IG ka ba?" Tanong ko. Pinakita naman n'ya sa'kin ang phone n'ya.
I searched his profile @calix_cortez, the photos on his feed were all black and white. Even his display profile was just pure black. I decided to follow him.
"Pwede ko ba 'to i-post?" I asked him. It's still important to ask the person before posting his pictures kahit pa hindi kita ang mukha nito.
"It's okay," he said and moved closer. "Smile," tinutok n'ya ang phone sa amin at kinurot ang pisngi ko.
"I'll post this too," I agreed 'cause we looked cute.
@seirinity A keeper. ❤️
I posted his silhouette photo. Maya-maya pa ay sunod-sunod ang tunog ng notifs ko. Well, I have a lot of followers dahil nga photographer ako but it's a whole new level of notifs right now. Kulang nalang ay mag lag ang phone ko.
I found Aster's comment and decided to reply.
@asterisk HOY, NAG BAKASYON KA LANG TAPOS ANO TONG NAKIKITA KO? WELCOME HOME, CHEATER.
@seirinity @asterisk
Hanap ka na lang ng iba, bhe. Ididiretso ko na 'to sa simbahan.
I turned off the phone at lumingon kay Calix. He was opening his IG. Lumingon s'ya sa'kin bago lumayo para 'di ko makita ang phone n'ya bago mag-type. He let out a hearty laugh after typing something.
I decided to open my IG again at may nag-notif nga sa'kin. Tinignan ko ang post n'ya. Kaya naman pala natutuwa.
@calix_cortez Will definitely keep you, @seirinity. ❤️
I immediately saw Aster's comment below.
@asterisk taksil ka, @seirinity. Sabi mo ako lang?
"Jowa ang datingan ah?" Sabi ko kay Calix na bumalik na ngayon sa tabi ko. "Gusto mo bang totohanin na natin?"
Our picture was the only colored one sa feed n'ya. It somehow feels special.
"Saan ka didiretso after dito?" Tanong ko nang malapit nang 4PM na.
"I'm planning to go at the camp site. Mas gusto ko doon kesa sa hotel," he answered.
"Meant to be ata tayo. I'm going there as well!" I shrieked.
"1 week ka dito diba? Pareho ata ang itinerary natin," sabi n'ya. "Well, if you want to."
"Sure! Boring naman kung mag-isa lang," sagot ko.
We decided to shop for some smores. Kaunti lang kasi ang dala ko at para sa akin lang. We also agreed to go to the Castle at Banff tomorrow.
We sat beside the fire after dinner and made the smores while looking at the stars. He also helped me set up my tent kanina.
"Kailan ka pa dito?" Tanong ko.
"Just a few days ago. I decided to go here to heal myself and explore," sagot n'ya. "Matagal ka na ba dito? You seem so familiar with the places."
"Actually, I was born here. Half-Canadian. I usually travel to find inspiration for my work or have a vacation," sagot ko.
Canada's a really nice place. There are lots of beautiful sceneries especially in autumn.
"It was really nice to meet you, Seiri. I didn't really expect anything when I decided to go here," sabi n'ya. He extended his hands and looked directly at me. "Friends."
I accepted his hands. "Friends lang? Ayaw mo akong maging future?"
He laughed and shook my hand. "Why not?"
"Hehe, joke lang," bawi ko.
"Ayaw mo? Akala ko ba idederetso mo ako sa simbahan?" Biro n'ya.
"Gusto mo ba? Tara na," sabi ko at tumayo. Tumawa s'ya at hinatak ako pa-upo ulit.
"Bukas na, gabi na oh. Ayaw ko namang may masamang mangyari sa magiging asawa ko," seryosong sabi n'ya at tinahing pa ang buhok ko.
"Luh, gago. Umayos ka nga baka matuluyan ako pota," hindi ko na mapigilan ang pagmumura.
He pressed his finger on my lips and pretended to remove dirt from it.
"Bad. Dirty mouth. Should we clean it?" I furrowed my eyebrows.
"How?" Tanong ko.
"With mine," he answered.
Agad kong sinapak ang balikat n'ya at tumayo.
"Delikado ka na, Calix! Bwiset, pa-fall!" Sigaw ko sakaniya at dali-daling pumasok sa tent na may namumulang pisngi.
"Good night, wife! Dream of me!" Sigaw n'ya pabalik at sinundan ito ng tawa n'ya.
I covered myself with my blanket. Buti na lang at may dala din s'yang tent kaya nasa kabila s'ya.
That guy... He's definitely a keeper.
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4EVER
Roman d'amour"It was summer when I first met you. Fall when I officially owned you. Winter when I took my first step away from you and spring when I found you again. You're forever my summer, fall, winter, spring."
