Sunset of Times

Kabanata 8

Hinalungkat ko lahat ng books niya dito sa office niya. Hindi naman ganoon kalaki ang bookshelf niya dito but I guess it is already enough for him to have these kinds of books. Now I know why he has this things. He loves reading. Maybe up until now,

Binuksan ko lahat ng pages hoping I can find the thing I'm looking for. But I think I'm about to give up dahil wala akong mahanap.

I sighed and sat on his empty swivel chair saka sinandal ang ulo. This is exhausting. This is tiring and yet a little worth it dahil kung gusto mo talaga, may paraan.

The moment I titled my head, is the moment I saw something under the folders and ledgers of Dad, placing on his table. Nasa baba talaga ito kaya hindi masyadong makita. But I guess I should thank our dear Lord for giving me such a clear vision dahil napansin ko iyon.

Maingat kong inalis ang mga papeles ni Dad sa itaas para makuha ang isang... Old book.

Binasa ko saglit ang title bago pinagpagan dahil may mga dust pang nakayap dito na hudyat nang hindi ito nagalaw sa sobrang matagal na panahon.

I don't know, but for some reason, I think this is what I have been looking...

And I guess I was right because the moment I opened on a random page, isang litrato ang bumungad saakin. An old picture but at the same time, it feels so new. Like It was just taken and printed yesterday.

This photo was very taken care of dahil mismong alikabok ay hindi hinahayaang mapunta rito.

Kinuha ko iyon at pinagmasdan ang mga tao sa litrato. Teenagers... No, people around their twenties.

And what made me feel something inside is that I know these people.  Or maybe because I already saw this coming.

There's young Tito Axel, beside on a young man I'm not totally familiar with, Pero base sa ngiti at ang pamilyar na masiyahin niyang mga mata ay si Tito Matthias iyon, I met him, but just like Tito Enzo, we are not really close dahil parati siyang wala.

Beside him was Tito Archie, smiling widely like it's his last day on earth. I smiled on it, Even up until now, he is the most energetic and cheerful person I've ever met. Beside him is Tito Cole, nakaakbay sila sa isa't isa pero ang isang kamay ni Tito Cole ay nakayakap sa braso ni Tito Luke. Both Tito Archie and Tito Cole are smiling widely while Tito Luke is just giving a half smile. I don't know if he's smirking or it is just a half smile.

I laughed when I realized that he's making a flirty smile. Typical Tito Luke.

Nasa gilid naman niya si Tita Tanya na hindi masyadong nakangiti but still, she's smiling. Beside her was Tito Enzo, smiling genuinely. Wow, Tito Enzo is a good looking man even in his twenties. Actually, all of them.

Unti unting nawawala ang ngiti ko habang dumadapo ang tingin ko sa huling tatlong tao sa litrato.

Beside Tito Enzo, is my Mommy. Siga ang datingan, maging ang ngiti niya ay astig. She looks like a gangster but without the gangster outfit. Wearing a simple faded jeans na parang may design sa ibaba, like a Bratz doll jeans, and then some white floral off shoulder top, she looks so beautiful. Nababagay rin sa maiksi niyang buhok.

All of my admires towards my Mother suddenly faded when my eyes landed on the next lady beside her.

Caliethea.

Matagal akong napatitig sakanya. Sa sobrang tagal ay parang kita ko lahat ng features niya sa mukha even though it's just a picture and this was taken at night, I mean.. mostly during sunset.

I know it's Caliethea. I have a feeling that it's her. Dahil na rin siguro sa itsura niya. Or atleast, how Daddy described her...

Akala ko si Mommy ang maganda, I hate to admit it but this Caliethea woman is much prettier. She's much... Beautiful..