A Memory To Be Photographed

Prologue

Prologue

''First Love.''

"Cami! kumain ka na ba ng tanghalian mo?" my mother shouted while I was putting my black school heels.

I look at her as I grab my bag pack "mama kakain na lang ako canteen mamaya, don't worry tsaka im really late na for my first class basic calculus pa naman yon."

I look at myself in the mirror one last time. I fix my slightly wet black hair, medyo humahaba na ito. I look at my skin it looks dry but I don't have time to apply a lotion or maybe I'm just too lazy to even bother. I sighed and pout my lips. I was never the pretty girl in school, bata pa lang ako alam ko na hindi naman ako pasok sa standard ng pilipinas lalo na at morena ako something that im very insecure with. So, I just promise myself that I will excel in school.

"Oh bakit hindi ka pa umaalis? Akala ko ba late ka na." my mom complained again.

"Eto na po aalis na." I smiled and gave her a goodbye kiss before I head out.

Hindi naman ako late since one in the afternoon pa ang pasok ko, wala lang talaga ako mood para kumain o magtagal pa sa bahay. I put my airpod on habang naglalakad papuntang sakayan ng tricycle.

Beep beep beep- I checked my phone and saw a message from my best friend "saan ka na ba? kanina pa ako nakabihis bahala ka nga kita tayo na lang tayo sa 7/11." I smiled after reading his chat.

"Oo na boss Ivan." I typed and sent it.

"Ang init wala na atang igaganda ang pilipinas bukod sa walang kwentang gobyerno.'' Habang pinapayungan niya ako. Palagi naman niya itong ginagawa simula pa noong junior high school  kami. Well, were senior high school now and were taking science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Ivan is tall and has a fair skin- he also has dark eyes and a pair of slightly thick eyebrows kaya kung hindi mo siya kilala akala mo sinusungitan ka.

"Hinaan mo kaya yung boses mo, ang init na nga sumasabay pa yang bunganga mo." I rolled my eyes.

"Arte mo naman." As he rolled his eyes back. Im fighting the urge to kick his ass in the middle of the road.

"Aba iniirapan mo na rin ako, baka gusto mong hindi kita ilibre sa Jollibee mamayang dismissal.'' Sabi ko na may kasamang ngisi- I saw the shock and disappointment in his eyes. ''takot di malibre.'' I muttered in a low voice.

"Joke lang naman libre na lang kita sa ice coffee bago tayo pumasok sa school."

"Sure ba yan? kaso baka malate tayo." Tiningnan ko ang relo ko na binigay ni papa bago siya bumalik sa Saudi. Casio ang tatak nito at kulay white which is the part that I love the most. Naalala ko noong muntik ko ng maiwala ito dahil naiwan ko sa comfort room sa main campus ng university namin. Napangiwi ako ng maalala ko.

"Ayaw mo ba?" masungit na sabi niya.

"Wala akong sinasabi, saan ba?" I said. I mean sino ba naman ako para tumanggi sa blessing.

We ended up buying two large caramel mocha lattes. Actually, I really love iced coffee it feels like I can't survive a day if I don't drink atleast one mug of coffee a day. Palagi akong sinasaway ni mama dahil masama daw ito sakin lalo na at may hyper acidity ako but who cares? coffee is life, I mean mamatay ka rin naman.

"Cami tara na." Ivan said after he fetch our coffees at the counter. We left the coffee shop para makasakay na sa kami sa jeep.

"Bayad po dalawang estudyante deretcho bayan." Inabot ko ang benteng hawak ko.

"Binayad mo na ko?"

"hmmm." I mean nilibre niya ako ng ice coffee kaya dapat lang.

We arrived at school at exactly 12 pm in the afternoon. We still have one hour left until our first subject. Kinuha ko ang id ko para mag tap in.

"Punta lang ako library to return this." Sabi ko kay Ivan at ipinakita sakanya ang librong hawak ko. Tumango naman siya at inilagay ang bag niya sa arm chair niya. Since may sitting arrangement kami hindi kami magkatabi but atleast sa likod ko ang upuan niya.

As I was about to open the door I saw Ryle. He's the first person to break my heart. My first love.

I froze akala ko okay na ko hindi pala. Its been 2 months since I confessed to him and he rejected me. I told myself that's its fine because I wont fall for his friendliness and kindness again, that I wont waste another time liking a person who cant like me back. 

"Ryle, I really like you." I said to him with a low tone.

He paused and as he looked at me with pity in his eyes.

And I instantly knew, that I'm going to have my first heart break; after years of protecting and shielding myself from pain and not allowing myself to fall in love and when I finally stepped out of my comfort zone-- finally letting myself to ignore all the rules that I have build just to admire him, just to fancy him. And this is what I get. 

"I'm sorry." and he left me there in silence. 

I'm fighting the urge to look at him. He's tall, smart, at moreno and top of that he's a fucking dean lister. God knows how I like smart boys. 

But I'm not surprise that he didn't even glance at me for even one second. I saw how his eyes glistened when he saw Diana. Diana was his lover, She's petite and has a fair skin matalino din ito.  Lahat ng bagay na wala ako na sakanya na ata-- she's flawless and perfect while I'm trying too hard. I sighed as I realized that I'm letting my insecurity take over me again.

"Its okay Cami." I whispered to myself.

Hindi ko namalayan na nasa second floor na pala ako ng campus namin. I tapped my id to enter the library. I pouted my lips as I walks toward the the librarian to return the books that I borrowed weeks ago.