Mon Soleil

3.

"Hey, Charles?"

"Hmm?" Charles hands were gripping the steering wheel as he drove past the buildings, focused on getting us to our destination safely. I hesitated to ask since I didn't want to be a bother, but the thought of going to a picturesque landscape and not bringing a camera with me was quite bothering my mind. "Come on, what is it?" He gently asked again.

"I was thinking of going back to the apartment for a bit to get my camera. I really wanted to take pictures earlier but couldn't and it would be a shame not to snap a few shots," I looked at him for a bit and settled back my gaze on my hands on the top of my lap, "but if it's out of the way, it's fine. It would be a bother to just go back for one small thing."

He continued driving as I anxiously waited for a reply when he suddenly turned the car and shifted on his seat to look at my direction and give me a small smile. "Didn't think you would ask. I wanted to bring mine, too. We can take pictures together." 

My smile couldn't get any wider. "That's great. I'm excited to see the photos you'll get."

"Not as excited as I am to see yours. I bet they look excellent."

I blushed a bit by that compliment. Nothing ever beats someone acknowledging my hobby as I am quite proud of what I do for fun. While I love posing for the camera surrounded with big lights and being captured by others, there's a different sense of control I feel whenever I have my camera in my hands. I am able to get the photos to look exactly how I want it too with a few tweaks and turns of my lenses. I love experimenting with different elements and subjects in order to get that perfect shot. I am in authority of my own captures with the power of my camera. 

It took a few more minutes to drive back to the apartment. Charles' song choice for the drive back was Adele's Someone Like You. He mentioned he likes songs of the same genre and listens to them a lot. He refers to them as his 'hype' songs. I have got no clue on how he gets hyped with songs like those, but I am in no place to judge. I noted that there is a possibility that his job was so hectic that it was probably driving him into a point of unbearable low spirits that he takes refuge in songs that reflected his current state of mind. Or was it so hectic that he prefers slower songs to contrast the frantic workload and work schedule?

As soon as he parked the car, I quickly grabbed the door and opened it, wasting no time as I made my way to the elevator. Charles was swift to catch on with me just before the elevator doors closed as it went up. 

"You're so fast," he stopped to catch his breath for a brief moment, "why the rush?"

"Sorry. Am I too excited?"

He let out a smile as he replied, "Being enthusiastic isn't a bad thing." 

The elevator doors opened as he continued to speak, "Especially if you're enthusiastic to go somewhere with me."

"I admire the confidence, Charles, but I'm talking about photography."

"And me, of course." he says with full confidence.

Giving up, I sighed in defeat and sarcastically answered while nodding my head, "Yes, yes, this is all about you."