On The Brink of Rainbow (Sign Series #1)

Kabanata 1

Kabanata 1

Apprentice

"Who captured this picture?" I asked the girl beside me.

I can still vividly remember how I started admiring Zamiro. It was the first day of school. I was in grade nine when I noticed a picture of people, waiting to cross the road. To be honest, there was nothing special about it. But if you keep looking, you will notice every little detail.

First, you will notice a man trying to cross the road despite the red light. Then a traffic officer tried to chase him but he slipped. And a young boy laughing at the officer while in the arms of his father with a tired face. A bored teenager looking at his phone, unaware of happenings. Then a man in a suit looking at his wristwatch, looking impatient. Lastly, an old with a crane and holding a flower while smelling it, smiling.

It was just a picture taken out of nowhere but that moment, tells a lot of different stories. Like how everyone is different. Or the cycle of a man stages. Or simply humans being human beings.  I don't know but it caught my attention and for some reason, I need to know who captured this picture.

"'Yan 'te, oh. Nakalagay naman," the girl student answered.

I chuckled. I didn't notice the name below of the picture because I'm too busy looking at it. May mga nakalagay pala roon na credit names ng bawat larawan.

Zamiro Alwyn Cariazo. It says.

"Zamiro..." I tried to pronounce the photographer's name with my lips.

It's so beautiful that I almost thought it was painted. Kung hindi ko pa nakita 'yong word na photos sa gallery wall, I will really think it was painted. Kasama rin sa gallery wall ang iba't-ibang larawan. Tulad ng mga nanalo sa mga important events, skies, students in the crowd of school grounds, infrastructure, seas and oceans, cats, garden, people helping each other, and many more.

Maraming magagandang larawan doon pero isa lang ang nakakuha ng atensyon ko.

"Bago ka ba rito? Ngayon lang 'ata kita nakita," tanong ng babae.

Nilingon ko siya. Natigilan ako because she looks so pretty and angelic. She has fair skin with long wavy brown hair. Mas matangkad lang ako sa kaniya ng kaonti. I smiled before I answered her.

"Yes. I'm a transferee."

"Sabi na, e. Kabisado ko na mukha ng mga impakta at impakto rito. At wala ka sa list na 'yon," she said in a boyish tone, quite the opposite of her look. "I'm Kaja, by the way."

Natawa ako. I nodded then introduced myself. "Rian. Nice to meet you, Kaja."

"Spokening dollars talaga. Alam mo na ba section mo?"

"Yes kaso hindi ko naman alam kung saan ang room. I'm nine-durian."

"Oh, mabaho ka rin pala! Classmate tayo," masaya niyang wika. "Sabay na tayo pumasok. Alam ko saan."

I laughed at her enthusiasm even though I'm still a bit awkward. We started walking. Kahit ngayon pa lang kami nagkakilala ni Kaja, sobrang daldal niya.

"Saan ka pala galing? I mean, saan school mo dati? Ba't ka lumipat?" sundo sunod niyang tanong.

Hindi ko naman siya agad masagot. Napansin naman niya iyon.