Memories Begin in Summer

Chapter 10: Maki

"Good morning, Maki!" Sid greeted me. I was in the living room-editing pictures, when he came.

"Good morning," I greeted him back before sipping on my coffee. I saw him placing a brown paper bag on the coffee table. "What's that?"

"Pandesal!" Sid answered as he sat next to me. "Sinipag mag-deliver si Sinag, e. Ayun, sinulit ko na! Minsan lang sipagin mag-deliver 'yung lokong 'yon, e!"

I nodded before returning my attention to my laptop. Tumayo naman si Sid at pumunta sa kusina namin.

He's really comfortable here, huh? I've never seen someone who casually walks into someone else's kitchen.

He came back holding two small plates and two spreads. One was the peanut butter that Mama bought in the market, while the other was cheese spread. Umupo ulit siya sa tabi ko at nilapag ang mga dala niya.

"Kumain ka na?" tanong niya.

I shook my head. I was too lazy to cook something, so I just made myself a coffee. Mag-isa lang naman ako.

Walang tao sa bahay ngayon dahil pumunta sa palengke si Lola. My mother accompanied her, while Yumi went to Sid's house to play with Bella.

Tinapat ni Sid ang tinapay sa bibig ko. "Kagat."

I bit the bread while my eyes were still fixed on the screen. I used my left hand to hold the bread "Thank you."

He didn't reply. Sid took another piece of bread before splitting it in half. He spread some peanut butter on the bread before eating it.

"Wow! 'Yan ba 'yung kuha mo?" Sid asked me with such amusement. Nakatingin na pala siya sa ginagawa ko.

I nodded. Sid's smile became wider. "Ang ganda! Parang picture noong '90s!"

I smiled a little. I love old pictures so much; that's why, old and analog film pictures became my inspiration whenever I take pictures. If I am not using my digital or film camera, I edit my pictures using filters that resemble one. It just gives my pictures a nostalgic vibe that makes me want to reminisce about my old memories.

I switched my tab to show Sid some pictures that I already finished editing. Most of them were the images I took around our area.

"Huy, ang ganda! Ang galing mo talaga, Maki!" Sid exclaimed.

I felt satisfied. I took a sip of my coffee to stifle my smile.

"You like it?" I asked him, trying my best not to sound excited.

"Super! Alam mo, feeling ko madaming magkakagusto sa mga litrato mo!" masaya niyang sabi.

I cleared my throat before shrugging my shoulders. "I don't expect anything, though."

Whenever I'm doing something, especially when it's related to my craft, I try my best not to expect gaining so much attention. I don't want to determine my pictures' worth based on the likes and attention given by the public. Ayokong gawin ang isang bagay para lang sumikat. I want people to love my works because of my sincerity, and not because of my thirst for social media validation.