Lilies and Lullabies

XV. Unphotographed

Days became better, I got a chance to live normally in my mom and sister's life. Mama never treats me like I'm about to leave. Ganoon din si Silas. The sun that greets me every morning is bright and light, no more gloomy clouds. I am moving forward, but the trace that has been left is visible in every step. The days that pass are a sign that I'm leaving. 

“Bike tayo?” he asked me while we're strolling around the park we used to hang out at.

Nilibot ko ang tingin sa paligid, medyo mainit pa ang sinag ng araw kaya sinabi kong ‘wag muna. We stayed in front of the pond and watched the reflection of the sky in the water. Everyone's busy passing us by, as if some of them are chasing the time, while Silas and I were busy taking our precious time together by staring at the pond. 

We were listening to our favorite song through my earphones. We stayed quiet and only the music can be heard in our mind. Hindi ko alam ang tumatakbo sa isip ni Silas ngayon, pero alam kong kailangan niya pa ng oras para masabi sa akin na kaya na niya. 

I intertwined my fingers on his before resting my head on his shoulder. He sighed before putting his arms around my shoulder, he kissed the top of my head and caressed it. His gesture made my heart flutter, it eases my mind and heart that instead of overthinking, my demons were tamed.

“Silas, thank you.” 

He looked at me, “For?”

I smiled, “For talking to my Mama.”

He ruffles my hair and pinch my cheek, “It's the only thing I can do for my sungit.”

I rolled my eyes after hearing his first endearment to me. He used to call me sungit when we were just ‘friends’. 

“Ah, talaga, kulit?” I raised my brow and put emphasis on the last word I utter.

He laughed at my reaction. He must really love teasing me, I can see the silliness in his eyes and I love how it sparkles. We looked back to where we started. That serendipity… my most beautiful accident. That's when I laid my eyes on him. That night when I heard his voice behind me. That night where I felt familiarity that he'll be my lullaby. 

“I can still remember your pagsusungit to me, love!” he exclaimed as if he was excited to narrate how I rolled my eyes on him the first time we met.

“Paano kasi ang kulit mo!” ganti ko sa kanya, tuluyan na akong nadala ng tawa niya.

“Nope, I am not. You're just aloof and masungit.” he insisted, proving his point by using his hand gesture.

“I am not! You're just pakialamero.” ganti ko. 

“At least hindi ako nag-confess nang palihim gamit ang painting.” ganti niya kaya natameme na ako.

That painting he was referring to was the painting I made on the shore: Lilies and Lullabies. 

I painted that because I thought I could remove the building feelings in my heart when I realized that I'm starting to like him. Kailan niya lang nalaman ‘yon at ginagamit niyang pang-asar sa akin. I was ashamed of myself and not the fact that I liked him first. Who would've thought that painting someone you like would help you move on, right? Ako lang.

He chuckled and pinched my cheeks once again before he ran away. He went to the rental bikes and rented one just to ran away from me because he knew I'll take my revenge. Masama ang tingin ko sa kanya nang sumunod ako at nagrenta rin ng bisikleta. Nauna siyang mag-pedal kaysa sa akin kaya medyo naiwan ako. I tried to catch him but he was faster.

“As if you didn't confess using music, you cherry tomato!” I shouted.

He just laughed at me, lumingon pa siya sa akin para ipakita ang ngisi niya kaya mas sumama ang tingin ko sa kanya.