Hue in my Photograph (Hue Series #4)

Hue #22

Hue #22

Mirn’s POV

“Come on, Mere. Are you really going to do this?” Gavion sulked as he stared at me from the other corner of the room while he sat on his wheelchair on the opposite side.

“What?” I shrugged. “I told you. You’ll only get to kiss me and hold me if you walk towards me without any help—except for your cane, of course.”

“Mere… you’re making it hard for me.” He sighed.

“So, you’re giving up now?” I asked, hands on my waist. “I thought you were up for a challenge… and I’m serious about standing 20 feet away from you every time we meet, so you have no other choice but to walk to me… if you want that hug and kiss.” 

“Fine…” 

Natawa ako kasi hindi na maipinta ang mukha niya. Mga tatlong araw na rin kasi akong hindi lumalapit sa kanya para yakapin tapos halikan siya. I just want to motivate him—well, torture him? Ganoon na nga siguro lalo na’t ramdam ko na parang pasuko na siya.

He didn’t tell me but I heard him crying at night after the doctor told him that it would take time for his right foot to regain mobility. His left foot so far is doing good but his right foot, talagang hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin talaga ito okay. Nasa 10% mobility naman na pero mukhang matatagalan pa nga. Hindi naman kami nagmamadali pero siguro iniisip ni Gavion na baka hindi na talaga siya makabalik sa race. 

“What? Why are you being grumpy? Ayaw mo ba ng kiss ko?” I swayed my hips to tease him tapos nakita ko na namumula na siya.

“Silly… you make me want to run to you now.”

“Well, then, run.” I grinned.

“Meredith,” he said in a warning tone. “Lagot ka talaga sa akin kapag nakalakad ako nang maayos.”

I chuckled. “I really like your tagalog accent. Ang cute pa rin.”

He rolled his eyes. “I know right. Magsasalita na ako ng tagalog palagi.” Medyo bulol na sabi niya kaya mas natawa ako.

Sakto naman na dumating na ang therapist niya kaya nagsimula na silang mag-usap. Nakatayo pa rin ako roon sa may dulo habang pinapanood siya. 

I set up cameras on both sides of the room to record him… and his progress. It took me days before I finally told myself that it was okay to start recording again—it was okay to film Gavion and Gabby, to film myself again. I didn’t want that scandal to have any more power over me. I didn’t want Mealor to see that it had broken me. It had—but why should I show that to him? I am slowly healing… and I could never truly hate cameras, photographs, videos, and films—even though they once destroyed me. In a way, they’re also what makes me feel alive.

We never know what the future holds, so I want to capture all the memories I can, to look back on when I’m old. That’s the true beauty of photographs.

“Oops!” I reacted when Gavion fell down. Nasalo naman siya agad ng therapist. I fought the urge to actually run to him. 

Inisip ko na lang na pinapatay ko si Mealor sa utak ko. Good news is he was officially removed from F1 race and he still facing the law for all the harassment that he had done. He probably won’t get away with it lalo na’t lumantad na ang dalawa sa ni-rape niyang menor de edad. I really hope he would be sent to jail. Nakakasuka siya.