Chapter 15
It was one for the books.
I never thought in a million years I would spend summer like this. With someone who appreciates life so much and the beauty of it. I'm so lucky I've got to know her and shared all these moments with her. If I could live in another lifetime, I'd love to live it with Synestine over and over again.
"What do you want for a drink?" I asked Sy.
"Can I get some fruit tea?" she said. "If they've got passion fruit tea, I would love to have it! Pero kung wala naman, I think an orange juice would be fine. . . I don't like drinking coffee now."
"Sure! I will check in on that for you. What about your meal?"
"Anything available," she said. "Pick one for me, Mister de Amos."
I chuckled. "Alright, Miss de Amos. . ." Her eyes widened when I told her that and I laughed it off. "I'm just kidding. I'll be back," I said, grinning then turned around walking away from her.
I didn't know what I was thinking and why I said that to her. She must be weirded out by it. Sana isipin niyang nagjo-joke lang ako at sana hindi niya seryosohin 'yon. I lined up to get our orders and waited for them to serve them to us. I got what she asked, good thing they have it available today, or else Synestine would become a monster out of nowhere.
As I went back to her holding two cups of drinks and some chips, I stood behind her as she was painting the scenery of the butterfly meadows in front of us. Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na marami pa siyang kayang gawin. She kept on surprising me and I loved every moment of it. Is there anything she can't do? I highly doubt it.
If there's someone I would like to be with, it would be the one who likes to paint and brought me on a spontaneous trip out of town. I guess, this would be an easy guess after all.
"That's beautiful," I commented.
Mabilis niyang inangat ang ulo niya at nilingon ako sa likuran niya. I noticed how she startled a little upon showing up behind her back. Natawa na lamang siya nang bahagya.
"You almost killed me to death, Cho," aniya sabay hagikgik.
"Nah. I don't want that to happen," I said. "Here's your request, Madame. Just like you said, a passion fruit tea. . . And oh, they've got a pain au chocolat. They said it was their special pastry for today so I thought I shouldn't get it for you since you make this trip special for me."
"Well, you're welcome, Mister de Amos. I couldn't thank you enough as well, alam mo na 'yan. . ."
I smiled. "So. . . How long do you think will you finish painting it all?"
"Hm. . ." she hummed. "I don't have an idea because drawing on a big canvas like this could take much time. I could continue it back home. This beauty has already made a deep mark on my mind so I won't ever forget it."
"Kahit na kung ilang petals meron ang isang bulalak do'n?" pagturo ko pa sa fields.
Confident naman siyang tumango sa akin. "Yes! I remember it all."
I chuckled. "Bilib na ako, Sy. Could you also picture our future together?"
She raised her brow upon my question. "Bakit gusto mo ba?"
I scoffed. "Well, ikaw ang bahala."
"Alright. . . Just wait for it and you'll know it by the end of this trip."
We went into the Butterfly Meadows around eight in the morning, just after we had a quick breakfast at the hotel. Mas minabuti naming pumunta rito ng maaga dahil wala pa gaanong tao sa paligid at tahimik pa. Nagpaalam pa si Synestine sa staff kung pwede ba niyang ipuwesto ang painting set niya at pumayag naman sila. Excited din sila na makita kung anong kalalabasan ng painting nito.
