Characters:
Amber
Max (intersex)
Warning: Mature Content
The following content contains mature themes and may not be suitable for all audiences. Viewer discretion is advised.
This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely for inspiration. It is up to the reader to interpret whether these events are part of an alternate universe or not.
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Amber woke up at 1:00 AM to prepare for her marathon. After taking a shower, she got dressed for the event, wearing her running vest to stay hydrated. She applied sunscreen, knowing it would take hours to finish the marathon, and put on her visor after tying her hair into a ponytail.
Once ready, Amber walked to the venue, having checked into a nearby hotel. It was still dark outside, but the start line was already bustling with runners. As she scanned the crowd, her eyes landed on someone—a red-haired girl holding a camera.
Ang poganda naman ng photographer na 'to. Makapagpacute nga mamaya, Amber thought with a mischievous smile.
She did some warm-up exercises before the gun start, excited for the marathon she had been training for over the past months.
As Amber started running at a steady pace, she kept glancing around for photographers, hoping to spot the red-haired girl again. When she reached the 2km mark, there she was. Amber spotted the sign "Max Photography" and flashed a smile at the camera.
Max took several photos of the runner with the long hair and angelic smile, completely focused on her subject, barely noticing the other runners passing by.
Max's heart raced, as if she was the one running the marathon. She felt a bit disappointed, knowing the route and that she wouldn't see the beautiful runner again until near the finish line. Marathons usually took 3 to 6 hours, but based on the runner's fitness, Max guessed she'd see her in about 3 or 4 hours.
Amber approached the 5km mark, and to her surprise, she saw Max again, making her already tired heart race even more. She smiled again, and Max, smiling back, captured as many photos as she could.
Max hurried to find shortcuts, hoping to catch more glimpses of the runner.
At the 10km mark, Amber saw Max again. Feeling winded, she decided to rest near the photographer's spot.
After hydrating, she walked over to Max.
Shit, shit, shit. Act cool, Max thought to herself.
"Hmm... first time kong makakita ng photographer na palipat-lipat ng lugar," Amber commented casually.
"More photos, the better," Max replied with a smile.
Amber nodded and started running again, while Max facepalmed internally. Di ko man lang natanong pangalan niya!
As Amber neared the 15km mark, Max spotted her from afar and eagerly snapped more photos.
When Amber reached Max, she slowed down and whispered, "Kahit wala kang hawak na camera, feel ko mapapangiti mo pa rin ako."
Max froze at Amber's words, stunned, once again missing her chance to ask for her name.
At the 32km mark, Max was already exhausted, having run around more than usual to change spots for photos. As she jogged near the sidewalk to find a place without other photographers out of respect, she stepped on a stone and twisted her ankle.
