1......2.....3 SMILE

PART 2

I accidentally stepped into a stone and stumbled on the ground. I rose softly, patting my polo and slacks to remove the dirt that defiled it. I sighed. I lifted my head, next, I found myself standing 10 feet away from a large botanical garden. I was surprised by the view because I don’t even know such orchard exist in the school.

Unlike other estate in the school, this botanical garden is simple adorned and it seemed alone and isolated from the other splendid estate in the school- an absolutereminder of myself. By the stillness and peace of the place, I could infer that no one goes here. Perfect. I just found myself a haven!

Clueless of what it would be like indoors, I took little steps and went inside the enclosed botanical garden. Next thing I knew, my mouth was wide open out of amazement of the wonder I was witnessing on the place. The beauty of the landscape was so stunning!Plants and stones are aesthetically arranged to perfection. At the middle of the floras of different colors was a magnificent fountain that spurts water gracefully. It perfectly complemented the plot. As I glance over the place, I felt an unexplainable delight and lenience. Even the place is enclosed, there are butterflies hovering on the top of the flowers! West Ridge is really fabulous. This place is one of the proofs. But I wonder why no one comes here when it is so cozy in here and the ambiance is so perfect!

Feeling exhausted and tearful, I sat on the set of squared table placed facing at the fountain. The silence of the place worsens my melancholy. I feel my emotion pouring. Spreading like the liquid squirted by the fountain. I drop my bag on the table including my camera that has been hanging on my neck since the day I went out of my house. I wrapped my eyes with my arms and started to loosen up the strong feeling I’ve long been keeping. I put my face on the table and cried.

A shutter of a camera brought my senses back to reality. Startled, I raised my head and saw a girl student standing in front of me, holding my camera in the level of her eyes.

“What the-” I exclaimed.  All of the sudden, my strong emotion was replaced with annoyance. I really hate it when someone holds my dear camera. I stood up as fast as I could,trying to reach for it. “No one dares to touch my camera, give that back to me!” I was like a stupid lamb that turned into a fierce lion.

“woah!” she gnarled; Instead of giving me my camera she stepped backward as a sign of refusal and that caught me off-guard. I tried to compose myself but my impatience made me fail to do so.

“You are so kill joy! I’m just borrowing it” she exhaled. “Besides, I know photography; I am a buff like you too. Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing” she proclaimed.

“Then I guess you know that what you are doing is not right. Using somebody else’s camera without even asking permission?” I rolled my eyes, “and if you really are a buff, you surely have a camera of your own! Why don’t you use it instead and get rid of my Carla?”

“your…what?”

I felt embarrassment but I dared to utter: “Carla… my camera… I named it Carla”

Suddenly, she burst in to laughter. I know why she laughed and it pissed me off.I'm lame and corny all right!

“So what if I named my cam Carla?!” I stated impatiently.

It took her a really hard choke before she had finally gotten-over her laugh.

“Nothing, I just find it-”

“STUPID?”

“uhm… no, not really. It is kind a cute actually. You are the first male I have known naming his camera.” She showed a charming smile on his lips.

Was that a compliment or an insult?

“Whatever! Just give my Carla back.” I extended my arms to snatch my camera, but then again, she managed to maneuver her body away.

“You know what? Relax! I am not, as if, going to destroy your camera!”she now sounded angry. Then, she hanged my camera on her neck and put her arms on the sides of her waist. “And by the way, what’s with the attitude? Seriously, it is so disagreeable!”

I was struck. I realized how fretful I sounded. I felt like my tongue crippled out of shame. It surely has been delivering words peevishly.