That Summer When She Cried

Jeric Fortuna

If a picture paints a thousand words, her camera shots painted our future together.

-Forts

--

"Hindi nyo na ako tinantanan ni Pamela!"

I took my phone away from my ears. It was 9 in the morning and I fell asleep just two hours ago. Sinamahan ko kasi si Pam na magpicture taking sa Tagaytay overnight. I drove for us kahit na pinilit nya akong mag-bus na lang kami. I was so tired and this is what I get after all the tiredness.

"Forts!" the one calling shouted again. "Kung saan saan nyo na naman pinagdidikit picture ko! Nakakadalawa na si Ella! Yung isa nasa Taguig, yung isa nasa Tagaytay!"

I didn't answer and just kept the answers in my mind.

Pasay, Pasig, Marikina.

"Jeric Marco Fortuna! Saan nyo pa pinaglalagay ni Pam yung picture ko?!" he shouted.

"Sino to?" I asked in my grumpiest and sleepiest voice. Sa totoo lang, hindi ko naman alam sino kausap ko. Basta nadinig ko lang nagring yung phone ko kaya sinagot ko.

"Si Aljon to! Ano ba Kap, sagutin mo naman tinatanong ko!"

"Ano bang - " I asked him but then I was too tired I still fell asleep in the middle of our conversation. Bukas na lang kami maguusap. Bukas na din ako gigising.

When I woke up, I have missed 30 calls and 40 messages. Nagulat na lang ako dahil ganun na pala kadami yung di ko nasagot! Ganun ako kaantok at kapagod. I got eight calls from Aljon, five from Teng, two from Kevin, two from Kim, three from Paulo. With the forty messages, half of it was a repeatedly sent message from Mariano, five from Teng, five from Kim, two from Kev, three from Karim, four from Paulo, and one from Pam.

Lahat naman sila isa lang ang sabi. Sagutin ko daw tinatanong ni Aljon while Pam said good morning and thank you.

I stretched a bit and saw that it was past ten in the evening. I've been asleep for more than 12 hours. I shot a reply to Pam.

Late dinner? I'll be there in thirty minutes the most.

That was how I made my move. Paspasan. Totoo nga yung sinabi nila. Hindi ko na tinigilan si Pam after Tata's wedding. Pinupuntahan ko sya sa events na kung saan photographer sya. Madalas na hindi nya ako napapansin dahil busy sya kaya ang lakas ng impact pag bigla nya akong nakikita na pagkatapos ng event, nandun pa din ako, naghihintay.

A day after Kevin left, I went to see a movie with her sa Bonifacio High Street. She was game and so we bought tickets for a high-profiled movie. It was a romantic one and we really had a good night together.

I sent her home and I don't know, something inside me made me feel like kissing her. She was about to go inside their home but I pulled her back and did it. I felt her stiffen then pushed me away.

"Just go home, Forts," she said, sounding not interested.

I was surprised with her reaction. I thought we were okay and that she felt the same. But then, it turns out those smart moves I made weren't really smart after all.

--

"Bye Chicky!" I waved my bestfriend goodbye while running out of her house.

It was a Monday, a few days after the UST graduation, and I had a small job stint to do for my cousin's debut. I spent Sunday night with her with loads of chips and sodas over a very long conversation.

Hindi naman ako yung official photographer sa debut ng pinsan ko pero being a cameraholic, I wanted to capture a lot of moments during their rehearsals. Wala ng pasok pero hindi pa din nawala ang traffic.