Change [Ricci Rivero, Completed]

Kabanata XXX

It was finally Ricci's turn and yeeep, as expected, he's such a natural infront of the camera. "Ricci, smile more!" kanchaw ni Marie habang chinecheer up siya ng mga kasama namin.

He tried to fake a smile and I can't help but roll my eyes. Ano ba 'to, sino bang nagnakaw ng ngiti nito, pakihanap nga! "Ricci, we love you, as in" sigaw ni Brent ng pabakla which made him roll his eyes at him. They started to laugh and think about topics na pwedeng makapagpangiti sa kanya.

"Ano bang laging nginingitian nito bukod sayo Alex?" bulong na tanong sakin ni Aljun na sumimple sakin. I was just randomly taking photos of him at the moment. "Siraulo." tugon ko at hindi siya pinansin. Hindi parin genuine yung smile na pinapakita niya. Medyo napikon na ako kaya I stopped taking photos. "What's wrong?" asked Donny who noticed. "Tell Marie to ask Brent to sing yung kanta kay Seve. Yung chumby song. It makes him laugh so much."

"Really?" asked Donny. I smiled and agreed then pumunta na siya dun to tell Marie. Brent and the others looked at me and I signaled them to do it.

I remember noon, that chant made him cry sa kakatawa. Pinakinggan kasi namin while in a coffee shop eh ayun, pinaulit-ulit niya kahit nahulasan na ako at wala nang maitawa pa, tinatawanan niya parin.

I looked a him beyond the camera lens and damn, his smile's so bright but parang may kulang parin . "Ilap ng ngiti ng mahal ko ah." I whispered to myself again, like I was talking to him. "Naging ganyan na yan simula nung nawala kayo." bulong ni Prince na nasa likuran ko, nanunuod parin. "Things happen for a reason, Ahia. Don't be sad about it anymore." I smiled at him instead and tapped his back while siya naman, umakbay sa akin.

"Uhm, Alex, one favor.." After a few more shots, I noticed everything came to a halt and Marie was in front of me na. "If you don't mind, pwede ba kayong magkaportrait ni Ricci? I promise, it would be quick and only a few shots lang!" she rushed, explaining sa akin what she wants us to do  "Marie..."  I said with that "come on" tone. "Pleaaase! I know I owe you one pero please, for me? After this, I promise, shots mo nalang!"

I thinked twice, oo. Hindi ko alam kung tama ba 'tong gagawin ko pero sabagay, okay lang naman kasi talaga sa akin. "Sige na nga. W-what about Ricci?" I asked again, this time, I looked down and fidgeted. "Okay lang naman sayo Cci diba?" Marie asked in behalf of me. Nalaman ko nalang ang sagot ko when they all exclaimed his answer. "Ayan! Thank you! Professional tayo dito ha!" Marie joked and dinala na ako sa tabi ni Ricci.

"So what do you want us to do?" tanong ko with bravery sa tono ko. I sat beside him and our arms touched, it has really been a while. Nakuryente ako the moment na nagkaron ng contact and lumayo siya ng konti for us not have that again. "Magkabalikan kayo, kaya ba?" tanong ni Brent ng inosente at nung narealize niya yung sinabi niya, nagulat siya at nagtago.

Hindi na ako umibo at pinansin ang sinabi niya. Pinaghahampas ng Green Archers si Brent na has always been clumsy kapag kasama kami. I can't blame him din naman, siya talaga kasama namin kasi noon lagi and bridge namin sa isa't isa ni Ricci.

"Anong gagawin namin?" tanong ni Ricci with his normal plain tone. "You don't have to do anything, really. Just be yourselves around each other. Tell me lang if hindi talaga pwede, ayoko namang may mahurt pa ha?" Marie said as she waits for our response. "Okay lang. P-pano ba?" tanong ni Ricci and finally..... he fucking broke a smile. Pumikit ako ng maigting at ngumiti ng simple lang.

"SHEEEEET! GAME NA! Gandahan mo, Marie ah! Tas send mo samin, tas send namin sa kanila---" sigaw ni Brent but Andrei immediately stopped him. "Go na, as you are!" he smiled and nahiya na kami sa isa't isa. Unti-unting humupa ulit ang lahat and Donny suggested na magkwentuhan nalang ang lahat para kahit paano, makita kung paano kami around each other.