Loving You

Special Chapter I

PETER

I was busy fixing my camera onto its stand. Naninigurado lang ako na maayos naming magagamit ang camera para sa shoot na gagawin mamaya. It'll be hard if we face camera failures later.

As soon as Carmen stepped into the living room, I averted my gaze from the breathtaking person who stopped in front of me. Sa taranta'y pinili ko na lang kalikutin ang camera kahit na tapos na ako.

Matapos kumalma ay nagawa ko na siyang tignan. "Let's go?" tanong ko. She nodded but looked upset. Carmen, kung iniisip mo kung bakit hindi kita pinuri, ewan ko. Baka mautal lang ako.

We went outside because it was nice to shoot there and she wanted me to use the beach house as her background which looked good. Umalon ang mahaba nitong buhok kaupo niya sa silyang nakuha niya sa malapit. She fixed herself and faced the camera after.

I have this script that she made with me containing the flow of her documentary along with some instructions she wrote for me to follow. "On the count of 3. 1...2...3!" sambit ko habang binabasa ang script.

She smiled brightly like the how the sun shines during the day. Ang mga ngiti niya...well, nakakatunaw. It was so pure, so innocent, so simple yet she managed to get m―

"Uhm, Peter? I think you're supposed to say your line," nakatagilid ang ulo nitong tumingin sa akin na may kunot sa kaniyang noo.

I apologized and pressed the record button again. I held the script properly when it started recording. "Please state your name and tell me something about yourself." I read out loud enough to make it seem that I was asking her.

She smiled again and cheerfully introduced herself, "I'm Carmen Halyia Perez, but I'm fine with Carmen. I'm the daughter of two well-known businessman and woman, Arthal Perez and Cianelle Madriano-Perez."

It was my first time hearing her full name. Her name is common but what made it unique is how she makes it seem as if she owns the name. Na kapag may nakita kang babaeng Carmen ang pangalan ay wala lang. Pero kapag sa kaniya...ang gandang pakinggan.

Her father, Arthur "Arthal" Lejaro Perez, is well-known in the business field because her mother, Elena Lejaro, established Lejaro Foundation and Lejaro Housings, Inc. Ang LHI ay isa sa mga kompanyang nagpabahay sa mga mahihirap at tinuruan ang mga itong mangisda. Sila ay pinatira ng libre sa tabing-dagat ng Paraíso, isa sa mga resort na ipinatayo nila. He never gains money from them. Ang mga donasyon mula sa iba't ibang kompanya ang pangunahing pinagkukuhanan nila ng pera.

To give more opportunities, they gave job to Mang Ano's brother, that's why he is the one attending to the tourists needs. Isa pa'y binili ni Sir Arthal ang beach house kahit na siya ang nagpagawa noon. Ang pera ay ibinigay niyang upang paghati-hatian ng mga mangingisdang binahayan niya, kasama na ang pamilya ni Mang Canor.

Her mother, Cianelle Madriano-Perez, is also known for establishing Madriano. It is a fashion company that mainly produces and sells clothes and perfumes. According to their website, ¼ of their Net Profit goes to the LHI Foundation. Only ¼ of their profit is already 6 digits. The money is spent to provide foods for the street children and payment for those who volunteered to teach the children. Ang sabi pa nga'y hindi nila iyon tinatawag na "profit" dahil tingin nila'y bumabalik lang sa kanila ang ibinibigay nila.