You Captured Me

Chapter 3

"Lumi!" Napatingin ako kay Ashley na tumawag sa akin. She motioned her head demanding me to go to shore while discreetly smiling at me with a tease.

"Balik na ko sa kanila," paalam ko. He nodded.

"Babalik na rin ako sa hotel at mag-iimpake na rin."

"Ingat ka sa flight. Kita na lang tayo sa school."

"Yeah. See you around."

Panay asar ang bumungad sa akin pagbalik ko sa kanila. Nagligpit na kami ng gamit at bumalik sa hotel para magpalit ng damit. I was wearing an off shoulder floral dress paired with my white striped sandals. Nandito kami ngayon sa isang café malapit lamang sa hotel namin at hanggang ngayon ang pag-uusap namin ni Aiden sa beach ang pinag-uusapan pa rin nila.

"On the road to jowa town na ba?" tanong ni Trina. She was wiggling her eyebrows at me.

"Girlfriend niya nga yung nakita natin, Trina," or something.

"Weh? Sinabi niya?" she raised her eyebrows as if she wouldn't be convinced of my answer. I shook my head.

"Hindi. Pero malay mo baka ayaw niya lang sabihin or baka 'di pa official."

She sighed. "Tingnan mo. Nag-aassume ka agad eh. As long as hindi niya sinasabi, meaning wala siyang hinaharot," she concluded.

"Well, 'di rin natin masasabi," ani Winter. "Alam mo namang sikat yun sa school. He might say that it's not his girlfriend, pero that doesn't mean na wala siyang hinaharot."

Napakunot ang noo ni Trina habang iniikot-ikot ang metal straw niya sa kanyang iced coffee.

"Alam niyo, ang nega niyo. Judgemental niyo pa. Kung meron man siyang nilalandi, edi sana kalat na yun diba? Dapat may chika na rin ako sa inyo nun."

Winter and Ashley nodded their heads, agreeing to Trina's point.

"Oo nga naman. Eh kaibigan natin tong pambansang chismosa so dapat alam na natin yun," ani Ashley na natatawa.

Napailing na lang ako. I just sipped my frappucino as we continued our conversations.

We finished the rest of our weekend getaway with touring the famous spots in Cebu. As much fun as it was to stroll and take a break, we knew that we are going to be presented with various school works once we got back. Even the thought of it just stresses me out. At ayun nga, pagbalik ng klase ay iba't ibang shoots and edits ang kailangan kong gawin. From perspective shots, portrait shots, and more. Ilang pag-convince na lang sa sarili na kakayanin para matapos ko lahat.

I was sitting in the library with my laptop in front of me trying to edit some photographs I just took. Inaadjust ko ang contrast at ang curves nito while also eliminating the unnecessary objects na hindi kailangan sa shot. I knew that post-production of pictures were harder to do than taking the actual photograph, but I never expected it to be this time-consuming. Halos isang oras na ang ginugol ko para rito. I was so focused on my work na hindi ko napansin ang pag-upo ng isang student sa harapan ko kung hindi niya pa ako tinawag.

"Amavi."

My hand on the mouse suddenly moves a little. Hala! Nabura ko yung paa nung nasa picture. I pressed the undo button quickly. Napatingin ako sa kanya.

"Oh, Aiden. H-hi," I greeted.

He smiled at me. He was wearing simple blue jeans and faded black shirt. Nakalagay ang bag niya sa katabing upuan at ang dalang libro niya naman ay pinatong niya sa table.

"Am I disturbing you?"

"Ah, hindi. Malapit naman na ako matapos."

"I'll just let you finish first."