three

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Elizabeth

Both of us got hungry and exhausted. We are gasping for air as we sat on a long wooden bench beside a store, waiting for our ordered foods. I stretched my legs and arms to feel alive for I overused them earlier that's why I need a stretch. I also wiped my sweat with my hanky and tied my hair properly.

"You made us hungry." He said between breathing.

"Atleast we enjoyed." Sabi ko naman. Tinawag na kami ni ale para kunin na'min ang inorder na'min. He ordered some barbecue and kwek-kwek, while I ordered some fresh fruits with condense as its sauce.

I was about to stand up to get my food when he stopped me.

"I'll get it." He offered. Ngumuso na lang ako't tumango. He carefully placed the foods between us, as well as the two bottled water. Before he could get a stick of barbeque, I stopped him and it made him confused. I took my phone out from my bag and took a picture of it.

"Documentary." I uttered to stop his confusion. Napa-iling na lang siya't napatawa sa'kin. After the shot, I gave him a thumbs up sign to make him know it's now okay to eat.

"Where are we going next?" He asked while munching his food. I raised my brows as I dip the fresh triangular shaped watermelon slice on the condense.

Saan nga ba? Ah!

"Do you know some printing services here?" I asked. He looked up and scratched his temple, thinking.

"I think I do." He answered. Pumalakpak ako sa kaniya.

"Great, we'll go there. If it's okay with you." I said and ate the whole slice of watermelon.

"Wherever you go."

"Really? So if I'll go to hell you'll come with me?" I joked and chuckled.

"Why are you going to hell. As if you suites there." I raised my brow and gave him an amused look.

"You think I don't suit there?"

"My instinct says."

After eating, since I don't want to waste more time, niyaya ko na kaagad siyang umalis. I glanced at my phone's clock and it's already 3 in the noon.

Time's really a flash.

As we walked in a fascinating street, I can't stop myself from taking pictures with anything that mesmerizes my eyes. Mas nauna siya sa'kin dahil medyo binabagalan ko ang lakad ko upang maayos kong makuhanan ang mga bagay.

He glanced on me and gave me a polite smile. In return, I smiled at him too. When he already turned his back on me, I secretly captured him. Tinignan ko naman ang kuha ko.

"Pasado na." I whispered.

"We're here." Hindi ko din naman namalayan na andito na pala kami. We went inside in a small establishment consisting a rock vibes inside. I looked at the surrounding and there's a lot of posters, pictures with nice photography skills, and some random stuffs pasted and hang in the wall.

"Good morning, how may I help you?" A girl with a mini cloud tattoo on his shoulder then appeared.

"Hi, may ipapa-print lang sana." I said and went near her. I transferred the pictures I want to print and gave her some instructions. The size, the paper going to be used and all.

I and him sat on the chair and waited for it.

"What are those for?" He asked. He leaned on the chair and rested both of his arms on the chairs head. Umabot nga ang kaniyang kaliwang kamay sa upuan ko kaya mukha tuloy siyang naka-akbay sa'kin.

"Memories." I replied.

The place sells art materials so I bought some too.

"Thanks for coming!" The girl happily said and waved to us. I just smiled at her before living.

"You told me you're clueless with this place? Where will you sleep?" He asked between the walk.
Now, I don't know where we will be going.

"I booked in a hotel." He nodded as his lips slightly parted.

"What hotel?"

"Sanrios, room 143." He chuckled with my answer.

"Why?" I asked. Umiling na lamang siya.

We just strolled anywhere. Nakasunod lang ako sa kaniya kung saan siya lumiliko at pumapasok. Tumigil din kami sa isang clothes shop para bumili ng damit ko at damit niya. When the night came, I already felt tired. I and him sat in a waiting shed , waiting for a taxi.

"You have a home here?" He shook his head. I confusedly looked at him.

"Don't worry I booked a hotel like you too." He added before I could speak. I saw how he raised his arms and moved his hands up and down, parang pumapara.

"You should go now." He said. Suddenly, a taxi stopped in front of us.

"Hindi ka pa uuwi?"

"Nope. May pupuntahan pa ako."

"I see. Sige alis na'ko." I stood up and smiled at him. The taxi's already waiting so I need to be quick. He nodded at me and I already turned my back. Before I could totally open the door, he called so it made me stop.

"Ano?" I asked. May kinapa siya sa bulsa niya at agad lumabas don ang cellphone niyang Iphone.

"Can I have your number?" I can't help but to chuckle when he looked so shy saying those words. I offered my palm and it made his expression lightened.

I don't know why, but this thoughts suddenly popped up in my head.

'Are we still about to meet tomorrow?'

'Aabutan pa ba ako ng bukas?'

I shrugged and quickly typed my phone number and then gave it back to him.

"Thanks for the day. Bye."

* * *

I rub the rough textured towel against my wet hair as I marched towards the scattered art materials and printed pictures on the cold tile floor. I'm about to do journal and I'm going to paste some of my chosen pictures that I captured when the sun was still shining.

I sat as I opened the glue to start pasting the pictures. I glanced at my phone when it vibrated and leaned forward to look closely and see who messaged me.

Si Dr. Frida pala. Reminding me about my medicine. My eyes widened and I hurriedly stood up and went on my bag's place to get my medicines. Ininom ko yun kaagad.

Muntik ko nang makalimutan.

I just played some new trendy songs and sang along with those music that I am familiar with. That's just what I did while starting my work with the journal.

I looked like a kid given with giveaways as I paste them and did some designs. I also did some calligraphies and boarders, affixed some washi tapes, and wrote scribbles about the day. I placed them above, beside, and below the pictures. Depende kung saan maganda ilagay.

I glanced at the last picture and it was him. I went through the next page since there's no space left at the recent page where I pasted the foods that I and him had after the dance.

I pasted it and designed it with some fairy lights and butterfly drawings. Maingat na maingat ako habang ginagawa ko yon dahil ayokong magkamali at masayang ang page. Ayokong madumihan ang litrato.

After some minutes of designing, I proceeded to the description.

'No doubt life's full of surprises.
Today, I spent the day with a
random stranger who feels like
a home.'

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