Captured by darkness ( Dark series #1 ) UNDER-EDITING

Chapter 7

Shutterbug

The sunset gone too fast, and the sunrise awakens quickly. Not knowing that the wedding is on its way. But of course, before the wedding, Aviana always reminds me that I said yes to her. Hindi siya mapakali, na akala mo tatakasan ko siya. 

I'm a man of words, and I don't have any plan to back out. Pero hindi ako pumayag sa kanya ng walang kapalit. Like what she said. I set a rules and favor. Though, her face still not convinced on what I want. 

Tumingin ako sa salamin. And in there, I saw my self in a simple outfit. Outfit that makes me comfortable. I wore my white V-neck t-shirt and faded ripped jeans. My lips and cheeks are embedded with fine colors of red, coming from the cheek tint.  And lastly the final touch, I tied my hair into bun and let some strands of it fall freely.

It is the favor that I demand in her. Susuotin ko lahat ng gusto kong suotin. At sa puntong iyon, wala na siyang magawa. Little did she know, that I was secretly eyeing her reaction. 

Nakabusangot na siya no'n. Pero alam ko, mas gugustuhin niya na kasama ako na iba ang suot. Kumpara sa hindi niya ako kasama. 

Lastly, I set a rules. I will come with her but not as a guest but a shutterbug. Yes. I will capture everything in there. And I will not leave any single moment to capture happenings in that wedding.

Aviana handed me an ID, that will make  me freely capture the occurrence around me.

"Here. take this, baka mawala ka." Biro niya. 

Rolling my eyes. Not taking her words. I take the ID on her. "Careful, don't get too drunk okay?"  Warning her, worryingly. 

"I won't," She snorted. 

Lumapit siya sa akin. Kissing me goodbye. Hindi ko maiwasan mapatingin sa kanya, habang papaalis. She walked freely as the white dress emphasize her curves. She's all alone, yet as she walk with elegance in the passage, make her more daring into the eyes of the guest. 

She's really fit in this world. If you will consider. I am an outsider. Walang-wala ako kung ikukumpara sa kanya. Nakita kong lumapit si Aviana sa ibang mga bisita at kinausap ang mga ito. Tinitigan ko nang maigi ang paligid ko and captured every single of it.

Lumipas ang oras. Now the reception came. Hindi maipagkakaila na pinagkaabalahan at pinag gastusan ng mabuti ang kasalan na ito. Naghanda sila ng mga magarang sasakyan para sa mga bisita, papunta sa reception. 

When we came, guest are now sitting on their designated seats. Nilibot ko ang tingin ko, noticing that the guest are not ordinary. Some are intimidating and has their own power raging on their presence here. Tahimik lang sila, pero ang mga presensya nila, punong-puno ng kapangyarihan. The power that will make you shut up and think for your existence. 

Guest are all serious, but some are talking and laughing.  But I am still wondering what is the sense of this wedding. Sinubukan ko pang mag pokus sa paligid ko. Tumingin ako, higit pa sa nakikita ng hubad kong mga mata. And Thankfully, my eyes didn't failed me. 

I look above, the place is dim and transform into a galaxy. The ceiling was illuminated with different color bulbs. It was formed into a stars while the walls is decorated with moons. And I've noticed that the carpet is glowing and sparkling like a star, its beautiful.

Masyado na akong namangha, dahil doon nalalimutan ko na ang pakay ko. This place is full of mystery, yet beauty lies within. This place, became more beautiful along with the darkness. Pero ang mas kina gulat ko, sa gitna na entablado mayroong ekplise. Kumikinang iyon dahil sa nangibabaw na dilim sa loob ng reception hall. Napaawang ang labi ko dahil sa nakita ko.

An eclipse, rarely comes, three hundred and sixty or four hundred and ten years before it occurs. Somehow, this wedding holds a lot of secrets, hidden under its own darkness.

Eclipse shows heavy denotation. Pero naka depende pa rin, kung paano titignan ito ng mga tao. It's still a matter of perspective of each person. As for me, It feels like the good and a bad collide, agreeing on the same time.

Back in my reverie, nilibot ko ulit ang mga mata ko. Now, I want to see the emotions of people. Their sensation towards this matrimony. I want to dig in and see the soul of this event. 

I roam around, noticing the bride and groom. Lumapit ako nang mabuti para makita ang mukha nang mga ito. My eyes landed on the bride. And if I were a man, I would be stumble on the ground, and will be fainted. But sadly I am not.

The woman have the most angelic face. She's smiling to all the people around her, yet it doesn't reach her eyes. I captured her. My eyes landed on the man beside her. The man shows no emotion at all. He's like an alpha male, holding an endless power all around his people.

Muntik ko nang mabitawan ang camera ko, nang may mahagip ang mga mata ko sa gilid nang groom. Ang nanahimik kong tiyan ay biglang dinagsa nang mga kulisap. Wearing his usual intimidating presence and emotionless face. 

"Malcolm," Bulong ko sa hangin.

Napalunok ako. Dapat wala na ako dito, dapat umalis a ako at magtago. Pero hindi ko madiktahan ang utak ko para umalis. Too late, my heart takes over my mind. I am stuck up staring at him. Malcolm's wearing a black suit, that is perfectly match to his dark aura.

The hem of his tux flickers along with the luminosity. Malcolm stand as though like he owns the atrium. He lifted his champaign glass, and stared at it while spinning the red wine inside. 

Malcolm's intense stare gave me chills. Hindi siya naka tingin sa direksyon ko, pero sapat na para bigyan niya ako ng dahilan para manghina. 

I didn't waste the time and capture him, like I always used to do. Lumapit ako dito pero sapat na para hindi ako nito makita. Tinignan ko ang mga kasama nito sa lamesa, there were five of them. Each one of them have their own uniqueness. But screams danger. But what caught my attention is the guy with piercing, busy with his cellphone. 

I glanced at the other man that was full of tattoo on his neck and hand. Hindi ko alam kung saan nagtatapos ang kanyang tattoo sa katawan. Natatakpan kasi iyon ng mamahalin na tuxedo.

I look on the man beside Malcolm, and I must say that this man has the most innocent face compared to all of them. Pero, masyadong mapanlinlang ang mga ganyang mukha. Nababahiran iyon ng mga misteryo. At masasabi ko na sila ang mga pinaka delikado. 

K inakausap lang ng lalaking may inosenting mukha ang lalaking may hikaw, na abala pa rin sa cellphone nito. Hindi ko alam kung, anong meron sa mga lalaking ito. But they're built and personality screams threat.

I took a picture all of them and leave the place. This night is gonna be a long night. This is just the start. I know there's something more on this event. Kailangan ko pang mas lumalim. It's not enough looking on what you just see. It will never be enough.

Some people, find it difficult to distinguish the depth, of everything on this world. But looking nearly. You will be drowned and find yourself don't want to ascend.

At sa kaso ko-- masyado na akong nalunod. Sa puntong iyon, ayaw ko ng umahon, dahil sa una pa lang, kaya ako nandito para alamin kung anong nakatago sa lugar na ito. 

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