(La Mémoire #1) NOSTALGIA

XLIV

XLIV

Nalusaw ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Stav. Nang bumaba ang paningin sa akin, seryoso na rin ito. Labis ang paghihirap ko na ikubli ang pagkabog ng dibdib ko.

His stare lingered on me. Dinig ko ang pagbigat ng kaniyang paghinga kasabay ng pamumuo ng kung ano'ng tensyon sa pagitan namin.

I haven't had my first kiss yet but given our distance, I knew I'd let him have it. Like how he had my first dance, my first birthday present, my firsts in everything. How could he have taken so much of me? Kailan pa siya naging ganito kaimportante sa akin?

Pero hindi nagtagal ay nakabawi rin ito at siyang kusang lumayo sa akin. Noon lamang ako nagkaroon ng pagkakataong kumalma.

Nakabalik ako sa huwisyo nang marinig kong muli ang tunog ng camera. Muli niya akong kinuhanan ng litrato na parang walang nangyari.

"Stav!" Angil ko.

"What?" His brows met, as if amused by something.

"Stop taking photos of me please."

"What did you say?" He stepped backwards on the bridge while I hovered towards him.

"I said stop taking photos of me."

"No, ang tawag mo sa akin.."

"Stav. Why? Wala namang ibang makakarinig dito."

"Nothing. I like it when you call me by my first name." He admitted shamelessly.

"Iyon na ang itatawag ko sa'yo kapag tayong dalawa lang ang magkasama."

"Okay."

"And what would you call me?"

"How ever you like to be called."

I don't really mind. I like my name when it rolls out his mouth anyway. He could be calling me Zhalia or Clementine, but both sounds like adoration to my ears.

"What's your birthday wish, Clem?" He continued taking snaps of me.

The winds blew and made my white dress dance. Mainit ang sinag ng araw ngunit hindi ko iyon alintana. All of my undivided attention were meant for Stav. He was happy.

The heart-shaped turn on his upper lips appears when he smiles. His eyes that were deep and decorated with thick lashes shine bright in his light chuckles. His high nose bridge and his bundle of curly hair, like those of the Greek gods dances with the wind. He was beautiful.

He's rarely transparent with his emotions like this. Sometimes, aside his stoic eyes, the most I could get from him was his taunting smirks and condescending stare.

I have never seen him in a different light until now. This was more than admiration, more than friendship. God, I like him. And I like him more when he's happy like this.

I wish he's always happy.

"Well, uh--my birthday wish is that our families will finally reconcile."

Ibinaba niya ang camera at malaya na akong pinagmasdan. Para bang napakaimportante ng sasabihin ko na itinuon niya ang buong pansin sa akin.

"I wish I could change something, not the world, but someone else's world."

Stav eyed me like he was calculating me, like I was an art that needed interpretation. It vexed me what he thought of me. But I only got lost in his deep piercing eyes.

"You don't have any wish for yourself?"

Natigilan ako. Wala naman akong mahihiling na kahit ano'ng materyal. I already have all the luxury in the world.