Light Up The Sky

Chapter 25

"I love you."

For a second, a dizzying kick of kilig ran through my system before I could lift a genuine smile. As soon as those ocean eyes patiently looked at my lips, I heard the clicking sounds of the camera's shutter Liam was holding.

I don't know when did he think of it but whenever he's taking a picture of me, I observed that instead of saying 123, he always says those three words so my smile would be bigger.

I did so many poses because Liam keeps on taking pictures of me as we wander around Coron. Matapos ang ilang shots sa dulo ng bangka, hinawakan niya ang kamay ko upang makabalik ako sa pwesto ko kanina. Tapos ay ipinakita niya sa akin ang mga shot na na-capture niya.

"She looks hot. Parang 'di naman ako 'to, love," bulong ko habang hawak ang camera.

Sa picture, nakaupo ako sa dulo ng bangka at fierce na naka-pose. I'm wearing a Dior one-piece bikini swimsuit. It's crafted in blue technical fabric and has a V-neck and crisscross straps in the back. Hindi ko alam kung dahil iyon sa nakaladlad kong buhok o sa postura pero ang mature ko talagang tingnan.

Nade-depina rin sa larawan ang moon necklace na iniregalo sa akin ni Liam noong nakaraang taon. It shows what the moon looked like on the day I was born. That's why the pendant shows a waning gibbous moon.

Hindi nagsalita si Liam kaya nilingon ko siya. He gestures to the white cover-up beach dress, telling me to wear it already so I did. When I'm done, he smiled and immediately snaked his right arm around my waist before leaning closer to look at the camera.

"May I see?"

I bit my lower lip and slightly lifted up the camera so that he can clearly see what he took.

"Ang ganda talaga."

Feeling ko dudugo na ang ibabang labi ko nang idiniin ko ang pagkakakagat dito matapos iyon marinig sa kaniya. Nag-iinit ang mga pisnging ipinahinga ko ang kaliwang kamay sa kanang hita niya. Tumagal ang titig niya roon bago sumilay ang matingkad na ngiti sa labi niya. Naramdaman ko rin ang paghigpit ng hapit niya sa baywang ko.

"You have to indeed look at what someone photographs to know what they fear losing," rinig kong sabi ni Tito Oliver sa kabilang gilid ko.

Nang lumingon ako sa kaniya, buhat niya si Pascal habang nakatingin sa hawak kong camera. He's smiling. His eyes are twinkling as if he's thinking of someone.

"Iyon ang sabi sa akin ni Laurice dati. I know now what it truly means."

He gave us a warm smile before he continues playing with Pascal. Nang hinarap ko si Liam, medyo nagulat ako dahil sa akin siya nakatingin. He's pursing his lips while looking straightly at my eyes. He also looks like he's thinking of something.

"Ano'ng iniisip mo, mahal?" tanong ko.

Ngumiti siya at umiling bago marahang hinaplos ang gilid ng mukha ko, inaalis ang tumatabon na buhok sa mukha ko dahil hinahangin ito. Then he put it behind my ear.

"Do you agree with what Tito said?"

Nagkibit-balikat siya. "Maaari."

"Hindi naman ako mawawala sa 'yo."

"Hindi ko rin naman hahayaang mangyari 'yon," bulong niya bago ako iniusog nang mas palapit sa kaniya na para bang may espasyo pa sa pagitan naming dalawa. Tapos ay pinatakan niya ng mainit na halik ang noo ko.

Pumikit ako at hinayaan ang sariling magpakulong sa bisig niya hanggang sa marating namin ang Kayangan Lake. When the boat docked at the entrance, we did a short trek. And for the whole time, I was just silent admiring the beautiful paradise.