One Hundred Fifty

26 - Three Hours

Mahina ang paghawi ng hangin sa buhok ko na ipinagpapasalamat ko. I covered my face with my palms holding handkerchief. Tumatama ang sinag ng araw sa mga braso ko, malakas ang tawa ng mga bata sa paligid, at malalim naman ang tunog ng dagat sa harap ko. The bench that I'm sitting at is purely warm from the hours that I've been steady. And my body is itching from the trail of the variety of embroider attached on my supposed to be gown that I'll be wearing in my supposed to be the happiest day.

Aren't I so lucky.

Pinagtitinginan na ako ng mga tao. It's probably weird that in front of the ocean, there's a woman in her wedding gown, crying. Great.

Inalis ko ang palad sa muka ng may parang umilaw at tumunog malapit sa gilid ko.

A man kneeling and holding his DLSR with both of his hands pressing the shutter again, flashing and clicking. Marahan n'yang binaba ang camera, nakatitig saakin, flashing his warm smile at marahang kumaway.

"Smile for me."

Nangunot ang noo ko, what's the catch? "That's rude."

"That's so rude." Pag uulit ko sa mas malakas na boses ng hindi ito natinag sa pagtitig saakin animong hinihintay nga akong ngumiti.

When I didn't, he sighed with disappointment. Slowly approached me and sat at the edge of the benches which makes the distance farther, but close for a stranger.

Niyuko n'ya ang camera at nagpipindot, lumarawan ang maliit na ngiti sa muka n'ya. "Sayang, ang ganda mo pa namang view."

With my emotion still high, my tears still keep on falling, with the heavy thing in my chest, I can't help but just say what I want to speak from my mind.

"You're creepy, delete the picture!"

He shook his head, umusog ng kaunti palapit. I sighed. Ayoko ng makipag usap pa. Litrato lang naman iyon diba? It's not scandalous or whatever. So what am I doing giving stranger a fuss about it? Ganito ba talaga kapag iniiwanan?

I wanna get out of here but this is the perfect spot para mag drama. I don't want to go home yet. I'm not ready to face it. At wala ng ibang upuan o tambayan. Wala akong pera pang tambay sa cafe o sa kahit na saan. Siguro aalis naman ito if I'll just ignore him? Siguro may sensitivity pa naman s'ya sa katawan diba?

Tinitigan ko nalang ang dagat na nasa harapan ko. But my mind went off somewhere again. Binalikan ako ng mga nangyari kanina... The groom went for another bride. Sadly, it wasn't me he ran off too.

I was about to be drown in my thoughts not until I felt someone beside me.

Nasa tabi ko na talaga ang lalaki kanina!

"What??" I asked, trying to sound respectful. Tatayo na sana ako pero tinaas n'ya ang camera n'ya at may ipinakita saakin na screen.

It's the picture of me looking at the kids in front of the sea, side view ko ang nakikita kaya na emphasize ang bridge ng ilong ko na namumula at ang mga mata kong malamlam. Maganda rin ang pagkakahimlay ng hangin sa buhok ko at bahagyang tinatangay ang himlayan ng puting gown... Wow. It's perfect. I looked so sad... but beautiful here.

Nang tinignan ko ang lalaki ay nakatingin rin s'ya saakin. Bahagyang nakangiti.

"Now, can you smile for me?"

"Why do you wanna take a picture of me?" Taka kong sagot.

Umusog s'ya ng kaunti mula sa pagkakaupo papalayo saakin. "Cause you're pretty."

Truth to be told. I'm average. So it's not believable.

"What's pretty?"

"Kailangan ba ng rason para maging maganda ka? Basta maganda ka. Gusto ka ng camera ko, and I think if my camera can talk he probably wants you to smile too..." He said pasting his perfect set of teeth in front me like he shoulders no problem at all.