Frozen Time

Photographs

She turned the chair and faced me.

"Where have you been at sino tong kasama mo?"

Tumayo siya at nilapag ang pictures sa lamesa. Pagtingin ko ay laking gulat ko na pictures namin ito ni Sam na nagtatawanan, magkayakap, at may isang anggulo na akala mo ay naghahalikan kami. San galing ang mga to?

"Answer me."

I saw anger is filling her eyes.

"Hon, let me explain."

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PAT POV

I'm furious right now. Gusto kong punitin ang mga pictures nakuha ko kanina. Hindi ko alam sinong nagpadala nito. Basta pag tapos ng meeting ko with the Advertising team, nakita ko nalang na may envelope na nakapatong sa table ko. Hindi ko alam kung totoo yung nakikita ko o edited lang na photos. Damn, I don't even know if these are recent photos or not. Pero pag kita ko, eto yung suot niya kanina. I asked Denise immediately kung asan ang boss niya at nasa event daw. Event pero nakikipaglandian. I waited for her to come back in the office para tanungin siya kahit gustong gusto ko ibato sa kanya lahat ng photos na to.

"I'm waiting Lance."

"Wait, where did you get these photos?"

"Don't change the subject and start explaining." I can see how hard she gulped. Halatang tense na tense ito ngayon. Guilty much Lance?

"Hon, upo ka muna." pag papaupo muna nito sakin pero tinaasan ko lang ito ng kilay.

"I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt Lance. So stop stalling bago pa ko maniwala sa mga nasa photos na yan."

"Fine. I was in the charity event this afternoon of the Herrera Haircutters for Children's Health Hospital."

"Is this what charity is for you ha, Lance?" tinaas ko ang isang photo at pinakita ko sa kanya ito. Hindi naman makatingin to si Lance.

"Look hon, please let me explain... further." with an emphasis on the last word. Nanahimik lang ako at hinayaan siyang mag explain.

Kinwento niya ang lahat mula nung event hanggang sa makita nga niya si Joy and I saw how happy and sad she is at the same time. Then, Sam came and everything that happened after that.

"That's all Hon. I swear. I don't know why anyone would take a photo of the moment and I was just comforting Sam knowing that I was the one causing her pain."

"Did..." natatakot akong tanungin siya or natatakot ako sa sagot niya.

"No, we did not. Hon, you know you're the only one that I want. I wouldn't do anything to ruin what we have right now. We've been through a lot already, ngayon ko pa ba sisirain?" lapit nito sakin and trying to reach me.

"Don't you really have any feelings left for Sam anymore?"

"Meron naman"

"Lance Vergara!"

"It's not what you think Hon. Whatever feelings I have left for Sam is sympathy on what she's going through. I've been through the same scenario in life before I met you. At sa lahat ng ginawa niya, she will always be a friend that I would one day want to be happy with someone she loves. Yun lang yun. Kaya stop pouting and let me kiss you." lumapit siya and kissed me quickly on the lips.

"I love you and please don't ever doubt that."

"I'm not doubting your love. It's just that comparing what Sam has sacrificed for you and what I've done to you. Malayong malayo Lance and hindi ko alam pano papantayan yun."