Until The Stars Collide Again (Universe Series #1)

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Directions

"It's you again!" He pointed his finger to me when he said that one.

What a small world. Paris is a big place. Hindi ko aakalain na makikita ko siya rito. Oo, ang taong nakabangga ko kanina malapit sa shop na pinagkainan ko. Ang may-ari ng panyo na nakita ko kanina na nasa bulsa ko ngayon.

"Hi. Yes, it's me... Again," tawa kong sabi and brushed my hair off.

"Are you a Pinoy?" Tanong nito sa akin.

"Yes," I answered honestly, "How about you?"

Napatango naman ito. "Ah. Oo. Masaya ako na kahit papano ay nakakita ako ng kapwa ko Pinoy. Mahirap magsalita ng English. Mapapasabak tuloy ang braincells ko."

I curved my lips, more like smiling.
I never thought that he's a Filipino, because based on his appearance, he looks like a foreigner to me. Siguro may lahi sila.

The atmosphere became unknown to me. Walang kumibo sa amin. I was just there standing in his side facing the tower. I put my hands in my pocket when I touched something underneath.

Humarap ako sa kaniya kaya napatingin siya sa akin. Napayuko ako, so shy to meet his gaze. I want to say something to ease the awkwardness between us but I cannot even utter a single word.

"Uhmm," me trying to open a conversation, "here's your handkerchief."

"Oh! Salamat! I thought I lost it!" Kinuha niya ang panyo mula sa akin.

Busy siya sa kakatingin sa paligid kaya tinignan ko siyang maigi. May hawak itong camera, a vintage one. The camera that was used a long time ago. You know what I mean.

He took pictures and I was in awe while just looking at him doing that one. He caught me watching him. He smiled at me, showing his dimples.

"Nga pala, Yuhan," aniya at inilahad ang kaniyang kamay.

I accepted his gesture. "Starlet."

"Starlet. Hmm. Gandang pangalan."

Biglang naghiyawan ang mga tao kaya napatingin ako sa crowd. I saw the Eiffel Tower, shining because of the lights around it. It looks wonderful and amazing while watching it. Oo nga pala hanggang 8 lang ang pag-on nila ng lights.

I cannot take off my eyes in the lights at nakalimutan kong may kasama pala ako. I tilted my head a little bit to my left at nakitang andiyan pa si Yuhan. He's taking a picture of the tower. What a beautiful sight. Him taking a pic and looking good with his cam.

"So beautiful," sambit ko sa sarili kaya napatingin ito sa akin. We stared for a minute.

"I mean the tower. It's beautiful with the lights."

Napatango naman ito at binaling ko na lamang ang akin tingin sa unahan. Ang bilis ng tibok nga aking puso. Hinawakan ko ito, I think nagha-hyperventilate ako. It is beating so fast. Ano ba naman heart! Huwag kang ganiyan.

Nagulat na lang ako nang may nagflash na camera. Napalingon ako sa tabi ko. I saw him looking at his cam pagkatapos niyang kuhaan ako ng litrato.

"Did you take a photo of me? Without my consent?" Tanong ko na para bang nagtatampo and crossed my arms.

"Sorry but you looked cute a while ago. Look," he answered at sabay ipinakita ang pic ko kanina. I was looking in front at ang dalawang kamay ko ay nasa dibdib. Para akong bata na nakakita ng isang laruan. And I must admit, he took it in a good angle.

"You are really a good photographer huh?"

Nagkibit balikat ito. "Gusto mong kuhaan kita? Pwede mo akong maging photographer at way of saying thank you dahil sa pagsaoli mo ng panyo ko and sorry dahil nabangga kita."