(La Mémoire #1) NOSTALGIA

XII

XII

shoes

Kung alam ng mama ko ang gagawin ko ngayon, baka ikamatay niya ito. First, she's a conservative Catholic woman. She would never agree to the idea of nudity as a form of art. Although I myself has firm religious beliefs, I set a fine line between that and my liberal ideas. Second, my mom hates the Valerios to her guts. Me, stripping in front of a Valerio is all her nightmares coming true.

"Sigurado ka ba talaga?" Muling tanong ni Stav.

I accepted the long Mulberry silk scarf. By the size of it, it wouldn't be too revealing.

"Why? You can't take my photo naked?"

Stav laughed nasally before biting his lip. Marahan itong lumapit sa akin, nakapinta ang mayabang na ekspresyon sa kaniyang mukha.

"You know, I could do more than take your photo when you're naked."

Matapang ko itong tiningala. His towering height and huge expanse is suddenly intimidating.

"Pervert."

"Tinatanong kita ng maayos, Zhalia. Are you really doing this?" He measured me against his stare.

"Oo. Bakit parang ikaw ang nag-aalangan?"

"I'm just asking. Gusto kong masigurong hindi ka napipilitan rito. Baka idagdag mo pa ito sa mga atraso ko sa'yo. I don't wanna be sued."

"First, privacy invasion for stealing my photo. Stalking for following me. Third, sexual assault. Good line of potential criminal cases, huh?"

Nanatiling pirmi ang ekpresyon ni Stav ngunit may bahid iyon ng pagka-aliw. Our banters seemed equally amusing and irritating to him.

"Go ahead. I'm down on my knees to have criminal records because of you."

Napasimangot ako bago ito hinampas ng hawak na balabal.

"What a cringe, Valerio. Pangit ng banat mo." Nagmartsa na ako patungo sa dressing room.

Stav's laugh echoed briefly.

"Hey!" Pigil nito.

Nilingon ko ito sa hamba ng pintuan ng dressing room.

"Leave your panties on." Pahabol niya.

"Of course!" Pumasok na ako nang maramdaman ang pag-iinit ng pisngi ko.

"Angle your body a bit. You look small." Si Stav nang nagsisimula na kami sa pagkuha ng litrato.

I am not totally naked. I have underwear on but I am top less because I'm exposing the bareness of my upper body, to execute the idea of nudity.

Nakasukbit sa kabilang balikat ko ang scarf habang nililipad ang malambot noong tela sa buong katawan ko. Nakatutok sa akin ang isang malaking electric fan na siyang nagpapasayaw sa tela noon.

"I'm 5'10, Stav."

"Oh really? You look small in your photos."

"Then maybe it's the photographer's fault?" I equalled his sarcasm.

"Don't make me come there and direct you, Zhalia." Stav warned darkly.

Napangisi ako bago inayos ang anggulo ng katawan.

"You want long legs? Here." Hinawi ko ng bahagya ang nililipad na tela at ibinandera ang kahabaan ng biyas ko para mang-asar. Ngunit nanatiling seryoso si Stav.

Nakita kong umigting ang panga nito bago pinag-igi ang pagkuha ng litrato. Just like earlier, we were quiet and serious. He would just say a few directions here and there, and we're continously doing shots. It's like our minds our in synch. Sa ganitong paraan lang yata kami magkakasundo.