"Maddox sama kami!" Rian said, our last subject was just finished and like yesterday. Maddox waited outside for our so-called photography training but Greg, Lian and Rian planned to join us because they don't have anything to do.
"Sure!" Maddox replied and hold my books for me that made them smirked at me.
I just snorted and walked first.
"Anong ginawa niyo kahapon?" Lian asked suspiciously. Kahit kailan talaga, kung ano-anong iniisip ng babaeng to ang hilig mag-imbestiga. Ang hilig pang magbigay bigla ng kahulugan sa mga bagay-bagay!
I shrugged as part of my answer, don't have a plan on telling her what happened yesterday. I'm sure magiging big deal at issue na naman 'yun dahil sa bruhang 'to.
"He taught me the basics," i answered.
Tumango siya at nilubayan na ako dahil naramdaman niya yatang ayaw kong sumabay sa kalokohan nya, sumali nalang siya sa usapan nina Greg, Rian and Maddox tungkol sa kung ano mang bagay.
They even walked noisily, ako nalang ang nahihiya sa mga nadadaanan namin.
We arrived at the exact location we stayed yesterday. Inilapag namin ang mga gamit bago umupo.
I smiled when the wind touches my skin and instantly shifted my seat because of excitement when Maddox took out his camera.
I watched him while fixing it. Ilang sandali pa ay lumingon siya sa'kin at lumingon sa harapan na parang naghahanap ng bagay o lugar, inilibot niya ang tingin at ngumiti nang mapunta ulit sa'kin.
I raised my eyebrow to ask.
Inimuwersa niya ang harap niya. My friends shrieked when they noticed it. I let out a deep breath and transferred in front of him.
The air's blowing my hair as I watch him raised his camera to his face and angled his body then arms.
I slowly chewed my lips while waiting for his instruction. He didn't say anything so I just stayed on my posture. His hands moved something in front.
I remember that, it's for managing the lens i just forgot it's name. Minutes later I heard a click that made my heart leap without a reason. I watched him as he put down the camera while he's head is also down looking at the screen.
Greg immediately crawled towards Maddox to see the picture so as Lian and Rian. Their mouth formed a circle as they saw the photo that made me more excited.
"Ang ganda mo bruha!" Greg said and slightly pulled my hair, hindi niya kasi masyadong abot.
"Matagal na!" I said proudly.
Nginiwian niya ako at bumalik sa pwesto.
"Ako naman," sabi ko at inilahad ang kamay. Maddox chuckled and put the camera on my hand.
"Papic din Maddox," i heard Rian requested while I maneuvered the camera because it was turned off.
I didn't heard Maddox's answer towards her because my eyes and mind was immediately glued at my picture.
My hair was blown, my mouth was slightly opened while staring emotionlessly at the camera, the background was perfectly blurred that's why my face became more noticeable. I can't believe he can be so good! If my pictures that he tweeted was already good then this was more than good. I don't know if I can capture like this, sa cellphone nga ang pangit ng kuha ko dito pa kaya. Or baka mag-improve?
Ngiti ni Maddox ang nasalubong ko pag-angat ng tingin, nginitian ko siya pabalik bago inilahad ko sa kanya ang camera.
"Ang galing mo," mahina kong papuri sa kanya.
"Di naman," sabi niya kaya napa-irap ako.
Pahumble, mukhang tanga 'to.
"Ikaw naman," sabi niya at inilahad pabalik sakin.
Agad akong nakaramdam ng kaba na para bang sasabak sa isang patayan, kinuha ko 'yun galing sa kamay niya at binuksan ulit.
I took a deep breath before reminiscing the steps he taught me yesterday. It only has four phrases: Find a Subject. Angle your Camera. Focus on your subject. Then Click.
Sounds so easy, I can do this.
Because he made me his subject, I'll make him mine too–I mean my subject. Nagpalit kami ng pwesto para walang sagabal sa background niya. Sinundot-sundot pa ni Greg ang tagiliran ko dahil sa ginawa kaya inirapan ko siya bago tinuon ang pansin sa gagawin.
Gaya ng ginawa niya kanina, initapat ko ang camera sa mukha at inanggulo ang katawan. When I find it good, I controlled the lens to focus on Maddox, he's on a serious look that made me smiled. I trembled out of excitement but still manage to click it.
With wide smile I check the picture. But it quickly faded when I saw the result.
What the hell is this!!
Parang gumuho ang mundo ko sa nakitang resulta. Masama talagang mag-expect. The picture's freaking ugly! The background's not equally blurred and Maddox's kinda glitched in a messy way. Ano ba naman 'to?
Wala talaga akong pag-asa dito.
"Patingin," Maddox said.
Naiiyak kong inaabot ang camera sa kanya. This is so frustrating!
Lumapit din sina Greg sa kanya para tingnan ang kuha ko.
"Hala ba't ganyan?" tanong ni Lian kaya napanguso ako.
Alam kong pangit, h'wag niyo ng sabihin!
"Not bad for a first timer," he said while smiling.
Dahil dun parang gumaan ang loob ko kahit alam kong pampalubag-loob lang yun.
"Pwede mo namang diretsuhing pangit," sabi ko kahit gumaan na ang loob.
"Sungit naman nito." Natatawang sabi niya.
"Pangit mo kasi." Pagsusuplada ko.
"Sungit mo," sagot niya.
"Pangit mo,"
Ayaw kong patalo no.
"Sungit."
"Pangit."
"Sungit."
"Pangi–"
"Jusko para kayong bata! Halikan na agad para masaya!" walanghiyang sabat ni Greg.
Sinamaan ko sya ng tingin habang tumawa lang si Maddox, samantalang si Rian at Lian ay nanunudyong ngumisi sa'kin. Ang cre-creepy talaga ng dalawang 'to!
"Sana all my callsign," singit ni Lian.
"Oo nga no," sagot ni Maddox.
"Ngit..." tawag niya sakin dahilan kung bakit napasigaw ang tatlo.
"Ang corny!! Walang bang iba!?" reklamo ko.
Ngit–parang gago lang.
"Ayon gusto din ng call sign!" sabi Lian. Walang gana akong tumitig sa kanya.
Kahit kailan talaga 'tong babaeng 'to.
"Unique nga eh," pakisabay ni Rian, don't tell me pati dito pagtutulongan nila ako?
"Ang sweet naman n'yan!" sabi ni Greg.
"Oo nga eh, diba ngit?" tanong ni Maddox.
"Tumigil ka nga!" Naiinis kong sabi.
"Tawagin mo nga akong ngit," utos niya.
"Parang kang batang gago, alam mo 'yun?!"
"Hindi, basta 'yan na ang tawag mo sakin," parang bata niyang sabi, pinanindigan talaga ang sinabi.
Inirapan ko siya at 'di nalang nagsalita.
May pinagsasabi pa siyang hindi ko nalang pinansin at sa halip ay kinuha ang camera niya tsaka binuksan 'yun.
I decided try to capture again.
To try my luck again.
Hindi nga pala talaga 'to ganun kadali.
Napakunot ako ng may nakitang pamilyar ng parte ng camera sa'kin.
I know this!
Ano nga ulit 'to?
My forehead creased while trying to remember what's the name of that part. Hindi naman 'yon kailangan talagang alamin pero hindi lang talaga ako mapakaling hindi malaman kong ano yun.
I pouted before turning towards Maddox to ask, what its name.
I peek what he's doing before poking him, trying to get his attention but he didn't notice me nor look at me.
"Maddox ano nga ulit 'to?" tanong ko habang inilahad ang parte ng camera sa kanya.
"Hey," sabi ko dahil patuloy pa rin sya sa pagkakalikot sa cellphone niya.
"Maddox!" I called him pissed but still no response from him.
"Hoy!!" tawag ko pa pero wala talaga.
Inilapag ko nalang ang camera dahil sa pangangalay.
I scratched my head when I suspected the reason why he's not responding.
Napairap ako ngunit bahagyang puwesto patagilid sa kanya.
I secretly cleared my throat and...
"Ngit..." malambing kong tawag dahilan kung bakit ako kinilabutan habang napasigaw naman ang tatlo.
Ang tataas naman ng enerhiya ng mga 'to, kanina pa sigaw ng sigaw eh.
"Yes, ngit?" tanong ni Maddox na mas mabilis pa sa kidlat na bumaling sa'kin habang malaki ang ngiti dahilan kong bakit napairap ako.
Parang tanga talaga!
"Sana all nalang!!" sabi ni Greg.
"Maka uwi na nga, ang daming langgam dito!" sabi ni Lian kahit hindi naman tumayo.
"Ano nga 'yong tanong mo, ngit?" tanong niya ulit.
Kailangan talaga ulit-ulitin yung 'ngit'?
"Wala!!" inis kong sabi dahil nawala na ang pagkakuryuso dun.
Ang dami kasing arte, dinaig pa ako.