Poignant Rhythm of Affection

The first sunset where the Affection started, destined to become a Poignant Rhythm. ... "Evian! Evian!" I immediately turned my book down and fixed my things. I almost ran downstairs as I know what that tone means from the old man's voice, his grandchildren's coming home. I stopped when I heard a roaring engine, I looked at the window...Shit! "s**t! s**t!" I immediately fixed my things. They surprised him. Yeah that's for sure. He normally reminds me weeks before they come here for vacation. But this time, It's like he had no idea they were even coming. Napakamot ako sa ulo habang tinititigan ang babagsakan ko. f**k, I won't die here, right? Without counting, I jumped off the window. "Ah! Tangina!" Halos mapasigaw ako sa sakit nang tumama ang braso ko sa bato. What the f**k, I didn't see that coming. How the hell would I? I just threw myself out of a second-story window without goddamn thinking. "Ah, s**t! What a fcking dumb ass right there." I just came home, cleaning the bruises I got. "Damn, I'm lucky I didn't break a bone." Well, not lucky enough to get bruises though. My dog just looked at me like I am the dumbest human he knows. "Stop looking at me like that. I might not feed you today, you, arrogant dog." I smirked when he jumped out of the sofa, looking so done with me. This dog... I put back the first aid kit in place. I looked at the books I borrowed from the old man, I mean, Lolo Gardo. Well, technically I didn't really borrow them, it's just that we were in a rush earlier and I didn't have time to ask him. And besides, his grandchildren were already there, he said he didn't want me to meet them. I shrugged. He's really over protective. It's not that I'm interested, though. I met Lolo Gardo one time when he was about to throw a book I was so interested in. It was a long story. We got closer through the books, then I figured that he has tons of books in his house. Eventually, I used to hang out at his place, reading different kinds of books. He's not bad. He's just grumpy at times. "Lolo!" I shouted the nth time. The door's locked. Is he even here? It's been weeks, I assume, his grandchildren went back to the city already. They don't usually last a month here. But where is the old man though? Katatapos ko lang basahin ang hiniram kong libro. I was about to return it to him and borrow another one. Sumilip ulit ako sa siwang galing sa kanilang malaking gate. Kalaunan, napagpasyahan kong dumaan na lang sa likuran, doon sa teresa nila na diretso rin papunta sa kanilang library. Dito ako kadalasang dumederetso tuwing nadadatnan kong wala siya rito. Sumipol ako habang casual na naglalakad dala dala ang librong hiniram, na natigil rin nang may maaninag sa may dalampasigan. Wearing a white dress with her hair tied in a bun, a girl is dancing beneath the slowly setting sun. A song played softly from the speaker behind her. A mellow music that fit perfectly to the whole scenery. Her dancing, with a wide smile and closed eyes, made it more ethereal, as if time itself had paused in that moment. Mas nadepina ang puti ng kaniyang balat habang nasisinagan ng palubog na araw. From where I was standing, I could see how her body is moving slowly, feeling the dance freely. The smile on her face while her eyes were closed. She's pretty. No. I think pretty is not enough to describe her. Ganoon na lang ang pagbagsak ng maalon niyang buhok nang matanggal ang kaniyang pusod. She stopped from dancing and ran her fingers through her hair. Agaran ang pag-tago ko sa puno nang dahan dahan siyang lumingon sa banda ko. What the f**k? I look like a s**t of stalker here. Ilang sandali lang ay tumikhim ako at napag-pasiyahang bumalik na lang rito bukas. Tumayo ako ng maayos at muling sumulyap sa dalampasigan. Ngunit ganoon na lang ang pagkagulat ko nang makita na nakaharap na sa kinaroroonan ko iyong babae. "Oh, f**k!" Mahina akong napa-mura. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko at halos mapatalon. A deep furrow appeared between her brows. I didn't try to hide anymore. What is that for? She already saw me. It would definitely make it more awkward. Should I smile? Should I approach her? But. Wait. Who is she by the way? Just when I was about to smile at her, she shrugged off and turned her back at me. She sat down the sand. Kumunot ang noo ko. She didn't saw me? I didn't know but something within me pushed my feet towards her. Ten steps. Yeah, I counted ten steps before I finally reached her. The song in the speaker defined the unknown feeling I couldn't name at the moment as I get nearer. She's even prettier when this close. She stiffened. I know she felt my presence. "You finally went out." She stopped. "I thought you'd keep hiding." So she knew, huh? but... "Hi," f**k my communication skills, why wouldn't they be good now? I knew something I'm great at, It's dealing with people. But why in the world did that one awkward word come out so unnaturally. Really, Evian? Hindi siya sumagot. Nanatili ang tingin niya sa dalampasigan sa harapan namin. "Before I go out, Ate Linda said it's 4:30 pm. I guess it's 5 now, huh? The sun must be setting already." kumunot ang noo ko. What is she talking about? "Hey, stranger. Can you describe how beautiful the sunset is right now?" Instead of questioning what she asked me. I sat down the sand, not far nor too close to her, just enough space for us to hear each other. Maybe she meant to ask what I thought about the sunset? Natahimik ako. I looked at the sun in front of us. They said, sunset is symbolized ending. While, sunrise symbolizes a new beginning. They said sunset hurts more than the sunrise. But to me it's not. To me sunset and sunrise both hurts in the same way. How things end, and how we start a new without those that we lost. I didn't like the thought of beginning anew. It never felt familiar, it felt lonely. But I knew, at the end of the day, like how the sunrise hurts our eyes, the beginning might be tough, but it's just a phase. A phase that, at the end of the day, you would look back on, like how the sun sets, and realize it's all worth it. "The sunset right now is a beauty." I said those words without toring my eyes off the sunset. Then, I looked at her. "In a blend of gold, purple, and deep orange, the sun shone beautifully, reigning over the calm breeze of air and the gentle waves of the sea. They fit together perfectly." In a blend of that scene is her reigning over the beautiful sunset, her lovely smile as she moves to the rhythm of her dancing alongside the soft, mellow music. She fit with it perfectly. She smiled. I looked at her shamelessly. I like that smile. I could definitely look at her for hours without having to tore my eyes off her. "Can I ask you a favor?" She stopped smiling. But she's still looking in the same way, at the sea in front of us. "I sneaked out my sister's camera. Can you film me with it, while I dance?" Hindi ako nakasagot agad. "I'm sorry. We just met but here I am, already asking you a favor. I've been wanting to film my self dancing beneath the sunset." "It's okay." How could I resist her anyway. I stood. and so she did. She still didn't looked at me. "Do you know how to do it though?" "Yes." Blame my bad communication skills right now."Is that your camera? Maybe I should start setting it now." Tinuro ko ang camera bag na nasa hindi kalayuan sa kinauupuan namin. "Uhm. Sure!" I started setting up the camera. Good thing, I'm familiar with this kind of camera. It won't be hard to adjust. I pointed the camera at her. The calm breeze of air slightly blew her long wavy hair and long white dress. She blends beautifully with the scenery in front of her. I like it. I could sit here an hour or days just by watching her here. "Shall we start?" I asked. "Uhm, yes, wait." She went over to the white speaker to start another song, a familiar, mellow groove that suits her perfectly. Soft, innocent, yet beautiful. The intro started as she prepared to harmonize with it. I didn't tore my gaze at her. She started moving, it's like she's expressing herself. She's facing the sea while I'm behind her, filming the whole scene. It's perfect, the sun, the calm breeze, the sea, the clouds, and most importantly, her. They all fit together beautifully. Indeed, she's good at this. As the chorus ended. She stopped from dancing. She turned around and smiled. It's like she's thanking someone. I looked at where she's looking at, My brows creased when I saw no one else there. Her eyes looked sad, her smile is now gone. She looked away, hiding the tears beginning to fall in her beautiful eyes. And right then, her back began to shake. She's crying. I slowly lowered the camera. Napasinghap ako... Naibaba ko ang camera galing sa pagkakatutok sa kaniya. As the song continued, her sobs deepened, piercing the silence that the pain carried within. I could hear the loud, painful message of her sobs. Like how she made me feel happy through her smile, her sobs also touch something within me. Napalunok ako. She can't see anything... She's blind. ...