ONE YEAR OF LOVING YOU

Nathan's POV Some people believe that destiny arrives with fireworks. Mine came quietly. With the sound of waves crashing against the shore, the salty breeze brushing against my face, and a girl arguing with a camera that refused to cooperate. I still remember that afternoon in Davao City. It was late April.. The sun was beginning to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. I had just finished grading my students' performance tasks. Bilang reward sa sarili, nagpasya akong mag-drive papuntang dagat. It had always been my safe place whenever life felt too loud. The beach wasn't crowded. A few children were chasing each other near the shoreline. Couples were taking photos. Vendors were packing up their stalls. Then I saw her. She was wearing a simple white dress that danced with the wind. Her long black hair kept covering her face while she struggled to balance a camera on a small tripod. "Seriously?" she sighed. "One picture lang naman, ayaw mo pa." I couldn't help but smile. A few seconds later... Thud! Her camera tipped over and landed face-first on the sand. "Ay, grabe naman!" Napalapit ako bago pa ako makapag-isip. "Need help?" Napatingin siya sa akin. For a moment, wala siyang sinabi. Then she smiled. Not the kind of smile you notice. The kind you remember. "Please," she laughed. "Mukhang may sariling desisyon 'tong tripod ko." I picked up the camera and checked it. "Good news. Buhay pa." She dramatically placed a hand over her chest. "Thank goodness. Mas mahal pa 'yan kaysa sa phone ko." "You love photography?" "I love preserving memories." Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero tumatak sa isip ko ang sinabi niya. I love preserving memories. At that moment, neither of us knew how ironic those words would become years later. "So..." she tilted her head. "Since nasagip mo ang camera ko..." "Can you take a picture of me?" "Sure." She stood near the shoreline. The golden sunlight wrapped around her like it had chosen her specifically. I looked through the camera's viewfinder. "Ready?" She nodded. "Three..." "Two..." "One." Click. She walked toward me excitedly. "Let me see!" Binuksan namin ang camera. Tahimik kaming dalawa. "Ang ganda," bulong niya. Hindi dahil sa kuha. Kundi dahil sa sunset. "Actually..." sabi ko. "I think the photographer just got lucky." She laughed. "No." She looked at the photo again. "I think the sunset got lucky." Hindi ko alam kung bakit bigla akong nahiya. "So..." she said while extending her hand. "I'm Elena." I shook it. "Nathan." "Nice meeting you, Nathan." "Likewise." We talked for almost an hour. About work. About coffee. About books. About our students. About why sunsets in Mindanao always felt different. She told me she was an elementary school teacher from Agusan del Sur who came to Mati during school break just to watch the sea. I told her I was a secondary school teacher who escaped to beaches whenever life became overwhelming. When the sky finally turned dark, she looked at her watch. "Oh no..." "My bus leaves in fifteen minutes." "I should go." "I'll walk you." "You don't have to." "I know." "But I want to." For the first time that evening... She looked at me with quiet curiosity. "You barely know me." I smiled. "I know enough." She raised an eyebrow. "Like what?" I counted using my fingers. "You love photography." "You laugh with your whole heart." "You talk to your camera." "And..." I paused. "You seem like someone worth knowing." Her cheeks turned pink. "I've only known you for an hour..." "...pero ang bilis mong mang-bola." Napatawa ako. "Teacher ka talaga?" "Promise." "May ID pa ako." "Good." "Akala ko kasi professional flirt ka." Pareho kaming natawa. Pagdating sa terminal, dumating na ang bus. She climbed the first step, then suddenly turned around. "Nathan?" "Yeah?" "If we ever meet again..." "I hope you'll remember me." I chuckled. "I don't think I'd forget someone who argues with a tripod." She laughed one last time. Then the bus doors closed. Unti-unti itong umalis. Hindi ko alam noon... Na ang simpleng pangakong iyon— "I hope you'll remember me." —ang magiging pinakamahirap kong tuparin. Because one day... She would be the one who could no longer remember me.