Chapter 2

Hayden...

The students in the school are all wearing a black bonnet, blue hood, and blue gown. They are smiling reasonably because the day has come. Their graduation has come. This the day where they will bid farewell to their friends and high school acquaintances.

I hold my camera as I walk through their graduation hall. There were people selling sampaguitas—in our place, sampaguita is the traditional flower for graduation. We used it as a necklace and are traditionally wore it during graduations.

"Good morning, Hayden Camero. Are you ready to take photos of the graduating students?" The guy wearing a formal suit welcomes me. I smile at him while gripping my finger onto the camera.

"Of course. I am always ready. Life's been harsh to us that's why we need to earn money for us to live. We need food, shelter, and water to live." I still remember those lessons he taught me back then. He's my Science teacher when I was in primary school. He taught me to strive harder. And now I'm a photographer and he's the headteacher of this High School campus.

"You still remember my lesson." He laughs at me—we both laugh at each other. Of course, that lesson would be remembered. It taught me to become a photographer.

Since I was a child, I dreamed of taking photos and scenarios in my life. In short, I want to be a photographer. Photos symbolize a lot of meanings to our world. It preserves the memories we had and the things we do. I want to capture the smiles and heartbreaks of the people I capture.

The headteacher offered his hand to me. Without a doubt, I accepted his hand and everything becomes alike with a movie scenario. I am traveling to his past.

I saw him dating another woman—not his wife and they went to the Hotel de Leon and they did just like what Fiona did.

I surprisingly remove my hand from him. I faked a smile before heading to the graduation hall. I traveled to the past again.

Why do people cheat? Why do they have to find a replacement or substitute for someone they love—someone they adore? If they really love that person, they should be loyal and they should remove all of the lust they're experiencing.

If I will have a girlfriend again in the future, I would never cheat on her not just because other people broke me in that way. It's that I don't want to lie to the people or woman I love. I don't want to do most of the people do.

The students have their seat in the graduation hall. The host is now having his speech. I positioned my camera and I capture every single moment we had from the first student's walk up to the Valedictorian's speech.

"Can I see the pictures?" the headteacher asked and I showed him the photos. I smiled when I saw that my photos are not bad. It's almost perfect with the mix of sun's gleam and the contrast provided by my camera and how I angle myself while taking each photo.

"The photos are great. It's not a mistake that we chose you to be the graduation photographer." I smiled and he brought me to the feast along with the other personnel on the campus. I gave every person a smile while getting my food. The headteacher's nice to me even though he cheated on his wife. Maybe, we shouldn't judge a person by his mistake. We should judge them by the good things they've done in this world.

I took a step back after I ate my food. I gave my gratitude to the headteacher for picking me. They also gave me my royalties for taking those pictures. I assured hem with a smile that I will print those photos with quality by next week. My team would be the one to print those.

Even though my salary as a photographer is not that high, it still provides me with my needs and wants. It's also my passion so there's no problem or conflict in doing it. I have money and I have fun while doing it. The quotes about continuing your passion are not wrong because I followed that they tell about life and they're right. Following your passion is one of the best decisions any person could make.

I bypass the graduation hall when I head to the campus' entrance. While walking, I saw a woman with deep-seated eyes, holding an umbrella. She's smiling reluctantly at me with those bright red lips and pale face.

She's here! Larissa is here!

I go to Larissa's direction with a smile. I even fix my hair and shirt. I want to look good in her eyes.

"Uhm... Ugh..." I can't say anything. I was stunned the moment I saw her. She's so glamorous. "Who are you with?"

She shrugs her shoulders. "Nothing... I mean no one."

I cross my eyebrows because of the curiosity I felt when she said those words. "Then, why are you here?"

"I miss high school. I want to see students graduating and reaching their dreams. Isn't it inspiring?"

I nod because I don't have anything to say. She gets inspired by those graduating students while I, there's no special reason to be inspired by those high school students because high school is not the end of those hardships. They still need to face college life and adultery.

"Yeah," answered simply. "Are you heading to work?" I asked curiously.

"Nah. I don't have work today. I just want to have lunch. Will you have lunch with me? I want to know you more."

I smiled a little bit. Even though I'm full because of the foods I ate in the school's feast provided by the Valedictorian, I said yes.

We went to a modern cafe where they offer pastries and drinks. I ordered a mocha latte and a slice of cheesecake for me and she ordered a slice of red velvet cake and a cookies and cream frappe. It's for kids.

"So why are you at school?" she curiously asked. She lay her fingers on the table. Should I touch it? Nah. I don't want to see her past even though I am curious about her.

"I'm the graduation photographer. If they call it that way," I explained. I start to take a sip of my latte. This one's too sweet. Maybe the barista is different from the one of made my coffee last week. It's better than this one.

"Nice, so you take pictures." I nod. "Can you take a picture of mine?" She smiled at me, looking excited.

"Yes, of course, sure." My voice was trembling when I answered. I hold my camera and I click it.

After I took her photo, I smiled while observing her stunning face. She's so gorgeous. Her face is a mixture of native and modern women. Her eyes are the most catchy trait she has. It's blue like the pacific ocean.

"Can I have your number?"

I don't know why I asked it. I just want to spend more time with her.