Notebook-Dried White Rose

"Alin ba dito?" natatawang tanong ni Red kay Terrenz. Kasalukuyang pinapapili niya ito ng gagamiting materyales. And Terrenz hates choices kaya medyo naiirita ito sa pangungulit niya.

"Ay ang kulit!" maktol ni Terrenz. "Hindi ko gusto yung mga shade na yan. Kung wala na ibang option, ikaw na mamimili."

"Eh ano bang shade kasi ang gusto mo? Sabi mo lang naman vintage. Eto naman lahat ng vintage color," turan ni Red na inilahad pa ang color guide book na hawak nito.

It has been two months had past simula nang umpisahan nila ang project na ito and somehow halos patapos na sila sa kalahati ng construction. Kasabay nang pagpupursige din ni Red na muling paibigin si Terrenz.

As per his hidden agenda, somehow there is a small progress. But still very small. Kahit papano nawala na ang awkwardness sa kanila and hindi na rin gaanong umiiwas si Terrenz sa kaniya. It's like how they were during their acquaintance stage bago niya ito niligawan noon. Terrenz had been somewhat professional towards him kapag sa trabaho pero may mga times na hindi siya tinatanggihan nito kapag niyaya niya.

When Red told his friends about this, medyo nakantiyawan pa siya. Because it's already 2 months and his status is still very slim. But he wanted to bid his time. He wanted to win Terrenz back slowly but surely. And when the time comes that he had her again, hinding-hindi na niya ito papakawalan. That's his promise.

Inabot ni Terrenz ang guide book and started flipping the pages. Sinisipat-sipat ang bawat sample colors na nasa pahina. Napapabuntong hininga pa ito kapag hindi makita ang gustong kulay. Pagkuwa'y napahinto ito, her eyes flicker na tila may naiisip. Then she looked at Red as if may gusto itong sabihin na tila nag-aalangan.

Napataas ang isang kilay ni Red as if hinting na may naiisip si Terrenz.

"What?" he asked.

"I know what color I like," ani Terrenz but somewhat hesitating. Hindi niya alam kung pano niya idedescribe kay Red iyon. Actually, she can describe it pero she needs to touch again something about their past and hindi niya alam kung maalala iyon ni Red.

Hindi sumagot si Red. He just looked at her waiting for her to continue.

"I-it's the color of a d-dried w-white rose na nakaipit sa n-notebook..." Terrenz said stammering. She struggled in describing it. But she looked at Red trying to catch his reaction or a hint kung naalala ba iyon ni Red.

Napaangat si Red mula sa pagkakasandal sa upuan. Itinukod niya ang siko sa lamesa and covered his mouth with his hands to hide the somewhat forming mischievous smile. He is hiding his eagerness by acting as if trying to figure out kung ano yung dinedescribe ni Terrenz. But he remembers it well.

Terrenz always loved white roses. Not because of its purity but because it gives the sense of eternity kapag pinapatuyo nito iyon by putting it in between the pages of her notebook. She loved its color. To her, it is like an old color in a romantic way.

"D-do you remember how I used to keep w-white roses in the pages of my notebook u-until it dries up?" tila na nanantiyang tanong ni Terrenz.

Red just looked at her. How can he forget? It was his favorite memory. But he doesn't want to embarrass Terrenz. Atleast he had just proven once again that Terrenz never really forgets. Tumango-tango si Red. Trying to give an impression na he had just remembered.

"I get what you mean. But don't you think it will be difficult?" Reality wise, hindi nga naman ganun kadaling maghanap ng gustong kulay ni Terrenz.

Napangiwi si Terrenz. She realized that somehow but she was somewhat hopeful. In the past 2 months, Red had done all what she wished to have. Infact nabubuo ang project nilang ito with every bit of her desires. Tila she is actually building her dream. But Red was always insisting na siya ang pumili at magdesisyon ng mga gusto niya. Which she eagerly oblige.

"Anyway, let's just look for other options," turan ni Terrenz and started flipping the guidebook again.

Red smiled widely. He reached for the guide book at inagaw iyon kay Terrenz. Sinara nito iyon atsaka tumayo sa pagkakaupo. Napalingon sa kaniya si Terrenz.

"It is difficult, but it doesn't mean it won't happen," he said with a mischievous grin. Kinuha nito ang cellphone and dialed a number. He looked at her habang nag-aabang ng sasagot mula sa tinatawagan nito.

"Jayvz, bro. I need materials," anito nang tila may sumagot na. Terrenz knew it was JV. "Can you dry up millions of white roses for me? I need that kind of shade," turan nito as he winked at her saka tumalikod.

Napasunod na lang ng tingin si Terrenz dito. She smiled and shooked her head as Red went out while talking to his phone.