Lena contacted Cyrus after that enlightening talk with Bailey. They agreed to meet the next day, kasama ang pinsan nito na ikakasal. His cousin, Julie, wanted an artistic photo shoot. Iyong tipo raw na candid. Fortunately, that's her forte. She got into photography because she wanted to capture moments. She lives for candid moments, snapping pictures while everyone are busy doing their own thing.

In addition to that criterion, Julie also asked her to have them shoot on different locations. She immediately thought of Bailey. Siguro ay ihahabilin muna niya ito sa mga magulang. Julie's wedding is in six months. She plans on taking a week-long leave for the shoot. So she only has one week to capture everything that needs to be captured for the pre-nuptial shoot.

Cyrus promised that he'll be around to help.

"And we also like to feature some of your artworks," Cyrus told her. "Julie and Blake met in an art café, but it was already closed, so there's no other way to recreate it."

"Why not just look for another art café?"

Nagkatinginan ang magpinsan.

"Well, you're an artist and a photographer so we figured na... ikaw na lang ang mag-recreate no'n. Two birds with one stone," paliwanag ni Julie.

"But I don't have an art café," she pointed out. At that moment, she was ready to back out and say no. Tatrabahuhin pa niya iyon. Magpapagod pa siya. Instead of just doing the shoot, sya pa ang magiging in charge sa production. She's a one-man team. She can't do it. At least, not alone.

"Cy will help you." Julie turned to her cousin. "You'll help, right?"

"Not this again," Cyrus muttered when Julie smiled. The way she smiled made her think that the two share a secret that she can't know about. Hindi na siya nakiusyoso. She hates prying.

"He'll help," Julie assured her. Then she stood up. "Well, I better get going. I still have some place to be."

"Wait. I didn't say I'd do it."

Julie simply smiled and patted Cyrus's back before leaving. She gave Cyrus a quizzical look.

"I know. She's weird." He smiled. "So, are you up for it?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "Para kasing sobrang matrabaho, e. That café shoot alone will take a lot of work."

"Not when there's already a great venue for the shoot."

That made her confused. They were asking her earlier to recreate a cafe scene dahil nagsara na raw ang café kung saan nagkakilala si Julie at ang fiancé nito. Now, he's telling her that there's already a venue. She's just wondering how. Did he remember a place somewhere while they were talking?

--

Her question was later answered when they stopped in front of her house. Cyrus explained that Martin told him that her place looks like a café and even suggested that they use it for the photo shoot.

"Sabi nya kakausapin ka raw nya," he told her.

Tumango na lamang siya. Martin might have forgotten about it already.

"It's okay if you don't want to. I'll just look for a place."

"We're already here, so you might as well check it." She unlocked the door "Just stay behind me. I rarely get visitors kaya hindi sanay ang aso ko. He might lunge at you."

Cyrus nodded and took a step back. Inihahabilin niya si Bailey sa kapitbahay kapag umaalis siya. But since she's only gone for more than an hour, hinayaan na lamang niya ito sa loob. Bailey's an obedient dog. As long as kasama nito ang chew toy nito, he won't misbehave.

Her dog was waiting in front of the door. Nakaupo ito, nakangiti nang labas ang dila. But the moment he saw Cyrus behind her, he closed his mouth and stood up.

"Down, boy."

Hinawakan niya ito sa collar at saka itinabi. Pinapasok niya si Cyrus. Napanganga ito nang makita ang kabuuan ng bahay niya. Ganito naman madalas kapag may bisita siya, which rarely happens. Ayaw niyang may ibang tao sa bahay niya. Palagi kasing pinakikialaman ang mga gamit. Naiintindihan naman niyang curious ang mga ito, pero naiinis talaga siya kapag nami-misplace ang mga gamit niya. Mismong aso nga niya, marunong magbalik ng gamit sa pinagkuhanan. Why can't people do the same?

She put Bailey on a leash and joined Cyrus in the living room. It's lower than the rest of the house. Pinataasan niya ang sahig ng buong bahay, leaving the living room area on its original height. The square-shaped hole has lots of throw pillows in it. Doon sila madalas matulog ni Bailey, kapag tinatamad na siyang tumayo matapos ang mahabang oras ng panunuod ng TV.

Nakatayo si Cyrus sa tapat noon. He's checking the details on the throw pillow cases. They're made out of burlap which she dyed white then decorated with black paint.

"Ito ba 'yong tinutukoy ni Martin?" tanong niya kay Cyrus, drawing his attention. She was pointing at the side wall. May dalawang hanging wicker chairs na magkaharap at isang bilog na coffee table na nasa gitna. She designed that furniture. Isa sa mga paborito niyang gawa ay ang coffee table which doubles as a rotating mini library.

She made it look like a wheel, pero suspended ang top at bottom part at iyong gitna lamang ang umiikot. With Martin's engineering, her design came to life.

Cyrus touched the wall. She could tell that he's amazed. Halos lahat naman ng nagpupunta sa bahay niya, namamangha. It seems like she's the only one who's not impressed with what she can do. She always thinks that she could do better.

"Wow," was all he could say.

Gusto niyang sabihin na hindi naman big deal. It's just a wall after all. But people see things differently. To her it might be nothing, but to him, it's probably pretty amazing.

"Does it look like a café?"

"No, but it'll do." He faced the living room. "You could also take a picture of them cuddling there."

She grimaced. That area has Bailey written all over it. Malinis naman ang aso niya, but still, it will smell like Bailey and it will be filled with his fur too. Does this mean that she has to clean it up?

Nilibot ni Cyrus ang buong bahay niya, stopping here and there to check an artwork. He's particularly interested with a lamp that she made out of eggshells.

Bungalow ang bahay niya. Pagpasok mo sa pintuan, kita mo na ang lahat. CR lamang ang may separate na pintuan. May mga bintana sa itaas, na malapit sa bubungan. Iyon ang nagsisilbing ilaw niya sa umaga. There's still a big empty space at the back it made their voices echo.

Sinundan niya si Cyrus nang dumako ito roon, lampas sa kitchen at washing area. The back wall has no decoration in it, just different bursts of colours. Sa gilid ay may dalawang wood boxes na may nakapatong na maliit na planggana.

May laman iyong paint balloons.

"Para sa'n 'to?" tanong nito sa kanya.

"Pangtanggal ng stress," sagot niya. "This is my anger management wall. Madalas kasi akong mainis o ma-frustrate. And when I'm angry or frustrated, I tend to be destructive."

Ilang cell phones na rin ang naibato niya sa pader dahil sa galit. Her mom suggested this alternative. She tediously lined the wall with pins, facing outward. Saka niya ibinabato ang mga lobong may lamang pintura doon kapag nagagalit siya.

Cyrus threw the balloon. It made a huge red splatter on the wall. Then, he turned to her and grinned.

"You're right. It's therapeutic."

He was smiling, but there's a tinge of sadness in his eyes. Gusto sana niyang magtanong kung ano ang nangyari noon. She loves tragic stories. Painful memories, especially. Pain is a more creative motivator than joy and she finds herself more inspired after a painful encounter.

He must have sensed that she wanted a story, because he began telling her one.

"I was on my way to the hospital that day, but Joanna's mom told me to stop by this café where we first met. Gusto raw ni Joanna ng cheesecake. So I went there. I even brought a bouquet of her favorite flowers from the nearby flower shop. But then, I received a call right when I was about to go in. They told me—"

He fell silent.

"So you didn't get a chance to say goodbye?"

Umiling ito. "I did talk to her the night before. I just didn't know that it was already the last time."

"I'm sorry."

"I am, too, but we can never really hold on to life. I still miss her, but I know that the feeling will eventually fade. Hinihintay ko na lang na mawala ang lungkot, because that's all I can do."

She simply nodded, not really knowing what to say. She's not good with words. Hanggang tapik sa balikat lamang ang paraan niya ng pagbibigay ng simpatya. Maybe that's why she doesn't have many friends. Mas sanay kasi siyang mag-isa.

"So..." His smiled returned. "Are you okay with doing the shoot?"

"Uhm... yeah. Okay."

It doesn't feel right to say no to him after that sob story.