6 Chapter 5

My eyelids were heavy, my head drooped, my body sat at the corner slouching as I tried to stay awake. I sat at the chair beside the table, avoiding my bed.

I shook my head and finished my coffee. It's my second cup tonight, it may not sound that much but for someone who's not a big fan of coffee that's one cup too much. I glanced at my watch and perked up a bit. It's already 2 am. I got up and quietly walked to the balcony door and patiently waited.

After a few minutes my breathing hitched when I saw a figure outside. My angel. I know it's weird how I've already established a claim on her in my mind but I just can't help it. I know I don't own her or anything. It's just that, that's what she is, my angel.

Like she did in the past 2 days, she climbed up her rails and sat there quietly. And again, my heart stopped, I had the urge to reach out to her. I could never be used to seeing her climb, my heart will never fail to be afraid every time she steps on the rails. Maybe I should put a trampoline at the ground just in case, or a net.

I wonder how long have she been doing this dangerous habit of hers. This time she didn't smoke. She just sat there looking down on everything. Then later I noticed movements. Her shoulders were shaking slightly. Is she cold? Is she laughing?

Then her hands went to her face, she wiped something from her cheeks and that's when it hit me. She was crying.

It wasn't like the time I first saw her, it wasn't silent. She was sobbing. Enough to make her shoulders shake, enough for me to hear the muffled sobs. It broke my heart.

I stopped myself from going outside. To hold her and to promise her everything is alright when I'm not so sure myself. To protect her from all her monsters and demons when I can't even fight my own. To let her know I'm here no matter what, because at that moment, I knew I would be whether she wants me to or not.

She ran her hand through her hair, the movement was harsh, angry, I worried she might have pulled off a few strands. She wiped at her tears that continued to flow no matter what. She leaned in further, her eyes closed, holding onto the rails. For a minute she looked like she was going to jump, her face showed she was contemplating it. And my hand went to the door knob. I was about to open the door, to run to her, to hold on to her but she shook her head and she leaned back into her balcony. She moved and jumped back into the confines of her balcony. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. She ran her hand through her hair again and it was even harsher. She pounded on the wall behind her and when she was tired she leaned, sobbing still. With one last wipe at her tears, she went back inside her room.

Again I was left standing there, mesmerized, confused, my heart aches for her, my mind plagued with what I've just witnessed. I wonder about the ghosts that haunt her, the demons that brings her pain. I wish I could take it all away. I would gladly give her all the happiness in me in exchange for her pain if that meant never seeing her fall apart again.

As I lay in my bed that night- early morning-, my mind swarming with thoughts of her. I've decided that I would do anything, everything, to chase all her demons and ghosts away.

==

"Rise and shine lover boy!" I was harshly pulled out of my sleep as Lester pushed me off my bed. No gentle coaxing, letting my brain register anything, allowing my body to catch up. No slight nudge as an early warning for what's to come. He just pushed me, I rolled straight out of bed and the pain of hitting the floor jolted me awake.

"What the hell?!" I screamed, glaring at Lester as I grumpily got up.

"Dude, the parade starts in 2 hours." Lester looked like he just got out of the shower, hair still wet, newly dressed.

The information drained the annoyance in me. Suddenly I'm excited, it will be my first time witnessing a festival.

"Oh. I'm just gonna take a quick shower." I rushed to the bathroom, leaving my blanket scattered on the floor.

When I got out, freshly showered and properly dressed, my blanket now on my bed and Lester was out on the balcony.

"Pizza on the table. Just grab some, we're going." He ordered as soon as he saw me.

I just followed, the mention of pizza is enough to distract me. Still warm, yum.

==

Lester and I was seated in a table by the window in one of the restaurants in the city. We have a great view of the parade. Apparently, Aunt Juliana made the reservation months ago, and she paid extra to make sure we get the best seats.

"Here." Lester handed me a laminated card, an ID of some sort.

"What's that?" I asked, reaching out to take the item.

Mr. Asher Cortez, official photographer. I smiled to myself. aside from my mom, Lester and his mom are the only people who calls me Asher, and now Lena too. It had my picture and a big stamp.

"What's this for?" I asked, not taking my eyes away from the ID. 'official photographer'. It's a weird feeling, being called an official photographer, my hands tingled.

"Well you wouldn't be able to take awesome pictures from here. it can't all be top view." I looked up at him, amazed, in awe, gratitude evident in my face.

"Go ahead. it's about to start. I'll stay here. Not a fan of extreme crowds."

I smiled at him, thanked him then ran out to the streets, hanging the lace of the ID around my neck. I made my way through the crowd, showed my ID to one of the patrol and he allowed me across to the streets. Hell yeah, official photographer right here.

Later, the parade started.

To say it was incredible is an understatement.

First there were colorful dancers from kids to adults, their beautiful costumes partly made of flowers. They twirled and moved to the songs that the marching band following them played. Even the bands movements were choreographed. How long must they have practiced for this.

Then what followed was the most amazing thing for me. There were a parade of floats made of flowers. Different organizations, companies, even schools spent weeks designing and making their floats. And now they are presented in the parade. I was all around the parade, capturing memories.

It was ecstasy, the rush in me as I snapped away. It was such a frenzy. Is this what being high feels like?

I smelled it even before I saw it. It was a familiar scent, my mind raced to figure it out, and then it hit me. Vanilla, paint, and something else. It's that scent, the something else. Some kind of flower.

The LC Hotel - the hotel we're staying at, also has a float. It's beautiful, the biggest one it seems. And like the hotel itself, it's simple and classy, elegant. the float is shaped like a butterfly, made of white and yellow tulips, there were other flowers that I couldn't identify. There were shades of purple, from lightest to darkest, blue and green and everything in between.

The moment it was close enough for me to touch, I realized what it was, the scent. Lavender.

Lena, my angel, vanilla and paint and lavenders.