Author's note: From now on, I'll be writing in third person POV. This is to challenge myself to write in such.
"Good work for today, Ash, you can go back to the office and just submit your accomplishments on Monday," Ashita's immediate supervisor called her.
Ashita was once again in a client somewhere in Espanya. They were rather a well-known photography studio since a lot of students from UST would take their grad photos in that studio.
It was just another field work day for her. All she had to do is to conduct cash count and reconciliations. She smiled to herself since she didn't have to work overtime that weekend.
Today was a payday for her which will allow her to buy another set of Instax films tomorrow. She felt a bit bad when she kept receiving vintage photos without anything to reply with.
She recalled the recent photo she got from the drawer that morning. It was another photo of Alejandro but his back was facing the camera and he was setting up his own camera on a tripod.
"For my Tomorrow,
I hope my appearance did not disappoint you and it has been a week since your last response. Please know I still await for your reply.
--A. Briones, 1938
Embarassed, Ashita used one of the cosplay prints of her friend, Sallie, and wrote behind it. Sallie was cosplaying a popular character named Sophie from Howl's Moving Castle.
"My apologies. I have ran out of film and I still await for my finances to replenished before I take another set of photos for sending.
Here is a portrait of my friend taken by me.
-Ashita"
Ashita checked her watch. It was still early so she can still catch the next train from Espanya to Blumentritt even if she gets caught in the cut-off.
Unfortunately, she had reached the cut-off. She sighed. Looks like she will be boarding the last train trip.
Great. She thought, here's to the even more hellish lines by the LRT ride home. She stood by the platform with her back sitting in front her as she held listened to music.
"My Weekly Spotify playlist sucks today," Ashita sighed as she switched to the next song.
For some reason, the old woman's words echoed in Ashita's head. She muttered to herself, "Take the last train from Espanya to Sta. Mesa... This is it, right?"
Subconsciously, Ashita lined up for the southbound train. Then she had gotten off by the next station, Sta. Mesa. When she had gotten back into her senses, she began to cry out when the train had left her in the station.
"Oh lord! I rode the wrong train again," Ashita grumbled. "Must be stress getting on me. I really need some sleep!"
"How pompous!" A middle aged lady in a white baro and saya hissed behind her fan as she glared at Ashita's slacks. "These ladies are starting to wear pants and trying hard to be like those mannerless American lads."
"W-what?" Ashita breathed as she tried to fix her glasses. She looked everywhere and it seemed like everyone wore suits, formal dresses, and Filipinianas.
"Is there some sort of a party?" Ashita whispered to herself. She felt so conscious with the stares. "I'm fully covered. Ugh. You just never win, huh?"
Then she felt someone put a shawl on her shoulders. A lady who looked five or six years older than her gave a gentle smile. "Here, let me help you. People are looking at you as if you were naked and I can't stand it!"
"T-thank you, sister," Ashita politely said.
"Please call me Mercedes!" The lady spoke happily. "I like people who dress differently, to be honest. They don't let themselves be dictated by society."
Mercedes had cute chubby cheeks and spunk was present on her eyes. Her hair was piled in a neat bun. She wore a white baro and a long red saya. She winked and tapped a closed fan on her temple. Her fan was actually attached on a belt tied around her waist
"What's your name?" Mercedes asked.
"Ashita. But please call me Ash for short," Ashita spoke.
"See? Your name is unique too!" Mercedes said.
Then by the gleam of the streetlights, she noticed the two large straw bags being carried by Mercedes. Ashita spoke up, "Please let me help you!"
Mercedes chuckled, "Of course, Ash. Just help me carry these to that vehicle waiting for us."
The two women carried to a luxurious vintage vehicle. A man in a top hat got out from the car and spoke, "Mercedes! How many times must I remind you to bring some of those helper boys to carry these to Aleng's studio?"
He walked and took the bags from both women.
Mercedes placed both of her hands on her hips. "Paco, those boys don't know how to handle my hard work. The last time I asked them to carry a dress to Captain Santiago's house, they caused a large hole on the shawl! It was supposed to be used for his daughter's birthday! Do you know how hard it is to look for the finest Pina fabric!?"
"Alright, alright," Paco chuckled as he leaned down to kiss her cheek. "I am quite surprised with how patient you are this time."
"I am tempted to bastardize it but I can't risk ruining my reputation," Mercedes retorted. Then she turned to Ashita with a smile, "This is my husband, Paciano or Paco. He usually wears a top hat and a round-rimmed dark eye glasses. Don't mind him and his pathetic jokes."
"Nice to meet you, young lady," Paciano gave a slight bow. "You look kind of familiar."
"Nice to meet you also, Sir Paco, my name is Ashita," Ashita nodded. "I am afraid we have never met before. But you remind me of Simoun from El Filibusterismo."
Paciano laughed out loud, "See, Mercedes? She gets it! Marvelous! A woman of culture."
"Don't forget who sews your coats, frog face" Mercedes raised an eyebrow. "Anyways, do you have anywhere else to go to, Ashita?"
"Not really. I might go home. I live alone anyways," Ashita gave an awkward smile.
"No good! We can't let a young lady stay out alone this late! We'll escort you home tomorrow morning!" Mercedes fiercely spoke. "Let's bring her with us to Aleng's studio and let her stay in our guest room tonight!"
Ashita wanted to decline. Mercedes just grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her inside the car.
"Where to, ladies?" Paciano asked as he started the engine.
"Just drive," Mercedes rolled her eyes as she sat at the back seat with Ashita.
---It was already evening yet the street lights never seemed to sleep in the bustling streets of Escolta. There stood the A. Briones Studio's door which had already closed for the day.
Ashita looked at the sign and felt a shiver prickle her arm. A. Briones. This is the guy who kept signing those vintage photos. Anticipation and nervousness filled her system.
She took a deep breath as she followed Mercedes out of the car. Paco carried the two bags until they had reached the door step.
He began to knock the door loudly, "Aleng! It's us!"
The door of the studio was opened despite its "closed" signage at its front. Paco smiled, "Ladies first." And Ashita followed Mercedes inside.
"What can I offer you?" A man in a white shirt with suspenders smiled gleefully. He had sharp cat-like eyes and wavy long hair reaching his back which he had tied into a ponytail.
When his eyes reached Ashita's shocked ones behind her glasses, his smile faded and his lips were left agape.
Ashita felt her beating heart reach her throat. She never met him before but she felt as if she knew him very well. She thought that he was just pulling her leg but no. It felt like the last two vintage photos she received jumped out to real life.
"You..." The man breathed as he took slow steps closer to Ashita.
Puffy curly hair reaching her shoulder, doe-like wide eyes behind rectangular frames, and small dainty hands? How can a photo from his drawer come to life?
Mercedes squinted as Aleng (or Alejandro), reached out to tuck the hair behind Ashita's ear.
"Are you Mr. Briones?" Ashita breathed out. "Are you the one who sent those photos?"
Alejandro only smiled, "I prefer if you call me Alejandro. I never thought you are more beautiful than what I saw in the photo, My Tomorrow."
Ashita could only chew her lower lip as she felt her face heat up. Beautiful? No guy has ever told those words to her before.
She could only look away as she adjusted her glasses, "Who paid you to tell me that?"
"No one, I believe," Aleng grinned boyishly. "But I never thought I'll be able to see you. I dreamt of this moment but I didn't think it would ever happen in real life."
"I-I'm sorry I didn't send photos immediately," Ashita bowrd her head to hide her embarassment.
"You are a skilled photographer, Ashita. You know how to make colors pop out in photos, you know," Aleng's sharp eyes were gentle.
Mercedes cleared out her throat to get their attention, "Sorry to interrupt your moment but we have other matters here, Aleng."
"Please don't use that embarassing nickname," Alejandro shook his head.
Paco chuckled as he set the bags on the floor. "It's going to be Nenita's birthday photoshoot tomorrow. You know very well that the children of Mrs. Saavedra always get their photos taken on their birthdays."
"That's right. Madam Saavedra actually asked to get Nenita's dresses delivered here," Alejandro sighed. "I am glad you didn't rip the dresses apart, Mercedes."
"Mrs. Saavedra pays well despite how spoiled her daughters are," Mercedes opened her fan snappily and started to fan herself. "Nenita may have the most angelic face in town but she is a she-demon inside!"
"Don't be like that, dear," Paciano put his hands gently on his wife's shoulders. "God will get mad if you speak ill-will towards your neighbors."
As Mercedes huffed, Ashita's scanned around the studio. There were chairs and a backdrop. A chair behind a tripod. Then a small desk which had a sign "Pay Here."
When her eyes fell upon the calendar, she noticed that it was in the year 1938. She asked, "Is your calendar updated, Alejandro?"
"Yes, why did you ask?" Alejandro tilted his head to the side, puzzled.
Suddenly, shivers fell down on Ashita's spine.