6 Chapter 5 (2/2)

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.