Through the Window

Chapter 17 - Back Off

It was a Wednesday night and Jho was in the exact same place she had been every night for the past two weeks: in the art studio working on a major project that was due by the end of the week. With the exception of classes and a few quick lunch dates with Bea, she had spent the last couple weeks holed up in the studio, living off of fast food burgers, coffee and very little sleep. She missed her girlfriend tremendously, but she had to get this done. It was worth a third of her grade. She was kind of pissed about the fact that it was due so early in the semester, but her professor stated that it simply gave the students more time to work on their final project.

Bea missed her, too, but she was busy with school and volleyball. When they couldn't meet for lunch, they talked on the phone and texted every day. After the incident with Maddie walking in on them -- which Jho had told Bea about afterwards and Bea couldn't help but laugh at the situation, even if it was a bit awkward -- Maddie pretty much left Bea alone. There hadn't been any attempt at seducing her, lying around in her underwear or even talking suggestively to her. In fact, the only words Maddie and Bea ever exchanged now were greetings and goodbyes. And maybe a few typical roommate discussions. Jho was relived, and she definitely missed being in Bea's bed.

Jho took a sip of her cold coffee and nearly spit it out. It pretty much stopped doing its job three hours ago, anyway. She wiped her forehead on her sleeve and rubbed her eyes, trying to wake up. She was a mess. There was paint all over her. It was on her clothes, in her fingernails, even in her hair. She was in desperate need of a shower and a good night's sleep, but she knew she couldn't have either. She was beyond stressed. She had been working on this piece for weeks and no matter how hard she worked or what she did, it never seemed to be good enough. She had started it and re-started it several times. She had used different palettes and color schemes and nothing seemed to be able to convey what she wanted to express with this piece.

She finally switched from watercolor to oils and felt okay with how it was progressing, but she felt like she was farther behind than the other students. Mainly because she was the only one in the studio right now. Though, that was probably due to the fact that it was nearly midnight.

She stretched out, feeling her back crack and her leg muscles pull. She adjusted herself on the stool, trying to get as comfortable as possible. She picked up a brush and stared at the painting, trying to will her hand to move, but it wouldn't move. She didn't even know where it was supposed to go. All the colors started running together as her eyes drooped and her head started falling forward. She was almost asleep when she was startled by a voice behind her.

"So this is where you've taken up residence the last two weeks."

Jho jumped and turned around to find Bea standing in the doorway.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you."

Jho offered a sleepy half-smile and watched as Bea hurried toward her with concern.

"Jho, you look exhausted." She placed her hand on Jho's cheek and tried to get her eyes to focus. "Hey, Jho. Wake up, sweetie."

Jho's eyes found hers and her smile grew wider.

"Bei, hi," she said faintly. "Pa'no mo 'ko nahanap?

"Sabi ni Trina baka andito ka. I remembered the building from the tour you gave me. I had to ask around for the specific studio, though. Thankfully there were a couple of people outside who seemed to know their way around." She went to help Jho up. "Tara, uwi na tayo."

Jho stayed where she was. "I can't."

"You need rest."

"Kailangan kong tapusin," she mumbled.