When You Ran Away (When Series #4)

Three

Chapter 3.

Painting.

Morning came and it's another day for me. Bumangon ako at inayos ang sariling kama. I looked at myself in the mirror after wearing my glasses.

Wew... I really looked like a mess every morning.

Bumuntong-hininga ako at tumungo na sa banyo. Tessa and Weshia planned to go to the mall later after our class, plano ko sanang librehan sila. Maybe I can treat them foods? Or... materials?

"Good morning, Leria!" masiglang bati ni Tessa pagkarating ko sa classroom.

"Good morning... wala pa bah si Weshia?" tanong ko.

"Wala pa eh, late siguro nakatulog iyon." umupo siya sa upoan na nasa harap ng desk ko. I gave her a questioning look and she chuckled. "Huwag mo na isipin. Darating din iyon."

"Ah... Hahaha... okay."

Bigla niya akong tinitigan pagkatapos kong matawa nang mahina. Napakurap naman ako. "Grabe... kahit pagtawa mo, tunog anghel." my eyes widened and I immediately felt my cheeks burned.

"H-huh? Hindi naman... masyado ka namang--" I was cut off when she suddenly slammed her hand in my desk. Humiwalay saglit ang kaluluwa ko doon, ah...

"Turoan mo 'ko paano tumawa ng ganiyan!"

My lips parted, couldn't believe what she said. Ilang beses akong napakurap at hindi napigilan ang sarili na matawa. "You don't have to follow what I do, Tessa." nakangiting ani ko at ngumuso siya. "Maganda rin pakinggan ang pagtawa mo..."

"Hmpf! Paano mo naman nasabi? Panay saway sa 'kin si Mama dahil para raw akong kalabaw sa lakas ng tawa ko," reklamo niya.

I stared at her for a second and smiled. "Maniwala ka sa 'kin, ang ganda pakinggan ng boses mo."

Hindi na siya nakasagot pa nang dumating si Weshia. After that, our first class started. Art subject pero wala ako masyadong talent sa pagpipinta. I looked at Weshia's work and I saw how amazing it is. Kay Tessaiya rin, sobrang ganda.

Their imaginations is really alive.

"Miss Montoya, wala ka bang maisip?" saglit akong napaigtad nang bahagyang lumapit si Ma'am Trinidad. Sinilip niya ang canvas ko. "Couldn't think of something?" mahinhing tanong niya.

I bit my lower lip and looked away. She sighed and smiled at me.

Napatingin ako sa kaniya nang kinuha niya ang brush at palette ko. "How about you imagine your happiest moment with your loved ones?" she suggested. "With that scenario, you can use the lively colours."

Napaawang ang bibig ko at tumango. I think I get it... I am a fan of nature especially when Daddy brought me to a place where I can just see mountains and trees.

Malawak na lupa na pinapaligiran ng berdeng damo.

I started to paint silently. Ma'am Trinidad taught us that once you paint, you should indulge your feelings in it. If you are sad, paint a sad painting. But I am happy today so I happily paint the scenario I imagined.

Tinitigan ko nang maayos ang painting ko at nakitang maganda naman...

"Yours looked so good, Leria!" puri ni Weshia.

"True," nakangising sang-ayon ni Tessa.

I crept a small smile. "Salamat... Ang ganda rin ng sa inyo. Halatang pinag-isipan nang mabuti," puri ko pabalik at sabay kaming nag-apir.