Paper Memories

Chapter 5-I

Chapter 5-I

Colors of black, red, and green are strongly attached to me.

I had already tried to wash and wipe it off earlier, but it still left a stain on my hands, wrist, and the hem of my sweater. Naasikaso ko lang ang sarili ko ng matapos ang last class. Naglalakad na sa hallway pero hindi pa rin ako nakontento sa nalinis ko.

Kaya lumiko ako sa may faucet area ng lobby.

Masyado ata akong frustrated sa itsura ko ngayon kaya hindi ko pansin na may lumapit sa akin. He's the head of our department, the dean. Medyo wrong timing siya, baka hinahanap na akong peke kong boyfriend. " I heard your complaint about what happened in the old art club, but aside from that you seem to be getting in trouble again."

"Ako po yung ginugulo nila...."

"What happened this time?"

I keep washing my hands, as glance towards. Alam kong iba ang punto niya. Iba na naman." Ah, natapunan lang po ako nung nagp-paint kami kanina. Masyadong madikit. By the way po diba may klase pa kayo? Baka naabala ko na pa kayo na kinakamusta niyo ako."

Huminga siya ng malalim."You are better than this, Cervantes."

"...I would never be like them, Sir." He cares about who I used to be, hindi ko masikmura na yun ang hinahanap nila. I want my legs just to get me out of this empty hallway."...Pero akala po hindi po kayo basta-basta pumapanig kahit kanino------or to direct your judgement on me."

"Hindi sa ga----I-I..." Nauutal siya, napatingin siya sa likod ko at may kinawayan. School counsellor namin. His lips grimace while trying t evade the very topic he started." Our school want to give every students the best."

"The truth is not on the other way around, Sir."

Nilagpasan niya ako, walked towards the school counsellor.

My body felt too tired to argue and prove a point, so I'm just glad he left. Pansin ko na rin na makulimlim na ang langit kaya gusto ko ng magmadali sa pag-uwi. Papayuko na ako, ng tawagin ako ng counsellor para batiin, kausap si dean, habang nasa tabi nila ang isang estudyante. Is he in trouble? In need of help? Transferee? He doesn't look familiar. The guy's black hoodie is covering his head and face, but when I saw a glimpse of his body and skin, he looked very frail. Something made me instinctively stop walking and wait so I could see how he really looked.

But all I saw was his smile.