Paper Memories

Chapter 5-III

Chapter 5-III

That wasn't the perfect timing.

I don't know when would be the next time I could talk with Ralph, so I was disappointed it was cut short. At hindi ko nasigurado ang reaksyon niya as huling nasabi ko sa kanya. Pero kailangan ko pa ba talaga isipin ang usapang naputol na ni Percival?

Bakit sa lahat ng painting ko siya pa naging totoo?

Bumukas ng pinto, speaking of the devil." May dala akong dinner, Hon."

"You seem like you want to join me, ilagay mo muna jan sa may tabi." I am rearranging the attic room. I am restless, but I need to make things normal even with this new man in my life. Kaso, mas muka ngang nagkandakalat-kalat dito dahil nadistract ako sa mga lumang gamit ko." Maya-maya na ako kakain, just let me finish packing up this."

"...Sheena, are you mad at me?"

"...If this is about Ralph, no I'm not."

Percival scratch his cheek, umupo katulad ko sa sahig." You seem to be talking about something....Sorry about dun...Pero sinusubukan ko lang maging parang mag-boyfriend and girlfriend tayo-----yun ang role na dapat gawin ko diba?"

"We could take it slow, dalawang araw pa lang tayo magkakilala." I glance at the meal he brought. Its pasta and bread this time. I look up to his meek expression, can I really trust this man? Ah, pero pwede ko naman siyang kilalanin. Kusa man o sapilitan. " It could start with me knowing your real identity and all. O kung paano ang galing mong magluto at paano mo na lang napagana yung sira kong kotse."

"I just make do of what we have here, Hon."

"You're keeping yourself shrouded in mystery-----what do you want me to do?"

"Gusto mo bang lumabas tayo ngayong gabi?" He evaded my questions. I did the same by keeping myself busy cleaning. I am pulling my old journals and artworks from some old boxes from my early teenage years. I got a flashback of my past. Maybe...I need help again... I need someone to know him for me. Kailan kong alamin kung ano din ang nakaraan niya. "O pwede rin tayo mag-stargazing mamaya sa rooftop?"

"I don't know, I'm still cleaning Percival."

"I'd do that for you! A-and you can eat your dinner first, right?"

I look up at him for a second." Bakit ka nagmamadali, uuwi ka ba?"

Napailing siya agad, his discomfort apparent." I just arrived..."

Napabuntong hininga ako dahil nahanap ko isa sa mga pinakalumang box dito, the faint labels compels me to open it, yet Percival need my attention first." Kakasimula pa lang ng school year namin... Let's not rush -------you're not going anywhere unlike Ralph, aren't you? You'd make it up to me. Iniisip at tinatanong ko lang kung hindi ka ba mababagot kung wala kang ibang pupuntahan."

He frowned." I just want...Us to spend time together."

"Come here." I whispered into his ear." We'll go out next time"

Nagkibit balikat siya, nagmamakaawa. Pushing my chores away." If you say so, kapag hindi ka na busy o artworks mo lang inaatupag mo..."

"Like a girlfriend and boyfriend." Dinampi ko ang mga labi ko pisngi niya ng nakumpirma kong ayun gusto niya. Gusto ko na lang siya asarin dahil sa pamumula niya. I'm sure he wants me, but he's flustered like this." Or just like creator and creation, Percival."

"I'd wait patiently then." He said still holding his cheeks.

Inisa-isa ko ang laman ng box. "Let's renovate the house like you want."

Percival looks a little bit more human for the first time.

So I left him in his own world for a while, and let him quietly observe me. He seems happy with himself because I paid him attention.Kaya ngayon, inatupag ko isa-isahin ang laman ng box, inalis ko ang bawat sketchbook na nasa kahon, mga artwork ko mula pa nung pagkabata. Binuklat ko ang mga pahina para alalanin kung paano ako nun. Time seems to stop as I do that, until I find a portrait that gives me a strange feeling.

The paper was ripped and half-burnt.