Paper Memories

Chapter 22-I

Chapter 22-I

"Madam yung pokpok mo oh."

I followed where Gregory was pointing, tinuturo niya pala si Nabi ng nakatitig sa akin sa isang tabi. Hays, si Gregory talaga nakukuha pang magloko ng ganto. I just nudge him to keep walking along with the box of props he have. We need to drop this by the thearer arts." It's just my classmate, shut up. Kung ano-ano pa ang tawag mo sa kanya sa lakas ng boses mo."

"Lasing ka ba, Gregory?" Nawiwirduhang tanong ko.

"Ay yung mga schoolmate pwede maglasing ako hindi?" Parang bata niyang patol.

I frantically made him shush again. Nakakahiya to, nakita niya kasi kanina yung mga schoolmates kong nagppuslit ng alcoholic bevarages o paninigarilyo sa campus." Ano ba! Keep your voice down. Chismosa pa naman yan si Nabi, ikkwento na kung ano-anong sinasabi mo!"

"Mukang hanap-hanap ka nga nun, Madam." Gregory copies how whisper, mentioning on how Nabi just left when we are closer to her." Ay, umalis. Paano na lang ang date niyo maya?"

"Ako na naman. Maraming may type kay Nabi, ikaw ba hindi?

Gregory face soured when I counter the topic back to him. Ang rami niyang alam na biro at paintriga, mas naiinis pa ako na pinapahaba niya ang tensyon bago niya tapusin ang sasabihin niya!" Madam, oo maganda yung munyika mo---pero mukang batang may boobs"

"Loko 'to! Baka may makarinig!" I protest with a red face.

"Type pala ni Madam mga ganyan." Gregory pouted.

But Gregory always sounds so ridiculous. Even his plan to blackmail me is not well-thought, that's why I end up letting him stay. Gosh,one day his stupidness would kill me!" Stop saying weird things! She ain't a kid! Hoy! Tatawa ka pa."

"Madam, hinay-hinay sa pag-iingles hindi ko lahat maiintindihan yan!"Sabi ni Gregory habang hawak ng isang kamay niya ang ilong niya. Kaunti na lang malapit na kami classroom nila Keira kaya sana umawat na siya! " Hindi ka ba naawa sa akin, Madam? Please naman!"

I grunted, namumula pa rin ako." Umayos ka nga Gregory!"

Napasipol na lang siya, saka inayos ang bitbit niya. May dala rin akong box dahil ito na ang panibagong batch ng props na natapos ko. Gregory tried his best to shut up but he looks like he'd suffocate if he didn't have the chance to tattle. Sa dulo nga napaubo na lang siya at di nakapagpigil." Ang daming pinapagawa sayo, Madam. Parang kada uwi mo may pinapadala kang bagong gagawing props! Kung ako sayo sawa na ako neto!"

"Ayos lang. Gusto ka ng ganto. And Ronald is helping me."

"Yun? Sinama mo na ba siya dito sa school mo, Madam?"

Maybe I could just do that...

Gregory simple statement made something click inside my head. He's right, I could also invite Ronald in here. Kahit sandali lang para maipakita ako paintings ko na nasa art club ko at pa na rin ang set ng theater arts. Baka sa ganto ganahan na din siyang bumalik sa pag-aaral. I'm worried on how he is lately, and I just started to think more and more of him.

I feel the need to save him from reality.

"Still drawing? Tapos na ako." Pahayag ni Nabi.

"Malapit na din, I just need the finishing touches." Lunch break ngayon sa block namin sa fine arts.Everyone is busy with their own business. Kahit ako na naghahabol ng ipapasa." Ah. But since it's not due for today, sa bahay ko na lang ippolish."

"Ganto rin ba ipapasa mo sa art psych? Or painting? " Nabi ask as she pick the set of pencils I have, she pick up a charcoal pencil." Ang broad ng theme. And what medium would you use? Acryllic? You always use acrylic."

"Yeah, acrylic."

"Oh,that's so you."

I'm not sure if she only meant is a question or an insult. Maliban sa pagiging the best in class, kilala din si Nabi na pinakamatalim sa pagbibigay ng critiques." I like acrylic as my go-to medium. Hindi na ako nagskketch sa canvas, kaya mas mainam sa akin madali matapalan yung namali ko kaysa burahin o umilit. Then you, I think you use watercolor the most even if its tricky and hard to use."

"Yeah, it feels transparent and gradient." I remembred the portrait painting she gave me. Mararaming sumasangayon na mahirap i-master ang watercolor, na nagiging dagdag credit sa kanya." I like drawing nature and butterflies. Unlike you who seems to have an obsession with portrait and faces. And that weird boy there---- you two seem to like painting nightmares and hell."

Ricos just popped in beside us." I like oil paints and doodles, Ate."

Nabi almost yelp because of his sudden appearance, napaatras pa siya sa akin. Buti na lang di niya natulak si Ricos sa pagkagulat.At kahit na pinapakita na ni Rico sang ibang niyang gawa katulad ng doodle art niya, ay nakuha pa rin ang pagka-critique ni Nabi. " I'm not interested with your childish drawings. Goal din ng art i-capture yung ugliness ng isang bagay, you seem to share that trait with Sheena."

"I like them pretty..." Mahinang komento ko.

"...My works are loved anyway, why be like others?" Singit ni Ricos.

"Masterpiece na ba sainyo ang pinasa niyo?" Hirit ni Nabi,at baka dahil nagsama-sama kaming tatlo ay napatingin sa amin ang iba naming kaklase." Oh wait both of you seems interested in making monster like works! Pero ikaw Ricos, focus sa anatomy, which all look tortured and fuck up anyway! You like drawing limbs the most, is it because you're sickly? Ang creepy na kaya nung iba, baka nirereflect na laman ng utak mo?"

"I'm not interested on being the best." I notice how it takes a few moments for Ricos to register what he heard. Nailang din ako sa unti-unti pagbusanngot ng mukha niya at paghigpit niya ng hawak sa sketchbook niya." If they don't like it...Then I just want make art, that alone is enough."

"Nabi, tama na, okay? Approval doesn't always matter."

Pinamulhan si Nabi. I started to hear how some of our classmates started cheering her mockery on us. "Are you two looking down on arts? Approval matter. Art should be beautiful, and others should agree it is! Kung para sayo lang ang ginagawa mo edi tinago mo na lang ang gawa mo hanggang mabulok! Dapat hindi kayo nag-fine arts kung wala kayong pake sa sasabhin ng iba!"

Napayuko si Ricos." B-But I just do what I love the wa-----"

"Look at these crazy duo! May angal ka Ricos?" Bigla nakisabat ang isa naming kaklase Si Lionel na naman, na prelims pa ako pinagiinitan. Dahil 'to sa ginawang eksena ni Nabi! " Ha? Bakit magwawala ka? Fucking freak."

"Tumigil na kayo, magsisimula na next class." Gwen, our class rep warned.

Pero dahil kakampi ni Nabi ang kalahati ng block ay di siya matinag sa, kahit sa pagsaway class rep namin wala siyang pake." Tawagin mang art genius ang dalawang 'to,ang freaky naman ng mga gawa nila!"

"Nobody said artist are good people in the first place." Saad ni Gwen.

Nabi stuttered upon hearing that." W-why, why are you on their side?"

"Okay! Okay, Pres.We'd calm down. We just hate how thse weirdoes are." Lionel laugh trying to still make things on his favor. Naging malamig ang athmosphere ng buong klase sa panapos na komento ni Gwen. He even tried to hold Ricos but I stop him," Ah, Mga genius nga naman eh.Kung hindi lang sila privilege na ganto. Ang silbi yata ni Ricos ay maging science specimen sa mukhang yan at si Sheena ay baka paghubarin mo na lang."

Ricos glared at him." Don't talk about Ate that way..."

Lionel smirked." Pero tama naman ako, diba?"