Paper Memories

Chapter 27-III

Chapter 27-III

"Ano, Madam ako na tatawag? Dito ka na lang sa sasakyan." Komento ni Gregory dahil titig na titig ako sa kanto kung saan nakahanay ang shop na pinag-t-trabuhan ni Ronald. "Mukang out of place diyan ha, baka mainis pa sayo yung bata."

I glared at Gregory." Baba ma ako, paanong mukang out of place ako?"

Gregory made a face, para namang ewan." Para kang kamag-anak o gf na susugod."

"Kung ano-ano na lang iniimagine mo, chismoso ka talaga." I chuckled to him, then finally step down the as I already spotted Ronald from afar." Tatanungin ko siya kung gusto niya sumamama papunta sa campus, huwag kang magsabi ng mga kawirduhan mamaya please?"

"Yes po, yes naman. Dali na, baka mabuhay pa mga painting mo kakahintay."

"Huwag mo na dagdagan...Ah! There he is, Ronald! I'm here."

"Akala ko may klase at practice ka pa, Ate? Bakit nandito ka na?" Ronald softly ask, then suddenly the world is in static. Pero ayun na naman yung habit tinitigan ko siya mula ulo hanggang paa. He's not hurt, there's nothing new and his complexion is better. He's happy to see me." Mamaya na lang ako dadaan sa inyo, may aasikasuhin muna po ako..."

"Ah, busy ka? Yayain sana kita pumunta sa school ko." I exclaimed lowly, it's disappointing but it's alright. He's busy. He doesn't like people. So I end up patting his head." Sama ka sa sunod, hindi naman nangangain ng buhay ang schoolmates ko"

"Sa susunod na lang..."

"Daan ka sa bahay mamaya, ha? I'd be home around seven."

"Ate! Bili na po kaya sampaguita! Maganda 'to isabit sa kotse niyo!" May dalawang pares ng bata ang sumulpot sa tabi namin. Parang isang Ate at ang kanyang bunsong kapatid na lalake. Sobrang bata, pero dito sila sa delikadong kalsada nagbebenta. " Mura na lang po para sayo Miss Ganda! Kanina pa kayo naghihintay dito!"

Ronald stared at them aloofly." Kanina pa siya nandito?"

The older sister beamed, she spoke again." Kanina pa! Ikaw po pala hinihintay!"

I gulp, I'm not good with kids---lalong lalo na mga batang nagt-trabaho na. The older sister was the only one speaking, while his little brother is raising the bundle of sampaguita towards me. I close my eyes as cruel thoughts enter my head, humugot ako ng pera para iababot sa kanila." Bibilhin ko na lahat, kaya umuwi na kayo, okay?"

Naging abala agad ako pagdating ko sa campus.

I was working on classwork and props customization left and right, I can't complain I choose to do this to drown my thoughts. Baka tama nga si Gregory out of place ako dun kanina, ngayon hindi ko magawang masanay kung paano ang ibang mas bata pa sakin ay -s-struggle na ganun.I need to be busy, but there's nothing left to do. So I left my classmates and to to go the art club.

But I didn't expect someone was already inside the art club.

"Ricos, that mask..."

"Does it suits me? Pahiram, Ate!"

"Hindi kita nalapitan nung pagbalik mo kanina pero nakita yung dala-dala niyo kanina! Ricos was standing right in the middle of the room as if he was waiting for me. And who know for how long. Hawak-hawak niya ang isang puting half-mask, na dahan-dahan niyang isinuot." Ate Sheena, did you brought new paintings here? I think I saw some covered canvases earlier!"

"Meron nga, san ka ba kanina nung nakita mo ako?"

"May naghatid lang po sa akin papunta sa clinic."

"Oh, you were sick. I actually made that mask for you. Inspired from the Phantom of the Opera. Nahalo pala sa box ng spare masks." He beamed when I told him that. Marami pa siyang excitement at lalong nadagdagan yun nung tinuro ko yun nung tinulungan ko siyang suotin yun." My friend also help in making that. Na-curious siya kasi naaiba, unique."

"Your friend Ronald? I'm really happy! Sayang hindi siya nakasama!"

"H-hindi nga siya nakasama, paano mo alam?"

He shrug." Send my thanks to him!"

That was weird, ang random niya." Niyaya ko si Ronald pumunta dito kanina..."

"He must be a nice boy, since you love him so much." He was standing so still, as I fix his mask making sure it's a perfect fit. Ngayon, hindi na halata ang mga lapnos niya at nangibabaw ang pilyong ngiti niya." I wonder if you told him I have a burnt face and I'm your weirdo classmate----that would be nice to imagine."

"Don't imagine it because I didn't tell him that." I'm enjoying his smile now, so he don't need to be like this." Mabait si Ronald, hindi niya iisipin yan pag nagkita kayo."

"You two are amazing---sana kayo niya din palitan ang mukha ko."

"W-what should I do to cheer you up? Gusto mo na ba makita paintings ko?"

Ricos slip away from me, he didn't react positively like I hope but he started walking towards a bunch plaster figurines at statue. Wait, he can't go there. Itinuro niya ang ilang canvases na tinago ko sa likod nun."Gusto ko po makita. I want to see how the world look in your eyes----and how you immortalize your imaginary world in your paintings, Ate."

He was about to move the statue!" Ricos! Mabigat yan!"

Napaurong siya, I did it for him instead. I can't let him do it, the drugs I confiscated from Nabi is inside those figurines. " Sorry, Ate...I atleast thought I can try since I don't think I would get hurt anyway...Ah! Ako na, yung canvas! Atleast let me do that! I can carry it! I'm so pathetic me...Making a lady carry that...Ako naman gusto tumingin inaabala kita-------Yung ibang painting! No. A-actually, Next time is fine."

"Pathetic? Do want to be like other boys?"

"I don't know---but I don't want to be burden to you, Ate."

"If you were healthy and not sickly as you are now-----maybe you'd be stronger than me, athletic even. You may be a boy but it's okay if you're like this." Kinuha ko ang easel at isinet-up para may paglagyan siya ng canvas na hawak-hawak niya. He's gripping it so hard as if he doesn't want to let go." Physical strength isn't all that matters. Like I said before I love your paintings, I love how beautiful you create art, and that's enough."

"Tingin mo, Ate? Thanks." Ricos said, but he's holding his burnt side of his face this time. As if that's where all of his pain is. Finally, he gave the canvas to me." You won't dislike me?"

I bit my lip, hinahanap pabalik misandrism ko." You're fine the way you are."

Ricos nodded, but he pulled his hoodie up." It's not like I have it that bad."

Ah, he's deflecting my own words back to me. I regret it. Ganun ang napaparamdam ko sa kanya mula pa noon." Everyone has their cross to bear, Ricos..."

Ricos smile was of innoncence again, acting as if he forgot in one snap. It looks like his mask is contaminated with his happiness too. Naniningkit ang mga mata niya habang masaya niyang inaayos ang canvas na nasa easel. Dahan-dahan niyang inaalis ang tela na nakabalot."It's majestic, Ate! Si Kuya Ralph ba to? How long did it take for you to paint this? What's your thought process? Are you show it to him and make him love you so much?!

"Huh? N-No, not yet. Papalipasin ko muna."

"Waiting is not for the best sometimes, Ate."

"In my case it is. Hindi rin maganda mag-madali." I explained to Ricos as we stare at the portrait side by side. Maraming gabi ang ginugol ko dito. Pagkatapos ng props sa mga paintings ko naman agad ang inaasikaso ko." You know, things would have gone well with me and Ralph----our friendship, then on just how we are overall. Only if we wait things out and if a certain someone didn't arrive in my life. Ayos na sana."

"People arrived in your life for a reason." Once againm Ricos talk as if those words are solely for me, and no one else. " Umaalis at bumabalik din sila ng may dahilan."