Ludic Selcouth #1: Cracked Beat

Hit #22

“Hey! That color is better!” pagpupumilit ko pa kay Tase habang itinuturo ang kulay orange na pintura.

“Color gray is better,” sabi niya naman. Matalim ko siyang tiningnan at humalukipkip. Tinitingnan na kami ng salesman dito sa hardware dahil sa pagtatalo namin.

“Weʼre going to dip our hands there for my room! My walls are dark! Hindi makikita ang gray!” I said. He bit his lips as he looked at me with amusement. “Why are we going to dip our hands there?”

“For decorations on my walls!” natawa naman siya at hinawakan ang kamay ko.

“Letʼs just buy the colors that you want and the colors I want.” pumayag na lang ako at hinayaan siya. Iʼm going to decorate a certain part of my room with our handprints. Iʼm picking orange because Iʼm going to paint his hand print with sunset. I love sunset, just like how I love him.

We picked some spray paints and color orange, yellow, white, gray, black and blue paints. We also bought some gloves, masks and paint brushes. I dragged him here this morning. Sinabi kong magdedecorate ako ng kuwarto at pumayag naman siya. I want to spend this time with him. Malapit na silang umalis ng bansa. We only have a couple of days.

Nang makalabas kami sa loob ng hardware na iyon ay hinatid niya muna sa sasakyan ang mga pintura. Good thing heʼs not so busy today thatʼs why he can spare some time with me. Malungkot ko siyang pinagmasdan. Nandito pa siya pero nagsisimula na akong malungkot, paano pag nakaalis na talaga sila?

Nang maayos ʼyon ay nilapitan niya na ako at hinila papasok sa isang shop na puno ng mga pangdecorate sa bahay.

“What are we doing here? Tha paints are enough.”

“Just look. Maybe you can find something you like.” tumingin-tingin naman ako sa paligid. Ang daming pwedeng pang-decorate at ang gaganda nila sa mata! Ang dami ko nang nakikitang maganda pero hindi ko dinadampot dahil siguradong si Tase na naman ang magbabayad. Kumuha siya ng pushcart at itinulak iyon. Heʼs also looking at the stuffs around. He is good at inspecting the materials, he is indeed an engineer.

Nagtagal kami ron at may mga nakuha nga akong pwedeng pang-decorate kagaya ng mga bagong glow in the dark na music instruments, skulls and other aesthetic goth-ish things. May neon light din siyang kinuha na pwedeng isaksak. Itʼs a phrase that says, “rock and roll never ends.”

Pagkalabas namin doʼn ay kumain muna kami sa isang restaurant bago umuwi sa unit. Wala si mama dahil nag-grocery. Sabi ko nga ay ako na pero gusto niya raw maglakad-lakad kaya hinayaan ko na.

Nang makapasok sa loob ng kuwarto ko ay agad naghubad ng t-shirt si Tase kaya naiwan na lang ang knee ripped jeans niya. Agad kong nasulyapan ang tattoo niya sa may tagiliran. It says rock is the road and it was tattooed vertically. Meron din siya sa likod, it was a single drum with a drumsticks.

Lumapit ako sa kaniya at dahan-dahan na hinaplos ang tattoo na nasa likod niya. Itʼs so beautiful. Iʼm praising the artist who did it.

“Do you think I should also get myself a tattoo?” tanong ko at humarap naman siya sa ʼkin. Agad kong nasalubong ang mga abo niyang mata.

“Hmm... would you like that?” tumango naman ako at niyakap ang bewang niya.

“Absolutely. Iʼve been thinking about it since I was still on my junior highschool. I have always admired body art.” ngumiti naman siya at hinaplos ang pisngi ko.

“Iʼm glad you donʼt see it as dirty.” I glared at him.

“Why would I?! Itʼs art and itʼs beautiful!” he laughed and kissed my forehead.