Prologue

Prologue

Light colors used to overpower every painting I paint. Almost every artwork I did never failed to show the beauty of life and how should we see it. But right now, I failed to see the message of my works. I failed to decipher the thought I want people to see on my paintings.

Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang beses na akong umulit, or should I say pinaulit. I sighed and tightly closed my eyes. Dumilat ako at tinitigan ang ginagawa ko for almost 2 hours now.

Dark colors were splattered all over the canvas board. Napasinghap ako. This is not good. Damn.

I should be doing a relaxing scenery because it is our activity for the day but i kept on doing a depressing one. Todays assigned work had me all frustrated for the nth time.

"Seria!"

From the canvas, my gaze flew to the person who called me. It was my bestfriend, Vanna.

"Yes?" I raised a brow.

Umirap siya at lumapit sa kinauupuan ko. "Kanina pa kita hinahanap. Why are you still here?"

Napansin niya kasing ako nalang ang naiwan dito sa room. Also, my class ended an hour ago. Napatingin ako sa wristwatch ko. 5 pm na pala.

"Had to do this Vans. Prof. will surely fail me this semester if i submit another 'unacceptable' work to him. Goodness" Nakagat ko ang labi ko. Iniisip ko palang nininerbyos na ako.

Sinipat niya ang ginawa ko. "Maganda naman ah. 'unacceptable' pa 'to? Damn, ano pa kaya pag ako gumawa?" She chuckled.

I pouted. "Kasi he wants us to paint a relaxing, calm and happy sceneries, not like this. Malungkot."

Her face softened. "I know mahirap parin pero kaya mo 'yan. Ikaw pa ba?"

I smiled. "Thanks, Van"

"Di ka pa uuwi? May klase ka pa ba?"

"Wala na. Uwi na ako, Gonna do this on my free time nalang, next week pa naman ang final submission. Ikaw?" Tumayo ako at nagsimulang magligpit ng gamit.

"Pauwi narin ako. Actually hindi pa sana kasi balak kong pumunta sa Cafe kung saan kami madalas tumambay nila Kim para makapag boy hunting..."

Tinapos ko ang pagliligpit at tinitigan s'ya "So? Why are you here then?"

She shrugged. "Kaso hindi ko pa makalimutan 'yong pag turn down sakin n'ong lalaking natipuhan ko d'on last time."

"Ah" Napangisi ako. That happened just two weeks ago. I can still remember how upset Vanna that night, what to expect? It's her first time being turned down, she almost threw a tantrum.

She rolled her eyes. "Hindi nakakatawa Seria."

Tumikhim ako at kinunot ang noo ko. "I still don't get it. Tinanggihan ka niya? Why?"

Pinasadahan ko siya ng tingin. Maganda si Vanna. She have a ginger red hair. Her skin is fair. Her eyebrows is shaped and is the same color of her hair. Chinky eyes. Up turned nose. Small pink lips. Petite rin siya.

Saaming dalawa ay siya itong mas pansinin because of her confidence. And the way she dress is something, just like today. She's sporting a blush pink plaid lace-up mini dress that was topped with a cropped cardigan and matched it with an inch heeled white rubber shoes. Kayang kaya niya dalhin ang kahit na anong isuot niya.

Unlike Vanna, I'm plain looking and the way i dress is also simple. Nothing special at wala rin akong balak magpalit ng istilo. Kung dati baka, pero ngayon? Malabo. Ever since Mommy died, nawalan na ako ng gana sa lahat. Well, except sa painting, it's my Mom's want after all.

"I don't know Seria Love. I don't fucking know. Halika na nga. Mag-gagabi na" she flipped her hair and walks away.

She's pissed. Natawa akong naiiling. Dinampot ko ang lalagyanan ng mga art materials ko at sinundan siya.

Naabutan ko siya sa parking lot na nakasandal sa kotse ko. Pinindot ko ang alarm.

"Bagal Seria!" Aniya at pumasok sa front seat. "

I pursed my lips. Pumasok ako sa Driver's seat. Can't get over it eh? Her ego must've been bruised and needs a lot of time to heal.

"Where's your car by the way?" I asked as i maneuvered the car.

"Pinaayos ko. Ayaw mag start. Muntik pa akong di makapasok sa first class ko kanina."

I nodded. "Sa bahay niyo o condo mo?"

"Sa inyo nalang muna ako." Aniya

Umiling ako. "Sa Rest House ako ni Mommy uuwi ngayon. Wala na akong pasok bukas at sa susunod na araw."

"Sama ako. Wala rin kaming pasok bukas pero sa susunod na araw meron. Papasundo nalang ako sa driver namin bukas ng hapon."

I shrugged. "Ikaw bahala"

"Nga pala, is Ate Caia home?"

Umiling ako. "Isang beses sa isang buwan lang si ate kung umuwi. She's busy sa Studio niya."

"Kailan siya uuwi?"

"I don't know" My forehead creased. Why is she suddenly curious about my sister? "Bakit?"

"May nasagap kasi akong something kina Kim" she giggled

I rolled my eyes. Something means chismis "Ano?" Sinulyapan ko siya pero ibinalik rin sa harap ang tingin.

"May something daw sa kanila ni Declan. Someone saw them together in Florence Italy."

I frowned "Declan? Kilala mo?" Sumulyap ako sakanya

Napapalatak siya. "Hindi mo kilala? Declan Selvitelle? Selvitelle?" She exclaimed. Like it's forbidden to not know who this guy is.

"No. Is he someone...uhm... important?" I bit my lip "or someone i should know?"

"Sikat siya dito. So i thought you knew him." She said as a matter of factly. "And crush 'yon ni ate Caia diba?"

I shrugged. Di kami close ni ate dati at mas lalong hindi kami naging close after mommy died.

"Mas makwento pala si ate Caia sa ate ni Jian. Sabagay bestfriend niya 'yon"

"Ate and i weren't close simula pa noon. Mas lumayo pa nga nang mamatay si mommy" Namaos ako sa huling salita.

Suminghap ako. I grasp the steering wheel tightly. Mommy died last month so i think it's just normal to feel this emotions. Hindi ko pa rin kasi matanggap.

Tumikhim siya "May picture ako dito, wait"

My brows furrowed when my vision's getting blurry. I'm not crying. So why the hell is this happening. Kinusot ko ang mata ko pero ganoon parin. Shit.

"V-Vanna..." My voice trembled. My heart is beating so fast.

"Hmm? I'm still looking for it."

"Vanna... My s-s-sight! It's so b-blurry" Gusto kong maiyak. I tried to squint my eyes hoping to see the road we're at.

"What?" aniya sa matinis na boses

Pilit kong idinidilat ang napapikit kong mga mata dahil sa panghihina pero hindi ko magawa. "So b-blur-"

She gasped "shit! W-what h-hap- why--how? oh fuck--"

I heard her cries and shouts before darkness took my consciousness.