This Is Not Strange

Chapter Forty

Bridgette

We had to get up early para mag-witness ng awarding ceremony. I am beyond happy to know na nasungkit ko na naman ang first place sa category na sinalihan ko, while Ella got the fourth sa category niya. I gave her a hug when she got down on stage, smiling widely at her victory.

  Ngayon din sana ang uwi namin but sinundo kaming dalawa at pinapunta sa bahay namin here. When we got there, we were surprised to see my grandparents, her parents, and mine na naka-upo ngayon sa sala.

  Mamita was the first one to come up to me, grinning widely. “Oh my darling! You were so good sa pageant. I am so proud of you!” She and Papilo was absent kahapon dahil may inasikaso raw sila sa isla that has something to do with their negosyo. Pero they watched the live stream naman kaya napanood nila ang lahat ng nangyare.

  “Thank you, mamita. Kinakabahan po talaga ako kahapon, luckily andoon ang aking lucky charm.” Sinadya kong tapunan si Ella ng look pero kausap niya ngayon ang kanyang mom kaya hindi niya ito napansin.

  Mamita didn't seem to realize my hint because she dragged me sa upuan katabi ni papilo. He hugged and congratulated me rin.

  After having a small talk, we transferred sa dining room kung saan may nakahanda na little salo-salo for our victory. Ang oldies lang ang mostly nag-uusap, while me and Ella keep on shooting each other looks.

  Pagkatapos kumain ay mabilis akong nagpaalam na dalhin sa kwarto ko here si Ella. Even if I don't live here, my parents maintained my room clean and dust free dahil any time raw ay pwede ako umuwi dito. It was different from my room back in the island dahil wala ito masyadong decoration. Only my paintings are hanged on the wall. Ella studied it for a while habang ako naman ay humiga na sa bed. She keep on tracing it with her fingers, but not to the point na masisira niya.

  She shoot me a look, her eyes sparking in the light. “Ang gaganda, Bridgette.”

  I gave her a shy smile lang. I'm not used to people seeing my artwork kaya nahihiya ako na she's staring at it now.

  Lumapit na rin siya sa bed and she settled beside me. “Ang ganda ng color combination.”

  “It was meant to be seen as chaotic but relaxing. I mean, I've tried my best to make it look like that. Gusto ko lang maipakita na even in the presence of chaos, calm is still found. That one particular color, the one that is emphasized by the brush, I see it as me. Me in a very magulo situation but is calm pa rin. I don't want to lose my control over things, I tend to do stupid stuffs pa naman,” I explained, giving her a glance every now and then

  “Ang ganda. Pero may napansin ako, just above sa ni emphasize mo ay may nag twirl na dark color paint. May meaning ba 'yun?”

  Gosh, she's so observant ah.

  “Well, that thing has something to do with me. The twirling process stops at the round ball, which I portray as my goals and wants. Lahat ng gusto ko, gusto ko itong makuha. I have been trained to get the things na gusto ko.”

  Napataas ang kilay niya. “Whoa. Paano kung gusto mo ng dragon? Edi hahanapin at kukunin mo ito?”

  “But I don't want a dragon. You breathing hotness is enough na for me,” I said, giving her a wink.