Through Painted Eyes and Pastel Tears

Chapter 2: Yellow

Her hair's colored like the light coming from above, making it stand out even more. Her hair was colored like the sun, I assume; that's probably what's making her hair stand out.

What the fuck is going on?

"Are you okay? Pwede maki-upo?" She asked, her voice almost matching the way she carried herself, rough exterior, but soft, sweet, flowing like honey to a bee. She pulled up a chair and sat across from me on the round metal table, she set her bag down on the ground beside her, then tapped the dead ash off her cigarette on my ashtray.

"Alam mo bang may kulay buhok mo? Kulay araw, like the sun." I asked, not knowing what to say. I'm seeing everything for the first time, like being reborn. I gulped down a ball of saliva and cleared my throat, set my cigarette down on the ashtray and smiled a little, I could feel heat crawling up my cheeks.

"Now I know.." She smiled after taking a lock of her hair in her hand, as if admiring her hair for the first time, while her nostrils bellowed out smoke, literally. Her smile was so genuine, like a baby's first smile, the first conscious thought that's brought happiness to an infant. "Thank you."

I could only smile back. Thank you? Has she not seen colors before like me?

"Thomas." I held out a hand, smiling politely. "Sabi ni mama, To-MAS talaga pronunciation ng pangalan ko, may 'H' lang para cool. Tommy na lang." I chuckled nervously. I couldn't focus just yet on meeting her and introducing myself, it feels like the first time I did drugs, everything's too fascinating to not notice.

She shook her head, taking my hand and shaking it, saying, "Nice to meet you, Tommy." She smiled, her dimples showing up once her pale cheeks curled and blushed a bit, the color on her skin made it look like her face was heating up. Must be the color red? Or.. pink? "Justine. Jazz na lang. So, Tommy.. may kasama ka ba?"

She smiled at me, raising a brow inquisitively. She had tattoos on her forearms, different kinds of flowers, roses, sunflowers, daisies, lilies, a lotus on her elbows. I rolled up my sleeves, taking my camera and snapping a picture of her, her hair glistening against the sun.

"Sorry, ang ganda kasi ng buhok mo.. It's my first time seeing colors.. Ang ganda...mo." I admitted, the heat on my cheeks felt like it was burning my face off my skull. Boy am I sweating. "No, actually. I'm alone. Just looking for inspiration on this story I'm working- Teka nga, I'm rambling. Do you often sit with strangers?" Kinda rude, Tommy. But to my defense, I barely know this girl. But then again, she could be the-

"Bawal magyosi sa loob eh. Your table's a little too big for one person don't you think?" She chuckled, shaking her head. I scanned the outside veranda, distracted by the people sitting with groups of friends, the colors of their shirts, shoes, their stuff. Amazing. She continued "Ikaw, do you often take pictures of girls? Are you a creep that way?" She glanced at my forearms covered in baybayin tattoos, poetry, song lyrics, and a Hades cross all while propping her chin up on her hands, legs crossed, elbows planted on the table.

I cleared my throat, "AH- No. I- I saw my first color just now. With you." I gulped down some spit and continued, "I'm working on a story about colors." I smiled, trying to hide the nerves creeping up on me and failed desperately.

She smiled back, leaned forward. "And you saw your first color in me, huh? Heard that line before." She shrugged, winking at me. "Luma na yan, Tommy. But thanks for showing me my first color too." She stood up after saying that as if nonchalantly, discarded her cigarette then collected her bag and drink. "Anyway, see you around, color boy."

I watched her walk away, my stunned self stayed behind and repeated her name under my breath, "Jazz." Like the music. I yelled after her and collected my stuff, "Jazz, wait lang!"