Ghosting Madness

Chapter 22

22: His Resolution
“If he only had a happy childhood,
maybe he would wish
for a different change.”

To return the favor of breaking the rules and to deliberately end this madness ASAP, I was the one who first broke the awkward silence between us after he told me earlier how he wishes this date was never a dream.

Kung gusto niya managinip, then go ahead.

“S-So…what’s your fantasy? Or –sies if you have many…” I almost choked myself. Hindi ko na sinubukan pang manilip sa ginagawang art ng mga katabi namin dahil mapapahiya lang ako sa progress nila. 

The small studio-slash-bar was well lit from the inside. Three rows of five column canvases where put on top of a painting stool. Sitting in front where two people enjoying their one-night ticket of romance and New Year, painting their ‘fantasies’ together.

May dalawang babae sa kaliwa namin na kanina pa mahinang naghahagikhikan. Judging from how the one girl pinches the cheeks of the other for stroking pink paint on their ‘panty’ artwork, they sure are lovely couples. May isa naman sa kanan ni Madness na dalawang mag-asawa na nagpipinta ng kulay pulang sunset. May magkaibigan sa unahan namin na nagd-drawing ng distorted na aso. Ang sabi, nasa perspective naman daw ng titingin sa art kung fantasy piece ba ‘yon o hindi.

“Uy, ano?” tanong ko uli. Good for them. When I look at our blank slate, gusto ko na lang umuwi. 

Pero sabi ng organizer kanina sa short orientation, bawal mag-back-out. Sabi niya, paint night is a therapeutic, relaxing, free, and happy activity that can be done anytime of the year. Bonus part is, maiuuwi pa namin ‘yong mga ginuhit namin kasi kasali ‘yon sa mga binayaran namin. 

This is a perfect New Year’s gift daw. Besides sa kakaiba na, may thoughts and efforts pang kasama. Economical din. ‘Di na kailangan ng balot kasi nakita na in the first place. 

Biglang naubo sa pagtawa si Madness. He’s laughing like a desperate child. “Stop looking at them. Iba-iba naman tayo ng fantasies,” he said, picking up the red paint from the floor before asking me, “You like red?” 

It took me less than a second to respond. “Nothing in particular. I like any color.”

“Okay.” Tumango siya. “Sakto naman sa theme, ‘di ba? Love. Lust. Boldness. Fire. Madness. Just like me.”

My eyes narrowed. Something’s off.

“Don’t tell me magdo-drawing ka ng babae?” Lalong lumakas ang tawa niya nang sabihin ko iyon kaya tinapik ko siya sa balikat. Nilapitan kami ng isa sa mga organizer. Sinabi nitong okay lang naman daw mag-ingay basta hindi nakaka-istorbo. Nakakahiya.

Sa mga salitang sinabi niya kasi kanina, akala ko magdo-drawing siya ng babaeng hubo, naka-pulang lip stick at pulang panty habang nagpo-pole dancing sa gitna ng apoy. Okay sana kung babaeng naka-red dress tapos black lang ang background. 

Naghahabol siya ng hininga habang nagsasalita, nagpipigil ng tawa. “Okay, calm down. Mukha ko nga ‘di ko ma-drawing, ikaw pa kaya?” 

“So hindi ako babae, gano’n ba?” 

“Ikaw nagsabi niyan.”

I acted as calm as possible. Natawa pa nga ako. “Sinabi ko nga pero ‘yon ang gusto mong iparating, ‘di ba?” I mean, alam kong lahat ng sinasabi niya tungkol sa’kin may double meaning. Parang standard na kape lang hinihingi ko pero double shot espresso pala. Mas mapait. Mas may punch ang mga linya kasi may gusto siyang ipahiwatig without ACTUALLY telling it to me. 

“Ikaw talaga, mahal nagseselos ka na naman,” hirit niya pa. Naalala ko na naman tuloy ang kagaguhan niyang ginawa. Natatawa ako pero at the same time, kumukulo ang dugo ko sa endearment na ‘yon. Parang ang plastik.