Paint Me Like A Lover

01

I dyed my hair today.

It was a reward for pulling through this hell week. I couldn't believe I was able to juggle multiple plates, commissions and exams plus other responsibilities sa bahay without my body failing. Now thinking about it, dying my hair was very little as a treat. I totally deserve an art gallery visit today.

"Can I ask for Kiel Young?" tanong ko sa lalaki na nasa may entrance ng training hall ng taekwondo team.

Ang ingay sa loob and it looked like they were in the middle of a routine. There, I saw him practicing his high kick habang may resistance band or something sa paa. Nakablack t-shirt siya and taekwondo pants. I pointed at the canvas when I caught his attention.

"Young, more drills for you!"

"Sorry, coach!" He yelled as he jogged towards me.

"Here, sealed and framed as per your request." Inabot ko sa kaniya yung canvas.

"Wow, you look nice," he said so brazenly as he fixed his hair. "and this... is really nice." he added laughing when I made a certain look on my face.

"Hope your girlfriend likes it." I said, feeling a little proud. It was supposed to be a basic lineart but I decided to bring it up a notch and even I surprised myself with the way it turned out.

Nag-angat siya ng tingin, mukhang na-amuse sa sinabi ko. "She's not my girlfriend."

"Okay. Anyway, just message me kung may ipapagawa ka pa." sabi ko because I really needed the cash. The latest Ipad just got released and I heard it was the best one so far so I couldn't miss that. Medyo defective na rin yung luma ko at nagiging problema na sa work kapag nagdadraft ako.

"Okay, can I ask for your number?"

"IG is fine."

"Can I ask anyway?"

I hesitated pero dahil naging generous naman siya sa downpayment, I decided to humor him.

"What?" he asked, grinning when I remained standing after inputting the digits.

"Your balance."

"Oh that." He laughed and fished for his pocket. "Shit, wala akong cash. Do you mind waiting? I'll just ask around for cash."

"May class ako actually." I answered, checking my phone for any announcement from my professor. I was late at malayo pa ang building namin dito.

"What time will your class end? Meet kita sa lounge. I have a problem with my account so I can't transfer right now."

"Text na lang kita." nagmamadali kong sabi dahil nag-announce ang prof ko ng quiz. We literally just had our midterms. End goal talaga nila to get on students' nerves?

Majority of the class flunked the quiz so I didn't really take it to heart na bagsak ako.

"Sobrang haba ng readings tapos nagpa-surprise quiz pa. Malapit ko na talagang maging villain backstory si Sir." rinig kong reklamo ng isa kong blockmate na si Iris. She even rounded up people para magrant.

Inayos ko na lang yung IG feed ko to create some space for the photos I'd take later sa art gallery habang hinihintay yung isa naming professor na may announcement daw.

"Liv, new building later, sama ka?" aya ni Iris pagkatapos mag-announce ni Sir. He was offered a space in the mall to host an art exhibit and he said he would pick among our final courseworks. It thrilled me and gusto ko na agad magdraft dahil may ideas na ako!

"Busy." I declined.

"Busy ka naman palagi. Party girl ka dati 'diba, anyare?"

"I grew up." I replied, still not tearing my eyes away from the screen.