Art's Downfall Memories

01

"The mind remembers the words, but the heart remembers how it feels. The mind can forget but the heart never will." - JmStorm

"Artreus! Thank God you're awake!" I saw a woman crying beside me.

Tanging maliwanag lang ang nakikita ko sa ngayon at ang puti na ceiling kung nasaan man ako.

"Who are you?"

She was shocked. Pain passed across her face. "Art, it's me Calli..." Trying not to look at me while wiping her tears.

"It's fine Art . . . Take a rest, I'm here." I saw her leaving the door and smiled but her eyes tells the opposite.

I ate foods and rested for a while, leaning my back at the hospital’s head rest. The nurse told me that I got unconscious, and brought here.

________________

Today is the last day before our summer break. There's nothing to do since I completed my requirements. I came here for attendance. Good thing I always have my sketch book with me.

Nakaupo ako sa loob ng aming cafeteria at kakaunti lang naman ang tao rito. I placed my bag infront of me so no one will dare to sit. Inilabas ko 'yon habang ngumunguya ng chocolate.

"Naks naman, pre! May math kana? Dami ko pa kulang do’n e hehe." I smirked. Kinuha niya yung isang upuan sa kabilang mesa at inilipat sa bandang tabi ko. I gave him my notes and nodded. Assuring him that it's fine. I shrugged.

Nagmamasid masid lang ako sa labas. Mabuti at sa may bintana ako banda pumuwesto. Ayos lang naman di muna bumalik sa classroom e’ wala namang teachers.

Iba’t ibang tao ang nakikita kong dumadaan. Sa ngayon mas kaunti iyon kaysa sa kadalasan lalo na kung may klase. Tahimik lang itong katabi ko, buti nalang.

Hanggang ngayon wala pa rin akong makitang pwedeng gawing basehan sa ida-drawing ko. I exhaled. Inilapag ko nalang muna yung lapis.

"Uy pre, tapos na. Salamat ah! Labyu." Napangiwi na lang ako at inilagay iyon sa bag ko.

I saw a girl sitting at the corner side. Fixing her earphones, inserting it to her ear, and closed her eyes.

I stared at her for the meantime, forgetting where I am, and the person beside me.

"Tol, alis na 'ko ah?"

"Titig na titig tayo d'yan pre ah." Napadako ang tingin niya kung saan banda nakadirekta ang mata ko, sabay baling ulit sa akin.

"Ayun ba? Si Artemis 'yan, thank me later." Umakto akong galit sa kanya ngunit tumakbo na ito papalabas dala ang mahina niyang tawa.

Looking at her peacefully sleeping made my heart thump silently. She's really attractive. I sketched her inside my book. When I was about to finish it, her eyes opened and her gaze directly landed on mine. Pasimple kong inilipat ang page at kunyari’y may iginuguhit kahit wala naman.

Agad akong nag-iwas.

________________

"Mahal, naalala mo ba 'yun noong highschool tayo? Napakatorpe mo!" Ani niya sabay tawa nang malakas.

Calliope Artemis, the love of my life is laughing whole heartedly while resting in my arms.

We're currently celebrating our third anniversary. Again, watching the sun to settle down. Date. Eat. Take pictures.

Both of us love arts. Anything about it. How fun that it's connected both of our names. Fate brought us to each other. As time goes by, our love keeps getting stronger.

I couldn't ask for more.

We painted our right hand blue and pink. We're going to put it in the fabric paper as what Artemis told me. She's the one who insisted this because there's a trend she saw somewhere. Probably on that trendy app.

It looks nice. I smiled while staring at her genuinely. We did another one too, so both of us has a copy of it.

"Mahal, pag naging ipis ba ako... Mahal mo pa rin ba ako?" She asked out of nowhere. "I don't know." I smirked at her, but-- dang! Why is she serious?

"Pero paano kung... Paano kung biglang... Nawala ako sa tabi mo- tapos hindi na kita maalala?" I kissed her temple to run off her worries.

"I won't let that happen."

"What if it does?" She asked.

I took her hand and placed it on my chest. "Mind can forget but I believe, heart won't."

Kinilig amp.

Jake invited me on their birthday with his twin Jane's celebration.

"Love, Jake invited me to attend their birthday. Mini reunion with our classmates na rin siguro." I called Calli, so she would know where will I go. "Hmm... Take care please, I love you!" I sighed, biting my lower lip.

"Alright, I love you more."

I drove to their house earlier and greeted some of the familiar faces I saw.

"Uy tol! Musta? Grabe going strong pa rin kayo ni Calliope, noh? Lodi." I handed him the gift I bought earlier and tapped his back, "Naol may jowa."  laughing at his remarks. "Happy birthday, bro." He's still the same old Jake I've known. "Thanks."

"Jane! Andito na si Art!"

My gaze went on the other side when I heard foot steps. Someone is coming.

I handed Jane my gift and smiled at her. She's like a sister to me. "Happy birthday."

"Thank you, Art." I nodded.

Few of our batchmates already left, at iilan nalang kaming natitira rito. We're currently drinking whiskey and catching up with our lives.

"Tol, hatid na kita tange. Lasing kana oh!" I jokingly pushed Jake because I believe, I can still drive. "Dito kana matulog, tawagan ko nalang kapatid mo para sunduin ka." He tried to stop me but I slightly pushed him.

"I can manage, bro." I stood up. "You see? Just enjoy your day there. Don't mind me." Sumeryoso ang mukha niya.

"No way, just stay there. I'm going to get my phone. I'll call Artemis. Please, makinig ka." He ran fast upstairs.

I clicked my car keys and went inside. I admit, when I left, I wasn't sober. My head aches and it's already evening. The crowd's dark.

________________

"How is he now, Doc?"

That was the words I heard. Opening may eyes, and caught someone looking at the doctor with her eyes asking desperately.

I closed my eyes again to rest for the meantime.

"Alright. I'll leave for a while, Doc. I still have some important thing to do."

Staring blankly at the white ceiling thinking deeply. I fell into a deep sleep.

________________

"I will always keep in my heart what you've said to me years ago... The doctor said there's a chance that you'll forget me but I trust you. Remembering what you've said, heart always remember how it feels. It never forget. Someday, we'll gonna live without pain. As what I've always praying for us."