Painting the Hueless Sky (La Carlota #4)

26

(Trigger warning: Suicide. Blood. Feel free to skip.)

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"Yeah? Are the flowers ready?"

I fanned the smoke coming from Kyne's cigar. Umubo ako nang kaunti at nilakbay ang layo namin. Kinalabit ko siya't nilingon niya, brows are furrowed. I sheepishly smiled and gave him a paper bag.

"Yeah.. I'll get back to you, I have something to attend to," aniya't iniwas ang mukha, he puffed smoke. I puckered my lips and coughed again. He pushed the cigarette on the steel trashcan and fanned the smoke out.

"I told you to cut off the nicotine," I shook my head.

"Yeah, I'm sorry," he sighed and dropped a kiss on my forehead. "Your lips weren't around so.. I needed to distract myself. But I will stop, if Light did it I can do it, too.. " anya.

"Whatever! You smell like smoke!" tinulak ko ang dibdib niya. He laughed a bit and nodded. He smells like nicotine and mint! I don't want that.

"I will stop, I don't want you to suffer from lung cancer in the future.. " he murmured and grabbed my hand. Ngumiwi ako't pinagmasdan ang tinatambayan niya. He's always here, outside the convenience store in campus.

"Is it even allowed to smoke here?"

"Students like you aren't, but me? I am allowed because I'm no longer a student," mayabang niyang ani.

"Well, malapit na akong maka-graduate! Like a few more months! I'm taking my final examinations on my majors on February! Which is like next month, you're so yabang," I rolled my eyes.

"Can I have extra graduation tickets?" he squeezed my hands.

"Of course! I will find a way so that you can watch me get that diploma," I pouted and eyed for his yellow wrangler. "Though I'm no laude like you.. "

"So what? Does being not in the honor roll makes you less of a person?" he shot his brows at me. I looked up at him and hugged his arm. "Breaking news, it doesn't. What matters is that you graduated. Fuck grades, that doesn't guarantee you a future ahead."

"Puwede ka nang mag-motivational speaker sa graduation," I chuckled. "You should be the guest speaker!"

"What will I say there? That my girlfriend's graduating and they should all leave because I really don't care about their existence?" he laughed. "Want my diploma revoked?"

"Hindi naman puwede 'yon! Why are you growing so korni?"

"You were korni from the very start, I never said a thing to you," panga-asar niya pa lalo! Natahimik nalang ako nang patunugin buksan niya ang pinto ng kotse niya. I shrugged and hopped in.

I really am tired with all the last minute preparation for the upcoming graduation. There are thesis revisions and all the mock defenses and experiments. I want to be done with this whole thing! I need to take the board exams and I will practice here in Dayang!

I am excited to work for our Rancho.. I will work here in our province as a forester and a volunteer to Kapit-bisig with all the willingness in my body.

"I'm so excited to work!" I giggled when Kyne gave me a mint. Ngumisi siya't umiling na para bang hindi siya naniniwala sa mga sinasabi ko! "What? I really am excited to graduate and work!"

"Talaga lang, huh," he mocked. My lips twitched. "Let's see, four months when you start working if your excitement still stand," ngisi niya.

"Of course! I will never get tired of my passion," I crossed my arms over my chest. He started driving and I sucked on the mint he gave me.