How It Is

Chapter 2: Who?

A work left without their name is mostly by beginers. Hmm, I shouldn't be so surprised though— I can sense greatness for that kid from the start.

[Reed]

Ugh.

I woke up looking and feeling like trash. Sucks, because I didn't even sleep properly... mhm, 4 hours of sleep... yup.

I am quite an organized person with my own body clock of when to sleep and when to wake up. This time, I COULD DEFINITELY NOT SLEEP. I didn't know what the cause was but when I woke up, it like slapped me back to reality that I made such a crappy art work. Yikes. Well, I think it was pretty decent... but I could not bear to think what it looks like in others' perspectives. I had no choice but to leave it there in spotlight, which I don't deserve, and for someone to freely see... if they'd waste their time looking at it.

Well, me and mi amigo are going back there to finish what we were painting.

I phoned Alejo earlier and told him to friggin' wake up because he sleeps like a log when there are important things to do. Ehh, not that important though.

8:15 am

Oh, time to eat. Oh I forgot mom's here. Huh, but it's 8:15 and she has work, still, she's not up yet... hmm.

"Ma, wake up na, we're gonna have breakfast!" I say while knocking on her door. I stood there waiting for her reply.

She's not responding! I knocked faster "Ma, ma! Are you alright? Answer ma!" I say panicking while clutching my chest.

At last, she opened the door. She looks unwell though. I am so worried for her.

"Ma, are you okay?"

"Sorry anak if I made you worry." She gave me a not genuine smile. I can feel she's hiding something from me but I don't want to force it out of her.

Me and my mom eat quietly with no conversation. You can only hear the clanking of the utensils on our ceramic plates.

Mom headed off to work as usual but she's late now I guess. I hope she's really okay.

I left the house around 9:45 am and went to Alejo's house. I am currently knocking on his door. COME ON, I TOLD HIM TO WAKE UP.

"Oh, it's you bonita. Why so early?" He says while wiping his eye.

"Dude, check the time. It's literally 10 o'clock in the morning. You're the one who woke up late, man." I laughed and scoffed.

"Ahhh, I'm so so so sorry, bonita! I'll make it up to you! I'll treat you for your favorite iced coffee and bake muffins for you!"

"You idiot! You don't have to! Just tell me my art is good. That's a big favor for me!" I held his hand tight.

"Are you terrified that I might tell you it sucks? Jeez, don't worry mi amiga, I appreciate everything you do." He says as he place his other hand on top of mine.

"Thanks a lot, Alejo. Then, alrighty! Let's head off to the workshop!" I pulled him by the hand.

...

We arrived at the shop but it's still closed. I wonder why.

Alejo contacts auntie Eseme but we can hear some chime inside the shop. We tried to open the door, and well... it was open all along.

"Alejo, why didn't we check if it's open..." I looked at him with narrow eyes. He looked at me back the same.

We entered the shop quietly. We saw where the chime was coming from. Auntie's cellphone is left at the front desk... weird. We looked in inside the session room and the main lights were still off which means that the spotlight lights were on. Alejo hits the switch of the main lights and we saw auntie Eseme sleeping IN FRONT of MY WORK. OH NO. I THINK IT GOT CRITICIZED BAD.

"Oh no." I say while sweating bullets.

Auntie wakes up with shock.
"Oh no... I forgot to lock up the shop and leave! And now you guys are here early in the morning!" Auntie states while yawning.

"Auntie it's almost 11 am... so yeah. We aren't early." Alejo says.

"Oh my goodness, the shop is still closed! Guess I'll extend the opened time. So sorry Reed, it was so unprofessional of me to sleep on someone's work. Me and a matured "eccentric" woman found it jaw dropping." auntie Eseme says.

"Ehh? What makes it so— jaw dropping?" I am so confused... a woman was here too?

"Words cannot explain what it feels like looking at it." She smiled softly and pats me.

Me and Alejo got out and got iced coffees. Huh, I guess he still kept his promise after all. A few people approached this woman in the café and it's like they really know her. She looks odd? I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S RUDE BUT YEAH SHE IS! She looks sweet and full of joy.

sigh, I hope I'll grow old happily.

Well me and Alejo didn't go back to the workshop but it still means our works are still in the spotlight. Ugh, guess we'll finish it tomorrow. I went back home and mom was there early.

"Oh, how's the art, sweetheart?" my mom asked.

"Uh, we didn't actually spend our time there. We left and went to the café and talked." I stated while putting my bag down.

"Anyway, hon. Someone who was maybe famous, was in the library earlier. She was sketching a lot on her little book." mom giggles.

"Mmm, that's great I guess. I had a weird encounter too. The woman was quite... what's the word..."

"eccentric?" mom added.

"Yeah! exactly! Hmm, how did you know that was what I'm pointing out?" I'm in quite a shock.

"Maybe we saw the same woman."

I thought carefully and suddenly ran out the door going to Alejo so that we can talk to that woman.

"Uh, uh, bye ma! See you later! I just remembered something!" I said while I was out on the street.

I need to know why that woman took her valuable time appreciating my art!

"Alejo! no time to talk, follow me!"

"Que? Oh, hold up man!"

We rushed to the library to see if the woman's still there. We peaked first so it wouldn't be weird to rush in suddenly when we aren't even going to read.

Fortunately, the same woman is there!  We didn't barged in to talk just yet though.

"Oh, oh, oh— the old lady is familiar to me... hmm." He puts his finger on his chin as he looks at the old woman.

"She has an iconic signature to her look that makes her so familiar to me..." Alejo says.

"Ehh? How come I don't know her?" I babbled.

Alejo smacks his hand to his head and recalled.

"Oh! That's Granny Smith Apple!"

Who?