The Only Color Under The Clouds

Prologo

There are smokes... lots of them. People are shouting, as well as the kids. They're...running. A loud sound was heard across the city. All of them were running while I stood there, admiring the scene that unfolds in front of me. It was an explosion in the clouds...it's so bright...

"p-please come back!!!" A girl shouted from the radio tower. Why is my hearing so sensitive?

I lifted my body and slowly walked through thin air. From here, I could see them running because of the explosion. The sky looks as if it's a gate that leads to heaven. It's tearing apart...the sky..is tearing apart. Through a broken window of the tower, I saw a girl crying and shouting, begging for someone to come back. I walked closer to take a better look at her face but I stopped because I can't. I don't know why but ever since I was born, I was unable to see a face or a single color. When I look at someone all I see is a blurry face and everything would just black and white.

"hey..ayos ka lang?" I asked but I don't think she heard me.

"hey--"

"Paxio? Paxio??!! Wake up! Are you having a bad dream?" I opened my eyes but immediately closed them because of the sunlight seeping through my window.

Mom was waking me up.

"Ma?" My sight was blurry since I just woke up. I looked at my Mom but I can't see her face, as always, but I know its Mom. Sino ba namang hindi makikilala ang nanay nila diba?

"Anak? Pawis na Pawis ka" Pinunasan nya ang pawis na nasa mukha at katawan ko.

"binabangungot ka ata" As soon as those words left her mouth. A frightening image immediately flashed through my mind. A long loud sound suddenly echoed in my head!

"A-Ahhh!!!!" Kinapa ko ang sentido ko at diniin ang pagkakakapit roon, umaasa na tumigil ang sakit.

"Anak?!" My Mom held my face, forcing me to look at her.

"anak?! ayos ka lang ba?! Are you having headaches again??" I tried answering her but I couldn't!

My mom gave me painkillers that the doctors prescribed.

"here inumin mo" Her voice was laced with worry and anxiousness.

"I-I'm fine Ma." I said even though I'm not. Trying to calm her down.

"are you sure, Xio?"

"Yes, Ma. Don't worry" I smiled. She patted me and asked me if I'm able to go to school.

"y-yes of course, I have an exam today" I stuttered a little bit. Knowing that Diore and his slaves are going to make fun of my condition and situation again.

"okay, baby Goodluck. naghanda na ako ng almusal ron, kumain kana" I nodded and smiled at her as she exits my room.

noong naisara n'ya na ang pinto, agad akong bumalik sa kama. What a shitty way of starting my morning. I slept again and the alarm buzzed louder, I opened my eyes, irritated.

"I hate you alarm clock!" I fixed my bed and immediately went to the bathroom! I'm already late, the exam is already starting!

Kagat kagat ko ang tinapay habang nagmamadaling inaayos ang necktie ko. Nakaharap ako sa salamin at pinagmamasdan ang itsura ko.

"I wonder..ano kayang itsura ko?" Bulalas ko habang pinagmamasdan ang mukha ko sa salamin. Hindi ko talaga ito makita dahil sa sobrang labo nito.

Kinuha ko ang bag ko at sabay umalis.

"Ma! Aalis na po ako"

"Sige mag ingat ka anak, Goodluck sa exam mo!" My Mom shouted from the kitchen, She was washing the morning dishes. So yes! I can leave without her telling me what's wrong with my face. Whenever I am going out, my mom always fixes my face, my hair, my shirt, and many kinds of stuff. Like what I've said, I can't see a face even mine. It's blurry... Pero ayaw ko talaga na ginaganon n'ya ako. Pinagmumukha n'ya akong baby 'e 20 years old na ako! Hindi na ako bata. Kaya naman pagkakataon ko 'to para umalis ng bahay na hindi n'ya pinakikialaman ang ayos ko.

As soon as I stepped out from our door, I looked up at the sky and let out a sigh.

The sky looks fabulous. even though I can't see its colors. I know it's beautiful.

Nakayuko ako habang naglalakad at pinakikinggan ang kanta sa AirPods ko. Pinasok ko rin ang kamay ko sa aking bulsa habang naglalakad.

Few people were walking in the streets at this time. Cause it's 5:30 early in the morning.

My course is architecture. Yea kinda ironic right? When you are going to choose this course. Being artistic is an advantage. Knowing every kind of techniques...and shades of colors are also advantageous.

I can't even see a single color. But at least I'm surviving in this course. Why? I printed a big chart of colors but it is in black and white so I can match the colors in there to my color pencils and my other coloring stuffs.

Yeah, pretty smart right?

Nakatingin sakin ang mga tao..ramdam ko 'yon.

What's wrong?

Do I look different to them?

Why...please don't stare at me.

I always feel..something staring at me.

"Ey ey ey, our prince charming is here!! PAXIO LEONE FERRERAS WOOOHHH!" I am currently standing at the Univerity's gate.

"ano nanaman 'yang ayos mo? Nakaraan Jose Rizal 'yang buhok mo ha! Ngayon para kang bumalik sa Panahon ng mga unggoy BWHAHAHAHHA" nagtawanan silang lahat.

I slowly looked at them.. blur..it's all blur.

I hate it.. I hate it so much

Their laughs are echoing in my mind like I'm going to get crazy.

"Ohh Ohh wag iiyak ha? Nako pinaiyak n'yo ang baby boy natin! Baka sugurin tayo ng Nanay n'yan"

"Anong nanay? Eh ampon 'yan! Tignan mo nga ang mata n'yan magkaiba ang kulay pfft...ano ka? Taong pusa?"

"Dapat sa mga ganyan pinapaalis na sa bansa, kasi nga mga salot 'yang mga 'yan"

"Alam mo ba Diore? Kahapon nakatingin s'ya kay Nine, baka umaasang makakaisa sa girlfriend mo?"

Nakayuko lang ako at isa-isang pumapasok sa isip ko ang mga sinasabi nila.

Nakapalibot sila sa'kin...

"Weh? Ayan?? Makakaisa sa Girlfriend ko?! Pfft sige I will allow Nine to sleep with that guy! Baka kahit payagan ko s'ya ay magalit pa 'yon, sino ba namang papatol d'yan?"

I felt my eyes slowly getting wet....

"Tara na, nakakasawa 'tong asarin, baka magalit pa ang nanay n'yan. Bawal pa namang umiyak ang prinsipe nilang ampon"

Bago sila umalis ay isa isa pa nila akong binatukan. Habang si Diore ay pinahidan ng laway n'ya ang mukha ko.

I am sitting at the ground and crying while looking at the sky.. it's a bit grayish I think?

Later on, The rain poured heavily.

My uniform is all wet and covered with mud. I hate my life.

Yumuko uli ako at tatayo na sana, nang isang kakaibang bagay ang naaninag ko sa malayo...

My eyes got big..and my jaw dropped.

I saw a color! I SAW A C-COLOR! hinanap ko uli ang kulay na kanina lamang ay nakita ng mata ko.

Pinikit ko ang mata upang punasan ang mata ko.

I opened my eyes again, and the color that I saw earlier is gone. I found myself alone at the field. Kahit saan ako lumingon ay itim at puti nanaman ang nakikita ko. I guess, It's just my imagination. I will never see a color. But if ever, I am granted to see the colors of this world. Then, I want to see it before I die.