Puzzle | MikhAiah

Chapter 7

"This is my favorite painting i have ever made."

Maxine is touring me on her gallery. Every painting has a story to tell which she enthusiastically shares with me. She's a self spoken woman. I've never meet someone so eloquent as she is before.

The painting she's telling me is her favorite it is an abstract of lines and circles with different color. But i could not concentrate on what she is saying. She looks like a professional discussing her art works to art enthusiasts.

"Avery? Are you with me?" I blink twice and i was able to recover quickly.

"Why?" I asked. Thankfully i catches up few words on what she is saying. Why does she need to be this perfect?

"This is the last painting i drew when i decided to run away. I can still remember how i paint it with a sense of freedom. My hands were stroking lines freely. Using many different kinds of colors in a white canvas. The feeling is liberating." I look at her. Her mood became gloomy again. She's not good at hiding her feelings.

It must be hard for her.

"Being free is not always happy. You lose important people along the way." She is silent for a moment.

"I'd rather choose to live in peace, Avery Lane." We look each other in the eye. Her eyes were gloomy. I just nod.

"Mag kaiba naman tayo ng pananaw but i wanted you to know that i understand you." She faced me.

"I wanna know what's yours. I wanna know someone's perception because i don't think i'm thinking straight because my emotions are interfering."

"I rather stay than leave. Yung sitwasyon lang naman ang mahirap. I'm not gonna run away from the people i love."

"That person...is the problem. He's the one who creates complications."I look at her back. I was about to ask who but she changed the topic abruptly.

"Have you tried abstract before?"She asks.

"Na try ko na siya kasi may project before. But i don't think it is my forte."

"You should try it more often. You'll see how addictive it is." I love what i do. I'm not living in my own box just like what she said last night.

"Sure." Ang sabi ko na lang.

"Shall we go home?" As if on cue, bigla na lang bumuhos ang ulan.Tumakbo kami ni Maxine sa bintana. Nawala ang sinag ng araw. Napalitan ito ng mga makakapal na ulap at malakas na ihip ng hangin. Nag tungo si Maxine sa labas, sinundan ko siya. May silong naman kaya hindi kami nababasa.

The weather is pretty bad. I don't think hihinto pa ito ngayong gabi.

"Oh. What should we do?" I asks. She's quiet for a second.

"Sadly, we can't go home today. Mababasa ang painting."

"My mom didn't know that i'm here." She look at me with guilt.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know that it will rain today. If i know i should have brought a car."

"Nothing to be sorry about. It's my choice to come with you. Besides, i enjoy the day because of you." My eyes widened it mirrors Maxine's. "I mean the beach." She's covering her mouth. It's useless because it's obvious na tumatawa siya.

"Yeah, me too." Kinikilig ba siya?

"Don't flatter yourself." I said flatly.

"We have a problem, tho." She touched the back of her neck.

"What is it?"

"I don't have a bed." She grimace.

We already ate dinner and we are ready to settle the day. We are staring at the couch and the blanket on the floor.