The Love That We Missed (Echoes of Love Series 1)

Chapter 8 - Art

Chapter 8 - Art

My excitement about being in the same club as Adrianne lasted about five minutes because, of course, Marielle had to show up and ruin it. It’s like she’s watching my every move, waiting for a chance to strike. Today, she sauntered over with that smug look on her face, eyeing me like she had some secret only she knew. I tried to ignore her, to keep my focus on my drawing, but she stood right in front of me, blocking my view of Adrianne.

Marielle is the first girlfriend of Adrianne. Kaklase siya ni Adrianne noong highschool pa lang ito kaya kilala ko siya.

“Alam mo, Misha, hindi ka naman talaga bagay kay Adrianne,” she sneers. “You’re just a kid with a crush.”

I wonder if Adrianne told her about me. Her words hit me like a slap. What does she know about how I feel? I fight the urge to roll my eyes at her. “Wala ka nang pakialam, Marielle. Ano bang alam mo sa nararamdaman ko?”

She just smirks, her voice dripping with that annoying, condescending tone. “Trust me, Adrianne doesn’t go for children.”

Sasagutin ko na sana siya nang merong dumating na anino na nasa gilid ko nakatayo. I turn around slowly, my heart sinking as I recognize Adrianne standing there, looking at me with that blank, unreadable expression of his. I feel my cheeks burning, and I pray he didn’t hear everything. But his eyes say he did.

“Misha, anong ginagawa mo dito?” Ang boses na kanyang ginamit ay sobrang lamig na kahit kailan ay hindi niya pa ako napagsalitaan gamit ang boses niya ngayon.

I try to laugh it off, but my voice cracks. “Wala. Napadaan lang ako.”

He just sighs, shaking his head like I’m some annoying little kid. “Hindi mo ba naisip na baka dapat ka na lang tumigil? Baka masyado mong pinipilit ang sarili mo?”

My throat tightens, and I force myself to keep my composure. “Bakit, Adrianne? Ano bang problema kung may gusto ako sa’yo? Kailangan ba talaga na big deal ‘to?”

For a moment, I swear I see something flicker in his eyes, but he quickly looks away. “Tila laro lang ito sa’yo, Misha.”

Laro? Hindi ba niya nakikita kung gaano ako kaseryoso? His words sting more than I’d like to admit, and I can barely breathe as he walks away without a backward glance. My heart feels like it’s been torn to pieces, and for the first time, I wonder if maybe… maybe Juki and Andrea were right. Maybe I am just a kid in his eyes.

After that humiliating conversation with Adrianne, I decided to take Juki’s advice. Baka nga tama sila, I told myself as I forced myself to stay away. I tried to avoid the art club room, I skipped out on breaks I usually knew he’d be around, and I told myself I’d be okay without seeing him. But every time I passed by his usual spots in our barangay, my heart would squeeze, and I’d wonder if he even noticed I was gone.

Days went by, and somehow, I survived. I focused on my classes and my art and found myself enjoying it more now that I wasn’t constantly trying to impress him. I guess Juki was right—sometimes, letting go, even just a little, can feel good.

And then, one afternoon, Juki came running up to me, a gleam in her eye. “Misha, guess what? Si Adrianne naghahanap sa’yo.”

My heart practically leapt out of my chest. “Ano bang sinabi niya?” I asked, trying to act nonchalant.

She shrugged, grinning. “Wala lang, he just asked where you’ve been. Pero hala, bakit kaya biglang curious siya?”

I wanted to keep playing it cool, but the truth was, I was thrilled. Maybe he missed me? Maybe he realized he’d been wrong? Baka nga may pag-asa ako.

The next week, our art teacher held an exhibition to showcase some of our work. We are here in the private café. Gumawa si ate Jessa ng grupo, collaborating with our art teacher. Nung nalaman ko na Tita ni Adrianne ang aming guro dito ay sumali ako, iniisip ang gustong mangyari sa puso ko. He will be the one to be with us instead of Ate Jessa and her Tita, that is our art teacher.

Ngayon ay binigyan kami nang gawin ni Adrianne. I am starting drawing my piece.

My piece, a charcoal drawing of the city at night, was one of the highlighted artworks. Standing beside my work, I tried not to look for him, but it was almost automatic. I scanned the crowd, hoping I’d see him.

And then, as if on cue, Adrianne appeared. He looked at my piece for a long time, his expression serious. Then, he walked over to me.

“Hindi ko alam na kaya mong gumawa ng ganito, Misha,” he said, his voice softer than usual. “Magaling ka pala.”

I couldn’t help but smile, trying not to blush. “Thanks. Marami ka pang hindi alam tungkol sa akin.”

He nodded slowly as if he was seeing me in a different light, and I felt a flicker of hope that maybe, just maybe, things were changing.

But of course, nothing can stay simple. The moment he walked away, Marielle appeared, her eyes flashing with jealousy. She practically stormed up to me, whispering angrily so no one else would hear.

“Huwag ka mag-ilusyon, Misha,” she sneered. “Kahit anong gawin mo, hindi ka magiging sapat para sa kanya.”

I just looked at her, unfazed. I was tired of playing her games. “Kung ako sa’yo, Misha, focus ka na lang sa sarili mo. Masakit kasi yung nag-iilusyon ka sa bagay na wala ka namang pag-asa.”

She just walked away in a huff, and I couldn’t help but smile a little. When I looked back at Adrianne, I caught him watching me, an amused look in his eyes. That was the first time I felt like I might be getting somewhere with him.