In Screaming Color

Chapter 1

Bea's POV

I was sitting on a park bench. Inhaling the sweet scent of wet grass and allows being embraced by the cold touch of the wind. I have been here for an hour and yet I didn't wish to come home.

It feels less lonely here rather than my condo unit. I kept hearing children's laughter while their Father runs after them. It's brings a lot of memories about me and my Dad. A lot of happy memories indeed.

As you can sense, I am a Daddy's girl. I grew up having his kisses and warm embrace as my comfort zone. Making me feel that with him, I have nothing to worry about. I smile on the thought of his voice. The way he speak my name, my work, my actions, and my mistakes to other people contains so much pride. He has always been so proud of me. Even my wrong decisions and failures makes him more proud.

"I'm so proud of you, Bea. Mistakes are nothing less of your achievements. They mold you as well to the best person you can be and I can never be more proud of what you have become. Mistakes are just lessons learned tomorrow."

He whispers in my ear as my Mother rants behind him. I suppress a smile for we will be in big trouble if I don't. He would then move a step back and act to scold me. He has always been on my side but my Mother doesn't know that. She always thought he was on hers. He was a great man, that is something me and Mom would agree upon.

And sometimes, I think I don't deserve him. Not even a little bit. But then I was thankful. Still am. Thankful since day one, until today, until my whole lifetime, until-

I took a deep breath. Cutting off my thoughts as it gets a little deeper than normal. Closed my eyes and faced the sky. I was left in my own world, in silence.

For just about two minutes, I guess. Since something or perhaps someone is mumbling and stomping a few steps away. I couldn't help myself and took a peek.

"Saan na ba yun? Eh kasi naman eh. Dapat hawak hawak mo lang yun. Alam mo na importante yun eh! Kasi naman ang tanga tanga. Ang tanga tanga mo talaga!"

She said as she pace back and forth around a park bench next to mine. Moving like she's looking for something, something important. I started to hear her sob. She kept it quiet at first but as time pass and words are thrown, she gets a little weaker than she was a second ago. It was a slow at first, and then came her breakdown.

"Ah! So stupid!"

She shouted in frustration as she sat down on the bench. Hugging her knees that are touching her chest and placing her head on the top of her arms.

For some reason, I was forced by my mind to come closer. Grab my hanky and stared at her for a while before offering the hanky.

"Here."

She sniffed before looking up. With puffed eyes, she squinted her eyebrows and went back to her crying position. A look that means I should leave her alone.

"Sungit."

I whispered and sat beside her.

"Hindi kita kailangan!"

She hissed. Ay grabe, she's very pissed with my presence. All I wanted is to help her wipe those tears with a hanky. What's wrong with that?

"Sinabi ko bang kailangan mo ko?"

"Eh bakit ka nandito?"

"Wala lang. I just wanted someone to sneeze on my hanky. Bakit ba? Bucket list ko yun."

She looked at me like she wanted to kill me. She hates jokes. Wow.

"Akin na!"

She rudely snatched my handkerchief and sneezed her crying boogers away. Ayan, off my bucketlist. I smiled.

"Why are you smiling? Weird mo!"

"Hindi ako yung umiiyak dito at naghahanap ng bagay na halatang wala naman."

"Shut up!"

She shouted.

"Sus. Diba tama ako? Ikaw yung weird. Siguro broken hearted ka no? Naghahanap ka ba ng necklace na naiwan mo dito gaya nung sa movies? Or maybe-"

"I lost my bag! Okay?! I lost all my IDs. My key! My phone! My money na pangdown ko sana sa apartment na titirhan ko. Pinaghirapan ng Mama ko yun! Tapos mawawala lang! Hindi ko sila macocontact. I don't have their number and I don't know how things work in this place!"

She said angrily, face getting closer with everyword. Para bang puputok na siya, white smoke going out in her ears. And I might get my eardrums explode with to much decibel. I don't get it, I might get myself get killed by this woman yet I find her funny. And I can't help but getting into her nerves. She sound's scared, maybe she's not from here.

"Bakit ka nagagalit sa akin? Kasalanan ko ba ang nangyari?"

"UGH!!"

I flinched when she suddenly move. Thinking she would hit me but then she didn't. She moved to stand up and I quickly held her wrist to stop her.

We stayed still, weird. I didn't want to explain myself for stopping her so I chose to be quiet. We stayed like that for around 20 seconds when she sighed and slowly sat back again. When settled, I took my hands off her. I was again back at my quiet world.

I was blank. The same thing I was before she came. I didn't even bother worry to what she was thinking about me. About what I did and to why I did it.

"Sorry."

We said in unison. We shared a look before avoiding each other once again.

"You first."

"Hm.. Sorry for shouting at you. Alam ko naman na hindi mo kasalanan. I was frustrated and you keep bothering me. You were just not good at timing. You know? Hay. Sorry. Ikaw na."

I felt her sincerity. She was sincerely sorry to a stranger who barged in her moment. I smiled and fixed my sitting position for me to easily face her.

"I'm sorry for bothering you. And I'm sorry for not being good at timing."

"Yun lang?"

I smiled.

"I'm sorry for your lost bag. Lost IDs, wallet, money, apartment and other things you have in your bag."

"Sinabi ko na, it's not your fault."

"I know, it's your fault. But I still am sorry."

"Ang insensitive mo. Ugh!"

"Haha, hey. Kumalma ka nga. Listen, I once met a guy who told me that 'mistakes are just lessons learned tomorrow'."

"Oh? Tapos?"

I stood up and stopped in front of her. Our eyes connecting our souls.

"Lesson for you, young lady. Don't put your whole life in a bag. Tsk tsk."

"Psh. Whatever."

"Kumain ka na ba ng dinner?"

"Alam mo, nakakainis ka. I don't think you listened to what I ranted earlier. Wala na akong bag, wala na yung wallet ko at malamang sa malamang, nandun yung pera ko. Siguro naman gets mo na na nawawala din."

"For your information, nakikinig ako. Tinanong lang kita kung nag dinner ka na. Sinabi ko ba na ilibre mo ko? You keep answering questions that aren't asked."

"Psh. Smart ass. Hindi pa."

"Tara, let's have dinner. My treat!"

I happily said as I laid out my palm in front of her. Wanting her to take it. Wanting her to have dinner with a stranger. She stared at me for a long time.

"Gusto ko Jollibee."

She bluntly said before taking my hand.

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Hi JhoBea shippers! I admire Bea's relationship with her dad. Such cuties! Vote naman kayo, please! :)