After I had purchased some brushes and paints (and some books Jonas picked up) we decided to go home.
As we walked I began to notice how Jonas walked: head low, arm folded over him (as if it were that cold), and he was serious. Maybe he was recalling the time Johan left the band, I mused.
So he went on walking along the noisy city streets as if I wasn't with him.
Then suddenly.
"Do you remember the time Johan left the band?" he asked.
I looked up at him, "Yes, why?"
"Nothing," he said, shaking his head, smiling wearily.
I then looked around the place to wonder what was it that he wanted to say.
**
As we walked into the flat I recalled Jonas walking and smiling wearily at the same time a while ago. I wished he laughed about how time flew from the minute we parted ways with Bo and Johan till the present time. Well even if he laughed about it, I'd still feel the weight of depression lodged in his being.
Now he's sitting on my couch, closing his eyes as if to rest after quite a long walk.
"Hmm Jonas?" I called, trying to break away from my daydreaming being (because I was watching Jonas rest). "How 'bout you take a bath first while I prepare our meal?"
"Um, sure," he replied, standing up to carry his luggage.
"Hey wait!" I then said, caught-up. "I forgot to lead you to your room. Sorry about that."
He chuckled softly as I led him to a blue door with the letters J-O-N-A-S on it. Mine's got S-I-L-A-S. (I know it's quite childlike to put your name in whimsical solid stick-on letters on the door, but it's fun to look at them, and it says "No trespassing" -- like that.)
"Here's your room," I said nervously, because he might not like the room I had prepared. "Hope you like it."
He stepped inside, walking ahead of me and looked around. His face showed amazement at what was around him. And I was pleased.
"Wow Silas," he said. "This is awesome, thanks."
My heart skipped a beat.
Everything (well, almost) is blue (his fave colour) --- the curtains, closet, drawers, study table, even his bedcover --- and the rest is white and red. Jonas then sat on the bed to check the softness --- he bounced on it and he became pleased.
"Well, um, Silas," Jonas said at length, after bouncing too much on the bed. "Thanks for these, these are too much --- I do not know how to reciprocate---"
"Jonas, it's all right," I said, interrupting him. "You don't need to fret. I want you to be well-accomodated here."
He smiled in his boyish way.
"I'll leave you now. I gotta heat the food and prepare the table while you take a bath," I said as I stepped out of the room, then leaned over the doorframe when he called me.
"OK Silas, thanks so much!" he said as I smiled then closed the door.
***
"Yum! Silas, this sure smells good!"
Jonas is enjoying the smell of the food we were about to eat as I laid them on the table. I cooked beef brisket, stir-fry corn kernels, beans, carrots, and peas, veggie pizza, turkey-tomato-mayo smorrebrod (for him), veggie smorrebrod (for me), and I blended melon and banana and milk for the drinks, and some jam and bread.
"This is sumptuous," he said, smiling at me. "Thanks for cooking!"
I nodded then said in invitation, "Let's dig in!"
And he was enjoying it.
****
That night after dinner we sat by the veranda. We were watching the city glow in its hustle and bustle. We even noticed that it was brighter than the stars up in the heavens! Jonas and I sat there to talk about plans for tomorrow.
He planned on enrolling at my school, to which I agreed. Jonas won't be taking up Painting though. He wanted to take up Multimedia Arts. Knowing Jonas, he's a big fan of time-lapse clouds, time-lapse cars, time-lapse anything.
"Yeah, I want to do photography in its grandest scale --- putting photos together to create a moving picture or even multiple moving pictures!" he buzzed excitedly.
"Cool for you," I remarked, sipping some juice from a glass, smiling at him.
"Yeah, I know. It would be nice --- you'll always be my model!"
I was surprised, couldn't contain my feelings for him. But I have to hold back.
"Silas," he then said. "Why did you take up Painting?"
I just need to think of a proper explanation for this. I could see the expression on his face change, and his blue eyes on me. I feel like he wanted to reveal my innermost secrets, but I feel that this isn't the time.
