Our Endless Story

XLV

Hannah's POV

Her eyes were like crisp dark toffee drizzled in melted chocolate that framed with darling lashes. A beautiful nose and soft cheekbones, the appearance to die for. Plus the leathery black strands flopping over the side  of her face which to my distaste was veiling some of her enticing features. So perfect, yet so frustrating that I couldn't see it again after the end of this week.

"I remembered Pablo Picasso raised a question: Who sees the human face correctly: the photographer, the mirror, or the painter?"

But Picasso forgot the poets and writers.

Tumingin sa akin si Diana dahil hindi ako sumagot sa tanong ni Picasso na ni requote niya bago lang. Nandito kase kami sa Museu Picasso, a house of extensive collections of artworks by the 20th century Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. We are indulging ourselves into 4,251 works exhibited by the painter. Pero hindi pa kami nangangalahati, atsaka wala naman akong balak tignan lahat ng mga iyon.

"I guess ikaw siguro, dahil kanina mo pa ako tinitignan eh." Birong sagot nito sa kaniyang itinanong. "Oh, Franki. Maraming magagandang art dito, hindi ako." Dagdag pa niya at ibinalik na ang tingin sa isang painting.

Hindi mo siguro alam na ikaw ang art na gusto kong tignan. You're also an art made by the greatest artist of all. One of His masterpiece. So I prefer you over them.

Bigla itong pumunta sa aking likuran at pinaharap ako sa isang painting na puro cubes and lines na pinagdikit-dikit lang. Maganda siya, pero hindi ko naiintindihan. Okay. Sasabihin ko na lang na hindi ako mahilig sa mga paintings.

"Tignan mo kase." Utos nito at niyakap ako sa likuran para hindi na ako tumingin sa iba kundi sa painting lang na ito. This feels so good, pero hindi ako makahinga.

"Tinitignan ko na." I answered, gasping for air to breathe.

"That's my pretty girl."

Tuluyan na akong napanganga sa isinambit nito. I'm aware that I'm pretty but being called by her is so nakakakilig! Pwede na bang mamatay?

"That painting is titled Ma Jolie, also known as my pretty girl." Sabi nito na siyang nagpasampal sa akin ng katotohanan na hindi pala ako sinabihan ng my pretty girl kundi pangalan pala yun ng painting!? Hindi pa pala ako pwedeng mamatay!! Ang sakit. Mag-assume. Sa paasa.

"Ma Jolie was the chorus of a song that Picasso enjoyed. Its poetic fixed form captured the attention of the artist, who would have heard it often as it was played at the Parisian music hall he frequented. While Ma Jolie represents the song and its effect on listeners, it is also representative of romantic love. The curving form of the elements may be reminiscent of the female figure. Picasso's nickname for Marcelle Humbert, who was his lover, was also Ma Jolie. The painting may be seen as an affectionate tribute to her beauty. She is the painter's love, his pretty girl."

I know that every painting has a story behind of it. Pero hindi ko alam na alam pala niya ang kwento sa likod ng painting na ito. I am their tour guide, I am supposed to tell them the story behind of every painting here. Pero siya pa yung gumagawa. Well, siya yung may alam eh.

"Even if I find sweet and cheesy things corny, I won't hesitate to call you my pretty girl also." She added na siyang nagpangiti sa akin. Shit. Bumawi sa disappointment ko kanina.

"In story, don't wonder why some people suddenly vanished, because the lovers forgot they're already creating their own little world." Rinig kong sabi ng isang matandang lalaki sa kambal habang nakatingin din sa painting na ito. Oh em ge. Ang kambal pala. Nakalimutan ko.