JaDine Oneshot & Drabbles Collection 2

The Blank Canvas (AU)

He loved drawing and painting. I’ve always noticed that about him. In school, he was always by himself drawing.

He was very distant. Maybe because he was older than the rest of us; he was pulled back because of his health, they said.  No one seems to ever talk to him. He was mysterious in a lot of ways.

He was just there…

The only time I talked to him was when his paper flew towards me. It was just a blank paper but it seems important to him because he hurried to get it back. I picked it up and handed it to him.

“Here.” I told him.

“Thank you.” He mumbled.

That was the only words exchanged that time.

---

I saw him again when I was already a university student.

He was sitting in the benches in front of my university. He was painting again.

I approach him but it seems he didn’t notice me. He was too engrossed with his art.

I looked at it and was in awe. He painted the university and it looks so real and alive that anyone could have mistaken his art for a picture.

“Wow.” I said in astonishment. “You’re really good.”

He dropped his paintbrush and quickly mumbled, “Thank you.” But he didn’t look at me.

I crouch down and picked up the brush for him.

“Sorry if I startled you."

He just silently nodded.

I giggled. “You still haven’t change, Angelo.” I said.

He finally looked at me then. “Mandy!” He said, surprised.
“You still recognize me!” I said beaming. “How are you? Are you studying here, too?”

“N-no.  I… I just like to paint here. It’s near my house.” He said.

“Oh, is that so? Are you a painter now? That’s really great! You were great even in high school!” I said.

He was silent and just looked at me. I just continued to smile at him.

He slowly smiled, and then laughed.

“You really are very cheerful." He said.

And I laughed with him.

“But Angelo, what’s with the bonnet? It’s summer…”

“Just a fashion statement.” He said, smiling.

---

After that, I always see him there, painting. He paints sceneries not really seen there but he insisted he liked to paint there. We grew to be closer. I would always expect to see him before and after I go to class. Usually he would only be preparing his materials in the morning but after my class, I would already see a completed painting. He is very skilled.