Compilation of One-Shot Stories by Dwayne Cadmus

BEHIND HIS PAINTING

"Babe, good morning. Oh? Nagabala ka pa magluto ng agahan, napaka sweet talaga ng girlfriend ko" sabi ko sabay yakap sa kaniya mula sa likod.

Rinig ko kasi ang pag prito niya ng itlog at paggisa ng bawang at sibuyas, magluluto siguro siya ng sinangag. Nagising ako nun at nakita siyang abala sa kusina, she's a wife material.

"Naku ano ka ba? Siyempre soon to be
Mrs. Flores na ako" sabi niya sabay ngiti saakin. Hinarap niya ako't pinisil ang magkabilang pisnge ko. Bumalik siya sa pagluluto at saka ko niyakap at hinalikan ang kaniyang leeg from behind.

"Nick ano ba?" sabi niya na natatawa pa. "Maya mo na'ko harutin Babe, I'm busy cooking your breakfast. Punta ka muna doon sa pini-painting mo."

Agad ko siyang sinunod at saka pumunta sa sala ng condo. Andaming nagkalat na pintura at paintbrush pero kitang-kita ang pinaka highlight ng sala. "A Masterpiece," I said while looking at my painting of my Girlfriend.

"Oh nakatitig ka na naman sa mukha ko baka matunaw yan. Kain na tayo Mr. Nick Flores" sabi niya at saka hinalikan ako.

"Ms. Phoebe San Rafael, I want to be your last. I want to be your husband at gagawa tayo ng dalawang dosenang anak" sabi ko na nakakaloko.

"Luh? Pwede ba yun? Balak mo ba akong laspagin Mr. Flores?" pang-aasar niya.

"If you would allow me" I chuckled then kissed her lovingly. I caressed her waist going to the bed then undressed her. We make love that morning and didn't miss every single minute of the day.

Few days have passed, I was walking down the road when a bunch of nurses blocked my way. Kakalabas ko lang ng condo nun at balak kong mag grocery.

"Get him!" sabi nung isa. I was so scared and don't know what to do. They held a proper grip on my arms and drive me to the Hospital. I passed out, nagising na lang ako sa isang kwarto na tahimik.

"Where am I?" I asked. Biglang pumasok ang isang nurse and kinausap ako.

"Good morning sir. How are you?" bati niya't nginitian ako.

"Miss asan ako? Pano ako napunta dito? Asan si Phoebe?" sunod-sunod kong tanong. "Please answer me!"

"You mean her?" she said and pointed something. Isang bagay na may takip na puting tela. Inalis niya iyon at nakita ang maganda kong girlfriend.

"Phoebe. I miss you so much. I love you." I said out of nowhere. Nilapitan ko ito at niyakap.

"Angganda niya sir. Sino siya?" the nurse asked.

"My girlfriend." I proudly replied.

"You're such a good painter to draw her. Sadyang talentado ka talaga kaya ka nagka ganyan" she said that made me sad out of confusion.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Nung nakawala ka dito sa mental hospital few weeks ago, I knew that you're a good person and you're calm not like other patients here. And kasama ako nung nakita ka namin na naglalakad sa kalsada. I find out that you have a condominium nearby. Pinasok ko iyon at nakita ko siya" she pointed on the painting.

"You keep shouting her name, Phoebe San Rafael that's why I'm curious. Kaya pinadala ko yan dito." she added.

"Nick, she's not alive. Ang girlfriend mo is just an imagination out of your creation, out of your painting. She's not true, I know it's not good to tell you kasi baka makasama sayo. You've been living in this world, thinking that you have a girlfriend."

I started to cry at nahiga na lang ulit ako sa higaan ko. But I know something...

She's real. She's true. And there's something about me why I'm mental ill.

ー Dwayne Cadmus