Barcelona Escapade

Chapter Forty-Five: Mad

Chapter Forty-Five
Mad

I left the dinner early after telling my mother I don't feel well. They bought it easily. Mamá is engaged and conversing well with the Floravels to ask me for a bigger reason.

Hinatid ako ni Jayren pauwi. It was a shame for me but I didn't try inviting him to stay for long in my condo. Hindi na rin siya nagpumilit dahil sinabi kong masama talaga ang pakiramdam ko.

I thought of sleeping after the long day but I couldn't get myself to. I kept on recalling the arrival of the Floravels and the reason why they were there.

And what again? Faustino Vastia invited them to discuss about possible marriage? Is that how it should work? Did they consult Eros and Ariadne about the decision? Did they ask for their opinion?

I couldn't sleep so I painted that night. With no initial thoughts, I went ahead painting a marriage ceremony. But the endpoint wasn't an altar, it was a prison. It was the aptest portrayal I could think of.

I didn't try to use brushes. I did it with my bare hands, feeling the frustration in the way I harshly stroked. If the canvas was paper, it's already ripped.

It went as a messy evening. When I took a look at myself in the mirror beside me, my hair has few creases of paint.

I checked my phone when I took a break. There weren't any texts from Eros. Hindi pa siguro tapos ang dinner at wala siyang makuhang oras para kausapin ako. I can tell he got worried when I excused myself to leave. He just couldn't speak and ask me about it. We're still playing the damn game without the idea of how and when it'll end.

Hindi pa namin nasabi ang amin. I can't risk the timing. Another family is involved and I care about privacy enough. Ayokong magkataong marinig nila at lumipad agad ang balita.

I resumed back to painting to stop worrying about everything. I picked up my palette again until my phone vibrated behind me. It flashed Eros' name kaya dali-dali kong kinuha gamit ang malinis na kamay para sagutin.

We haven't even talked this evening except for that greeting that almost had me dying.

"Hey." His voice sounded rough.

"Hi," I greeted back.

Saglit na katahimikan ang bumalot sa'min. My guilt sent me biting my lip. Eros isn't in any way at fault but leaving him there without giving him a word creates a void in my chest.

I heard him sigh. "How do you feel?"

"Okay. Just frustrated."

"I'm in the lobby. Can I visit you?"

Naalarma akong tumayo. "You're here?"

I ran towards the sink to wash my messy hand.

"Hindi ako nakaalis agad. I'm sorry. Can I?"

"Of course. I'm going down."

Minadali ko ang pababa para makita siya agad. Eros was standing beside the guard's desk, looking my way to realize I was already there. Una niya akong binigyan ng nagtatakang tingin. It must be because I look like a mess.

Hindi ko man lang pala natingnan ang sarili ko sa salamin bago ako bumaba. The last time I checked, I have paint creases beside my ear and on my hair.

Isinama ko siya sa condo ko para makapagpahinga at makapag-usap kami. Kinain pa ako ng kahihiyan nang matantong hindi ko man lang naisipang iligpit muna ang mga ginamit ko sa pagpinta.

When Eros entered my condo, unang dumako ang tingin niya sa puwestong pinaggawaan ko sa sala.

"You're working on something."