Fading Violet

A child art prodigy, Caius Jasver Sevilla, stopped painting even though he loved it. His parents forced him to abandon art for a political path, prioritizing lineage over his talent. He built a safe, sturdy house for his family's pride, but left the bright, wild garden of his passion to wither and die. A deep pain started to bother him; true happiness was a language he had forgotten how to speak, its words silent on his tongue.

Then he met Ianthe, a photographer who seemed a bit lazy but was very observant. She always had her camera and spoke in short, exact ways that gently questioned how he saw the world. Her violet eyes were the same color Caius used to paint, and her smile made him feel a sense of familiarity- like colors coming alive after a long sleep. She understood the power of color, and he understood her perfectly.

DISCLAIMER: This story is written in Taglish.