CHAPTER XX: Fresh Strokes of Colors

After the call that took place, which probably consumed an enormous amount of time…seeing that it was dinner time when it ended, the headache I was feeling didn't go away at all.

However, I somehow felt more relaxed. Truth be told, after everything he said, my thoughts became clearer.

Guess, that's Ross for you.

A man who knows everything, everything he knows.

Plus, he took it up a notch.

In the middle of a deep and enlightening conversation, he just had to ruin it by doing something stupid yet again.

"By the way, it should have arrived by now."

With my head resting on one of my pillows, I answered, "What arrived by now?"

"My improvised hug." My eyelids almost flew away.

Furrowing my eyebrows, this made me think what the hell was wrong with his head.

"Your what?" I tried to clarify. Maybe, with a ninety percent chance, I might have misheard it.

"My warm hug."

Yep, I heard it wrong.

"Are you insane?"

"Not that I know of." His response made an image of his annoyingly innocent facade pop up in my mind.

"If you're just going to ramble about nonsense things, it's better for the both of us if we end it here. Right? Right." I was about to end the call when a knock came from my bedroom door.

I was confused because for the past few days, they didn't dare to disturb me, even for a bit.

"Miss, a package arrived for you."

Grunting, I stood up with the phone still held in my hand.

I opened the door and saw one of the helpers holding not just one large brown paper bag, but three individual packages.

"What is it?"

"I didn't check it. Would you like me to open it?" Lili, the helper, asked.

"No. Nevermind. Who is it from?" I started to grab the paper bags as I waited for her reply.

"It was not stated, but I was told that he was your friend."

My friend?

I have friends?

I shook my head and sighed.

"Thank you. You may leave now." Then I closed the door right after she bowed and walked away.

I sat on my bed and opened the mysterious bags and like the heavens were watching me, a bag full of take outs was inside.

"What the…Don't tell me…"

I looked down at the phone in my hand and saw that the call was still on going.

"Is it you?"

"Surprise? See, instead of warm hugs, I gave you warm food! What a good friend I am. Right? Right." He sounded really cocky right now.

Appalled, "How the fuck did you even get my address?"

"Perks of being in the Student Government."

"You know that's an invasion of privacy, right?" I taunted with one of my eyebrows raised.

"And?" I rolled my eyes. This man is so infuriating.

"What's the point?" I bit my lip. This was so embarrassing. "Thanks."

"Don't worry about it. The only thank you I want is a thank you that doesn't hold any burden."

"A what?"

"Get well soon, my lady." He said.

"Huh?!"

This guy was absolutely going to hang up on me!

"And it's okay to be scared. Just call me and I'll be there, food and all." With that, the call ended.

And here I was, eating with a mouthful of confusion and a racing heartbeat.

Am I getting indigestion? Or a heartburn?

He gave me lots of food that I'll probably have leftovers for tomorrow, the next tomorrow, and the next next tomorrow.

I am not going to fatten myself! No way!

…

Well, maybe a little bit won't hurt.

I asked one of the helpers to place the uneaten food in the fridge.

This actually saved me from having my brother place food in front of my door.

Thinking about him made my mood drop drastically.

After freshening up, I took my medicine and prepared myself for another bonding time with my bed.

However, before I could do that, the sound of my phone's continuous notification disturbed the now silent room.

When I looked at it, I saw that it was messages ranging from Solar's annoying texts, Haru's 'how are you's,' and troublesome chats from my department.

It seems they decided to give up painting. I barely scanned through it and I think they tried to come up with a substitute plan. Although, I doubt it would be good enough to be on par with other departments.

Without sparing another glance, my eyes wandered towards my unfinished piece of art.

I approached it and pulled it out from the back.

It was slightly covered in dirt, but not to the point that it felt disgusting to touch.

The paint was losing its glimmer and the colors were starting to become dull to look at.

Yet, at the same time, the essence was still there, a tiny portion of it, but it's indeed there.

I was trying my hardest to cover it up, to avoid such pitiful emotions to arise from me.

I wanted to stay unmotivated. I wanted the cloak of sorrow to surround me to at least remind me of the guilt that I bear.

However, his words echoed in my head relentlessly.

I don't know how he knew, anyone could call out his instinct as mere bullshit.

I promise to know someday, however, today, I might just relieve myself in this warmth and comfort.

Just a tiny bit…

Because it is something I do not and will not deserve.

I heard another 'ping' shatter the quiet buzz within my mind.

It was probably another chat from the department. Unmistakably, it is.

Unfortunately, it was from that girl. Gwenne.

The conversation I had with her emerged itself.

I closed my eyes and strengthened my resolve.

I looked back at the awaiting canvas that I feared of and grabbed the nearest brush my fingertips can feel.

With this, for the next few days up until the date of the festival's opening, my room became filled with pain and resilience as my brushstrokes danced across the plane.

Waking up on that particular morning, I opened my eyes feeling somewhat accomplished.

My fever miraculously broke three days ago, even though my body became extremely busy.

It was a mystery how I didn't faint at all.

Maybe my drive to finish it overcame my overwhelming agony.

After I was done with clothing and beautifying myself, not that I needed anymore, I gathered all of my stuff needed for the day.

As I was about to leave, I turned back and looked at the painting on the side of my room.

It was filled with bright and lively colors. The flowers I envisioned in my head were astonishingly there, as if it was real and would pop out of the frame at any given moment.

It was meant to stay there because although I gained the courage to achieve that, the will to give it never came back to me.

It's just like…

…steps had been carved in the sand but not deep enough for the earth to remember it's existence.

One day, the sea would swallow me again, yet I'm no longer afraid of my own disappearance.

Rather, I'm ashamed of being overjoyed for nobody would ever remember my traces.

More so, the footprints of my desperation.

As I entered the school premises, the festive aura filled every corner of the school.

There were colorful banners, decorative stalls, and creative, floating figures.

It was astonishing how different it is.

A few minutes of walking, an arm suddenly added extra weight onto my shoulders.

The only person capable of doing that would be this idiot.

"Ross…" I said sweetly. Ew.

"Yeah?" This man, however, looked completely happy with what I just did.

But, I was made to burst his bubble in the cruelest way possible.

"Shit!"

He shrieked and his arm magically disappeared.

Voilá!

"Did you really just have to elbow me in the ribs? In the freaking ribs?"

"Yep." I said, popping the 'p.'

"You're a devil! After everything I did for you." He even pointed his finger at me.

"Well, thanks for feeding the devil." I replied and strutted away.

Before I could even walk that far, I could already see a commotion up ahead.

People were gathered in the hallway, crowding one particular room.

Taking a swift left turn, I deliberately avoided the uproar.

Ross managed to catch up with me and was later joined with Haru, who I didn't even know where he came from.

That guy seriously needs to up his presence. He was like a living 'Kuroko Tetsuya.'

He just pops up wherever we go.

As we near the cafeteria, we were joined by Solar, who came running towards us.

And the first words we were welcomed with were, "GUYS! There's this juicy gossip going around! Come on, I'll share it with all of you since I'm so kind and generous."

"I need food, not your charity gossip." I deadpanned her.

She frowned and rolled her eyes at me. "Hmph. I won't share it with you then!"

"Thank God."

Her frown deepened. She then turned to Ross and Haru for moral support.

Little did she know what that gossip entails and the story it foretells.