20: Blue

"What do you think?"

I showed Pete my paper, raising it in the air. This part took me all night, but I haven't arrived at the coloring part yet.

"It's great,"

"You think?"

My drawing felt like something was off. It doesn't satisfy me enough the way I drew the line it looked... uneven.

"It's perfect... maybe add some details here," he pointed to both sides of the paper.

I nod at him, tapping the table for my pencil.

"Do you want to eat?"

He asked. I'm just holding my stomach because it's complaining it's feeling hungry. But I don't feel like eating maybe later it's annoying with the amount of work we're asked. And I couldn't find my pencil it's making me stressed. So I shook my head at him in response.

"Okay,"

"Sue, you're just staying here?" Mark came to our table.

It's lunchtime, and we're staying in the garden. I hadn't seen Mark in the hallway, so I came with Peter instead. He disappeared right after the Prof. dismissed us. I didn't expect him to step foot here.

"Where were you?"

"Out," he pointed with his thumb.

I stomp my marker into the paper, "Give back my pencil I need it right now,"

"I returned it to you already,"

He takes out the cloth from his pocket at the same time, showing how empty it was. Next was his bag. He opened the zipper so vast that I could see how disastrous the inside of his bag was it was Balenciaga. How could he treat his bag this way?

I searched my belongings, and I'm dumbfounded after seeing it in the front zipper of my bag.

"Told you,"

"I'll just buy us food," I heard Peter behind.

He still holds a grip on my chair, watching while standing.

"Okay," I let him go.

"I'm going with you,"

Mark placed his arm around his shoulder as if they were friends or close enough to each other for him to do that, while Pete's hand stayed in his pocket while they walked away from me.

And they left me alone? Well, that's fine, rather than be with someone messing around like a bee.

I continued with drawing since I'm already in coloring even though I feel like I'm not contented in what I have drawn... something's off. But the deadline is due on Friday there's no time to complain, maybe next time.

After some time, a voice called me that caused me to jump from my seat and draw over the border.

"Mark!" I called him out loud.

"What? I just came back..."

I felt his stare at my paper after my chair was dug down on the ground.

"Erase it?"

"It's marker, dummy!"

To my annoyance at him, he made me shove my hair, controlling my temper to everything, just to everything. I can't I want to scream it out or maybe worse. I only have 3 days. 3 days!

"We bought your favorite--"

He went silent after I turned my look at him. Peter pushes him aside, being the center of my attention. He slides me to the other side while he combed my hair, turning it into a ponytail.

"Can't you just draw something to cover it?" he gently asked while gently tying my hair.

I shake my head at him, with my hand lying half of my face. It's out of the border.

"Alright, why don't you eat first? You can cram about this later,"

He grabbed my paper from the table, folding it into pieces until it finally could fit in his pocket.

"But it's on Friday," my voice calmed down, facing him.

"Cram about it later. Eat first," it sounded like a demand from him.

He exchanges the plastic of the 7/11 with me. It has a lot inside, and I can't control the temp. I'm feeling when it becomes to food like this. I started eating the donut while Pete's stayed in the seat in front of me, and I could catched Mark behind.

He hides every time I see him, eating quietly.

"YOU CAN STOP WATCHING me do this you still have your next sub,"

I said, all eyes on both of the papers, back and forth.

"I still have 15 minutes, though,"

I lift my chin at him, "But that's enough for you to walk back, I'll wait for you here, promise. And maybe I'm finished here after your class,"

"Fine, but keep the paper for me,"

"This one?" I pointed out the paper he folded a while ago.

He nodded, strapping his bag into his shoulder. As much as I wants to ask him 'why?', he started running.

He could have walked, as I said 15 minutes is enough for him. Fortunately, we have no subjects to follow, it's over for this day. I'll just give my focus on this first while waiting for him.

The lines became boxes, I made them in place, and it looked fit to my taste now after sticking myself into this chair for a lot of minutes that I didn't count since the time I came here. I'm back in coloring, but I dozed off on the table. I can't stop my eyes from keeping close.

It felt like I took 5 minutes napping, but I know it doesn't may be sleeping in an hour or two or more. I woke up and stretched my arms in the air, yawning.

My eyes widened after my papers went missing from the table. I left it here before having a nap. And Pete's back beside me he was doing something and trying to hide it with his back. So I get hold of his shoulder, turning him around.

"Did you see--"

"Sue," he sounded in trouble, and a marker rolled on the table.

I look back and forth at my paper and him. It was filled with different shades of color, which I didn't do a while ago, only 1/4 of it.

"You've finished it?"

"Yeah, and I chose the colors I think you would like since it still hasn't any colors on any paper,"

I sighed, dropping my shoulders, "You don't have to..." I cried, jumping my arms around his neck, "I thought I lost it,"

"Do you like it? I mean, I think I dragged the marker hard on the paper," he showed the paper he finished.

"I love it," I said, still my arms in his neck, " I love it, Okay? I hate you so much,"

My heart raced crazily after my paper was nowhere to be found. And he made it perfect, the building just looks... perfect. It feels like home in my eyes. The way he adds detail to the scenery, I'm trying to highlight earlier, the sky. Also, the accuracy of the shadows he colored.

With that, he gave a peck on the top of my head. I opened my bag for my Clearbrook to place our work.

"You should have taken Architect you're so good at it,"

"Still Engineer,"

"You still like it? I mean, it was never your choice you once told me you wanted to be a pilot, remember?"

"That was before. I still have other choices, though, but I'll go to Engineering,"

We both rode the bus, and he paid for both of us. I step down with the others when my stop has arrived. I waved at where I last left him, sitting beside the window until their bus drove too far.

I waited for another bus to arrive, and it doesn't take that much time. I know if I told him about where I was going, he wouldn't attend another day of work because of me. He'll push himself to be on my side, where ever I go, whatever I do, whenever it is.

I bought a piece of candle, and a rose before going in. I can't understand the weather, but if in other countries, today it was Autumn or Fall, they called. Leaves are starting to fall as they turn orange or brown, they sound crunchy after you step foot on them.

I knelt on the grass after I found his name. I placed my bag on the ground to grab some wipes to wipe the dirt on his name.

"Hi, Dad," I said, wiping the dirt while the wind swayed my hair forward.

I just placed the rose with the candle since I forgot to bring a light with me, "It's been a while since the last time I visited, and I'm already 18," I saw a drop of tear fall from my eye on his name after I let out a smile.

"I still like promises, Dad, especially your promise for my 18th birthday... Remember you said that-that there will be a-a big celebration, and last-last rose will be from you? Remember, when you told me--you promised--"

I can't any longer control it and sob hard, holding my wrist that's covering my mouth, until I can't get to control my breathing after crying in silence.

"Dad... My 16th Birthday, on my 16th birthday, you promised we'll go to Disneyland, because I love talking about Disneyland after we watched a movie with that place," I even managed to chuckle.

I cried, and cried, and cried. Let all the things bothering my heart out, every heavy little thing I've been keeping on myself.

My hands were all shaking, but I wiped my cheeks with both palms, pulling myself together.

"I shouldn't talk about this to you," I pulled myself, with no tears coming out of my eyes, but I can feel how they'll be sore after this.

"But Dad, I'm sure you don't know Peter. Archer? He was my best friend but... he's my boyfriend now. And I can see you in him, Dad... how you could treat me if you're still alive," I have to look up before a tear could escape, "I know I'm too young to have boyfriends, and we had a deal, and I should be at least 25 years olds, I promised that... We promised,"

A tear starts sliding in my eyes, "Daddy..." I called him, slowly losing control and bowing down on his grave, letting my eyes rip with tears.