PAINTED CANVAS (Under Revision)

Chapter 21: Last Bloom

I let out a plain chuckle. Inabot ko uli ang cellphone at kinuhaan sila ng litrato, I'm planning to make it as a reference for my next painting.

Lumipas ang mga araw at tuloy-tuloy ang pag-aaya nilang mamasyal sa kung saan. Gusto daw nilang sulitin ang mga araw na hindi gaanong abala sa mga gawain. Even though I don't have any plans like that, I'm still drag up by the two, kaya wala akong ibang pagpipilian. Hindi nila ako tatantanan hanggang sa pumayag ako, knowing those two.

Another day came, the spring is almost at its edge. The two decided to stroll around and this time, napili nilang ikutin ang bayan kasama ako...

We're riding on our bicycles, angkas ko si Paolo sa bisikleta. They're just telling where they wanted to go, on the spot, and I'm just following the flow.

First stop, we went to the mall, gusto raw nilang magpalamig. They took advantage of the mall's air conditioner. Nang mabagot ay pumasok sila sa mga stalls while I decided to just sit and observe people around. Paglabas nila ay may kaunti na silang nabili, then we go watch a movie, a tragic one. Dahil may pagka-abnormal ang dalawa, panay na ang pag-iyak nila sa tabi ko.  I didn't know what to react that time because I'm seated between the two. 

"Eve, par, p-pahinging tissue..." Paolo asked at wala akong nagawa kundi bumuntong hininga at abutan siya ng tissue. Nagsimula na siyang suminghot-singhot bago suminga. I became their tissue supplier on the entire movie. Hindi ko na nabigyan ng atensiyon ang pelikula out of distraction. However, the story plot was great, maganda ang naging pagkamatay ng bida sa huli, the main character deserved it anyway.

Next stuff, we went to the park. They decided to go because beside it, there are street food stalls na nakapwesto. Pinakain lang nila ako ng siomai at fries, habang sila ay nilantakan ang fish balls, kikiam, inihaw na baga at chicken entrails. Lahat ng iyun, ako ang nagbayad.

Hindi ko pa nasusubukang kumain ng inihaw na baga at chicken entrails, though my mind said that it isn't good and it's kinda off to eat such food, but there's a part of me that wants to have. Natatakam ako sa paraan ng pagkain nilang dalawa, maging ng mga taong nandoron kahit pa bugahan sila ng usok na nanggagaling sa mga ihawan.

"Gusto mo?" biglang tanong sa'kin ni Darlene. I blinked because she caught me staring at her while eating. Inabot niya sa'kin ang stick ng isaw, that's what they call it, na may kinagatan na niya. She's convincing me to have some. 

At first I'm hesitant, but soon after, I leaned down and opened my mouth to bite a small portion, letting her feed me.

"Bilisan mong kumain... baka makita ni Paolo..." She whispered. Si Paolo ang nagsabing huwag raw akong kakain nun dahil sa kalusugan ko.

I nodded at her and chewed, then I realized that it taste good.

"Babae, pwedeng akin na lang yan?" I asked her and point the chicken entrails na natira na hindi niya pa nakakain.

"Hindi. Bawal sayo... tsaka kumagat ka na kanina..." she replied with a smug at ng akmang kakainin iyun ay pinigilan ko ang kamay niya. I instantly took a bite at inubos ang nasa stick niya. She's dumb-founded of what I did, titig na titig lang siya sa akin while I'm just staring back at her nonchalantly.

"GABI!" she yelled and I just winked at her na ikinatahimik at ikinapula ng pisngi niya. I shrugged my shoulders and chewed the food that's why she eventually laughed at me.

Nakita iyun ni Paolo, kaya't pareho kaming sinermunan. Hindi ko na lang pinakinggan ang pinagsasabi niya because the food is worth the bite. 

The two started arguing but not in a bad way. Hindi nila napansing bumili ako ng tatlo at sinimulang kainin iyun. Huli na nilang makita ng paubos ko na ang kinakain ko. That very day, I got the name and called me an "Isaw Addict".