Broken Strings (18+)

07

The art gallery was only four shops away from where we’re standing. “There it is, honey.” I patted Storm’s waist as I pointed to the direction of the store.

I heard a phone ringing, and if I weren’t mistaken, it was Storm’s. We both stopped on our tracks. He got his phone from his pocket and answered the call in front of me. This was what I was talking about when I said Storm doesn’t keep anything from me.

“Yes, Dad?” He was silent for a while, just listening to what his father had to say. Little by little, his brows furrowed. I started to wonder what was wrong. “Okay, okay. I’ll be there in 30,” he said before ending the call.

“What’s wrong, honey?” I couldn’t help but be anxious for him as well.

“Family emergency.” Just two words, but my heart started beating faster.

“What is it? Come on, let’s go.” I tugged on his arm.

He tried to smile. “No, it’s okay. I’ll go by myself. You still have to buy something, right?”

“But—”

“But really, it’s okay, honey.” His tone somehow reassured me. “Just text me when you’re done. I’ll see if I can pick you up by then.”

“Are you sure?” I squeezed his arm lightly.

“Positive.” He grinned, but the glow didn’t reach his eyes. He kissed me goodbye. “See you later,” he whispered against my lips. I was stunned by his public display of affection. He hasn’t acted like that in a long time.

I’ve already looked at thirty paintings, more or less. I couldn’t decide on which piece to get for Dr. Sevilla. I told you, I was never a fan of these artsy things.

Which piece should I buy? I shut my eyes and tried to recall the most memorable, if there was any. Pink – that was the first thing that came to my mind. The cherry blossom painting.

I opened my eyes, smiling. I went back to that painting. I couldn’t help but somehow admire the piece. It looked so real – almost like a photograph. The colors were so vivid and the details were so fine that I almost felt like there’s an actual Japanese cherry tree in front of me. Okay, so maybe I could appreciate art, after all.

Dr. Sevilla is also a nature lover, so maybe, he’d like this one.

“Do you like it?” a soft female voice asked, out of the blue.

“Yeah…” I answered absentmindedly. My eyes were still fixed on the painting.

“Brings me back to that time I was in Japan…” she said rather dreamily.

“You lived there?”

“Yes, I got a scholarship at an art school there.” Then she chuckled. “It still feels like yesterday, when in fact, it had been a decade since.” That struck my curiosity. Her voice sounded… young. But her words told otherwise.

I turned to her. I was surprised when I recognized who I was talking to. It was Danielle, my former classmate, who I had seen with my boyfriend just recently. I immediately tried to hide my surprise.

“Cherry blossoms look bright and breezy, don’t they?” she said, smiling and staring at the painting. “I used to wonder why Japanese related it to a gloomy concept, mono no aware. It’s a term for awareness of impermanence, or transience of things. You know what they say, all good things come to an end. So people, knowing that fact, tend to appreciate the ‘good thing’ more – enjoy it while it lasts. However, we become wistful when it ends, and even more because we can’t do anything about it. That’s just how life works.” I was amazed that she didn’t sound like a know-it-all. It was only as if she was chatting me up and not lecturing me about some serious stuff. But really, I couldn’t agree more with what she said.