A Lie So Beautiful

29. Paint me a memory.

Mia's Point of View.

And like that while talking to ourself we have finished preparing the room.

The room is prepared in such a way that, the easel with the stool and a canvas is placed near the window in the middle of the room. On the right side there is a little shelf where all the colours are kept according to their shades and in the next shelf are the many paint brush I got. And on the left side the picture he draw of us is hung. And right below it, I have fixed some small small stools to keep the cast. Actually the cast are cut carefully to make it thinner and is also framed, so its quite stable.

After all the preparation we stood up admiring our own work.

Mia: Looks good huh?

Jace: Of course, we did it. What can go wrong?

And yes we are indeed the self love couple. We can never stop praising ourself.

While we were standing there Jace got a call so he goes down to answer it. And even me I decide to check my phone, the first thing I realise is, its already 4:45pm by now. Wow time really pass by quickly if you do something with interest. Justin will be here any minute now.

I was checking my phone and being relieved that I got no missed call today even when I forgot to check my phone again.While I was doing so, Jace come back up and by the look on his face I knew something was wrong again.

Mia: What happened? Is something wrong?

Jace: I think, I have to step out for a while. Remember last time I told you Cane's mother is not well?

Yeah he did mention that so I nod my head. Cane is half pant man by the way, if you have forgotten.

Jace: She is admitted in the hospital once again, this time here, so I need to go see her.

I wonder what sickness she have? Cause I haven't even seen her yet and all I hear about is her sickness. But no time for this, I'll ask Jace later on.

Mia: Is it serious? Shall I go with you too just in case?

Jace: No, accompany Justin for today. Ill take you to meet them later, today maybe a bit hectic, okay?

Yeah, they are in the hospital right now, they might become uncomfortable if a stranger come at this time. How unconsidered of me.

Mia: Its fine, go on, they may need you there quickly.

As I said that with a smile indicating that I was fine with it, he also give me a small smile, kiss my forehead and rush out.

He seems to be really close to Cane and his family. Its weird that I have never meet them, but then again Jace said they don't live here permanently. And just visit from time to time, so that must be why I don't have the chance to meet them yet.

Although I indeed have meet one of their family and I can't stand him, but if they are someone Jace is close to, I'll find a way to deal with my little problem, with no problem. I mean its not like we are sworn enemy or anything like that. We just start off on the wrong foot. Nothing a small apology can't solve.

And the reason why people from Jace's side never made an appearance is because he is an only child and his parents both passed, his mom earlier on and his father about two years before he met me.

As I was thinking all this, I accidentally see the wall clock and Iam so happy I did, cause its already past five pm by now. Justin will be here anytime now. So I quickly goes up the attic once again and close the big screen which act like a wall or door and also switch off the light and come down.

And at that exact time Justin enter the door, talk about perfect timing.

He take off his shoe and was looking at the toys I kept there suspiciously and after a while flick one of them.

Mia: Take your vile hand off my baby.

When I said that, he jump up shocked and look at me in pure fright which turn to anger in just a few second.

Aa oh!

Justin's Point Of View.

As I come back home, I saw Jace driving out of my driveway. Wait, what is he doing here?

So I stand in front of him, looking at him with a confuse expression. He stop driving and roll down his window, and I was expecting him to explain why he is here but rather I was more confused by what he says.

Jace: It was made with a lot of care and love. So no matter what you feel, suck it up and smile as if all is good. Although she will probably find out again if you act again but at least try.

And with that he speed away. Am I suppose to understand what he just said, what was made? what to act? or what to suck up?

Okay Iam so confuse right now, did Mia set him up to pull a prank on me again? If not, is the prank set up in my home. Aish that little Mia.

With that in mind, I carefully open the door expecting something to pop up or something. But nothing come up, so I relax a bit and take off my shoe and was about to keep it in the shelf but I realise the top two shelf is filled with Mia's toy and even her shoe is here.

Which means she is here, and seeing as she is moving her toys, is she renovating her room?

Heh, renovating her room in my house without even telling me, that girl really surprised me.

But this toys are really, they filled my home fully, they are like everywhere. Mia and her obsession on toys is really scary. She own even more than a toy store own by now. With that I just flick one of the toys, just irritated with I don't know what. Just then I heard Mia scaring me shitless.

Mia: Take your vile hand off my baby.

I look at him in complete shock and fright. And while Iam this frightened, she dared defend her toys again.

Justin: You scared me!!

Mia: I can see that.

Ahg why did I even said that in the first place, how irritating.

Mia: Well now, I have scared you too; so just count it as a karma.

Well if karma is gonna catch up this way, I should be ready to be shock a lot more. Cause Mia easily get frightened by almost everything. So its not an exaggeration to say that I have probably scared her about a million times.

Justin: Forget that, why are you here anyway?

And I look at him curiously, I mean its already about half past five now, its a weird timing to visit anyone isn't it? And she did not even mention that she will be coming over.

Mia: Why? Can't I come here anymore? Are you kicking me out right now?

As she said that I just look at her in an unimpressed manner. I mean she is the one who keeps on calling me drama king and look at her now.

Mia: Okay, I was just kidding. I have a surprise for you so I came. Go change first.

Justin: Surprise?

Mia: Um, now go and quickly change.

As she push me towards my room, I hesitantly goes in and go to take a bath and change. But my head is filled with the surprise part.

Surprise? I have a bad feeling about this and remembering Jace warning scared me more. Its gonna be something terrible again, isn't it.

Mia's surprises are such that if its good, it will be something that is out of the world like the time she bought my old home and invited all my family for my 23st birthday cause I mention once that I miss my small home where I used to live. That was one of the best day of my life and the best gift I have ever receive.

How she convince the owner to sell that house was beyond me cause I tried a thousand time myself but they didn't agree to it.

It was just a small place with even the house in a bad condition, but all the memories make the place seems like a little haven for me and my family so I was adamant to getting it and she get it for me.

But we can't also forget all the time her surprises go wrong either, once she was gonna surprise me by setting up a double date for us. And I don't know what happen or how she did it, but yeah she set me up on a date with a dude who is also straight and think Iam interested in him and was trying to reject me.

That was the most awkward moment of my life. I thought Mia did it on purpose to make fun or something like that but turn out, it was a genuine mistake. That girl really frightened me with her clumsiness sometimes. Who am I kidding all the time.

I don't expect the surprise of this time to be good again, cause the value of her good surprises are so high that it became an occurance which is a once in a lifetime experience. But bad surprises can very much happen a lot.

While shuddering to myself, I finish my shower, change and then go out. I saw Mia sitting on the couch while looking at her phone and chewing on the sour gummy bears , I don't know why she like them so much but she do, so I make sure that its always here. But as I walk further in I saw more toys in the living room as well. Now why are they out here? What did she do with her room and I look up but the screen is closed so I can't see.

But weirdly enough, it get weird without the toys now. Even if it irritate me and is always awkward when my friends come over and ask whether I have a hidden daughter or something seeing all the toys. I seem to be more than okay with th toys covering my house, if this little thing is what made her happy and excited.

Justin: So why the change in place of your toys?

And as I said that, surprise! surprise! Once again Mia is shocked. Making me sigh to myself, I should have known better.

She settle down in a bit and gave me a harsh glare. While I give her an innocent smile. I thought she will charged at me or something like she usually do but today something was different. She just look at me for a while and stand up as if a bulb just went off in her head.

She quickly come and grab my hand and lead me to the attic room or more specifically her room. I just follow her confused, she did do something to her room didnt she? But I can't even guess what.

We reach her room but the blinds are down and the light is shut off so I can see nothing. So I was about to go to switch on the light but Mia hold me back.

Jace: Hmm? Is your surprise darkness this time around.

When I say that I bet she glare at me like she always do but I can't see her, so I don't know. But I did hear her hissing at me.

Mia: Shuss! And stand here don't move. Not even a step.

And she let go of my hand and go somewhere. Iam hoping to switch the light on but it didn't came on for a while but I wait patiently and not move like she said. Its better to follow her words when she give this kind of warning, if not something bad always happen. I did learn that the hard way.

I heard her shuffling around for a while and suddenly all this went quite for a bit. Weird, what is she up to now?

Justin: Mia?

Mia: Okay now switch on the light.

Wait didnt she go to switch on the light? If not what was she doing in the dark anyway.

With that curiously I look around as I switch on the light. But what I saw make my breath hitch and leave me blank.

Mia(worried) : Justin?

Her voice broke me from my frozen moment and as I look at her, she is looking at me worriedly. But as I just keep on staring at her, she very awkwardly yell.

Mia: Surprised??

And I remember Jace word, it was made with love and care and even if I don't like it, I should act like I do.

But the problem was, I love it too much but I can't.

Justin: What the hell? You know I don't like paintings or anything of that sort anymore.

And I look at her with a serious face showing her Iam not joking. Art or painting was a part of me I throw away a long time back, so that I can be who Iam today. I can't turn back to that old time again, I don't deserve it.

While Mia look at me and take a deep breath as if readying herself.

Mia: Look.

And she turn me to the side where clearly I can see the picture I draw of us hung up and the cast I drew on, also kept. Did she really kept that as well? It was all framed up, was it that precious to her?

Looking at the painting, I feel a dug at my heart too but painting was and is still a luxury I can't effort and deserve.

Justin: Mia I..

She just cut me off as if she never heard me speak.

Mia: Its beautiful.

When she said that I look at her confusedly.

Mia: The paintings are beautiful, all this cast are from when I was in pain or hurt or something of that sort. But when I look at this picture, I don't think of how I hurt myself or how much it hurt that time. Rather it remind me of the blessing of my loves one to make it all better. And thats beautiful.

Hmm, but those painting were not so much as a blessing from a love one than an apology from a bastard.

But what a relief, at least it comfort her for a while.

Mia: The painting of our childhood looks vibrant, not because the painting was spendid but because that image or the scenery you draw with it exist only in our mind and no one else. The smile, the gesture, the place, the expression that is drawn is how we see our self at that time and that reflect even now. So why waste something this beautiful when something more magical can be created again.

I see it as well, the painting was of Mia and me jumping up with a bright smile on our face, eye shining with innocent wildness, dress in a colourful pink and blue. The sky seems so bright and blue and the ground so green and fresh in the painting.

We have jump up from the ground yet does not reach the sky, it was an indication that we have start our journey and is no longer at the start or the ground where we were all fresh and naive. But we have yet to reach our dream as well, which when we look up seems so bright as the sky that day. And the image of us meant that, we are happy being in the middle chasing the dream cause we have a friend to share the journey with.

My dreams seem foreign to me when I think about it now, but there is also a certain familiarity that I can't shake off. But I have to shake it off, I throw this away for a reason back then and I will have to now as well.

Jace: Maybe its magical but it is a burden for me now.

When I said that she sit down on the stool and drag me along to seat besides her. She shows me her cast again and push a brush in my hand.

Mia: Draw Justin. You told me once that you have a debt to pay so until you do, you cant pick up a brush ever again right?

I nod at her. That debt has just got bigger by now. And my debtor has just become more and more kind.

Mia: You said to pay it back, you have to become a doctor. One of the best one at that. And you have done it, Justin you have done it. So let it go now, you have earned it. Stop staring at a painter with envy rather become one yourself. Paint again Justin, for yourself if not you can do it for me too.

I know very well that Iam far from paying my debt and I have not even start paying yet but maybe because it was Mia that say this to me, or maybe its because she is the one who is suppose to collect my debt but I listen to her and pick up my brush and paint.

As I start to draw she look at me with a bright eye full of hope and excitement. And this time I draw for her for the first time, this time it was not about me or how I feel but was about her. And as I draw in blindness, I look down to see a beautiful eye which look like its is dancing in joy and pure happiness. It look innocent and pure, and was an eye full of love.

But the eye was looking at me and shining with love and that scared me to the core but I chose to cherish it when I can rather than dodge.

She is my master but she chose to be my friend instead, I meet her in my lies but she purified me in her honesty, but the question was who will take away her pain when the time come?

And even if I search far and wide I know, that answer was not there yet. Cause she trust and love but only to selfish being like me.

As I draw and laugh with her that day, she was happy for me as I hold the brush again. And if that's what gonna make her happy even just for a little bit then I'll paint a million picture for her with no question ask.