Remark

Song For the Painter

It was almost the end of another semester and nothing felt better than that – if you pass all your subjects, it would be a bonus. Right now, I just needed to worry about not getting kicked out of my own department. Honestly, I wouldn’t know what to take next if that happens. At this point, I was pretty confident of my works but the professors were really going hard on us. They’re doing everything to kick every first year out.

“You really need to stop thinking too much. I’m worried I might see you next time in a mental hospital.”

I frowned and turned to Hikaru who wasn’t even laughing. Almost as if he was serious about it. And I certainly won’t ever let that happen. I’m not going to be crazy just because school’s suffocating me. Then again, maybe it wasn’t impossible for me to go crazy here in school. I sighed closing my eyes in relaxation. “So what if I’m crazy – the best people are.”

He finally chuckled. “So what, you’re Harley Quinn now too?”

I laughed unable to believe that he actually caught onto my phrase. “Aren’t you worried of getting dropped from your course?” I asked and he shrugged. “I mean, I did pass all my requirements and I make sure I never fail a test but I’m still worried. I feel like I’ll really go crazy if I don’t take Architecture for second year.”

“You passed the first term. What could possibly go wrong? You’ll be fine, Nami-chan. You’re just over thinking,” he gives me a pat on the shoulder. “As usual.”

Maybe I am over-thinking, really.

“Thank God it’s Thursday.”

Thursday? I turned to Hikaru with a questioning look. “Karu, it’s only Wednesday.”

He frowned and lets out a snort. “No, it’s not.”

“Yes, it is. I had Graphics last morning and I only have them for Tuesdays and Wednesdays.”

He was silent. “Oh no.”

“Run.”

He froze and looks at his watch. “Great,” He frantically stood and fixed all his things. “I’ll see you later, Nami!” He runs away yelling and I just watched him laughing.

“Don’t forget to thank me later too!”

After a few minutes, I set off to find Mr. Jung to pass my Art Appreciation project. It was clear to my knowledge that I’d see him in the Fine Arts department so I went there looking for the faculty room. I could just ask someone but I didn’t know anyone here. I had to search for him myself if I wanted that 1.0 in my card.

As I was looking through every room, I caught sight a man brushing over a canvass. His back was facing me and all I could see was his already-masterpiece even if I know it still wasn’t finished. The painting looked really good already. He wasn’t alone. There was a girl painting next to him as well but she looked like she was already packing her things and getting ready to leave.

I continued watching until the girl stands up to approach the guy. I see her wave and the moment I see the guy’s side profile, I was immediately surprised. I stepped aside from the door way I was watching from in order to give the girl space to exit.

Was he always this good actually? And his hair – My eyes widened as I slowly made my way through inside the room. He was alone already and he haven’t noticed my presence in the room with him. The more I walk closer to him and his portrait, the more I appreciate his art. “So black? Not really your best hair color,”

“Jesus chr—” He jumps a little from his seat and turns to me with a horrified expression. I wheezed at his reaction. “You scared the s**t out of me, Nami.” He puts down the brush he was holding and turns to me. “This isn’t black, okay?” He pulled up a strand of his hair. “It’s chocolate brown.” He emphasized and I just bobbed my head even if I still think it was black. “Why do people keep telling me it’s black? Seriously.”

“No more bad boy image with your striking silver, grey, white, whatever hair?”

He raises a brow as if I just offended him. “Only because they’re kicking me out if I don’t dye it dark. I mean, who the f**k wants normal boring a*s black hair. That’s just stupid and average.”

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

“I can repeat myself for your benefit.”

“Gee, thanks.” I laughed and turned back to the painting he was working on.

“So when did you get here? What brings you here? I presume you’re not really here to ask me to be your friend today right? Because I can’t be your friend any time soon after the last time.” He smirks stretching his arms over to reach for his brush.

I chuckled. “No, actually. I’m not going to ask you to be my friend anymore and I will never ask you to be my friend anymore now that you’re telling me that like you’re disgusted.” I crossed my arms and sighed. “I came to pass something to Mr. Jung but I came across this room and saw you painting so I decided to stop by and say hi.”

“That was a long hi,” he flicks his brush and wipes it over the white – not really white since it had different paint stains now – cloth that was hanging below the canvass stand.

“You’re really good, Tyler. I won’t be surprised to see your works up in one of the most prestigious Art Galleries in Rome, Italy.”

He wheezed as if I was bluffing so I made a face. “You’re exaggerating.”

I frowned. “No, seriously. Your works are really good.”

He snorts again. “Okay, what do you want from me?”

“Complimenting someone doesn’t always mean you want something from them. Learn from me, captain.” I smirked at him and he just smirks back. Only more mischievous than I did. “Besides, I rarely compliment people out loud. I just really needed to tell you how good you are at what you’re doing so you can at least show off to other people.” I paused. “And my eyes are perfectly fine. I can clearly see a beautiful painting in front of you.”

He sighed and puts down the brush he was holding again to face me. “Do you know why complimenting is actually really bad?”

I looked at him confused. “Does someone actually hate compliments?”

“Because you’re only making that person feel too confident about himself when you should be pushing him harder and make him be better at what he’s doing.”

At first, I was planning to go against him but I realized his point. “So you’re telling me I should lie and tell you it’s not pretty even if it actually is just to push you harder?”

“No. I’m just saying you shouldn’t use adjectives to describe one’s work with suffixes like really, so, very.”

For someone who doesn’t look like he was academic, he was really good with arguments – he was good with words and being philosophical about things that shouldn’t really matter but they actually do matter in general. “I’ll make sure I remember that,”

He smirked.

“Speaking of which, can I ask you to assist me to your faculty room?”

He laughed. “Doesn’t always mean you want something from them huh?” Before I could even defend myself, he stands up and opens the door saying, “Come on. Next time you want something like this, you don’t have to compliment my works. Really. You can just ask and I’ll just help you in honor of your past relationship with my f****d up friend.”

“I really wasn’t trying to compliment you just so you can do me this little favor.” I defend rolling my eyes as I keep following him.

“Yeah, sure.”

When we reached their supposed to be faculty, I instantly see my teacher sitting on one of the tables inside. After greeting the other teachers inside, I made my way towards him and handed him my project. “Ms. Fukuyama. You’re a week earlier than your classmates.” He says critiquing my work quietly.

“I guess I like finishing my requirements if I had time, sir.”

He nodded. “You may leave then. Tell your classmates I might not be able to meet you all tomorrow because I have a few errands to do.”

I bowed and took my leave. As soon as I stepped out of the faculty, I was surprised to see Tyler waiting outside. I looked at him and he remained slouched over the wall he was leaning to. “Why are you still here? I would have handled myself from here.”

“You know you changed right?”

I frowned and wondered what he meant by changed.

“You were never this quiet – you were always annoyingly loud.”

“Well I can’t stay loud when I always feel fatigue and stressed out.”

“And heartbroken?” He crossed his arms and I looked away knowing it was one of the reasons why I became so distant and silent nowadays. “I told you not to sulk up for something you decided to do.”

“I’m not sulking up. If I would have, I wouldn’t even be here in school right now. I wouldn’t even be talking to anyone. I wouldn’t have left my apartment and just stayed here and be all depressed like normal girls would do if they had breakups.”

He wheezed. “You know I meant something else but okay. If you say so.” He turned away to leave but somehow I wanted him to stop. I needed to ask him something that I wasn’t sure why I was interested to find out.

“Tyler, wait,”

He stopped and turned to me waiting for what I have to say.

“Mark, has he ever—”

“Yes he have.” I gulped and looked down in shame. I wasn’t even supposed to finish my question but somehow, he managed to see through it and answer it without even trying to finish it. “You shouldn’t even be asking me obvious questions like these anymore.”

I pressed my lips together and squinted my eyes over Tyler. “You didn’t tell him why I, you know, I—”

“I’m in no position to meddle with your relationship with him so I’m staying out of it. Besides, I think Mark needs to reflect on what he did – and we love teasing him about your breakup. It really gets to him and it’s fun seeing him like that.” He laughed.

I chuckled and nodded. “Thank you,”

“For what?”

“For being a good friend.”

He lets out a small laugh. “I thought you’re never going to ask me to be your friend anymore?” He smirked and I rolled my eyes.

“I take that back then.”

“Good because I’m wicked than Lucifer. If you end up being my friend, I’m dragging you to hell with me and I’m pretty sure your ex will murder me if I do that. Bye, Nami.” And he finally walks away.

During my one and only vacant period, Jonah thought it was very nice to call everyone for an emergency meeting. These emergency meetings are occurring too continuous lately, seriously. As usual, I was sitting next to Terry and Yelena who were gossiping like what they usually do when they’re together.

“The student council held another meeting with the department presidents for a special meeting. Now I wouldn’t call everyone if it won’t involve all of us right?”

“Is this another event? Because if it is, I’m not sure if my parents are willing to permit me for the nth time.” Chris says.

“It is another event.” I diverted my attention back to Jonah. I was frustrated but I was curious of what the student council came up with again this time. “But I bet it won’t be as tiring as everyone thinks. And I’m pretty sure everyone won’t be able to say no to this.”

Everyone looks at each other in confusion. They were coming up with ideas about what it’s going to be and whatnot but I remained quiet and chose to wait for Jonah’s words hearing everyone’s thought on this new event.

“They wanted to conduct a retreat for the whole team for the success of the socialization night last Friday.” At that, everybody cheers and exclaims in glee. “Which,” Jonah added to silence us up. “Will be held after the school year ends.”

“That’s like the best diversion for a stressful year,” Yelena comments and everyone agrees – even me.

“The retreat will tentatively take place in Briddleton which will be funded by the student council themselves.” The reaction from everyone was loud and cheery. “I’m sure everyone’s up for it seeing how happy your reactions are. Consider this a treat of your hard work for everything you’ve been through.” Jonah laughed.

I can feel how excited everyone is already and we haven’t even finished our finals yet but I do understand them in some way. I guess being an Architecture student in a higher year level was even harder than what we, first year students, do.

“Briddleton? Are we going to Willow Oasis?!” I hear Terry exclaim and I was more than shocked. The school never did have a retreat as extravagant as this but maybe it’s because it was an activity from the student council funded by them as well. “I’m so G for this!”

As much as I wanted to party and celebrate with everyone for this awesome and cool break we’re having after finals, I was worried about Mark. If it’s a retreat for the success of the socialization night then every department official will be there including him. I wasn’t ready of how things might go when that time comes.