Through The Pages

School Fair

I blindly walked forward and follow a faint light flowing up ahead. Up close, I saw the figure, and he was familiar. His eyes were tenderly looking at the book until it met mine. Bored eyes and lips sealed in a thin line. "You're not the one I love."

"What?" I ask him, confused.

"You're not her, Gayle." he directly said and turns his back. There is a sudden earthquake and it made the place crumble fast. The place seemed like a condo unit, we were both in the living room but he made his way out and left me here. When I approached the door and tried to open it, locked.

My heart thuds painfully in my chest as if it was being pierced by a knife multiple times. The guy's face appeared on my mind with an eerily sinister face and instead of becoming afraid, I cried. I have no choice but to wrap myself with my arms, feeling the pain.

"Is this the end?" I mumbled.

I bolted upright.  When I opened my eyes, I looked around to see where I am. The alarm clock on my side table says it's past three in the morning. Beads of sweat have formed all around my body. My mind is momentarily paralyzed as I try to remember that dream I had. I get up to head to the bathroom and splash cold water on my face. I can't remember how I drifted back to sleep after that.  However, it didn't take long before I woke up again since it's a weekday.

"Are you participating in any contest?" Kenichi asked me as she place the mug in front of me. "You don't look well today. Is something wrong?"

I picked up the mug tiringly, "Watercolor painting. Didn't sleep well."

She placed her mug on the sink, "There are chocolates in the fridge. Eat some before you go."

"You're going already? No one will be there early for a school fair." I gushed.

"Debate starts at seven," she sweetly smiled, "Kindly wash the dishes from last night."

"Oh, right." I mumbled, "Kenichi, you're a legal management student, right?"

"You forgot?" she asked, irritated.

"No, no." I shake my head, defending myself, "Do you know Vanisse?"

She sat on the chair in front of me again, she smirked, "Why? Is the rumors true that you two are dating?"

"What? No." I rolled my eyes, "I'm not interested in him at all. But... do you know his friends? Like close friends? Someone he's always with?"

She thought for a moment, "A few from our department but one from medicine. I always see them together in the Chemistry laboratory, Vanisse frequently visits him there."

"Do you personally know him?"

She teasingly smiled, "I get it now, cuz. You're not interested in Vanisse but his friend." she shrugged, "Sorry but I can't help you. They're both members of debate society from a different party so we practically consider each other as enemies."

I pouted and brush her off, "Go now, early bird."

Casually entering the campus with my earbuds on, the students looked excited especially the freshies. Some already placed mats on the fields, there are also tents to chill at. Different booths with goodies have multiple lines already.

Someone encircled an arm on my arm, it's Cloede, "You're here early."

I rolled my eyes, her voice is louder than the music I was hearing, "Did you register?"

"Oh, yes!" she squealed, "I auditioned to be part of band and they accepted me. We're going to compete this Friday."

With her high pitched voice, no one would expect that she's a good singer and that's her charm. Cloede can make the impossible possible all the time. We separated ways after we bought some snacks in the cafeteria. I headed to the arts building, room three to know the mechanics from the facilitator. Most of the students are from the arts department and I was the only one from architecture.

"You're all here," Ms. Andrews started, "The participants will be given two hours to finish their painting. You can go anywhere and get inspiration from the surroundings in the campus. If not here on time, disqualified. These are the materials to be used, free of charge. As simple as that, you may now all go."

I took the canvas, watercolor, and paint brush. Some of the students complained about how low quality the items are but I didn't mind it. Art is not about the materials, it's about how you do it. Well, that's just my view on it. I got lucky when the library is open for today. Mrs. Go wasn't shocked when she saw me enter since this is what I usually do during school fair.

"Am I the only student here again?"

She smiled, "As expected of Ms. Rueco."

I occupied the couch at the corner of this room. Not too hot, not too cold, the perfect temperature to relax my mind. I didn't start right away, I envisioned what I want first then what I hope for. The feeling is like driving to the space, scenes kept popping on my mind. And at that exact moment, Mrs. Go and I turned our heads to see who opened the entrance door. It was no other than Vanisse's friend, the one who helped me before.

He looked uninterested and was just focused on his book. It was fascinating how he walked to the table in front of me and sat on the chair, not caring about the world. When I looked at Mrs. Go, she just shrugged. That gave me an idea, seeing him again relived that moment.

I started sketching a scene, slowly getting into it. I didn't even realize that I was biting my lip as I draw and remember that moment. I'm not the detailed type so my painting can be described as an abstract. I drew a person in the corner, another one by the shelves looking at the person in the corner. The background is the design of the library at the back, the colors were a mix of pink, violet, green, blue, teal, and yellow.

I finally stretched my arms as I yawn, my painting is finished and I still have fifteen minutes before the deadline. Vanisse's friend wasn't there anymore when I looked, maybe he left already while I was too passionate painting. A few persons were already there. As usual, they are hiding their paintings, afraid of being copied.

"You can give your paintings to me now and I'll bring it to the faculty room so that the professors can pick." Ms. Andrews announced.

I didn't mind if someone else sees my drawing since I don't care about the awards. I only registered to get an extra point for my plates. The art students were extremely competitive and I understand that. They're art majors so if they lose, it'll be a disdain to their department.

Cloede and Kenichi are probably in their clubs. Hestia and Sierra are from different schools. I don't have anyone to hang out with at this moment so instead of looking around to see the prepared antics of the campus, I went back to my haven.

Mrs. Go didn't look surprised when I got back. "There's a new batch of books way around the back. Someone is already there to check it out."

"What a bummer," I sounded disappointed, "I'm not the first one?"

She laughed by the way I reacted. There aren't a lot of students who frequently visit the library during this time around. Mostly, they make most of their lives by joining different clubs even if they do not have interest in it.

I could not take another step when I saw who it was. "It's you..."