The dawn was thick with cold from the rain a few hours ago.

I glanced around, and fully took in the things in my room. I gazed at the painting hung up on my wall, just across me from where I lay and could sense something pulling me to it. I sat up on my bed with my pillows propped up behind me. I tilted my head to take a better look of the painting in the dim light. It wasn't an ordinary painting, I could say. But I was no artist that I could say that it was the best painting in the world. Though for me, it really was -- the most beautiful work of art. As abstract as it was, I've never really put a finger to what it depicted. A swish of colors, a splash of paint, and a dip from a colored sea with a magical brush rolled into one. Just like how I would describe life, a combination of light and dark colors to symbolize its ups and downs, it was the way how I saw the painting. So simple an interpretation yet I think it holds a great meaning. Such thing could be understood from the things Ive been through. I heaved out a sigh as I stepped out from the pool of sheets around me. Hugging myself to keep myself warm, I moved closer to the little piece of art. I grazed my hand across it, feeling its rough surface and marveled at how such surface could comprise a masterpiece. I smiled as I remembered certain things that were embedded in my head that have a significant connection to the painting. A bittersweet ache so special and that was so sweet and bitter to be engraved in me. I was too young then but I wouldnt say it was the biggest mistake in my life. Something caught my eye. Inserted in the paintings frame, an upper part of a photo stood out. Taking it out slowly, I held my breath. I know what I would be seeing. Ive been through this a couple of times after that night. I know that once I would take a look at it, I would be

thrown in a whirlpool of memories. And I know what I had to do then. I would let them engulf me; swallow me into its bright abyss.

I fell in love thats the easiest way to summarize it all, easy but hard to grasp. It wasnt an ordinary love, not that love could be an ordinary thing. It was just different from how others would visualize the word love. It was special. It had life in it, as it was what that had me breathing. I was in my first year of high school when I first met this guy. I was silent, reserved, not a part in any of the schools cliques, and a bookworm. Books were my shield and my constant companion. My thoughts were my weapon, the darkest ones to be the most lethal. I had an admirable set of friends, though with some differences, I managed to click with them. It was a cloudy afternoon and the wind blew gently, ruffling the pages of my book that I was reading and stirring up the fallen dead leaves. I sat alone beneath the huge Acacia tree in our school grounds, not having a care in the world just as I can finish what I was reading. Jane Eyre thats what I was so busy about. Pausing at a certain part, I glanced up when I heard laughter and saw a bunch of boys walking towards the field. Soccer. I groaned. Ive been a sucker for sports. Ive never gotten the hang of balls, they terrified me. And so I thought about looking for another silent spot. Just as I was about to leave, I did not notice the soccer ball coming until it smacked the book from my hands. There were shouts of apologies and I glared at them. One of them ran up to probably

beg for pardon. I thought about giving him a piece of my mind, but changed at the last minute. He was just a boy, a normal teenage boy. He looked simple, and well, cute. The way his hair fell on his forehead was adorable and his eyes! Oh his eyes! They were the loveliest pair of eyes Ive ever seen the way it glistened when light touches them. It was too captivating, too I mentally slapped myself. What was I thinking? I should at least be hostile to this guy. I composed myself when he stopped just a foot away. He bent down to retrieve my book and handed it to me with a smile. It would be too girly to say that my heart skipped a beat, right? I acted like I wasnt a bit affected and glared at his hand before grabbing my book. Thanks, I muttered. Im sorry for our recklessness, he said. I was about to say it was fine but then he continued, It wouldnt have happened if I was the one who kicked it, I wouldve had a better aim and have your book into pieces. My jaw dropped. Was he serious? Conceited ass! Ugh. I sent a death glare at his retreating back and silent curses. I regretted not giving him a piece of my mind. I trudged away, wishing that Id never get the chance to see him again. But ahh, its too early to predict things, aye? And fate clearly wants to mess up with me. I constantly saw him and every smile he gave me, I thought of them to be evil smirks and I would give him my best death glare. I saw him loitering around with his buddies, often straying his

eyes on me. It didnt flatter me but rather it annoyed me. I saw him hanging around with this certain girl during dismissal. Dont get me wrong and say that Im jealous, Im far from that. I was too busy with more important things than that. The only thing that Im grateful about is that we do not belong in the same class. At least I do not have someone who would pester me with smart comments. Who does he thinks anyway? That reminds me. Who was he again? Hmm. Lewis McJagger. A McJagger, huh. His moves were clearly un-McJaggerish. I sighed. I should stop thinking about that kid. There are other things to worry about. And so I did lay my mind away from him for almost a week. I went back to reading my unfinished book. I had the liberty of having the bench near the shade of the trees all for myself. It was peaceful and there was no Lewis to annoy me.