The art of remembering

"You're here... again?" she said. I felt him step closer from behind me.

"That girl, again? You've been painting her since the day you woke up. Who is she?" she asked while standing at my back.

I lowered the paint brush I was holding while not taking my eyes off the painting in front of me that I had made myself.

"Who is she?" She asked again. He held me by both shoulders.

That's also the question I want to ask

know

Who is she?

Who are you?

It's been a month since I woke up from that accident. The car I was driving crashed causing me to be in a coma for six months... and unable to walk. The doctor said that there is still a chance that I will be able to walk again if I do therapy.

And it's been a month since I drew this girl's picture. I don't know her and I've never seen her before.

My hands seem to have a life of their own. Every time I hold a pencil, it will move and draw the face of a woman I have never seen in my entire life.

The doctor said that maybe I had seen or known this woman before the accident and I just forgot. But... I'm really sure that I never saw her before.

When I woke up I remembered everything before the accident... every single one of it. I still remember what the last thing I ate was the last thing I said before I got in my car and drove off.

Again, I look at the portrait that I painted.

Who are you?

"Maybe she's your guardian angel that saves your life." she said.

My guardian angel?

Maybe.. yes.

"C'mon, it's time for your therapy."

I nodded.

I placed the paint brush I was holding on the table.

My mom started to push my wheelchair. But before we could leave completely, we caught a glimpse of the painting again.

If you really are my guardian angel, thank you for saving my life.

*****

"Skyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!"

Suddenly I woke up from a loud scream outside my room. I quickly got up and got off the bed.

"F*ck!" I snorted as I fell on the bed, one of my feet breaking on the blanket.

"Skyyyyyyyyyy..." again when I heard Yuki's loud cry and the opening of my bedroom door.

"Hey... are you on the floor? You actually have a bed on the floor and you decided to sleep. Your trip is also strong." he said then laughed.

I opened my eyes and looked at it evilly.

I stood up from the floor.

"What the h*ll is your problem? Is your voice reaching the corner? Is your scream loud?" I asked him annoyed.

I sat on the edge of my bed and fixed my messy hair.

"Girllll... It's already afternoon." She said. I look at her standing in front of me while smiling.

I just rolled my eyes and went back to bed.

"Hey! Don't say you're going to sleep again?" He pulled my hand to wake me up.

"Arghhh!! Can you just go out and let me sleep?" I complained while burying my face in the pillow.

"Get up because of that. I want to show you something. This is the reason why I scream so loud. C'mon, Sky." He said while not stopping pulling my hand with shaking.

"Arghh! F*ck! Stop it!" I got up with my eyes closed.

"When that's not important I'll really hit you." I said to him annoyed.

"You're so br*tal. I promise you'll be surprised when you see this. Here look at this."

"I can't see it."

"W*nga! Open your eyes so you can see."

Oh! I forgot. I have my eyes closed.

I opened my eyes and looked at whatever he wanted to show me.

"So? What's so important with this picture?" I said against him at the same time.

"Oh no! You can fight back!" I just smiled at him and intended to lie down when he held my hand again.

"What?" I asked annoyed.

"Look carefully.. Open your eyes wide so you can see." Banging if the cell phone was taken from his hand while touching it.

I looked carefully at the picture he was talking about.

It's a picture of a girl.

My forehead suddenly wrinkled while looking at the picture.

"What can you say?" Yuki asked.

I took my eyes off his cellphone screen and focused on him.

"Hmm.. she looks familiar." I said.

"W*nga! What's familiar?" He said and hit me.

"Eh, the face is familiar to me, do I know who that is? Go away... you just disturbed my sleep." I said kicking him off my bed.

"G*ga! Hey, you're the one in the picture." he said and hit me in the face with a pillow.

"How can I be that?" I asked back. I took a pillow next to me and hit him too.

This girl is pissing me off! Maybe he thought I wasn't paying attention to what he was saying.

"Look at that picture carefully." Yuki.

"Why are you forcing me? What if it's me? Is it a big deal?" I said and caught the pillow he was about to throw at me.

"It's a big deal. Do you know who posted this picture of you?"

"Who?" I asked back.

"The one and only son of the president of the Philippines." He said seriously.

I looked at him.

He looked at me with a serious face.

I suddenly laughed.

"C'mon... Stop it. Stop pranking me. Those pranks of yours won't work for me anymore." I said.

"I'm d*ad serious this time." I looked at his face for a few seconds.

Yeah!

She's fucking serious!

Again if he grabbed the cell phone in his hand and looked at the picture again.

I stared at it carefully. I almost stuck my face on his cellphone screen.

"What the h*ll!? How did he get my picture? And I don't remember having this picture?" I said.

"Read the caption." She said.

I looked at the caption and frowned.

"It's too long.. I'm too lazy to read." I said.

"Just read the first sentence, you idiot!"

"Hey! That's a lot." He just scolded me.

I looked back at the screen and read the first sentence.

"My guardian angel who saved my life from death?" I'm reading.

I glanced at Yuki when I heard him laugh.

"What's funny?"

"Well, he called you his guardian angel but you're not!" He said laughing. "You're not an angel... you look like an angel. That's the correct word. But you're ahahahahahaha... dev----. Yeah, I think I should just close my mouth."

"Tsk! Why the h*ll he posted this? I don't know him." I said.

"Well, if you just read it, you will know. And since you are too lazy to read, let me summarize it for you. You should be thankful, I love you this much." She said and smiled at me.

Oh! I hate that smile!

"To make it short. Six months ago he had an accident... the whole Philippines knows it because he's the son of the president... except maybe you because you have your own world and don't know what's happening around you. Let me phrase it 'does not care'."

I rolled my eyes.

"Continue... He was in a coma for six months.. poor him. When he woke up he started to draw a picture and that's you. He said that he never saw you or knew you. It's like his hands have a life of their own and every time he draws your face what he does. He posted that picture to know if you really exist in this world." He laughed at the last thing he said.

"Tsk! This guy is full of drama. Well, I don't f*cking care. Maybe I just look like the girl drawn.. painted or whatever, I don't care." I said nonsense.

I really don't care.

Just like Yuki said, I don't care about what's happening around me. And I'm not his guardian angel or an angel.

I'm not worth it to be called...

Maybe I'll accept it if he calls me a demon. Because that was how everyone described me.

Damn it!

Why do I call my self a d*mon?

Simple!

Because of my past!

Previously it was drawn all over my body, my personality. I used to try to run away, but now I'm being chased more and more.

"Whether it's you or just what you look like... social media is full of you. There are a lot of likes and shares. And the comments... ghad! You're a celebrity now, you're on the news." Yuki said while laughing.

"D*mmit!"

I fell down on my bed and looked at the ceiling of my room.

"Maybe we should hire some bodyguards from now on." Yuki said and laughed.

Oh shit!

Now she's fucking teasing me!

I reached for the pillow that was on my side and threw it hard at him.

"Get the hell out of here!"

"As you wish my celebrity friend. Just don't forget about me, okay?" He said laughing.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

D*mmit!!

Sky POV

"SKYYYYYYYY!"

"Skyeeeeeeee..."

"Sky? Where are you?"

D*mmit!

How long is he going to tease me!?

"Skyyyyyy? My celebrity friend?"

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

I left the bathroom.

"Oh... There you are.. I've been looking for you for a while." She said while smiling at me.

I really hate that smile of hers.

"What do you want? And please.... please lower your voice. It's like I'm on the other side of the mountain if you scream." I said and walked towards the closet. I opened it and searched for clothes to wear.

"Am I dreaming? Or hallucinating?" He held me in both arms and made me face him.

I look at her confused.

"Hey... Are you really Sky?" He said and caressed my cheek.

"Whoever you are, good soul, get out of my friend's body!" Yuki and shook me.

I closed my eyes to stop myself from doing whatever bad thing I wanted to do to the woman in front of me now.

I grabbed his hand and removed it from my shoulder.

"Could you please stop!" I said.

"Oh my god! You are possessed by a good spirit." Yuki

"What are you talking about?" I said annoyed.

I'm back to looking for clothes to wear.

"Well, I never heard you say 'please' before, just now. What's wrong with you?" he said and laughed.

Honestly, I'm so tired of him being mean to me. Every time he would tease me and tease me.

She's fucking annoying!

He really knows how to annoy me. And I can't do anything about it.

"I'm f*cking tired of you being so annoying." I said and took the black t-shirt and loose pants.

"Oh! Sorry... I'm bored." she said and giggled.

I rolled my eyes.

I turned around and took off my robe.

I put on pants and followed the t-shirt.

When I looked at him, he was already sitting on the side of my bed while looking at me.

"What?" I asked.

"It's beautiful." she said and smiled at me.

I looked at him in surprise.

"The tattoo on your back.. it's beautiful." She said referring to my wing tattoo on my back.

I have a pair of wings tattooed on my back. I don't even know what went into my brain and I got a wings tattoo on my back.

Maybe I want to fly and be free from something or someone. Or to cover the scar that reminds me of the past. I don't know...

"You've seen it a hundred times already and you're just now going to say it's beautiful?" He suddenly laughed because of what I said.

He stood up from his seat and came to me. He held me by both shoulders while looking straight at me.

"I just remembered what Gavin said, 'My guardian angel'." He said and laughed a lot.

"Who's Gavin?"

"The president's son." He answered immediately.

"You're his guardian angel and it just so happens that you have a tattoo on your back. Is it just coincidence or something else?" He said meaningfully.

I chuckled.

Now I laughed at what he said.

"Really? How can I be his so-called 'guardian angel' if we have never even met? And I don't know him." I said to him seriously.

"Are you sure about that?" He asked meaningfully, looking directly at me. As if I was being tickled.

"I'm sure. I'm not st*pid to get involved myself to someone like him." I said. I immediately picked up the shoes from the side of my closet and put them on. I took the bag that was on the bed and hurried out of the room.

I quickly left the house and walked away. After a while I stopped walking.

I grabbed my head and violently removed the wrapped towel from it.

I closed my eyes due to irritation.

"D*mmit!" I snorted softly to myself.

I looked around.

I approached a large plant and hung the towel I was holding there. I stepped out, while walking I combed my fingers through the rather long hair.

I have an exam today so I need to go in. Even though I was lazy, I really forced myself to go in. And another of the reasons why I'm lazy is because of the portrait of a girl who looks like me that Alric posted on socmed, I'm the talk of the university I attend.

They were gossiping about me. If it's really me or I just look like me. Some people say that I just took it. Which is good to me. But others say it's me because I look exactly like the woman in the portrait.

Well, I don't f*cking care at all.

I'm just annoyed because they keep asking me questions.

When I got to the tricycle parking lot, I immediately got on the first one parked. I'm the first passenger so I'll have to wait.

I just took the earpiece from inside my bag and slapped it on my cellphone. I put it in both my ears and played music.

A few minutes passed before the other passengers arrived. When the tricycle I was riding was full, it immediately left. The university I attend is nearby so I arrived immediately. I went down and paid the fare.

I walked closer to the main gate of the university. Their looks and whispers are here again. Ever since that Gavin posted the portrait he made of a girl who looks like me, this is what always greets me. Either here at the university or at the bar where I work.

I just ignored them and went inside. From outside to inside there is no difference.

I sighed and started walking to my classroom.

I'm in my second year of college now. By the grace of God I was able to go back to school. It is possible to combine studies and work. Going to school in the morning, work in the evening. It's not too difficult because I only study two or three subjects every day. And I only go to university here for four days in a week.

After arriving, I immediately entered the classroom. I walked straight to my seat at the very back. I put the bag on the armchair and sat down. I still notice the glances my classmates give me.

I opened the inside of my bag and took out a notebook. I opened it and read what was written there. A few minutes passed when our teacher arrived. He just said some things and the exam started immediately. After a few minutes I finished answering all the questions. I stood up from my seat with a bag on my shoulder. I walked to the front and passed my paper.

"Ms. Hayashi.."

I stopped in front of the door when our teacher called me. I faced him.

He stood up from his seat and came to me.

"The dean wants to talk to you. Go to his office." He says.

I just nodded in response. I opened the door and went out.

What does dean need? And why is he calling me? This is the first time he called me.

Instead of going home, I went to Dean's office first.

"I called you here because of one reason. And I think you know what it is." Dean

"No." I answered him bored.

He looked surprised because of my answer.

I really don't know why he is calling me here.

"You really don't have any idea, Ms. Hayashi?" he asked me.

"That's why I'm here to find out what it is." I said to him seriously.

His face looks like he can't believe that I have no idea why he called me.

"Then I won't direct you. I called you because Gavin Velasco wants to meet you personally." He said smiling at me.

Gavin Velasco?

The name is familiar but I don't recognize it.

"And who is that?"

The smile on his lips disappeared as he looked at me.

"You don't know him?"

"Shall I ask if I know?" I told him back.

"He's the only son of the president of the Philippines. How come you don't know him?" Dean.

"Is he that special for me to know? And to answer what you said.. I don't want to know him or even see him."

"Ms. Hayashi, meeting the president's only son is a big apportunity for you."

"I don't care about the apportunity that you're talking about. I'm a busy person." I said straight away.

I don't care if he is the president's son and I don't even have time to get to know him.

"Ms, Hayashi----"

"I'm sorry, but no matter what you tell me, I still won't agree. If you want to talk to him, but don't expect me to confront him because that won't happen. And if you don't say anything more, can I leave? I still have a lot to do." I told him.

I heard her sigh.

"Okay, fine.. you may go." After he said that, I immediately stood up from the chair and walked towards the door. I opened it and went out.

Sky POV

After I left the dean's office, I went straight to the gate, I left the university and waited for a ride to my workplace. I finished taking all the exams I needed so I don't have to do anything at the university.

I stopped the jeep that passed by and immediately got on. I sat at the very end behind the driver because it was the only vacant seat left. As soon as I sat down, I noticed the eyes looking at me. To be honest, I'm sick of the way they look at me. Ever since that Gavin posted the portrait he made, my every day has not been good. The simple and quiet life that was kept for a long time might suddenly disappear because of what he did. My life will be a mess because of the drama he did.

"Sky, I think you came in the morning today? Don't you have school?" Hanz asked openly. He is the manager of this restobar where I work and he is also Yuki's best friend.

"My exam ended early so I went straight here." My answer. He just nodded so I walked to the locker room to put my things and change clothes.

When I went inside, I found Von, Mel and Suzy talking. They are my colleagues who also work here.

"Sky, it's over there." Mel said when she saw me. I just nodded to them and went to my locker to put my bag inside. I also took my work uniform and went to the bathroom to get dressed.

After I came out of the bathroom, the three were still there and it looked like they were watching something on the cellphone that Von was holding. I just let them go and ignored it, I was about to go out when Von called me.

"Sky, come on, take a look." Von

"Not anymore---" I couldn't finish what I was going to say when Mel approached me and grabbed my hand and pulled me closer to the two.

"You have to watch it." Mail

I couldn't do anything but watch whatever they were watching.

"Look, you're in the news again." said Von. It's like being so happy that I'm probably full of news again. If he's happy, I'm not.

"Gavin is really handsome, has an actorly bearing and looks nice." Suzy commented while watching a man's interview.

I frowned as I looked at the man on the screen they called Gavin.

Is he the president's son?

Ever since you posted on social media a portrait of a woman that you painted yourself, many women have come forward, claiming that they are the ones in the portrait. But there is a picture circulating on social media today about this of a woman who looks exactly like the one in the portrait. Have you already seen this girl in person or do you plan to see and meet her in person? said a reporter. I even noticed my picture taken inside the university and inside the car attached to the screen.

Yeah, I definitely want to see her. But he refused my invitation to meet. But, I respect her decision it's her private life. I hope someday I could meet her in person.' Gavin

"Wow.. girl, why did you refuse? That's your chance. If it's me, go immediately even without an invitation or I'll expose myself." Suzy after the interview.

"I don't care about that chance or whatever it is." I said.

"I'm sorry because you're not Sky. And Sky really has the right to say no." Mail

"But it's just amazing. He said he's never seen Sky in his entire life, but why was he able to paint Sky's face?" Von said.

"That's my point." Mail. And the three of them looked at me confused.

"I don't know either." I said.

"Guys, come on, we're about to open." Hans

The three of them went out and I was left here deep in thought.

The quiet life will start to become chaotic because of the actions of that man.

*****

"Finally, you're home. Where have you been?" Yuki greeted me as soon as I entered the door of the house.

I looked at him in wonder.

"Don't tell me you forgot?" His wide smile disappeared and was replaced by a frown.

"Forgot which one?" I ask because I don't remember anything.

"The one I'm asking you to buy? I called and texted you several times just so you wouldn't forget." He says.

"Sorry, I didn't remember." I just said. I walked to my room.

"Are you okay?" I felt it following behind me.

I just nodded and continued walking until I reached the front of my room. I opened the door and went inside.

"Hurry up and get dressed so we can have dinner." I looked at Yuki who was peeking at my door.

The second time I just nodded.

"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked again while we both ate.

"Of course." I gave a short answer and continued eating.

"I saw Gavin's interview earlier. He said you refused to meet him." I didn't speak and just ate quietly.

"You know, you can tell me what's bothering you. Something is bothering you, I can tell." Yuki. I raised my face and looked at him. It was also looking directly at me.

"Nothing!"

"I know you, Skye." Yuki

I put the spoon and fork I was holding on top of the plate.

I took a deep breath.

"I don't want to talk about it anymore." I said seriously.

"Is it about your past... our past that's bothering you? It's been ten years, Sky. Put it into oblivion and leave everything that happened in the past. This is our new life now." He said seriously.

I bowed slightly.

"That person is already d*ad five years ago. His body and soul is already burned in h*ll. He will not live to come back to us." I looked up at him.

He looked at me seriously. Giving me an assurance.

"My picture is all over the news now. Aren't you worried maybe someone from the org. recognize me and hunt us?" I said back to him.

"Why? Are you scared? The Sky I know is not scared of everything." He gave me a silly grin.

"I'm not scared, I'm just worried, that's different. I just don't want to go home without all our suffering just because of the useless thing that Gavin did."

"You can't blame him for what he did. He thought you saved his life and he wants to know if you really exist and thanked you." Yuki

"I didn't save his life." I told him with emphasis.

"Whether you save his life or not, for him you have become his guardian angel. And besides, the org. has been failing for a long time when the sitting leader disappeared. And if ever someone will take over, maybe they won't take us over It's been a long time, a lot has changed. Let's just move forward, focus to the present and forget the past.

After Yuki and I had dinner, he went to his room first. While I thought about hanging out here outside the house, in the little garden that Yuki made.

He placed a small table and two chairs just next to the house. When we want to hang out here, we can sit somewhere.

I put the bottle of beer I was holding on the table and sat on the chair. I still can't sleep because of the things that are bothering me.

I looked up at the vast sky, many stars were twinkling. While watching, an event suddenly entered my mind.

"Your dream came true, finally we are free. But the sad part is, you're not with us. As I promised, I'm going to school, it hasn't been easy but I'm trying to socialize with others. Have friends like you said. I wish you were here, sitting with me. But I know that you are one of the stars shining in the sky today, watching over me. Thank you for making me strong, thank you for your sacrifice and everything." I picked up the beer bottle at once.

"Cheers for our freedom, Kaze."