Painting Clovers

"Dude! This is gonna be great!" Lester shouted as we made our way to the front of the hotel. It was exquisite, nothing like the giant hotels back at home, this one is only four of five floors I think. But it looked awesome, grand but homey, modern and yet cozy. So this is what a boutique hotel looks like. "Can't wait!" Lester shouted again as he stopped the car, getting spit in my face in the process.

We got out and a bell boy is waiting to load our things in the trolley. Thank god for him, otherwise I would have to carry all those things. I don't mind carrying my luggage, I only have one. Lester on the other hand, has 5. See, Lester is practically a girl when it comes to clothes, in the sense that he has so much. When I pack for 3 weeks 1 luggage is enough, Lester has 5 not counting the 2 that he was forced to leave behind. Lester handed the keys to a valet as we entered.

I looked around the hotel, this is where we will be staying at for the next 3 weeks. It's huge, classy, not really something I could afford. The low hanging chandelier that hang in the wide lobby, grand and demanding attention, somehow reminded me of the Phantom of the Opera. There is a piano in the corner elevated by a few steps, the front desk is located at the end of the lobby. I imagine most of the guests here are the well-off families. Of course that's what one could expect when they're with Lester Marso, the only son of Juliana Marso. Lester's mom is one of the top designers in this country and is now also recognized worldwide.

Lester and I had been best friends since kindergarten when I was the only one who didn't pick on his fashion choices, or his mothers fashion choices for him. Anyway, Lester invited me to a 3-week trip, the flower festival is happening next week and he wants to see it. Free trip and a chance to get amazing photos? Who am I to refuse, right? For a freelance, amateur photographer like me, I can't afford to miss up on an opportunity like this. And the fact that this city is known for it's picturesque sights is a bonus. Hey it's not like I'm milking this friendship with him, I try to pay as much as I could, like our food sometimes, or the tip of this guy helping us right now.

We got to the front desk, there was a woman talking to one of the receptionist. The one who wasn't busy spotted us and smiled politely.

"Reservations for Marso." Lester smiled at the Receptionist who blushed a little. Of course, no one can resist Lester's charm.

"Just give me two more weeks…" I heard the girl who was talking to the other receptionist sigh, she sounded a little sad I think. I looked over at her, she was wearing a short-shorts and plaid blue polo. Her hair tumbled around her shoulders like water, what color is it? Brown? Red? I couldn't quite decide. Her skin was so white, so fair she could be like a modern Snow White. I couldn't see her face properly because she was wearing sun glasses but her profile looks nice, beautiful, angelic.

My hand automatically went to the camera that hang around my neck. My hands were twitching, I want to take a picture of her so bad.

"What? That can't be right." I turned my attention back to Lester.

"I'm sorry sir, but that's what it says in our system, you are only reserved for a week."

"I'm sorry miss. But could you check again please." Lester leaned on the front desk, giving his most charming smile. There's that blush again.

The receptionist typed something in her computer. "Hold on one moment sir."

She went to talk to the other receptionist, the one talking to the girl a while ago. I noticed the girl is gone, I looked around the lobby but didn't see her anywhere.

They approached us, the other one was wearing a different uniform. Huh. Must be a manager or something. She checked the computer then smiled up at us.

"Good evening sir. So you have a reservation here for 3 weeks, am I right?"

"Yes." Lester answered, showing his smile once again. She typed a few things onto their computer and smiled up at us.

"Alright then sir, please sign here and you are good to go. We apologize for the delay." she handed us a piece of paper and Lester signed. We walked towards the elevator with the bellboy rolling our luggage behind us.

"I can feel it already, this is going to be the best 3 weeks ever!" Lester was practically shouting in the elevator but I was too busy thinking about the girl earlier to listen to. There's something about her, I just can't put a finger on it.

"Dude.. ?" Lester was waving his hand on my face.

"What?"

"What are you thinking about?"

I ignored him and turned to the bell boy behind him.

"Did you recognize the girl talking to the receptionist earlier? She was wearing shorts and blue polo?"

Lester looked at me, then the bell boy, and back to me again. "What are you talking about? What girl?"

The bell boy, obviously startled by my sudden question didn't know where to look. "I'm sorry sir, but we are not allowed to share any information about guests, or visitors, or practically any one who walks into the hotel whether they be guest or not."

"Oh come on.. What if it was important? What if we were cops going after a fugitive?" Lester joined in. I couldn't help but smile at his remark.

"Well in that case sir, I would first require to see your badges then refer you to the manager." The bell boy answered, getting nervous.

"Never mind then. I was just curious." I said looking at the buttons of the elevator. No use pressuring the guy, I don't even know why I asked actually. She just seemed so... interesting.

==

"Okay. So I get this bed, 'cause you know how I like to be beside the door in case of quick escapes.. You don't mind do you? and oh this room has a balcony, of course. But it's no smoking, even in the balcony.. They have a smoking area outside somewhere though.."

I didn't even hear Lester rambling on and on. The moment we walked in the room, what caught my attention is the mural on the wall. The colors were so pure and vibrant, each strokes are beautiful. Wow. The wall was painted blue and there were butterfly silhouettes painted with different colors. The whole room was actually painted the same, but it was in this wall that the whole design 'came together'.

Of all the hotels I've ever been, although I haven't actually been to many, this is the only one I know that has murals inside their rooms. That's very clever actually, and not to mention unique. I guess that's the thing with boutique hotels, they're supposed to be unique right?

My hands went to the metal that hangs on my neck, I took its strap off my neck and quickly adjusted the lens. I put it up to my eyes, pointed at the wall and click.

After a few pictures in different angles and settings, I put my camera down feeling satisfied. I noticed Lester was nowhere to be seen but I heard the shower running.

What did he say earlier? We have a balcony? I went closer to mural, there is a sliding glass door adjacent to it. I moved the curtains aside to look at our view, wow it's beautiful. Our room is located at the back of the hotel, facing the mountains. I was awe-struck once again, this place really is something. All I can see is green, a few brown and gray spots from trees and rocks, but mostly green. The sky, clear blue, peaking just behind the mountains is adding just the right touch. Again, my hands twitched so I grabbed my camera and slid open the door.

As soon as I opened the door I smelled cigarette smoke. I thought guests aren't supposed to smoke in the room and balcony? I looked around but didn't see anyone, only the tiny line of smoke coming from the balcony beside ours.

I quietly took a step towards our neighbor's balcony, I stopped when I saw her.

She was sitting on the floor, back against the glass wall of the balcony, facing away from the mountains. Who would want to turn their back on something so beautiful? I wonder.

One of her legs was stretched out in front of her while the other was folded, her knees to her chest. She was hugging that leg and her eyes were closed. There was a lit cigarette placed beside her on the floor, no ash tray.

She was still wearing the same shorts I saw earlier, but she took off her polo and is now wearing a black tank top. I noticed there were a lot of colors on her arms, red, yellow, green, blue. purple? are those bruises or just paint? I couldn't tell. I felt something a bit dark at the thought of her being bruised.

I couldn't move. I stood there frozen, watching as this beautiful girl silently cried. Tears dropped slowly from her eyes, patiently, one at a time.

I didn't know how long I stood there watching her. I felt the weight of the camera on my hands but I ignored it. I didn't need to take a picture of this, this is too private, too intimate, and yet I know I don't need a picture to remember this image. I didn't know how long she cried or how long she's been crying before I saw her. I did notice the cigarette burn the whole way through though. I noticed how she didn't wipe at her tears, she just let them flow freely. I did notice that in the time I was there she didn't open her eyes once.

Suddenly a door slammed shut and she looked up at my direction.

Lester just got out of the bathroom, I left the door to the balcony opened so we heard the door slam. I almost forgot about him, about where I am.

I felt my ears get warmer as it turned red. I scratched the back of my neck, looked away for 5 seconds then looked back at her. She was looking at me, no expression on her face. now my whole face feels warm, I probably look like a tomato.

I bet I look like a real idiot to her now.

Not knowing what else to do, I shrugged and waved at her while smiling shyly. I just hoped she doesn't think I was some creep spying on her.

She just sat there for half a minute looking at me with that expressionless face. Then I saw the side of her lips rise to a smile.

My world stopped. Angel. She's an angel. That's all I could think about. Without her sunglasses I could see her eyes, but she was still too far for me to see its color. Her smile is gorgeous, it's art, it's perfection, it's heaven.

Then she stood up and went inside her room, closing her door to the balcony shut. I was left there smiling from ear to ear.