Painting Clovers

Exhausted, I flopped on to my bed, face buried in my pillow. It felt like clouds, soft feathers there to drift me off to the heaven that sleep brings.

It was around 2 am and we just got back to the hotel. This day has been one of the craziest in my life. We got up early in the morning, head out for breakfast then off to explore the city. we were off to a good start.

It wasn't actually that crazy until Lester and I found ourselves lost somewhere in the middle of nowhere. We were trying to get to this restaurant that we heard from Lester's mom, but apparently made a wrong turn somewhere on the way. Now it wasn't actually that bad if you think about it. Except for the fact that we didn't bring the car, Lester and I thought it would be fun if we explored the city on foot as to absorb the place better. Boy were we wrong. No, we were right actually. We were having fun, even when we were lost we were enjoying ourselves. Even when we had no clue as to where we were or where we're going we were actually having a quite a good laugh. Until it started to rain that is.

The sun was shining one minute, then the next it was raining. It didn't even start with a drizzle or something. No, it was rain. Just like that. It poured strong and long like trying to make up for its long absence or preparing us for its impending break. It poured on like it's sole mission was to drown us.

Lucky we found a convenience store to protect us from the downpour. Talk about convenience eh.

It took a while for the rain to stop, it felt longer standing there shivering in wet clothes. Then as sudden as it started, the rain stopped. Again, just like that. At one moment the heavens decided to just cut off the water. And so we continued on our adventure.

I was about to drift off to sleep, to put the whole day behind me, to recharge, when the universe demanded I open my eyes. And I did. Thank heavens I did.

I was facing the window to the balcony, the curtains were partly drawn so I could see outside, from this angle I could also see a part of our neighbor's balcony. Had she been crying again today, I wonder. I felt a little tug in my heart as I remembered the image of her crying. An image imprinted in my brain, it was sad yet one couldn't deny the beauty in it. Why am I thinking about her again?

Something white caught my eye and all the sleep and exhaustion left me. It was like having ice water splashed down your back. The sensation didn't come slow and gentle, it came fast and instant, the sleep gone all at once. I got up and moved closer to the window.

She was sitting in the edge of her balcony rails, looking down. All the blood got drained from my face. What floor are we in again? Fifth? Is she about to jump? Is she trying to kill herself? Can someone even live after a fall from the fifth floor? I was about to run out when I finally had a good look at her face.

There was a small smile in the edge of her lips. You could barely see it but it was there nevertheless. I quietly grabbed my camera and took a few pictures of her. There was something beautiful in this moment, her moment.

A moment I'm intruding.

After a few minutes she took a deep breath and the smile was gone, like it had never been there. She turned and jumped off the rails into her balcony and went back in her room.

I was glad she was off her rails, yet my eyes wants to see her more, to gaze upon her longer.

I knew sleep wouldn't come to me in a while so I sat there watching her pictures over and over again. trying to etch everything in memory.

What is it with this girl? What is going on in her head? Why am I so drawn to her?

==

"Try not to trash the place, yeah?" Lester grabbed his wallet and checked himself in the mirror for the hundredth time. Lester is definitely good looking, and vain as hell. Plus he definitely knows how to use his charms.

"I'm not you." I answered still under my blankets.

I heard him laugh and the door slammed close. What is it with this guy and slamming doors?

Today, Lester and I are going our separate ways, at least for today anyway. He wanted to go out again but I opted to stay in the hotel. I didn't get much sleep last night and I was so exhausted.

I woke up hours later to my growling stomach, forcing me to get up, I lazily got up to shower.

For minutes I debated against myself whether I would rather order room service or go down to the restaurant. The laziness in me is fighting hard but in the end I decided I didn't want to be stuck in the room the whole day.

The restaurant was great. Classy yet simple. And like in our room, what caught my attention was the mural on the walls.

It was beautiful. The walls are all cream color and there are black paintings of flowers. They twisted and turned, their vines meeting and moving from one wall to another. There were only three colors used, cream, black, and a hint of gold. It was simple, it was bold, it was perfect.

My hands went to the cold metal that dangled in my neck but I stopped myself. I had to talk to management first, a lot of establishments aren't allowing people to take pictures of their art installations. I learned that the hard way.

I sat in the table by the window, ignoring the itch I feel in my hands when I want to take a picture of something so badly.

Moments later a girl came smiling sweetly, handing me a menu.

"Good morning sir, I'm Sheila I'll be your server today."

I smiled at her and looked at the menu. Hmmm.. I can't even recognize half of the thing here. In the end I ordered pesto and iced tea. Safe.

I looked outside the window and again I was stunned by the beauty of the view. I could never get used to it. I could see the city in the distance, they look so tiny, so far away. It was breath taking. Everything in this city seems to be breathtaking. Surrounded by mountains, cool weather, and with locals known for their kindness.

I wonder where she is now. What she's doing. What was she thinking last night? Why was she crying the other day? I didn't notice my mind drifting to her, to how she looked, her beauty when she both smiles and cries. Angel.

I don't know how else to describe her. And honestly, how could she be anything but an angel?

I snapped back to reality when I heard someone clear their throat. Sheila is back, carrying a tray.

She set my order in front of me.

"Is there anything else you need Sir?"

"Am I allowed to take pictures of the walls?" I asked looking at the mural in front of me.

"Of course sir." She answered, smiling. "We didn't allow it originally but there had been so many requests from the guests."

"All the paintings are beautiful. Even the ones in the room. The artist must be so inspired." I commented, already excited to snap a few pictures of the restaurant murals.

"Uhh.. well.. yes. The artist is very… invested." She answered.

There was something in her tone, I looked at her but she wasn't looking at me. She wasn't smiling. She was looking at the wall with a weird look. Are her eyes teary? Then she quickly pulled herself together and smiled at me before leaving me to my meal.

Well that was weird, I thought.

After eating and paying for my meal I got up and started taking pictures of the walls.

Once finally happy with what I got I went to my room, excited to transfer everything to my laptop.

==

Linkin Park. No doubt.

Once I stepped out of the elevator, I heard the song playing. It blasted around me, I could feel the bass vibrating inside me.

Castle of Glass.

I slowly walked through the hallway following the sound. It was coming from one of the rooms near ours.

I noticed one open and I moved to it.

I wasn't being a perv. I was just curious, just wanted to see what's with the loud song. the guest might not have noticed the door opened, or he might have just left the stereo on before leaving, or he might even be using the loud music to cover up for something. Of course the last one was far fetched, but still.

I slowly peeked through the door.

I stopped in my tracks when I saw her.

Her.

My angel.