Dark Blue - 深蓝の魂 by 珊



Chapter 16


Mike followed Li Ann as she made her way around the small unit of houses to find her art class. They were held in apartment like structure houses, surrounded by trees and green grass. Behind it was a lovely vineyard and the building itself was painted with many different art pieces done by students.

Li Ann was excited to show Mike her class. Mike had never attended one before, so he wouldn’t know what to expect. Upon entering the class, many students were engaged in their activities. Li Ann sighed as she saw her friend Lindsey, chatting away with Amy.

“Hi Lindsey,” Li Ann said as she sat down on her stool in front of the clip board.

“Hey! How are you?” Lindsey said cheerfully.

“I’m doing good. Hi Amy,” Li Ann said as she leaned forward to see Amy sitting on the other side of Lindsey.

“Hello! You look so pretty today,” Amy complimented. Li Ann smiled and said a thank you. She turned to Mike and smiled at him, motioning for him to sit in the empty seat beside her.

“So what do you do in here?” Mike asked eyeing her art piece as she laid it out on the clipboard.

“I’m working on this piece,” Li Ann said proudly.

“So much for a one day a week class huh?” Mike asked as he examined the elaborate painting of a tall white two story house surrounded by bushes and trees, in front of a light blue sky.

“I’ve been working on it for about two weeks and a half now,” Li Ann replied as she sat down and analyzed it.

“What is it?” Mike asked leaning in closer to her ear to speak quieter. He was so close that their shoulders were touching.

“It’s a house,” Li Ann replied looking at him, then back at the painting. Mike chuckled.

“Well, I can see that! I meant, why is it a house?” Li Ann thought for a moment. She had her mind buried in her painting for so long, yet she didn’t really know how she would explain it to the class when she is finished.

She looked at the painting for a minute before finally looking back into Mike’s eyes to tell him.

“It’s my house,” she replied quietly, swallowing a bit. Mike leaned back to look at her, then squinted back at the painting.

“It sure doesn’t look like your house...isn’t your house a lot smaller?” Mike asked raising an eyebrow.

“It was my house,” Li Ann corrected herself as she looked down at her feet.

“It was my house before it burned down.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Mike said understanding Li Ann’s change of tone from cheery to emotional. “My parents died in that house,” Li Ann continued.

Mike went silent for a minute. She looked back up and forced a smile to brush away the moment. She picked up a dab of white paint and gently dabbed on white clouds to it.

“How did they die?” Mike asked, his voice gentle and concerning.

“A fire escaped from the basement and...my father took me out, then he found Dongwan. He went in to look for my mother, but the fire just went wild and covered the entire house. I never saw my father or mother again,” Li Ann explained slowly.

“Who are you talking to?” Lindsey cut into her thoughts, making Li Ann jump a bit.

“Oh...I was talking to you. Weren’t you listening?” Li Ann lied cunningly causing a weird look on Lindsey’s face.

“Oh, sorry, I was still talking to Amy about...wow, is that yours?” Lindsey said as she caught site of Li Ann’s painting.

“Uh, yes,” Li Ann smiled as she turned back to face her drawing. Something strange about it had shown up that wasn’t there before. A red rose stood out from the bush. She looked down to the brush holder, and noticed a small paint brush’s tip dabbed with a reddish pink color. She looked at Mike.

He had his arms crossed, leaning a bit back to examine it once more.

“Looks better like that,” Mike said with a teacher like tone. Li Ann let out a slight laugh.

“I like it!” Lindsey said cheerfully from beside Li Ann.

“Thanks,” Li Ann replied beaming with happiness.

She was glad Mike had done that. She felt as if he had planted a flower in her heart, making her feel better about painting her old house. Indeed in fact, the house did have roses before. Her mother loved keeping the lawn and garden clean and full of flowers.

She missed her mother now. Hours passed by as Li Ann tried not to look too crazy talking to Mike. It was already time to leave.

Mike and Li Ann were engaged in conversing and deciding what to add on the drawing that they didn’t notice most of the students leaving already until Lindsey poked Li Ann’s arm telling her class is over.

“Give me a minute to wrap things up,” Li Ann said to Mike as she took the brushes to the sink to wash.

“Okay, I’ll wait outside,” Mike said as he left the classroom.
Outside he stood as the wind blew a bit harsher than it was earlier that morning. Mike stood there with his hands in his pockets waiting for Li Ann when he heard footsteps coming from behind him.

He turned around to find Brian there, this time dressed in a full black suit. Everything on him always looked perfect. Black slacks, shoes, shirt, and tie. Brian had on a pair of specks and was cleaning them when he reached Mike.

“Hi Mike,” Brian said not looking at Mike. He kept cleaning his glasses with a piece of black handkerchief.

“Do you always have to look so...classy?” Mike said inspecting Brian’s outfit.

“What’s wrong with the way I look? Anyway, I came to check up on you,” Brian said quickly as he slipped his glasses back on. He took a deep breath of the fresh air.

“I’m good and dead,” Mike replied sarcastically as he turned away.

“You’re still hanging around Li Ann aren’t ya?” Brian said. Mike stopped and turned around to face Brian again.

He took one hand out of his pockets and squeezed his cheeks inward not answering Brian.

“Mike, you can’t be around Li Ann,” Brian said in a more serious tone.

“And why not?” Mike raised his eyebrows.

“Why do you want to be around her anyways?” Brian asked back not replying directly to Mike’s question.

“Because she is the only–...”

“She can’t help you Mike,” Brian interrupted.

“I don’t care. If I have to stay in his #### hole, at least she’s the only one that can make me feel alive,” Mike replied harshly, raising his tone a bit.

He paused for a brief moment as Brian kept his silence.

“She doesn’t make me feel like I’m a ghost Brian. I’m happy when I’m with her,” Mike replied with his eyes softening as his voice grows quieter.

“You like her,” Brian replied in more of a statement rather than question. Mike didn’t reply.

“Might I remind you that you’re a dead man? A married one too,” Brian said crossing his arms.

“Li Ann said the same thing,” Mike replied casually.

“I’m serious,” Brian said with a sigh.

“How is it that I can only touch her and not others?” Mike asked questioningly.

“When you’re around Li Ann or near her, you can touch just about anything you like. It’s her that’s giving you the power to do so,” Brian answered.

“How can that be then? Are all ghosts–...”

“I don’t know Mike. There was something that happened during the process of your death and somebody screwed up the system so it’s all twisted right now,” Brian replied sounding a bit impatient and ticked off.

“Fine, fine. I understand,” Mike said as he looked away and walked back to the classroom.

“You be careful Mike. You never may know what will happen!” Brian shouted after him.

Mike walked into the classroom ignoring him. “#### stubborn idiot,” Brian muttered as he backed away and walked off.

Mike walked into the classroom where Li Ann just had put away her painting. She dusted herself off as she smiled gleefully back at Mike.

“Ready?” Mike replied looking a bit uncomfortable.

“Yes,” she replied as she picked up her bag. She looked around outside once they were out.

“Where’s my brother?” she said as her face pouted.

“Late as usual,” Mike joked.

“Right,” Li Ann said dully.

“Come on, let’s walk,” Mike said pulling her sleeve. He walked off ahead leaving her there. She wanted to protest, but feeling alone, she followed him anyway.

Once she caught up with Mike, she noticed how quiet he was, with his hands tucked in both pockets and just staring straight ahead. She sensed a tense feeling, but didn’t want to bug him about it.

“Mike?” she asked after a long moment of silence between them.

“Huh?”

“Why are you so quiet?” she asked trying to bring up a conversation.

“Because if I talk to you then I’ll never stop. Just like if I look at you, then I’ll never stop,” Mike replied still not turning to face her. Li Ann didn’t know how to reply to that. There was another moment of awkward silence before Mike suddenly stopped and glanced at her.

She paused and looked back dumbly not knowing what to say.

“Am I bugging you?” Mike asked.

“No...” Li Ann replied back unsure of what he was asking.

He thought for a second, then nodded. He turned back to walking again. Another moment of awkward silence passed before Mike stopped again. Li Ann stopped in her heels almost bumping into him.

She glanced at him questioningly wondering he was acting so different.

“Want to see a movie?” Mike asked finally smiling. She looked around them and didn’t even realize that they were in downtown, near a movie theater.

“Sure,” Li Ann returned his smile.

[To be Cont]