Chapter 3: Together, Forever

Ib enters her studio as she dons her paint-stained lucky apron. This is her favorite place to be. Whenever she enters her studio to paint, she feels content. On a good day, she can spend hours painting undisturbed by the outside world. There are even times when she doesn't have anything to paint at all, but she happily spends her time just staring at a canvas, searching for some inspiration. However, those times are few and far between. Ib always has something to paint. And today is no different.

Ib had been planning this painting for months. She's had very little time to herself thanks to exhibitions and various interviews, and she was happy now to finally have time to herself. Ib didn't take any chances. The night before, she prepared herself by removing the batteries from her house and cell phones. Her computer was off and she filled the mini-fridge in her studio with snacks and her meals for the day so she could take a break in the same room. She also had a small paint can filled with lollipops. They were all her favorite flavor: lemon. Finally, Ib made sure, above all else, to stock up on blue paint. Her painting was going to be blue.

Satisfied with her preparations, Ib takes a deep breath as she pulls out a lollipop from the paint can and unwraps it before putting it into her mouth. She then takes her paintbrush and dips it into a freshly-opened can of blue paint. She was ready to start.

The time it takes Ib to finish a painting has her critics astounded. She's been praised for her ability to put such perfect detail into each of her works in such little time spent of each of them. There was once a rumor that she had a group of people collaborating with her to create some of her works, but it has since been debunked when Ib once recorded herself working in real time.

Hours pass as Ib works. Even though Ib prepares herself with food, there have been times when she's run on water and lemon-flavored lollipops alone. Her mother's often scolded her for not eating properly. However, she always manages to eat breakfast and dinner. But as the sun begins to set, Ib wipes the sweat from her brow and decides it's time for a small break. As she opens her mini-fridge and removes from it a turkey sandwich, her doorbell rings. Ib takes a bite of her sandwich and places it back in the fridge before making her way to the door of her studio. She barely opens it a crack before…

"IB!" The door bursts open from the other side and Mary, Ib's sister, jumps at Ib and embraces her before they both crash onto the ground. "Your sister's back from Hawaii! I tried calling but you didn't pick up and I thought it was weird because you always pick up on the first ring when I call so I figured you might be here working on another painting so I came here as soon as my plane touched down and I was right! Ooh, it's so good to see you, Ib, I missed you so much!" Mary holds her sister tight.

Although Ib had cleared her schedule for the day to paint, she always made time to see her sister/best friend in the whole world, especially if she had been away for an extended period of time. She hugs her sister back. "It's good to see you too, Mary!"

"Hm?" Mary looks down to see Ib wearing her lucky apron. "EEEEK!" Mary immediately rolls off of Ib onto the floor next to her, brushing off her black sleeveless turtleneck. "IIIIb, you have to warn me when you're wearing your apron; I just bought this!"

"Hmph. I'll try to be more careful next time you decide to tackle me to the ground!" The two begin to laugh. Afterwards, they get up and give each other kisses. "So how was your trip?"

"Oh, it was fantastic! The beaches were fantastic and the weather was absolutely wonderful! I just wish I had more time to myself, but between my husband and filming, you know how it is! You would've loved it! Hey, I'm done filming in two weeks! We have to go Hawaii together, just you and me! I'll take you to all of the best spots!"

Ib smiles. "I'm looking forward to it!" As flippant as Mary could be, she always kept her promises. Ib would have to remind herself to clear her schedule two weeks from now.

"So…can your sister get an advance preview of the great Ib's next artistic endeavor?"

"Go right ahead."

"Yay!" Mary starts looking around Ib's studio, examining the various works and tools laid about. "You know, you've been obsessed with painting ever since we saw that Guertena exhibition when we were kids."

"Wow," Ib exclaimed. "I didn't think you remembered that!"

Mary laughs out loud. "Of course I do, Ib! You wouldn't stop talking about it for the longest time! Your college essay, your graduation speech, you were crazy about the guy!"

"Is there a point to this, Mary?"

"I'm just glad that you were able to make something out of it."

"Aw…" Ib blushes a little. "Thanks, Mary. But don't you remember? You're the one who told me that I should start painting myself instead of obsessing over someone else's work. I have to thank you for that, too."

Mary winks at her sister and smiles. "I've always got your back, sis!" She stops in front of one painting. "Is this the one you're working on right now?"

Ib walks up to her sister. "Yes, it is." She says proudly. "It's nearly finished, but not quite. It still needs a name." The painting depicts a young man in a blue coat standing in front of a wall of vines and roses. The roses are a deep shade of blue, but many of them are withered and dying. The only whole rose is in the man's hand. The man holds the rose out in front of him in such a way that obscures his face.

Mary examines the man in the painting. "Ooh, that guy's cute! Who is he, huh? Your boyfriend, maybe? Eh? Eeeeh~?" She starts poking at Ib.

"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Stop it, Mary! It's just a painting! You know I don't have a boyfriend yet!"

Mary sighs. "You know, we really need to do something about that. Anyway, have you thought yet about what to name it?"

Ib stops to think. "No. I don't think I had anything in mind. It takes a long time for me to think of a title."

"Hm…ah! I got it! How about Blue Rose Guy?"

Ib immediately laughs at the name. "I'm not calling it that, Mary."

"How about Field of Blue Roses? Mysterious Blue?"

"Come on, Mary."

"Hold on, I know I can think of something good…" Mary takes one more look at the painting. "…Faded Blue Memories."

Ib looks at Mary curiously. "Where'd you think of that?"

"I dunno," said Mary as she turns to look back at the painting. "Doesn't he seem kinda familiar to you? Like someone we met a long time ago?"

Ib looks at the painting with Mary. "…I think so. But I can't seem to put my finger on it."

"Me neither…"

"He's been stuck in my head for weeks, and I don't even know who he is…" They both stare at the painting for a while.

"…Ahhh, this is getting too weird!" Mary grabs her head in frustration. "Whatever! Hey Ib, why don't we go out together tonight? We have a lot of catching up to do!"

After staring at the painting a little longer, Ib turns to her sister. "You know, that sounds like exactly what I need."

"Great! You go get ready, I'll be right here waiting!"

"Hee, all right then!" Ib removes her apron and makes her way out of the studio. "I just need to wash up a bit and get my bag, so don't get comfy!"

"Just be quick about it!" Mary calls as Ib leaves the room. Mary, all by herself stares at Ib's new painting. Why do you seem so familiar…? At that moment, a single tear leaves Mary's eye. "Eh?" Another tear falls. And another. Before long, tears begin streaming from her eyes. Wh…Why am I crying? Even though she realizes that she's crying, Mary does nothing. She simply continues to stare at Ib's painting. A painting of a man that she feels she should know. A man to whom she feels she owes something. Everything. "Th…Thank yo-"

"Faded Blue Memories…"

"Ah!" Mary quickly dries her tears away before she turns to her sister, who has prepared herself for the night.

"Faded Blue Memories…I like it! I think I'll call it that. Thanks for the idea, sis!"

"…Hm. Does that mean I get a little credit for it?"

"Ha, ha! We'll talk about it over dinner. Now come on. Let's get going!"

"Right." Mary runs up to her sister. "…Ib?"

"Yeah?" Mary places her hand on Ib's cheek.

"You know that I love you, right? I love you so much…"

Ib stares at Mary questioningly. "Huh? Of course I do. And I love you, too! Remember the promise that we made when we were kids?"

"…We promised that we'd be together forever."

"That's right! We're always going to be together, Mary."

"Oh, Ib…" The two hug each other.

"Now come on! Let's have a little sisters' night out!"

"Hee! Right!" Ib starts ahead of Mary. Mary, stopping for a moment, turns to look back into the studio, at the painting that is now turned away from her.

"…"

"Mary! You coming?"

"Coming, Ib!" Mary turns the lights of behind her and closes the door. She catches up to the sister that she loves so much and links arms with her. They smile at each other and continue to walk together.