While I’m working on the colored illustrations for the dust jackets of each of the new editions for volumes 1-5, I thought I’d take a minute to share what I think I’ve never shared before about the places shown in each illustration.

Each one is from a certain scene from within the book it covers.

Volume 1

This cover tells more about the boys in regards to their current relationship, and their personalities through the things around them, and how they’re dressed more than where they’re at. The place I pictured is from the studio Black lives in at the Mamsars’ though.

They’re sitting by one of these two large sets of windows. Behind the couch or by the dining table.

Volume 2

It’s the bridge from ch13 where White thinks of their moon-like qualities/existence, and Black has his fleeting moment of fragile happiness and peace, topped with promise about making White smile genuinely again.

Volume 3

The street by Waseem’s school in ch 21, where Black asks: “Do you think abused people turn abusive?”

Volume 4

It’s the grassy area Black walks through in ch27. The dragonfly symbolizing growth and Black’s “hide my scars from my sisters” black top is there too.

Volume 5

This speaks from itself. White’s jacket from the day of the jump is there too.

Volume 6

The large object of interest didn’t appear in manga. But the place did.
It’s the park where Black has his talk with Ty in ch45.

This weekend’s Clipping is a narrative poem about light mates. A story that I’ve wrote multiple times in my lifetime using different analogies and different figures.

After eight years of writing a story about two platonic soul mates, the narrative was completed in my head and I was able to write and illustrate the poem.

I was feeling proud and accomplished with every new picture. For a fleeting second I felt “this might be what I do best. Analogies and illustrated poems.” but then I realized that I wouldn’t have been able to write a simple idea without the 8 years of daily writing/drawing Grey is.

It felt a bit like how sayings which are short but describe a large state of being/living are born through the mouths of the elderly. 

I’m no wise elder and I know this feeling of “this is the best thing I’ve ever created” will fade to black and be replaced with another in the future. But still, there was a lesson to be learned in between these thoughts for me.

I can’t wait to share this one with you all. Have this drawing as another teaser. 

Lots of stories, love stories especially in manga, show you two characters as childhood friends then one starts to develop feelings for another during puberty. Often, what happens is that after a cut in the friendship through moving or just drifting apart, one can romanticise that childhood to the point of developing these feelings once the two reunite.

When I used to say to some of my friends online at the beginning of the story, that Black and White just can’t be lovers, one theorized (like many other readers), it’s because White is not real. To which one of my other friends, “that’s not convincing enough. people ship Sora and Roxas.” 😛 

haha fair enough. But when I say ‘can’t’, I just mean they just spent way too much time together to see one another though that lens.

Black spent most of his teen-hood sleeping over at White’s place. White slept over at Black’s often (in the studio) so it always felt like they’re brothers under one roof. I mentioned once one of the two questioning their feelings towards the other (feelings should be enough hint which of the two really), because of peer and environment pressure? But even that was discussed casually. Because they’ve been close all their time growing up.

I like to believe there is a threshold in proximity that when crossed without developing feelings of romantic love and attraction, you simply can’t see a person but as a family member.

Even in married couples, who build a relationship that is intimate and sexual, they reach a point after years of living together, where they start creating time and events to keep the romance. It’s not love staling, or choices made wrong. 

Same goes for very old couples. When people imagine growing old with someone, they imagine a silent walk, a friend to live with, something casual and intimate. (Media’s need to sexualise everything is ruining that though I think. but that’s a topic for another day)

Of course when a relationship is romantic and involves physical sexual  intimacy (when done right) it stays passionate and filled with romance no matter the time spent, and is different from just two close people growing old, because it has a foundation of real intimate memories that keeps the roots and the fruits. So people in a romantic relationship need to learn how to poke and use those memories and feelings to keep the love alive. Why do you think there is period between dating and marriage called engagement? it’s the time to build those stones, I believe.

(it’s why I don’t believe in lovers becoming true friends but that’s a topic for yet another different day.)

I’m no one to talk about romance in depth. What I know is just from my observations and hours of comparison between romantic and platonic love, a few short-lived personal feelings.

I’m getting side-tracked with the psychology and nature of relationship. Let’s get back to the bromance.

What i meant to write here is…

i dunno anymore.

I guess I wrote what I’ve been thinking about, got sidetracked and now I’m just looking for a way to end this post and publish.

Ah. here is a good way to end this;

A prime example I give about best friends growing up together closely is from back in the days of One Tree Hill.
If you’ve watched that show, understood Lucas and Haley’s friendship, kept getting worried one would be hiding a crush for the other, or some episode one would develop romantic feelings, then was so grateful and satisfied when that didn’t happen, then this post was a tl;dr for you because this two’s relationship sums it up.

[now I feel like recording this and making a video of it. it’s a script lol]

The smaller boy went up the building to do something that no 8 year old should be thinking of doing. The other followed him to stop him and in the process, they ended up jumping anyway, but Into a nearby river, marking the beginning of their friendship.

It became a ritual. A way to remember and hold on, no matter how low their life dragged either, both. Every year, on November 30th, no matter the weather, they went up there to jump down to lift their spirits up.

• About the drawing:

I imagine that one year, Jad would come to pick up the boys when it got late and they hadn’t shown up. He got angry at them for spending so much time in the river’s water when it’s getting late and cold. They ganged up on him and force him in that so-called cold river. 

Thank you so much for every like, reblog. For every comment and every message. I swear, without you I wouldn’t have reached this place with the story.  THank you for being with me for the past 7 years and in hopes to be with me for even more.

I’m sorry if I ever said, posted or not posted something that caused you anything negative. I’m learning more and more by each day! I deeply appreciate your support, understanding and trust!