Me and Galina (2nd Edition)

V

The white cloth was stained with colors as he brushed the surface. His fingers folded on the rims of a wooden mixing palette, clutching it when he painted the canvas. The light of his body—his eyes—sternly looking at the lines and curves of a familiar portrait. His clothes have hundreds of folds to look rugged with paints and tints. The wall hanged a calendar with marked crosses and circles, showing that he hadn’t been tolerating himself with alcohol and steamy nights. It was two months with no wild games. Nikolas only kept himself distracted with his passion for painting.

His art studio was used to be Jasper’s flat. The walls became grey of old age with ripped wallpapers and cushions were covered with white cloths. Jasper’s family owned a flat four years ago before his mum died last two years, leaving it to Jasper. But he allowed Nikolas to live in this old family flat while living with his wife in a few blocks away. Alone is always his comfort and his painting. He paused and his eyes stare at the painting. A portrait of a woman with her smile. He stood from his wooden stool and figure the picture while stepping backward, then stopped. His thumb rubbed his chin and licked his lower lips.

The flat was horrible, with dark shadows along the pathway. Her eyes scanned the words written on the paper, which were ripped from her friend’s notebook. When she saw the creepy-looking location, she pushed the door open, leaving it with some creaks that echoed throughout the room. The Good Lord knows that her heart beats like drums in a musical parade. She only saw a narrow staircase with dust-filled boxes piled up beside it. Filled with fear, her footsteps boost faster when a loud deafening sound hollered at her back. It was just as the door swung closed.

As she reached to the top, she bumped herself on a hard-toned chest and saw two greenish-brown orbs staring at her. “WAAAAAAHHHHHH” They both screamed under the dimmed ceiling light, hearts beating fast as furious. Their eyes widened as their mouths shaped into a broad ‘O’. They both stepped back and gawked at each other.

“Galina? How did you my place?” Nikolas recognizes Galina’s black hair in the dark but tied in a sleek bun. Galina cannot hold back her hearty laughter, holding her stomach with her hands. Nikolas partly suppressed his soft laughter while gazing at her. She ran her wrist over her mouth, inhaling and exhaling deeply. “I asked someone for your address. It’s Gary, I think?”

Gary, the funky shop cashier.

“He stopped by at the waiting shed, asking if I know you then…”

“You said yes?” Nikolas crouched his back, his hand were holding his knees to level with Galina’s attention. Galina caught his hands stained with red, green, and darker paints, then peered at his tinted face. “Yeah… are you painting something?” Her fingers fiddled the sling of her bag.

“Oh yes, Well… you must come in first.” As he turned his heels off, Galina realized the surroundings when Nikolas raised his hands and pushed the button on the wall. The room was huge and rugged, yet beautifully dimmed with orange track lights. His paints and brushes were scattered across the floor. She gasped. “Woah!” her eyes scanned with amusement as she walked towards the portrait. “Is that me?”

Nikolas felt his cheeks heated. “Uh, yes. Do you like it?” He walked over the human-sized canvas and leaned a bit with his elbow resting on it. “I’m practicing my skills after my long break of time.”

“Yes… I do like it. But I’m here for urgent help.” Galina faced him with a stern look. What is it? Is it bad news or… “I’m working for the Sovereigns. But they’re in trouble.” Nikolas smirked, looking at her, and huffed. “Is that you want me to help you?” with sarcasm, he walked to the dining table and pulled out a chair for her. “To solve that aged-old investigation?”

“Is this how you gently show me your colors…” Galina asked back, walking to the chair he prepared for her. His lips stretched into a smile, then he strode around the table, choosing to sit across like in front of Galina. She rested her chin on her palm. “Mr. Gentleman?” Her eyes bore into his like there’s burn between them. Two flames ignite. He pressed his thin lips, staring at her with swallowing his saliva.

“Well… what do you want to do?” His elbows were on the table, arms crossed while hands wrapping around his biceps. Galina twitched slightly on her lips, raising her eyebrow. “I need you now.”

These words tingled his ears, hearing them as romantic as Paris. I need you… Her soft voice comes into his mind, repeating melodiously. His skin shivered with bumps as she spoke. Feeling difficulty in breathing when he met her warm orbs. “But let me ask someone for permission.” His lips pressed so thin and he stood up, riveting himself to the counter. Will he ask Jasper or Silica for permission?”

In a sudden way, he paused in his tracks and stride to the television. “Let’s watch some news.” Nikolas felt the atmosphere had changed; watching the news was never his buddy ever since birth.

Yet he felt an urge to press the remote buttons and turn the technology on. It was brought by Jasper a year ago as his 3-month late birthday gift. All he could remember was watching some Anime movies and Action-genre ones. Nikolas took the remote, pressing the red button, and the TV came to life.

“When was the last time you watched some shows?” Galina questioned as she noticed some spider’s cobwebs hanging on the TV.

“Or clean your living room?” Nikolas whipped his head, able to control his laughter by biting his lower lip. “You’re laughing, Nikolas.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“The last time I clean my room was last year.” Her jaw dropped when hearing those words. She saw it as unbelievable. Nikolas shrugged and exhaled deeply. “I doubt to let you in a while ago. My place is not visitor-friendly type.”

The BBC flashed a piece of news with a woman talking about the Sovereigns. Their eyes were stealing the attention.

The Sovereigns discontinued the investigation.

“What!” Galina exclaimed, standing up from her seat. Nikolas places his index finger on his lips, hushing her to shut up. Her eyes darken as her brows are brought together while watching the news. Nikolas spun to look at her, biting to control his mirth. Galina whipped her gaze to him and spotted him creasing up. “Why are you laughing?”

“Your face, it’s ugly to see you frowning.”

“Do I need to be happy about it?”

Nikolas shook his head, placing the remote control on the dining table. Sarcasm is now shooting him down. He never heard women saying that way before him. Even Silica Rose Crayton. “You want to investigate and find the lost heir?”

“Yes… it’s supposed to be you.”

His eyes widened. Is she a stalker? “Wait? What do you want to know about me?” He set his bum on the chair near to Galina and leaned in, some millimeters from her face… “Who told you all about me?”

Galina raised her eyebrows. “Everyone… but I’m not stalking you.” Her black eyes sparkled under the yellowish-orange light. “I just want to know you from… yes, you.” She pressed her lips and licked them.

Nikolas placed his head in his left hand. His elbow was resting on the table. “I heard you had a lot of scandals and…”

“Long time ago,” he cut her off. “I was supposed to volunteer for the church activity. Somewhat we may call it ‘Youth Night”. I was never a church-goer before.” Nikolas swallowed. Words may rumble on the tip of his lips.

“So you’re not a godly boy?”

“No, even Dad was a pastor until now. But that night when I accidentally opened the office door. Well, his office was soundproof.”

“And then?”

“What I saw… shoved me from going to the church.” He leaned on his chair and lifted his chin up, gazing at the ceiling. “I saw dad making love with my ex-girlfriend, Phoebe. She’s a former worship leader.” Galina choked, coughing as she unconsciously swallowed her saliva. She turned her head up, finding Nikolas giving her a glass of water. “I’m sorry if that surprises you.”

“It’s alright.” She gulped the water, thinking that it would smoothen her hoarse throat. “Can you continue?”

“Yes… so I joined in with my peers. But I didn’t involve in illegal acts until the church money was wasted to build his mansion, and to pay for Phoebe’s education.” He went back to sitting in his chair. “So to revenge is to steal his money.”

“So where’s Phoebe?”

Nikolas sighed. Galina sensed him thinking about what to say next. He stared at the floor. “She’s living with his child.” His chin turned up, his eyes were meeting with her gaze. There was a mix of anger and sadness as Galina bored her sight into his. “I didn’t tell everyone for years. And forgetting them by drinking, smoking, and of course, women. You’re the first one to know it… But that vandalizing scandal wasn’t true.”

“Was it?”

“Hey man! His Majesty would like to see you!”

Jasper bursts into the void of the room. The two of them startled. Looking at him with wide eyes, Jasper noticed Galina’s scrub suit and gave Nikolas a questioning look. “Are you having a check-up? Do you have Hypertension, Diabetes mellitus or what?” He cupped Nikolas’ cheeks and pinched them. Nikolas only gave him an emotionless face.

Galina giggled at Jasper’s motions. “No… I’m here to talk about the Sovereigns.” Jasper whipped his face to her. “I need Nikolas to be with me in finding the lost prince.”

“Oh, the lost prince!” He released Nikolas from pinching his cheek and stood straight. “And Nikolas will go to paint His Majesty’s portrait. What a good plan.” Jasper pushed his glasses while his other hand keeps searching inside his pocket. His hand took out an envelope and slapped it on Nikolas’s chest. “From the Buckingham Palace.”

His back is now to them, striding towards the main exit, the downstairs. “I’m going home, Santa Claus.”

Galina chuckled. His nickname is really Santa Claus indeed. Perhaps his friends would call him by his nickname every moment in his life.

“Well, I’m a popular version of that Christmas man.” Nikolas snapped back with a joke. Jasper faced down to the exit when someone walked upstairs.

Her wavy chestnut hair can be seen behind the railing as she goes up. Freya peeked to see her brother with another woman. But in a nursing scrub suit. Guessing if she’s another target or just a friend.

“May we talk, brother?” Her voice sounded somewhere nervous or embarrassed. Nikolas nodded, glaring at Jasper to step back. Jasper moved away to let her in. Freya glanced at Galina, pressing her lips before looking at Nikolas. “It’s all about dad.”

“The Good Lord has given me a chance to speak.” Nikolas rested his hand on his chest. Nikolas’ not a godly person to say that. He hasn’t gone to church for ages. He might be a man who knows God but didn’t eager to worship Him with all his heart. “I’m sorry, sister. I haven’t told you for ages about him and Phoebe.”

“What do you mean?” His sister widened her orbs, bringing her eyebrows together. Nikolas glances at Galina, then turned back to Freya. “He’s cheating on Mum, with Phoebe.” Freya gasped, unable to believe what he’d said.

“Do you notice dad’s action towards her son? Like spoiling him by going to McDonald’s? We haven’t been treated in that way, Freya.” He asked, making her reminiscing the past. Before he moved out of the house. “That’s his son!” He stood up and gripped his sister’s shoulders gently. “Look at that boy’s features, he’s more like our dad.” His eyes bored into hers, wanting to see Freya surprised at his words.

“If my scandals seemed to be the worst, how much more of his?” He saw a tear from her eyes. Freya flustered as her teardrops were rolling on his cheeks. She clenched his shirt with her fist and laid her face on his chest, sobbing loudly. “I… I heard him muttering. A while ago.” She spoke on his shirt. “He said he loved Phoebe more than Mum.”

Nikolas was shrieked a little when she wrapped her arms around his waist. Is she acting like a pathetic woman? “Why didn’t you tell me about this? You should have told me earlier.” Freya released him, wiping hastily with the back of her hands. Jasper walked to stand beside Galina, crossing his arms on his bust.

“It’s not the right time, Freya.” He removed the remaining tear from her cheek, smiling weakly at her. “We need the right time.”

“By the way, I saw your fiancée and her mum at the shopping center.” She gulped. It’s hard for her for speaking the truth. Freya didn’t want to hurt him. Even she called Silica a cockroach. “Her mum said that she’s a month pregnant.”

He stared at her. Is she a month pregnant? He hasn’t touched her for two months straight. “I haven’t had to touch her for two months. That’s impossible!” He stepped back and looked at his friends from behind. The Painting Commission and the Sovereigns’ investigation. He raised his hands. “Well, I’m not in love with her. And besides, I’m going to paint His Majesty’s portrait tomorrow.”

“Really! Ugh, she’s such a Gold-Digger.” She rolled her eyes, feeling the bliss that there aren’t in love with each other. How about the French Wedding? Her brother didn’t care about those funky plans. “But she’s cheating on you!”

“For you, didn’t I also cheated on her too?” Then Nikolas sighed, rubbing his forehead.

“Ugh, you’re such a player, brother.”

“Yet It’s been two months been stuck in this art studio.”

Freya noticed Galina sitting in the dining chair. “But why don’t you introduce me to your new friend?” Freya’s lips stretched up and raised her hands properly. Galina took it, shaking her hand sheepishly. “I’m Galina Ponce.”

“You’re a nurse, I see… I thought Niko chose you to be his-“

When Freya glances at her brother, Nikolas arched down his eyebrows. As Galina sensed their tension, she curled her lips into a smirk.

“Well, we’re just friends and not as close as Jasper’s,” Freya felt relieved at her response. Jasper chuckled. “Good to hear, Galina.”

“By the way, I’m going to the office, and hey Galina.” She patted Galina’s shoulder. “I’ll add you on Facebook.” Freya turned on her heels, mouthed her brother ‘I like her for you’ and strode towards the exit.

Nikolas blinked. Does she like Galina for him? He shut his eyelids and felt embarrassed by what he said to Gary.

This time… he will not date any women.

Including Galina.

When she stopped on her track, Freya gave the trio a wave and walked downstairs. Nikolas twisted around to see the two. The tip of his tongue runs across his lower lip.

“So, what are your plans for tomorrow’s big day?” Galina and Jasper exchanged looks. Nikolas roamed around the table, stopped, and placed his hands on the top. “I have a plan.”

He looked at Galina. Her lips curved and her eyes sparkled. Nikolas’ heart skipped a bit. But his mind messed up with the same question, repeating a thousand times even as he sought to vow not to date her. But…

What is Love? Did he just say he’ll not date women?