Art of Serendipity

40

She released me, then turned to Levi. "Hi, boyfie! Grabe! Umalis lang ako, pagbalik ko may boyfriend na itong pamangkin ko. Anyway, it is nice to know that you got her."

Levi smiled and nodded. Si Levi na ang nagdala ng bagahe ni Ate Noreen. Siya na rin ang naging driver namin papunta sa bahay nila Lola kung saan tutuloy ngayon si Ate Noreen. Siya lang ang nasa driver's seat, samantalang kami ni Ate sa likod at nagkukwentuhan.

"Levi! Alagaan mo si Aya, ha?" sabi bigla ni Ate Noreen sa tahimik na nagda-drive na boyfriend ko. "Anyway, this woman is weak when it comes to heels or new shoes. Malala magpaltos ang paa niya so you have to bring ointment and bandaid always with you kapag ganoon ang mga suot niya."

Na-touch naman ako sa reminders ni Ate Noreen kay Levi. I bit my lower lip to stop myself from smiling widely. Is this illegal to say? Kinikilig ako, ha.

"Noted," Levi answered. He is still attentive. "What else?"

Ate Noreen laughed. "Corny madalas ang jokes niya at madalas din siyang mabulol, so bear with it."

Napawi ang ngiti ko at sinamaan ng tingin si Ate. "Why do you have to say that? Laglagan tayo, ate?"

"I am sorry! I cannot help it!" She chuckled.

"Ikaw nga, e! May kasama kang lalaki sa Singapore! I saw it on your friend's I.G. who tagged you-"

"Hala, wala 'yon! Ma-issue ka!" I was cut off by her.

We laughed. Nag-sorry pa si Ate dahil ang ingay namin dahil sa pagaasaran.

Nang makarating kami kila Lola ay inaya ko si Levi sa loob. I forgot to introduce him to my grandparents. Buti na lang pala at magkasama kaming pumunta rito. Ipapakilala ko siya kila Lolo at Lola.

"You will meet my Lolo and Lola," I informed him while entering the big house of my grandparents.

He nodded and bit his lower lip. "Are they strict?"

Umiling ako at ngumiti. "No. Worry not, okay? They are very nice."

Nang makapasok sa bahay ay hindi pa muna namin nakita sila Lolo and Lola, so we had to ask the helpers if where are they and they said that they are in their room doing rest. Habang naghihintay naman sa kanila ay pumunta na si Ate Noreen sa kwarto niya upang ilagay ang mga gamit niya roon. While I roam my boyfriend in our house.

"This is my mom," I told him while holding a picture frame of my mom in her early 20s. "I know you know it already, but she is Ate Noreen's sister and they have twenty years gap."

Levi also stared at my mom's picture. I smiled and let him hold it. Kumuha naman ako ng photo album ko sa cabinet na may lamang mga pictures ko noong baby hanggang sa maging toddler ako, I think, mayroon din noong teen ages ko.

"You look like your mother a lot," he commented, then stared at me. "You just got your father's eyes, then, the rest, your mom's."

I nodded and can't help but to agree. Iyon din ang madalas na sinasabi sa akin ng mga tao na nakakakilala kay Mommy, sila Nanay Luz, si Dad, their business partner, and oh, I remember that even Levi's dad told me that.

That is why Tita Donna is very furious to me. Tulad ng napagawayan namin noong tungkol sa mga halaman ni Mommy ay naiinis siya dahil I am like a spitting image of my mother that is why Dad is knd of remembering my mom to me. Ayaw ni Tita Donna iyon dahil sa tingin niya ay mahal pa ni Dad si Mom which is a hundrend percent true.

I love my image, my appearance, because it is my beloved mom's appearance. Kaya kailanman ay hindi ko nilait ang itsura ko. I am well contented with what I am, because that is what my mom trained me to be.

To be what I am beyond other people's expectations of me because I do not live with it.

Binigay ko sa kaniya ang photo album ko and we spent much of time reminiscing each of my photos. Tuwang-tuwa naman siya sa lahat ng kwento ko. Gusto pa nga niya sanang kumuha ng picture, but I did not allow it. Sabi ko baka hanapin ni Lola iyon. Kabisado pa naman niya ang mga nakagay doon, maski ang mga gamit-gamit dito ay ayaw niyang ipabago. Sadyang kinailangan lang ipa-renovate ng kaunti dahil iniinsekto sila rito.

He also found his painting on the wall in our hall.

"I painted it in my first year in collage. It is a mosaic of the farmers in the rice farm," he explained.

"What inspired you to paint it?" I asked. Lahat kasi ng painting niya ay may kwento.

"I got inspired by the farmers in Bukidnon when I went there way back first year in collage. Ngayon ko lang din talaga nailabas dahil nasa bahay iyan."

Tumango ako. Marami na siyang na-paint. Sa hinuha ko ay libo na yata ang napinta niya. Pansin ko rin ngayon ay mas dumarami ang naipipinta niya. Minsan ay magigising siya ng maaga para magpinta. Minsan, magigising ako na nasa tabi ko siya sa higaan, nakaupo, may hawak na sketch pad at lapis, at nagdo-drawing. Namamangha na lang talaga ako sa talentong taglay niya. He is really one of a kind.

And to be an artist's inspiration to his art is priceless.

"Miles, apo..."

I suddenly heared the voice of my Lola. I immediately neared them and hugged them.

"Lola! Lolo! I missed you!" I said to them. They also hugged me tight. They are already on their 60s but they look so strong! I am glad they did!

"We missed you, apo," sagot ni Lola. "Ikaw, ha? You are rarely visiting us."

Kumalas ako sa yakapan namin. "I am sorry, la. I am so busy. Ngayon na lang po ulit ang free time ko."

"Mama, Papa," Ate called while going down the stairs.

"You just got home?" Lola asked to her.

Nakangiting tumango si Ate pero agad ding napawi ang ngiti niya. "Your deal is done in SG. Minadali ko. I do not want to stay there anymore since you left me."

"We have much to do here, hija. How are you, though?" Lolo asked.

"I am fine now!" nagagalak na ani ni Ate.

I glanced at Levi and I saw that he is patiently waiting in the living area while standing. I gave him a small smile. Wait there, love.

I did not have the chance to tell them that Levi is here because they are talking about business matters. Noong dumiretso kami sa dining ay iyon pa rin ang pinaguusapan nila nang makaupo. I did not sit, though. Nilingon ko muli si Levi. Kita pa rin siya mula sa dining dahil wala namang wall na nakaharang. Lola want this way. I also want this kind of house, no walls that separate each area aside from the rooms.

"Oh, where is your man, Aya?" Ngumisi si Ate Noreen nang matapos sila sa kanilang kwentuhan.

Hilaw akong ngumiti kay Ate Noreen. Ang daldal mo kaya! Hindi ako makasingit, duh!

"Your man, Miles?" takang tanong ni Lola.

I looked at her. "Uh, I am going to introduce someone to you..." nilingon ko si Levi at sinenyasang lumapit.

I held his hand when he got near. "This is Lee Valkiery Velez, Lolo, La. My boyfriend."

Bakas ang gulat kay Lola nang marinig niya iyon. Nagtaas naman ng kilay si Lolo. Ngayon, ako naman ang kinakabahan sa reaksyon nila. I cannot predict it!

"Oh..." Lola mumbled.

She held her chest. I got worried so I walked towards her and held her shoulders.

"Lola, are you okay?" I asked worriedly.

"Yeah, apo," she assured me. "I just did not expect na mauuna ka pang magka-boyfriend kaysa rito sa kay Noreen."

"I know right!" Ate Noreen agreed.

Natawa ako ng bahagya. "I thought you are mad, e!"

"Why would we be?" Lolo turned to Levi. "Sit here, hijo. Come and join us."

Levi is okay with my grandparents. Alam ko namang hindi talaga sila magagalit kaso ay mas gusto rin talaga nila na mauna sanang magka-boyfriend si Ate Noreen dahil matanda na raw. Iginiit naman ni Ate na bata pa siya.

Our lunch was good. Kinausap din nila Lolo at Lola si Levi tungkol sa business nila and they got amazed as well as me when they got to know the nature of their business. Natuwa sila lalo nang malamang si Levi pala ang pintor ng mga mga painting na nakapalibot na halos sa kanilang bahay.

We went home after that.

~~~