Art of Serendipity

18

Hindi na nasundan ang sagutan naming iyon ni Daddy. I know Daddy, he is not going below the belt. Iniisip niyang sayang sa oras iyon. Sayang nga naman, kailan ba ako naging importante? Ah, importante ako dahil wala silang ibang tagapag-mana kundi ako.

I did not even mention about Tita Donna's cheating. Alam ko rin naman kasing handang-handa si Tita Donna sa mga alibi niya. Magaling siya, e.

Magpupunta ako ulit sa Art Gallery ngayon. Somehow, when I see paintings, parang nagiging comfort zone ko na rin iyon. I did not say this to Levi so I don't really know if he's here. If he's here, then good. If not, ayos lang din.

"Ayannah Miles Vegas, right? Napapadalas ka na yata rito, hija?" I suddenly heard a familiar baritone voice.

Humarap ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses at nakita ko ang Daddy ni Levi. Ah, oo nga pala. He has an office here but I have not seen him for a quite while, huh. Is he staying in his office more often or is he not just around the corner most of the time?

"Good afternoon po, Mr. Velez. Yes po, Nalilibang po kasi ako rito and Levi is also bringing me here oftenly," pagpapa-alam ko, baka kasi magalit siya na ginagawa kong tambayan ang gallery niya.

"I see...." He stepped backwards. "My son is in his favorite place here right now. You should go there. Send my regards to your father as well. For not, I will just attend my meeting. Say that to Valkiery." He then, waved goodbye.

I just smiled at him. So, nandito si Levi? Mapuntahan ko nga.

Bumaba ako sa basement kung saan ang sinasabi ng Daddy ni Levi, just to see him spacing out while drawing something on a sheet of paper. Ni hindi man lang ata niya naramdaman ang presence ko.

Tahimik akong pumunta sa likuran niya at sumilip sa dini-drawing niya. Muli, namangha ako. Although, it's not yet done and it also looks like a draft. The result is obviously good and wonderful. Kahit parang wala siya sa sarili ay maganda pa rin ang gawa niya. How could he do that? I am so impressed!

I should have suprises him by shouting in his ear but he suddenly turned around his head. Nanlaki ang mata ko at agad na umatras. I can't see any shock in his eyes, instead, I can see nothing. He tilted his head a bit.

"What are you doing here?" he asked but I can't hear any humor.

"S-surprise?" Stupid, Ayannah! Surprise? What the heck? Napakaganda ng reasoning mo!

He smirked upon hearing that. "E, bakit parang ikaw pa ang gulat?"

I frowned. "Ikaw kasi, e..."

Lalo pang lumaki ang ngisi niya. "Are you bored in your house again? Oh, h'wag ka na mag-aayang maginuman ulit, ha?"

Mabilis akong umiling. "No, ayoko na nga uminom ulit, e. Wala pa rin akong naalala sa mga pinaggagawa ko noon. I should not have done that!"

"Yeah, you should not," he agreed, but I glared at him. "Tsk, pa-seminar ka muna uminom, ah?"

Kinuha niya ang isa pang swivel chair sa tabi. Hindi ko na inintay pang sabihin niyang umupo ako roon, ginawa ko na agad. I sat beside him and the chair creaked a bit.

"Kanino? Sa 'yo?" I asked.

Madilim ang naging balik ng tingin niya sa akin. Why? Did I say something wrong? Nag-suggest siya? Kinagat ko lang naman?

"H'wag na h'wag ka nang iinom ulit, Aya. Ibubulsa kita kapag uminom ka ulit," pagbabanta niya.

I grimaced again. "Umamin ka nga! Ano ba talagang ginawa ko at ayaw na ayaw mo na akong uminom ulit? Meron, ano?"

Iling lang ang sinagot niya sa akin bago ibinalik ang tingin sa dini-drawing niya sa papel. Hindi ko na rin pinilit pa, natatakot ako sa malalaman ko kung sakali.

"You did not even tell me the reason why you went to that bar and had fun or did you reallyyy ad fun or you just really wanted to forget things? That was not so you, Ayannah."

Nilapag ko ang bag ko sa mesa at huminga ng malalim bago sumandal sa swivel chair at ginalaw-galaw iyon. How do I start this? Kailangan ko nga yata talagang may makausap. Baka kasi kaka-overthink ko ay mag-lead ito sa depression or anxiety. I do not want that. I need healthy communication with someone, para naman mabawasan ang bigat ng nararamdaman ko.

"You will not really believe that I just wanted to have fun?" I asked first.

Tahimik siyang umiling at binitawan ang kaniyang lapis. The ankle of his one leg rests right above the knee of his other leg. He then puts his arm on the arm rest and played with his lips. Humarap siya akin at seryosong nakikinig.

I stared at him. Now I really know why many girls fall for him. He has that charisma that no one has. Hindi lang sa kung anong itsura niya, but because he knows how to handle one's attitude and behavior. Alam niya kung paano magparamdam sa isang tao na pwede siyang sandalan sa kahit anong oras at sitwasyon. A lot of people like him because they love his overall.

And I am starting to love it too.

"My stepmom is cheating to my dad and I just knew about it recently," I began. "I accidentaly heard her conversation with her affair, and so I wanted to tell about it to Dad because I hate Tita Donna for doing that. I feel pity for my Dad because he has that kind of wife who cannot be satisfied with him."

Kumunot ang noo ni Levi. I bit my lower lip. Naiisip ko na naman si Dad at Tita Donna.

"I tried..." Pinaglaruan ko ang kamay ko. "I tried to tell Dad about it, but I got shocked when he is mad more than me. It was because he has my copy of so-called grades that has straight tres. Hindi ko naman talaga grades iyon and I do not know how Tita Donna manipulated it. It has caused Dad to doubt me, my skills and hardships..."

Naghalumbaba ako at binalik ang tingin kay Levi na may pagaalala na rin sa mukha.

"I am just so dissapointed..." I commented for finality.

"Do you want me to investigate about it?" he suggested sincerely.

I chuckled a bit while shaking my head. "You don't need to do that, Lev. I can solve my own problems."

He glared. "How? By going to bars and drink alcohol?"

"Hoy, hindi, ah!" I strongly disagreed. "Last na 'yon, 'no. I do not want to be a pain in the ass more. Masama lang talaga ang loob ko kay Daddy dahil mas pinaniniwalaan niya pa si Tita Donna kaysa sa akin na anak niya."

"Why don't you talk to your dad again? Even if he would hurt you with his words, talk to him still, and tell your side. Hindi magandang kinikimkim mo 'yang sama ng loob tapos eventually, magiging okay kayo nang hindi pinaguusapan iyon. Tell about it. At least, you gave warning. At least, hindi ka na makokonsesiya if your dad will know about your stepmom's cheating. You will not regret anything later."

I smiled again. "Okay. I will take your advice. However, I am not sure if I could apply it, especially that my dad is so busy with his work and all. Still, thank you for the advice. I appreciate it a lot."

He grinned. "Naks. Bumabait ka na, ah? Side effects ba 'yan ng paginom mo ng isang bote ng black label?"

My smile immediately faded. "Totoo ba? Seryoso?"

He nodded

My jaw dropped. Shocks! Ang lakas ko naman pala uminom!"

"You know what? Nevermind that. Let us just chaged our topic na. What are you sketching? Nakaisip ka na ng theme for the exhibition?" magkasunod kong tanong.

"I'm just sketching random things. Wala pa akong naiisip na theme? Ikaw? May naisip ka na ba?"

Iling lang din ang naisagot ko. Wala pa kong naiisip dahil hindi naman ako maalam sa mga ganiyan. I-research na lang kaya? Kaso mas maganda kung original. Tsaka, I bet Levi will search. His originality and creativity is priceless. Kung pwede lang na hiramin ang artistic mind niya talaga! Feeling ko wala akong maitutulong sa kaniya.

Gumaan na ang pakiramdam ko dahil nakapagkuwento na rin ako ng problema ko sa ibang tao and I am just so glad to receive honest advice from him. He is an expert to this.

Tumayo ako para mag-browse ulit sa mga paintings niya. Nabawasan na rin ang mga paintings na naroon na tapos na. I guess, nailabas na yata ang iba pang mga paintings niya para maibenta na rin at mai-display.

Pero may isang painting doon na malaki. Simula ng mapunta ako rito ay hindi na naalis doon iyon. Hindi ko rin naman tinitignan dahil ngayon ko lang din naalala. Nasa likuran din kasing bahagi kaya hindi masyadong halata na mayroon pa pala roon. Ano kaya ito?

Nilingon ko si Levi na seryoso lang na nanonood sa bawat galaw ko.

"May I?" I asked permission first, then pointed at the myterious painting. When I saw him nodded briefly, I started walking to that painting. I am so eager to know this masterpiece. Parang may humihila sa akin para malaman kung ano ito.

Tinanggal ko ang telang naroon. Umubo pa ako dahil medyo maalikabok ito. Nang makapag-adjust ay agad ko itong pinagmasdan. Napasinghap ako sa nakita ko. Hell, itong ganito kagandang painting? Nakatambak lang dito?

Kailan ba ako hindi pabibilibin nitong taong ito? This masterpiece… I did not expect that it is stilll beautiful- Oh, well, lahat naman ng gawa niya ay maganda talaga. Sabi na nga ba ay may purpose talaga kaya parang may nagu-uudyok sa akin na buksan ang painting na ito. It is magneting me to come and see it.

Seriously, what kind of painting this man can't do?

~~~