Art of Serendipity

60

I finished this before my graduation. I don't really know why I still pursued myself to continue this painting, but I just feel a bit satisfaction because I finished a painting. Hindi na siya naka-canvas, pina-frame ko pa para lang hindi masira. Maayos naman ang pagkaka-paint ko sa kaniya, mahabang proseso but since I witnessed how Levi did it, naging mas efficient at productive ako gawin. Hindi ko rin pinapatago dahil masaya akong makita ang achievement ko na nakatapos ako ng painting, ang mali ko lang ay mukha ni Levi 'to. I have no regrets, though. Kahit ganito ay mahal ko pa rin naman ang gawa ko. I am so proud of it!

I sighed and laughed at myself. I think Ate Noreen was right. Oo nga naman, Aya. Tama naman siya. How will you going to move on if every corner of your house and hotel room has something that reminds you of him? Sa mansion ay naroon pa rin ang mga painting na binili pa sa Velez Art Gallery naa halos lahat ay gawa niya. May isang kwarto pa ako roon na puno ng painting na regalo pa ni Levi sa akin dati, it's either a random painting or a painting of myself or ours. Basta, kapag ayaw niyang ibenta ang obra niya ay binibigay niya na lang sa akin. Sometimes, I am urging him to sell it so that we can donate the money to the charity.

Aaminin ko, I miss how close we used to be... before things changed us. The way na iparamdam niya sa akin kung gaano niya ako kamahal noon, but sadly, that was pure lies, that was just part of the show. I really wish that some things never happened so we could still be like that kasi ang hirap, e. Ang hirap makanahap ulit ng katulad niya. There is something I could tell that was very clear for me, I am not letting myself be loved again kung hindi lang din tulad ng pagmamahal na pinadama niya sa akin, I don't care if it was just lies, gusto ko ay ganoon.

Nakatulog na lang ako sa pag-iisip ng kung ano-ano. I have flight for today pero mamayang hapon pa kaya ang gagawin ko lang ngayon ay mag-iinspect at tutulungan na si Ate Noreen na pumili ng design namin. Mabilis gumawa sila Rylan pero pulido at sobrang ayos kaya hanga ako.

"How's everything going here, Engineer?" tanong ko sa kaniya nang magkita kami rito sa lobby.

Napalingon naman siya sa akin at sumenyas ng 'wait' dahil may kausap pa siya sa phone niya. Nang matapos ay ngumiti agad siya sa akin. "Everything is fine, Aya. You can check if may mali kaming ginagawa, although Noreen is checking it from time-to-time pero ikaw, kung gusto mo lang. I know you are busy, too."

I nodded slowly and roamed around my eyes. "I see. Make sure na walang naapektuhan na tao rito, okay? Can you give me more details?"

He opened his mouth to talk but he could not because his phone rang again. Inis niyang kinuha ito pero lumambot din ang mukha nang makita niya kung sino ang tumawag. He looked at me.

I smiled and nodded. "Go for it. I will be waiting here."

"I am sorry," he apologized then put his phone on his ear. "Hey... Well, yes, why?"

I bit my lower lip while taking my eyes off him. Nagtingin-tingin na lang ako sa files dito sa lobby. Just enough to give him privacy. Kaso nga lang ay hindi maiwasan na naririnig ko siya, he seems not bothered by my presence naman so I let it be. Hinihintay ko lang 'yong iba pang details and updates ng renovation. Hindi ko rin naman kasi pwedeng itanong ang lahat kay Ate Noreen, napakawalang kwentang hotel owner ko naman kung gagawin ko iyon.

"Wow, talaga naman..." He giggled. "Okay. Whatever. Just take care, okay? Love you... Yeah, bye," And the call went off.

"Are you done?" I asked immediately when I noticed that. Nakaka-guilty naman, girlfriend niya pa yata 'yong kausap niya tapos may importatante pa siyang ginagawa o ano.

"Oo. Ano ulit ang pinaguusapan natin?" He smiled apologetically. "I am sorry for that again."

"I'm asking-" Naputol ang pagtatanong ko nang may dumating na isang tauhan ata niya.

"Engineer, pasensiya na po pero dumating na po kasi 'yong ibang materials ngayon lang at ikaw po ang hinahanap nila..." and then, the worker glanced at me. He gave me a small smile and bowed a bit. "Good morning, Ma'am Vegas."

"Good morning," bati ko rin tsaka ako bumaling kay Ryle. "Maybe, I can talk to you later na lang. Punta ka na lang sa office ko kapag hindi ka na busy, h'wag lang masyadong hapon kasi may flight pa ako mamayang late afternoon. Okay."

He laughed. Natatawa siguro na hindi kami makapagusap ng maayos dahil sa dami ng interruptions. "Pasensiya na at busy talaga si Engineer. Sige, I will go later in your office na lang."

Pumanhik na lang ako sa taas para si Ate naman ang makausap. Pareho kaming nagfa-finalize na ng decision para sa design nang may biglang kumatok. My secretary showed herself.

"Ma'am, Mr. Velez is here po. Papasukin ko po ba?" she asked politely.

Muntik na ako mapairap dahil bakit nagpaalam siya ngayon tapos noong nakaraang nakapasok dito si Levi ay hindi niya man lang sinabi sa akin? Besides, that Velez should have an appointment first, hindi 'yong biglaan siyang pupunta rito. Sulsol talaga 'tong Velez na 'to kahit kailan.

"Let him in," Ate Noreen answered for me, grinning at me.

I just frowned at her. Magkatabi kami rito sa table dahil nag-isahan na lang kami tutal malaki naman ang mesa and most of the time, Ate Noreen occupies my space because I am not here all the time.

Nang bumukas ang pinto. I immediately browse his getaway today. He is wearing a pastel blue button-down shirt na may manggas na hanggang siko, nakabukas ang dalawang butones niya so his chest is exposing a bit. Naka-tuck in iyon kaya kita 'yong mamahaling designer leather belt niya at naka white slacks din siya. He looks elegant, huh? Well, always. Ano pa bang aasahan ko?

"I am glad that you entertained my invitation, Levi. Upo ka muna," Ate Noreen asked. Sinisipa niya pa ako sa ilalim ng table kaya sinasamaan ko siya ng tingin. Ang likot niya!

Wait, what?. Did I hear it right? Invitation? Ate Noreen sent him an invitation to come here? Huh? Anong mayroon? And my f*cking aunt did not bother to inform me? Wow! Wow lang!

Levi glanced at me with an unknown expression before looking at Ate Noreen. Umupo rin siya sa harap namin kaya naiiwas ko agad 'yong tingin ko. It's not helping pa that he smells so good!

"Why do you requested me here? Nakapili na ba kayo?" he asked in a stern voice. Iyon agad ang naging bungad niya.

"Actually, yes. Pero ito kasing si Aya, may gustong itanong so I messaged you instead." Kinurot niya ako sa tagiliran.

Huh? D*mn it! What is it? Anong pinagsasabi nitong si Ate? What am I going to ask? I can't remember that I want to ask anything to him!

Halatang pinaglalaruan lang ako nitong si Ate Noreen, e. I looked at her with confused eyes. She's just biting the insides of her cheeks to stifle a smile. D*mn it, Ate Noreen! Ano bang ginagawa mo sa akin? You are so crazy!

"What is it, Ms. Vegas?" Ayan na, nagtanong na nga!

Nakatingin pa rin ako kay Ate Noreen pero nakatingin lang siya sa malayo. I am glaring at her because I am afraid that Levi might notice that Ate Noreen is just tripping us. Tinapakan ko ang paa niya sa ilalim ng mesa.

"Aww..." she groaned, eyes widened. "Aww-it! 'Di ba, Aya, you asked earlier if they can paint your mom?"

Confused nga ako pero hindi naman kailangang ipatawag ni Ate Noreen si Levi para rito! I can do research! Pwede ko rin siyang i-email na lang! B*llshit! Ang babaw ng dahilan para papuntahin siya rito! I will probably go nuts because of Ate Noreen.

Well, I asked that out of nowhere to her, but I know that they can. Gusto ko kasing ilagay ang painting ni Mom sa kahit saan dito. To symbolize that this is Mom's Hotel, she made hardwork for this. Ipagpapatuloy ko lang talaga.

But as I said, they can paint it! I am so sure of that! Ire-request ko rin na i-paint nila ang buong Hotel, tsaka magbibigay ako sana sa Acosta. I just didn't know how I should say this to him pero wow, nandito na siya sa harap ko.

Kainis naman kasi 'tong si Ate Noreen!

Levi licked his lower lip before turning his gaze to me. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. "Obviously. We can."

"Alam ko," I said brusquely. I was about to talk again but Ate Noreen's phone rang so loud beside me. Inis ko din tuloy 'yong tinignan, I saw a familiar name on the phone screen, but Ate Noreen got it immediately.

"Okay, guys. I will just take this call." She stood up and pinched my cheeks playfully. "Take care! Usap well!"

Just… Wow, Ate Noreen?

~~~