Art of Serendipity

46

Ganoon na nga ang pinagka-abalahan ko ngayong summer. Paminsan-minsan akong pumupunta sa Hotel Room ko at doon ko pinagaaralan kung paano ko ipipinta si Levi, without actually asking for anyone's help. While Levi, as a fresh graduate, unti-unti nang inililipat sa pangalan niya ang mga negosyo nila ng Daddy niya at tuwing busy siya, doon ko sinasamantalang ipinta si Levi.

I don't know, I do not really know what's gotten in me to suddenly have it my mind, I mean, to paint him. Hindi ko naman alam kung paano ko gagawin at sisimulan pero tuwing iniisip ko kung sino ang ipinipinta ko ay ginaganahan ako bigla. Its Levi so I won't be tired, not ever. He gave me the more than enough energy to help myself what I want to do. Noong una ay hindi ko alam na kaya pala iyon gawin ng isang tao, not until I met him.

Katulad ngayon ay narito ako sa Hotel Room para ituloy ang pagsi-sketch ko kumg ano lang ang nai-imagine ko. If I were Levi, hindi naman ganoon kahirap ito kumpara sa ginagawa niya pero syempre, I am not like him so it is really hard for me. Parang kailangan ko atang lumipat sa visual arts connected course para lang ma-accomplish ko ito.

Lumipas pa ang ilang oras at nasisimulan ko na ang pagpipinta, kaunti pa lang pero sobrang dami na ng paint sa kamay ko. Ang kalat-kalat ko na. Ano ba naman 'to! Mabuti at hindi ko naman ibibigay sa kaniya ito. Well, I'm not good at this but I can say that I am not that bad. I'm not an arts-inclined person, but I know how to do one naman kahit papaano, lalong lumawak ang kaalaman ko noong nakilala ko si Levi.

Tumunog ang phone ko na nasa vanity table ko. Nilapag ko muna ang pallette at paintbrush sa lagayan bago pinuntahan iyon. I reached for my phone and i saw that It was Levi. Facetime iyon kaya nag-ayos muna ako ng itsura ko at lumayo sa ginagawa ko. Baka makita niya pa, lalong pumalpak. I walked to the Veranda of my room.

I smiled cutely after answering the call. "Hey! How are you?"

Ang backround niya ay painting and I know, he's in the office in the Gallery. Sa dating office ng Daddy niya na siya na ang umuukupa ngayon. His dad gave all to him, and his responsibility to the Gallery became widely known. That is why I really understand it.

His eyes narrowed. [Are you in your hotel? I'll pick you up, later.]

Agad nag-panic ang utak ko. Hindi ko na siya pinapapunta rito simula noong sinimulan ko 'yong painting dahil ayaw ko ngang makita niya. Paminsan-minsan lang din naman akong pumupunta rito dahil doon nga ako madalas sa Condo niya.

"Uhm, h'wag na. Pagod ka na tapos pupunta ka pa rito, hassle lang 'yon sa 'yo. Ako na lang susundo sa 'yo!" I volunteered.

Natawa siya ng bahagya. [Kung hindi lang ako busy, hindi talaga kita hahayaang sunduin ako, love. Don't worry, once these all are done, ako na ulit ang bahala sa 'yo.]

"Yeah, it's okay. I'll be there an hour from now. Wait for me." I winked at him.

He suddenly narrowed his eyes and brought his phone near his face. [What's that on your face? Dirt?]

My smile faded. "O-oh!"

Nilayo ko ang phone sa mukha ko at mabilis na tinignan ang mukha ko sa concave mirror ko sa veranda. D*mn! I have paint on my left cheek! Mabuti na lang at kukay black iyon! I almost exposed myself!

[What were you doing? Why there is a dirt on your face?] Levi asked curiously.

Tumukhin ako bago muling ipinakita ang mukha ko sa camera. "Naglilinis kasi ako ngayon sa room ko. Masyadong makalat," pagpapalusot ko.

He nodded. [Looks like a paint or somethin' though, because it was yellow. Anyway, tell me if you are tired, ako na lang talaga ang susundo sa 'yo.]

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang mabilis niyang mapalitan ang topic sa unan niyang naging opinyon! Sh*t talaga!

Pagkatapos ng tawag ay tinapos ko lang 'yong part kanina na pine-paint ko tsaka ako naligo at nag-ayos para sunduin si Levi. I am driving his car now, lalo lang akong natutong mag-drive dahil tinuruan ako ni Levi noong hindi pa siya nagga-graduate during our dates or leisure-s***h-free time. I am with his car because he said that if I'm going out, I must use his car because he knows how stable his car for me, mas gamay ko raw itong gamitin kaysa sa iba. Siya naman ang nagpasundo sa driver nila papunta sa Gallery. Napapa-iling na lang ako sa sobrang pagka-concern sa akin ni Levi.

My phone rang again along the way. I thought it was Levi again but I'm wrong, it was Dad so I answered it immediately.

"Hello po, Dad..." I greeted.

[Hello, sweetie. How are you? Where are you right now?]

"I'm driving, Dad. Papunta po kay Levi sa Gallery. Why?"

I heard his heavy sigh. [Have you met Donna?]

Napakunot ang noo ko, nananatili sa daan ang tingin. "Yes, dad, but it was a long time ago already. Why?"

[Her father called me. The former soldier was very furious. Galit na galit siya dahil siguro nagsumbong na ang anak niya sa kaniya. By this time, I know he's now making a move so I want you to be careful.]

"What? What did he told you? Ano pong sabi mo sa kaniya?" Nataranta rin ako bigla. I had to stop my car for a while.

[Itinuturing ko raw ang anak niya na parang daga. Hindi ko na siya pinapasok pa rito noong gabing nakipagkita siya sa iyo, Luz told me that, even the crews in our Hotel told me that she went there and talked to you. Her father told me that Donna is crying every night, cursing your name everytime. I told him that it was her fault in the first place, but of course, it's his daughter so he wouldn't believe me. So, I had to to ask you. I want to know. What did you do to her? Sinaktan mo raw siya?]

"Technically, I didn't! Siya ang nakipag-usap sa akin, dad. Apologizing to me like a desperate brat because you know her reason, dad? Kapag daw pinatawad ko siya, makakausap na kita para pabalikin siya sa bahay dahil tutal ay kasalanan ko naman daw. I have enough of her drama so umamba po akong aalis but she suddenly held my arm and I harshly put it down to defense myself, napalakas iyon kaya natumba siya at hindi ko po sinasadya iyon! Dad!" I frustratedly explained to him. Nasa parking na ako ng Gallery ngayon pero hindi pa rin ako lumalabas.

[B*llshit. I'm warning you, you have to be careful, my princess. Remember that her father is retired a soldier, wala siyang pakundangan kung manakit kaya mag-ingat ka. Despite of him nlt having any position in the army, he still has a lot of strong connections that would probably end someone's life here. Where's Levi? I need to talk to him for your protection too. I do not want to risk it]

"No, no, dad! He is busy right now! H'wag po muna ngayon dahil marami po siyang ginagawa!" agaran kong tanggi.

Levi has his own problems to deal, too and I don't want to be a burden. I know he will say that he won't mind protecting m,e but hell! Ayaw kong dumagdag sa poproblemahin niya. Narito nga ako para suportahan siya at hindi para bigyan pa siya ng panibagong problema.

If my dad doesn't want to risk me, then, I would not risk him and Levi either.

[But, Aya! Your life is at sake right now! As your boyfriend, his duty is to protect you while me, as your father, my duty is to secure you so I'll tell this to him-]

"Dad, ako na lang po magsasabi sa kaniya. Promise, I will tell him immediately just... not right now, okay? Ako na pong bahala..." I cut him off with my convincing tone. "Sige na po, dad. I'll go to him na po."

[Ayannah Miles.] He called me menacingly. [Make sure, 'kay? Magpapadala na rin ako ng mga bodyguards sa 'yo pero hindi sila magpapakita. Okay, go ahead now. I love you.]

"Fine, dad," I said softly. "I love you."

~~~