Art of Serendipity

35

Napa-angat naman ako ng tingin at pinagmasdan ang lugar kung nasaan kami. "Louvre? I don't have a Paris Museum pass..."

I only have Paris pass. Kailangan ng Museum pass para makapasok sa Louvre, or even in fifty museums here in Paris. Well, we can have individual tickets naman pero mas maganda kapag mayroong museum pass, free entrance at any time. Hindi ako nakapag-book dahil hindi ko naisip pa na pupunta kami rito.

May inilabas siyang card at ipinakita sa 'kin. "Nakakalimutan mo yata na may art gallery kami so I'm always prepared, tsaka bakit ngayon mo lang naisip 'yan? We already entered some attractions here that requiring this yesterday."

Yeah, right. Si Levi nga pala 'tong kasama ko.

"Sorry. I didn't know, hindi mo sinabi sa 'kin." I chuckled. Excited kaming pumasok sa loob.

"This is Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. Alam kong alam mo na 'to. Dito sa Louvre ito nakalagay," paliwanag niya habang nakatitig kami kay Mona Lisa.

I find her creepy yet magical. The painting is so mysterious and the visuality is very ideal. Sobrang protected siya ngayon with seal. Of course, this is a famous work. Mahirap na baka manakaw ulit.

"The painter's name is similar to your father's name, huh? Was he named after da Vinci?" I asked curiously. Titig na titig pa rin sa painting.

"Yes, our Lolo is so obsessed with da Vinci," Natatawa niya ring ani.

Grabe. Pamilya sila ng mga pintor. Ang kulay siguro ng buhay at mundo nila.

Tatlong museums pa ang nabisita namin bago napagpasiyahang magpahinga. Hindi pa rin ako nagsasawang mamangha sa mga paintings. Lalo na ngayon, I have a painter boyfriend.

Boyfriend. Hindi pa rin ako sanay. Kailangan ko na yatang masanay talaga. He is my first boyfriend so no one could blame me. I do not know how to act as his girlfriend yet. It will take time, I know.

When we arrived at Manila, inihatid niya ako sa Hotel at kinabukasan daw ay susunduin na naman niya ako. I don't know why and where are we going. Pagod mula sa byahe ang nag-udyok sa aking makatulog agad at magising dahil sa tawag sa phone ko. I sleepily answered my phone without looking at it.

"Hello..." my voice cracked, still adjusting. Anong oras na ba at may tumatawag agad sa akin?

"Good morning," Levi's voice greeted me. Napabangon agad ako sa higaan ko at napatingin sa orasan ko. Tanghali na pala at sinabi niya pa lang susunduin niya ako. I did not remember!

"Morning. Sorry, hindi ako nagising ng maaga. I was so tired, I just woke up," saad ko sa kaniya habang patungo na sa aking bathroom.

"It's okay. I'm on my way to your hotel a."

I yawned. "Okay, I'll get ready na."

Binaba na niya ang tawag kaya agad akong naligo at nagbihis. My hair is still damp when the door bell rang. I immediately opened the door and saw him, looking good with his messy hair and usual attire. May bitbit din siyang paperbag.

Oh, boyfriend ko nga pala 'to. My gosh, Ayannah Miles.

"Hi..." I said cutely. I don't know what to act towards my boyfriend. Paano ba?

E, kung papasukin mo muna kaya ang boyfriend mo, Aya?

Iling-iling ko siyang iginiya papasok. Nakatitig lang siya sa akin. Hindi alam kung anong nangyayari sa kaloob-looban ko. My heart is still beating so fast but this time, hinahayaan ko lang ito. It felts so good, anyway.

He giggled and walked towards me. He kissed my temple and hugged me. I squeezed him back, ayaw nang bumitaw pa mula sa init ng yakap niya. His manly scent is so addictive and his fast beating heart is like a music to my ears. Lalo kong hinigpitan ang yakap sa kaniya at ganoon din siya, I can't believe that this is really happening. God, nagkita lang kami kahapon pero parang miss na miss na namin ang isa't-isa.

Kusa siyang bumitaw kaya kahit ayaw ko ay bumitaw din ako. Nakakahiya, baka mas mukha pa akong sabik sa kaniya.

"I brought you a brunch. Kagigising mo lang, 'di ba?" he said. Itinaas niya ang hawak niyang paperbag na pagkain pala ang laman.

I nodded and smiled. "Sabayan mo na 'ko kumain."

Nagpahatid ako ng utensils sa hotel service rito sa taas. Magkatabi kaming kumain sa table kaso ang pintor na ito, kaunti lang kinain dahil kumain na raw siya. The food is really for me so I had to finish it. Hindi pa man din ako tapos kumain ay yumakap na siya sa akin habang kumakain ako.

"Where are we going?" I asked while eating, patapos na ako kumain ngayon. Tsk. Tataba yata ako nito.

"I will introduce you to my family today," he said in a very casual way.

Napaubo naman ako bigla roon dahil sa gulat. Napalo ko siya bigla sa braso dahil nasamid ako. Tumatawa siyang inabutan ako ng tubig at tissue.

"What? Oh my, God" I mumbled, hindi makapaniwala.

Meeting his family? I badly want to have the best impression to his family. I already met his Dad and sister but they know me as Levi's friend. Yung mommy kaya niya? How will I give a nice impression with them? Ano ba 'yan, Levi!

"Don't be nervous. You already met my Dad and Laia," he tried to ease my nervousness. He held my hand and squeeze it a bit.

"They know me as your friend and not your girlfriend!" giit ko.

He laughed. "Ano ba ang inaalala mo? Wala ka namang ginawang masama sa kanila, ah?"

"But..." I bit my lower lip. "What if they won't like me as your girlfriend? What about your mom? I haven't met her. I don't know how will I present myself to them"

He smiled. Tsk, wala na siyang problema kasi good shot na siya agad kay Dad and Ate Noreen, e.

"Hmm. I promise, they will like you. Mom is nice but she's... kinda strict and sometimes manipulative pero hindi naman madalas. She will like you, I'm sure of that," he said softly. He hugged me again and burried his face on my shoulder, to his favorite spot.

Lalo akong kinabahan. His mom is strict? Oh no. Paano na lang kung hindi niya ako magustuhan? Hindi ako mapapanatag ni Levi dahil sa sobrang kaba ko.

"She manipulated you?" I whispered, enough for him to hear.

"Not that much. She doesn't want me to pursue Fine Arts. Gusto niya akong mag-doctor because she is a doctor. Hindi rin naman interesado si Laia sa pagdo-doctor because she's into arts and modelling, so...."

My lips parted. Her mom is a doctor? Kung ganoon, pangarap niya sa anak niya na maging doctor din? Well, not bad but... wala sa anak niya ang may gustong mag-doctor. Hindi naman niya pwedeng ipilit iyon kahit gaano pa niya kagusto.

"And you disobey her?" I still asked the obvious.

"I love her but she can't force me to do something that I do not want but you know...sometimes I felt bad for my mom... She is not that demanding. Iyon lang ang gusto niya but we can't give it to her."

"Are you... pressured by her?"

He didn't answer my question and I didn't force him to. Hinigpitan niya lang lalo ang yakap sa akin. My food is not yet done but I'm more concern about him. I always saw him as a friendly and cheerful guy yet serious. He never opened something about his problems to me.

"Should I give her a present? I'm really nervous, Lev," I said. Ayos na ako sa Daddy and sister niya, iyong mommy na lang talaga problema ko.

Inangat niya ang tingin sa akin at pilyong ngumiti. "You don't need to but if you really want, she's kinda obsessed with perfumes but your presence will do, love. Don't worry that much about it, finish your food na, hmm?."

Paanong hindi ako mag-wo-worry e pupunta ako roon at magpapakilalang girlfriend niya na dala lang ang sarili!

I'm really nervous about his mom. Sa kwento niya pa lang ay halatang hindi na niya ako magugustuhan kaya sinubukan ko talagang magsuot ng kaaya-ayang damit. Hindi ko rin alam kung anong gusto ng Mommy niya sa magiging girlfriend ng anak niya.

Does she like the one that looks elegant? Or decent? What about a daring woman? Cute?

Wala ako ni isa sa mga katangiang iyon! I'm just... me.

But if she doesn't like me, gusto naman ako ng anak niya. Levi's love for me is what matters the most... I guess.

"Hey..." Levi called me huskily. Nasa harap ako ng vanity table at kanina pa pala ako nakatitig sa sarili ko. Inusog niya ang upuan na inupuan niya kanina at itinabi sa akin. Ngayon, yakap na naman niya ako.

"Ikaw kasi..." I whispered but smiled too.

He kissed the side of my forehead while I'm staring at our reflection in the mirror. I smiled, my heart hurts from extreme pounding but it's okay if it's him. Kumportable na ako rito, parang ayaw ko na umalis pero hindi pwede... I'll meet his family and even me, ayaw kong ipagpaliban pa iyon.

"Whatever happens, I love you, okay?" he suddenly said.

Napaharap ako bigla sa kaniya. "Bakit? Ano ang mangyayari?" kinakabahan kong tanong. Bakit? Ayaw ba talaga sa 'kin ng mommy niya kaya baka paghiwalahin kami? Oh, no. Please, no.

Hinila niya ako at naglapat ng banayad na halik sa labi ko. Marami akong iniisip pero nadadala ako sa mga halik niya. In an instant, my crowded mind becomes the picture of just the two of us. Unti-unti, his soft kisses became hot and breathy. His left hand is caressing my cheek and the other hand is gripping me by the waist, inilalapit pa niya ako lalo. He withrew more fully kisses, ibinuka ko pa lalo ang bibig ko at hindi inaasahang maipapasok niya ang dila niya. He tasted every bit of my lips and I cannot help but to equal his hunger.

I moaned a bit and that's a signal for him to stop. Huminto siya at namumungay ang mga matang humarap sa akin. Hingal kaming pareho at hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala. Am I dreaming? A beautiful man like him is here, my boyfriend?

"You know what? Tara na. Gabi na tayo makakarating sa inyo," I softly said but I'm still staring at his lips, wanting for more kisses.

"Yeah?" he said breathy, planting a peck on my lips.

"Stop it, Velez. Let's go now..." nanghihina kong saad but my freaking eyes say otherwise! Bumababa talaga sa mga labi niyang sobrang mapupula na ngayon.

He giggled a bit before standing up. Hindi na rin ako naghintay pa at tumayo na rin. Inayos kopa ang lipstick ko because now its ruined. He held my hand and intertwined it. Dinala niya ang gamit ko habang pinapatay ko ang lahat ng ilaw sa room. Then, we left the room.

Ano nga ulit ang mga pinoproblema ko kanina? I can't it remember now.

I was so lost with his kisses, that is why.

~~~