Art of Serendipity

42

Our relationship stayed lowkey the whole year. Just normal days with him. Sabay na papasok sa school, sabay na magla-lunch at sabay ring uuwi. Mabilis ang mga araw dahil masaya kami. I'm just hoping that we can stay like this until our last breathe. Daddy seems so okay with Levi, minsan nga'y siya pa ang nagtatanong kay Levi kung kumusta ako. Natutuwa rin siguro si Daddy dahil wala naman siyang anak na lalaki.

Speaking of Dad, nahihirapan siyang makipag-annulment kay Tita Donna dahil ayaw daw nito. Nag-si-stay pa rin sa bahay kahit ayaw na siya makasama ni Daddy na kung minsan pa ay si Daddy pa ang nag-aadjust, that's according to Nanay Luz. Tita Donna seems so determined to stay with our family. Daddy didn't just want Tita Donna's dad to pull a trigger or even lay a finger to us, maimpluwensiya pa rin daw kay nagretiro na. Hindi ako sumusubok na umuwi pa sa bahay dahil ayaw ko siyang makita.

Levi and I are here in their gallery. Na-postpone raw ang art exhibit that was suppose to be this month dahil nagkaroon ng problem sa venue and it's convenient to us because we have more time to think about the painting. Baka next year pa raw matutuloy. We don't know yet.

"Just lighten your strokes," turo niya sa akin.

Tinuturuan niya akong mag-paint ngayon because I insisted. Gusto kong matuto kahit papaaano. I'm enjoying but I don't really have artistic hands. I'm here infront of a canvas while trying to paint a lily but I'm really having a hard time. May gayahan na nga ako't lahat-lahat pero hindi ko pa rin magawa. Siya naman ay nasa gilid ko, nag-pe-paint habang tinuturuan ako, partida mas malaking canvas pa ginagamit niya pero pa-easy-easy lang siya r'yan!

"Ayaw ko na. Hindi naman lily 'tong ginagawa ko, e!" I said frustratedly.

"Let me see?" Dinungaw niya ang painting o kung painting bang matatawag 'to. "It looks so nice naman, ah?"

I glared at him. "Of course, you're saying that so that I will not be offended."

He smirked. "It doesn't have to be perfect. Dumaan na rin ako sa ganiyan but trust me, it's beautiful for a beginner like you. Hindi pa naman tapos so c'mmon, don't give it up."

"Here we go again..." I giggled. "My boyfriend and his comforting words. Galing mo r'yan, kaya maraming na-fo-fall sa 'yo, e."

"Here we go again, my girlfriend and her jealous stunts. Galing mo dyan, na-fo-fall ako lalo," he mocked.

I rolled my eyes but laughed eventually. Ito naman kasing lalaking 'to. Masyadong gwapo. Kahit may girlfriend na ay habulin pa rin. Tsk.

"It's your last year, love. What are you gonna do the next?" I asked while trying to figure out what am I going to do with my so-called painting.

"I think after my grad, I'm going to take over dad with our galleries. Dad is kinda old na, mag-re-retire na raw siya kapag naka-graduate na ako."

"Sobrang magiging busy ka na niyan. 'Di bale, ako na lang ang bibisita sa 'yo kapag sobrang busy ka talaga."

Nilingon niya ako. "Hmm, I can always make time for you, though. Don't worry about it."

"Huh? No, I'm not demanding for your time. Gusto ko lang na mag-focus ka pa sa business niyo since I know that it's really hard. Ganoon rin naman ako kapag naka-graduate na rin ako. Ikaw ata ang nag-aalala, e."

"Medyo." Kibit-balikat niya.

Naalala ko bigla si Alas. He's so busy. Lalo ngayong naka-graduate na siya but he still have Law school.

"Sa tingin mo, magiging busy din tayo katulad ni Alas?" I suddenly asked.

Nakita ko ang pagkatigil niya sa ginagawa. Binaba niya ang paint brush niya at huminga ng malalim. "I don't... think so. Siguro."

"Speaking of him, tumawag na ba ulit siya sa 'yo? I miss that friend of ours, masyado talaga siyang busy but I guess, he's going here one of these days."

Hindi siya sumagot. Ipinagpatuloy niya lang ang pag-pi-paint at mukhang patapos na siya. Ganoon rin ako sa akin, isang petal na lang at tapos na. I just shrugged when he really has no plans of answering me. Busy na siya sa pagdedepina pa ng artwork niya.

Or baka ayaw niya at hindi alam ang isasagot sa akin? Napapansin ko kasi na ayaw niyang pinag-uusapan masyado si Alas although he didn't tell but I just know. Tumitipid ang sagot niya palagi kapag nagtatanong na ako tungkol kay Alastrid. Seriously, I'm really curious. May problema ba siyang hindi ko alam? Kasi kung meron man, I feel bad for not listening and helping him. He knows all my problems and even deal with it but I can't do that with his problem.

"I'm done..." I announced in uncertainty. Paano kasi, hindi talaga siya maganda sa paningin ko. Iba-iba ang direksiyon ng strokes but I guess, it's alright. I'm still a beginner so I'm not pressured.

Dinungaw niya ulit ang gawa ko pagkatapos ay ngumiti siya. "Well done." Ginulo niya ang buhok ko.

Ngumuso ako at tinanggal ang kamay niya sa ulo ko pero hindi ko binitawan. I took out my phone and captured our hands, pareho kasing marumi mula sa paints. I just find it cute so I took a photo and post it on my ** with no context. Hindi ako pala-caption, most of my posts are like that. Napapansin ko lang, may mga photos kami together sa pareho naming accounts at sigurado akong nakikita iyon ni Alas pero bakit hindi siya nagtatanong? Well, we're not that intimate in photos, so it didn't really look like we're couple.

I also took a photo of our done works and post it together with our hands. Agad namang nag-comment sila Ate Noreen pero hindi naman importante at puro pang-aasar lang.

Binaba ko ang phone ko at tumingon kay Levi na nakatititig pa rin sa akin. Magkasalikop ang kamay naming dalawa at walang planong bumitaw.

"I'll marry you," sabi niya bigla.

Napatitig ako lalo sa kaniya habang unti-unting sumisilay ang ngiti ko. This man is always bringing me strange feelings, walang kupas. How could he do that?

I nodded. "We'll marry each other."

"I'll marry you and have children with you."

Children talaga?

I nodded once again. "We will." We should.

"Don't leave my side, papakasalan pa kita," he said seriously.

I smiled. My clingy and sweet man is back.

But then again, this is all serious. I want to marry him so bad too. Gusto ko, pangarap ko kaya gagawin at tutuparin ko. Our relationship may not be perfect but at least, we're trying to build a better future for us. Sa kaniya ko lang paplanuhin ang lahat ng ito, only him.

"Yes, Love. I will," I answered wholeheartedly.

~~~