Art of Serendipity

06

"I'm sorry to interrupt you, but this painting is maybe lower the price among the others but this painting has a meaning that for sure, caught Ms. Vegas' attention and curiosity," singit ni Levi. Sumulyap siya sa akin bago ibinalik ang tingin kay Tita Donna at Daddy.

"About the details, Sir. This painting symbolizes happiness despite the pain. According to the famous painter Vincent Van Gogh, sunflowers are the symbol of happiness. Sunflowers stand tall just to find the sunlight. In reality, people stand strong to face a new day and new beginning, to face the brighter horizon," he explained. Not leaving Daddy's sight.

I know that this is the meaning of it. For some reason, I'm like a sunflower. I am waking up in the morning to be strong no matter how cruel the world it is. Also, Tita Donna's right. Sunflower is Mommy's favorite flower, sa katunayan ay mayroon siyang itinanim na sunflower sa aming bakuran at ito ay inaalagaan ko ngayon.

Sumenyas si Daddy na ituloy ang sinasabi ni Levi kaya nagpatuloy siya.

"After all, it's not all about money, Mr. and Mrs. Vegas. No matter how luxurious the painting is. The purpose, value and meaning of a thing is what matters the most. Next time, if you're going to a place like this. I hope your eyes can't just capture the golden linings. Might as well look for its meaning too. Thank you," pagtatapos niya sa sinasabi niya. Ang atensyon naman ay na kay Tita Donna na, pinapatamaan ang magaling kong stepmother.

"What are-"

Before Tita Donna continues, Dad interrupted her. "I like the meaning and I like your perception too, hijo. You can talk to my daughter. We're just going upstairs to look for a meaningful painting that you have," after saying that, he turned to me. Ibinaba ko agad ang kamay ko mula sa dibdib ko. "Just call me if you need anything, sweetie."

I nodded briefly.

Hinila niya si Tita Donna palayo sa amin. Ramdam ko ang iritasyon ni Tita Donna nang tapunan niya ako ng napakasamang tingin niya. Hindi nawala iyon hanggang sa mawala sila sa paningin ko.

Parang nawala ako bigla sa balanse pero hinila ako bigla ni Levi sa kung saan. I'm too drained to even struggle kaya nagpatianod na lang ako sa kung saan kami pupunta. Ligtas naman siguro ako sa kaniya. I hope so.

Bumaba kami sa parang basement at pumasok sa isang malaking kwarto. Hindi ko na tinignan ang kabuuan ang kwarto nang ipaghila ako ng upuan ni Levi at ipinaupo roon. Kumuha siya ng tubig at ibinigay sa akin, walang sali-salita siyang humila rin ng upuan at umupo sa harap ko. His thighs parted and slightly touching mine, my thighs are in the middle of his.

"Are you okay?" finally, he talked. His eyes are also looking at me worriedly.

I sighed and cleared my throat. Iniabot ko sa kaniya ang baso ng tubig. "Like I have a choice."

His eyes showed that kind of gentle concern. He laid his hand lightly on my shoulder, but instead of flinching, I was soothed by it. "Is that your mother?"

Umiling ako. "Stepmom."

"Why the hell is she like that to you? Is that often? Or ngayon lang?"

I lowered my gaze. He knows one of my problems now. I couldn't look at him. Parang pinipiga ang puso ko. Buong buhay ko ay ayaw ko na may nakakakita sa akin sa ganitong sitwasyon but now, he sees me at my worst and I hate it. I have always hated attention and sympathy.

"You have problems but you don't need a friend. You're so selfish you know." He held my chin to look at him.

"I don't trust." I said coldly.

"You don't trust or you don't know how to trust?"

I got stunned by his question. Hell, why is he like that? Is this Levi? Hindi ko sinagot ang tanong niya, instead of answering his question, I roamed around my eyes.

"W-what..." hindi ko natuloy ang sasabibin ko dahil sa pagkamangha at gulat. Tumayo ako at unti-unting lumapit sa mga bagay na narito ngayon. A room full of canvas, mga hindi pa tapos na painting, merong tapos na pero nakabalot sa white blanket. Inilibot ko pa ang mata ko at nakita ko ang mga gamit pang paint, kumpleto at napakarami nito.

"You're here at the basement. Don't worry, they won't scold you. Ako lang naman ang pumupunta rito," he spoke.

Humarap ako sa kaniya ng may gulat sa mukha. "Ikaw lang? So, you mean, all of these are yours? You are a painter?"

He bit his lower lip. "Uh, yeah?"

My mouth formed an 'o' and roam my eyes again. Napatingin ako sa mukhang kakasimula pa lang na canvas. Wala pa naman pero bakas na ang kagandahan "Ano 'to?"

"Oh, that one? The parallel world thingy, the one I asked you before. Though, it's not yet done." He walked towards me.

Eh? Akala ko tinanong niya lang iyon kasi wala lang! Gagawa pala siya ng painting out of it. Is he a visual artist? Oh men!

"Is this the reason why you chose fine arts?" I asked even if the answer is obvious.

"One of the reasons, yes."

Humarap ulit ako at lumapit sa kaniya. "I thought you're just an assistant or something here. Pintor ka pala."

He chuckled. "Nautusan lang ako. The assistant was busy."

Hindi ko pinapansin kung bakit niya pinili ang kurso na iyon noon pero ngayon, naliwanagan ako. Nakuha niya na rin ang kuryosidad ko.

"Painting mo rin ba yung sunflower doon sa labas?" tanong ko pa rin, hindi makapaniwala at sobrang namamangha. I am too dazed.

He nodded. "I thought no one could notice that because they just displayed it there for the balance of the appearance of the paintings but you..." he trailed off.

"I'll buy it!" masayang ani ko.

"Nah, I'll just give it to you," he said casually.

"How stupid! That's a masterpiece! It shouldn't be given away just like that! Tsaka gusto mo bang mapagalitan ka ng owner?"

"Don't worry, my father won't get mad."

"Your... Your what?" My eyes narrowed.

"Daddy." He smiled at me.

"What the f*ck? Who the hell are you?" I whispered but before he could answer, iginala ko na agad ang paa ko para maghanap ng pagkakakilanlan niya. I removed one blanket to one's painting at tama nga ako, naroon ang buong pangalan at pirma niya.

"Lee Valkiery Velez." I said out loud.

"At your service, Ayannah Miles Vegas."

Gulat pa rin ako nang humarap at maglakad palapit sa kaniya. What the heck? He's the son of this art gallery's owner! Seriously? I never had a chance to know his full name because I didn't really care. Yung akin alam niya dahil nakuha niya yung ID ko.

"Suprise?" he laughed.

"You monster!" I gritted my teeth but chuckled immediately.

"So..." he trailed off. "I knew it, your surname was so familiar. Vegas is famous because of your hotels. Is this the reason why you chose hotel management? "

"Well, uhm... Sort of," I shrugged my shoulders. Hindi nga ako ang pumili no'n pero dahil kailangan, pumayag akong kunin yung course na 'yon.

"Sort of? What's the other choice then?"

I pursed my lips. "I... I don't know, wala."

He tilted his head a bit. "You don't know?"

"I mean, kung hindi ko tinanggap 'yung course na 'yon, anong kukunin ko? Wala naman akong hilig. I don't have talents too, unlike you. Swerte ka kasi kahit papaano gusto mo yung ginagawa mo." When the hell he started asking that questions?

"So, you don't like your course?"

I sighed. "I like it, but just forget it, okay?" Ayoko pagusapan namin iyon. Ang hirap kasi I-explain sa paraang maiintindihan niya. Lalo lang ding dadami ang tanong niya.

I just know that I can do everything. I can excel. I am not good, but I can. That is why it felts more difficult to choose what I really want. I do not have motivation.

He nodded and tilted his head. I stared at him too. Akalain mo nga naman, kanina gusto kong makita yung pintor nung painting sa labas. Ngayon, he's here infront of me and he's the son of the owner of this art gallery.

"Let's go outside. Your father might look for you," aya niya kaya sumunod na lang din ako.

"Sir, your dad is looking for you. He's in the office with Mr. and Mrs. Vegas." Another woman with a formal attire looked at me when she mentioned my dad and Tita Donna's name.

"Let's go," Levi held my hand and I just drifted to him. He pulled me somewhere and just let go of my hand when he knocked on a room here on the second floor. I guess this is the office of his father.

As we entered, I saw Daddy and Tita Donna sitting in front of the owner's table. A man with his formal attire, mukhang kaedad niya rin si Daddy. I looked at his name plate.

Leonardo Velez

Velez Art Gallery Director

So, this is his father's name, huh? Lumapit sa kaniya ang anak niya kaya napatitig ako. Levi's look is like a carbon copy of his dad, mas polished lang ang itsura ni Levi dahil bata pa.

"Is he your son, Leonardo?" my Dad asked, shocked.

"Yes, Michael. This is Lee Valkiery, the heir of this gallery. Some of his artworks are displayed outside and mostly, sold," his Daddy proudly introduced his son.

Tita Donna cleared her throat when Dad looked at her, nagbabanta. Na-realize siguro ni Tita Donna kung gaano niya nabastos ang anak ng may-ari ng mga painting dito.

"Oh, this is my daughter, come here, anak," Daddy stood up and guided me in front of the two Velez. "This is Ayannah Miles."

"Good afternoon, Sir. Please to meet you po," I bowed slightly at Levi's Dad.

"Please to meet you too, hija. Your daughter is giving me a beautiful aura, huh? She is a mixed of you and her mother, so she's your heiress? Only?" Levi's Dad looked at me with amused eyes. I'm starting to feel uncomfortable.

"Yes, Leonardo. She's currently studying and learning so that at this early, she knows how to handle the business. How about your son? We saw him outside, huh? Ngayon pa lang nakikita ko na siyang hand-on sa business ninyo."

"Uh, yes. Gladly, he can handle everything. I have a daughter too, younger than him and she's into arts too but more on modeling. Namana na."

I glanced at Levi and I met his gaze. Oo nga pala, sinabi niya sa aking may kapatid siya. Kailan pa kaya naging close 'tong mga magulang namin?

Also, I saw the other side of this man. He is, well, worth to be proud of.

"Please to meet you too, Mr. Vegas. Honestly, I know your daughter po," Levi told to my father.

"Oh really?" My Dad looked at me.

"Uh, same university po," nasagot ko na lang nang sa akin siya tumingin.

"May nagustuhan ka na ba sa mga painting dito, hija?" Levi's Dad asked me.

"Yes, Dad. We already talked about that. She can get it later," his son answered for me.

Nag-usap pa sila ng unti tsaka napagplanuhan na umuwi. Sinabi ko naman kay Dad na h'wag na bayaran yung painting na napili ko para na rin hindi na magreklamo pa si Tita Donna. Inihatid kami ni Levi hanggang sa labas kaso parang ayaw ko pa umuwi. I want to stay here just for a while.

"Uh, Dad. Magpapasundo na lang po ako mamaya. I'll stay here po muna, nalibang po kasi ako sa paintings. I'll wait for my painting too," paalam ko.

My dad nodded and smiled. He patted my head. "Okay, call me if you need anything."

I waited for them to vanished before turning back. Naroon pa si Levi at takang-taka na kung bakit nagpaiwan ako kaya lumapit ako sa kaniya.

"Can you show me more of your artworks?"

~~~