Art of Serendipity

14

Nagulat kami nang may biglang nagsigawan sa harap namin. Nakaka-agaw sila ng pansin. My mouth formed an 'o' when I realized what is happening. Am I going to witness a live break up scene? Ang lalaki ay nakikipaghiwalay sa babae, ayaw pa sana nung babae pero kalaunan ay pumayag rin siya. Wow, wow lang!

"You know why many people is looking at them with pity? Sikat sila dito sa school because of their relationship. Maraming naghihinayang dahil matagal na sila at matibay. Why did they broke up?" pansin ni Alas. Chismoso rin pala ang isang 'to? Hindi halata ang pagka-Marites niya.

"Matagal at matibay? I doubt that..." I commented. Kung matibay pala sila, bakit sila nag-break? And besides, bakit sila sikat? Kailangan ba buong mundo ang makaaalam na couple sila? Ni hindi ko nga sila kilala.

"Hmm? Why are you doubting?" Alas asked me again, hindi na talaga nagsasalita yung isa sa tabi ko at nakakapanibago iyon.

"There's a big difference between those two. Nagtagal lang sila but they're not that strong because if they were strong, then why did they have to broke up? HIndi ba dapat kapag matibay, kahit anong problema, handa nilang ayusin?" I said sensually.

"Yeah, you're right," Alas agreed so I continued.

"Nagtagal sila but let's say, because of their popularity. As you said, they were famous because of their relationship so what if that was the only reason why they were still fighting? No feelings at all kaya mas better na maghiwalay na lang sila kasi masyado nang toxic," I explained. Wala lang, gusto ko lang sabihin iyon. I know, I'm not well-experienced but hell, thats common! Kahit wala kang alam ay matututo ka talaga.

"Your words has a point, huh? Should I apply it when I already have a girlfriend?" He grinned.

Napalingon ako kay Alas. "You should. Wala ka pa palang girlfriend?" Sabagay, busy siyang tao.

He shook his head and stared at me in awe. "I'm still thinking on how I will get her. You know, I'm a busy person but don't worry, pinababantay ko naman siya sa kaibigan ko." Sabay tapik pa sa balikat ni Levi.

"So you like someone? I hope it's not just for a play, huh?" My eyes narrowed.

"I'm not. I'm not like my bestfriend! I'm serious about her. I'll make her mine once I came back," agap niya.

I stared at him. Alas is more the serious type of a guy. Yung tipong kahit anong bagay, maliit man o malaki ay sineseryoso niya. Falling for him is not that hard. If I were the girl he likes, sure, I would fall for him easily. Nasa kaniya na rin kasi ang lahat, sa tingin ko, oras lang ang wala dahil sobrang busy niyang tao.

Lumingon ako kay Levi. This guy is the total opposite of Alastrid. He's playful, he likes to explore. But I'm sure that he can give everything to his girl. His flowery words can make a girl fall for him so hard. Itinuturing niyang laro ang ibang bagay but once you see him holding art materials, seryoso siya. Na para bang iyon lang ang natatanginng mundo niya. I wonder if he had a serious relationships before? Sa balita ko kasi ay puro laro lang siya.

At hanggang ngayon, hindi ko alam kung bakit narito ako at kasama sila. Their serving looks is not for me to settle. Lalo na si Alastrid. Once na may makakita sa aming magkakasama, baka lalo lang siyang mawalan ng chance sa babaeng gusto niya.

"Where are you going?" I asked Alastrid.

"I told you. In Singapore. For the mean time, you will be with Levi. Mawawala ako ng ilang araw or buwan. Levi will take care of you because I'm certain that I will lost in touch."

Makalipas ang ilang araw at linggo ay umalis nga siya patungong Singapore. Hindi na ako sumama sa paghatid sa kaniya dahil babalik din naman daw siya agad. He spend his remaining days here with me or with us. Parang hindi na kami babalikan but he assured me that he will comeback.

And now, wala rin naman akong ginagawa kaya sumama ulit ako kay Levi rito sa Art Gallery. Wala na kaming pasok dahil almost graduation na. Iba-iba ang graduation dates but they settled it just a month from now, kaya siguro nakaalis din si Alas, siya ang graduating sa aming tatlo, e.

"Baka maging tambayan mo na 'tong Gallery, huh?" Levi asked playfully while he's holding a branded paint brush. Nakaharap din siya sa canvas niya. Sa tagal ko na ata siyang nakikitang magpinta ay kabisado ko na ang favorite brand ng paintbrush niya.

"Why not? I'm enjoying here. Mas gusto ko pa rito kaysa sa bahay."

Nakaupo lang ako sa hindi kalayuan sa kaniya habang tinititigan siya. Wala naman daw siyang bagong ipe-paint ngayon. Tinatapos niya lang daw ang mga hindi pa tapos na paintings, mostly drafts lang.

"By the way, may nagtingin na ng parallel world painting. I already told them the details. I'm just waiting if they will have the painting or not," he informed me. He shifted his position to take a better look to his work. Paano niya kaya nagagawang makipag-usap sa akin habang nagpe-paint?

"Really? Sus! Maganda ang painting kaya sigurado akong kukunin nila iyon."

"Of course, ako ang pintor. No one could resist me," he proudly said, this bastard even smirked at me.

"Lev, we're talking about your artwork, hindi ikaw. Proud na proud ka rin e, 'no? So confident." My brows rose up but turned into chuckles.

He chuckled too and continued his work. More serious this time. Paminsan-minsan pa siyang lalayo at kakagatin ang ibabang labi na mukhang nag-iisip. Kapag sa tingin niyang may mali sa gawa niya ay humihinga lang siya ng malalim tapos ipagpapatuloy ulit ang pagpipinta.

His eyes were narrowing a bit. What I like the most about him is his eyes. Levi's eyes taking in more details than anyone else, dazzling and mesmerizing. Bigla ata akong nawawala sa paligid niya at tanging ang gawa niya lang nakikita niya. It's like, his heart belongs to his masterpieces. He loves his passion very much, na para bang ayos na siya na iyon ang makakasama niya habang buhay. Kahit sa malayo ay kitang-kita ang pagmamahal niya sa ginagawa.

"Lev..." I tried to catch his attention.

"Hmm?" he still answered, pero tutok pa rin sa ginagawa.

"Have your ever fallen in love? As in, serious and not the playing thingy? Did you have a serious relationship before?" I asked out of nowhere. Nang lumingon siya ay nakaramdam agad ako ng pagsisisi. Bakit ko ba tinanong pa iyon?!

"I'm inlove with my arts, my canvas, my paint brushes, I love this whole gallery and of course, I love what I am doing..." he answered, putting his brush and pallete on one side and slowly walked towards me. Hindi iyon ang hinahanap kong sagot niya, but I know that he still want to say something, so I waited.

"But if you're talking about the romantic way of being in love to someone. Sorry to disappoint you but no. I haven't became truly and madly inlove with someone. Sure, I'm playing but none of them got my heart. How about you? Have you ever fallen in love?" he added and I don't know but I felt relieved.

"Hindi rin. Kaibigan nga ay wala, iyon pa kaya?" I answered honestly. Nakaupo na siya sa harap ko at nakahilig ang kanang braso sa mesa, nakahalumbaba siya sa harap ko, ginagaya ako.

"Pero may nanliligaw naman sa 'yo diba?"

"Uh-huh. But I would always reject them. Gusto kasi agad nila ng assurance without even proving themselves to me. Ayoko ng gano'n. Funny, right? Alam ko naman habol nila..." I chuckled.

"Gan'yan kasi yung mindset mo kaya wala kang nagugustuhan. Malay mo, one of them is serious about you," pangangaral niya pa sa akin.

Napakunot ang noo ko. "Wow! Coming from you! Besides, walang nagseseryoso sa isang minutong pagsasama lang. Anong klaseng inlove yun?"

Tinawanan niya lang ako. "Well, you're partly right. Sometimes, people attached in terms of being with each other, oras-oras but you know, there's a love called 'love at first sight'. Malay mo ganoon sila sa 'yo?"

"Love at first sight, my ass. For my own perception, that's not true and if it is, that's too dangerous because looks can be deceiving. How will you love someone if in the first place, hindi mo dapat siya pagkatiwalaan?"

Tumawa pa siya at tinaas ang dalawang kamay, sign ng pagsuko. "Okay, okay! I surrender! Ikaw lang kilala kong bitter but no experience!"

Natawa na lang din ako. "It's my fault. I started this bullshit."

Magaan sa pakiramdam na makatawanan siya. I felt so happy and we are also talking about serious matters like this, kung saan hindi pa nagagawa ng ibang tao sa akin kailanman. Only him and his presence.

"But what if one day, someone will love you more than what you think. Tatangapin mo?"

I looked up to think. For me, that was an esoteric question. "I want to be a better person first. You know, the reality is people leave when they found someone better. Tsaka ko na tatanggapin kapag handa na ako."

"But what if..." he trailed off and turned his gaze away. "Nevermind. What ifs lang naman. Don't take it seriously."

Tumawa ulit ako. Ewan ko ba kung bakit napunta kami sa ganitong topic. Nakalimutan ko na rin 'yung naunang napagusapan namin.

But what if… What if I liked someone and eventually… love him? Ano nga bang gagawin ko? Sa ngayon talaga ay hindi ko pa alam. I just know that I need to experience it first before knowing the next thing I will do. Masaktan man ako, atleast, I would learn my lesson.

Sumulyap ako sa envelope sa mesa niya at kinuha ito. It's the invitation for the exhibit. Nag-isip ako kagabi bago matulog kung paano ko siya mapapapayag dito and there's a way. Iyon na ang pinakamagandang paraan na nakikita ko.

"Do you remember my dare? I made up my mind now," I asked.

"Hmm. It took you so long, huh? Halatang pinag-isipang mabuti." He smirked. "What is it, your highness?"

Iniabot ko sa kaniya ang envelope na nagpakunot ng noo niya. I smiled sweetly at him and leaned closer to touch his hand and put the envelope on it. I don't know if I'm just hallucinating but he's blushing. Ah, ewan.

"I dare you to accept that one, please? Don't worry. I will support you. Please?" I said softly, almost pleading.

~~~