Art of Serendipity

25

Naglakad ako sa loob ng office niya. Hindi siya office talaga e. Art room na talaga siya dahil halos lahat ng laman ng room na ito ay mga art materials. Halos lahat ng naka-display ay paintings. Hanggang ngayon ay namamangha pa rin ako kung paano niya nagagawa ito. I mean, parang hindi niya na yata kailangan pang mag-aral!

"Nakaisip ka na ng ipe-present mo sa exhibition?" tanong ko sa kaniya habang hinahaplos ang ilang paintings.

Narinig ko ang bahagyang pagsipsip niya sa labi niya, nilingon ko iyon. "I want to make an art of serendipity. Those kind of things."

"Art of serendipity? What do you mean?"

Lumapit ako sa kaniya habang nakaupo siya sa harap ng isang plain white canvas. Pumunta ako sa harap niya at humawag sa nakatayong canvas.

"Gusto kong makagawa ng isang art without actually thinking of it. Yung tipong bigla na lang akong makakagawa ng isang art na ganoon. Uhm... accidentally but good?"

"Huh? Ang hirap naman n'yang naiisip mo," I commented but I find it interesting. Serendipity, huh? Ano naman kayang magandang bagay na accidentally naming maiisip? I smiled at the thought. The idea is challenging yet wonderful.

I caught him staring at me. Nawala ang ngiti ko dahil kinakabahan na naman ako sa titig niya.

"What do you think of Alastrid?" he suddenly asked.

My forehead creased. "Si Alas? Bakit? Anong meron sa kaniya?"

"I just want to know what do you think of him."

Napaisip naman ako. I'm not thinking of the answer to his question, I'm thinking about why he'd ask that. Anong meron kay Alas at bakit niya tinatanong iyon?

"Well, he's nice and serious. Uh...He's also responsible. Let's say, he's the opposite of you in some things? Especially, when it comes to girls," I answered honestly. Alastrid is almost perfect but he's just too busy, nawawalan na siya ng oras sa ibang mga bagay at pag-aaral at trabaho na lang iniisip niya.

Napaiwas ng tingin sa akin si Levi. I don't know if it's just me, but I saw a sudden pain, regret and dissapointment. Nawala rin naman agad kaya hindi ko na tinanong.

"What about him as a boyfriend?" he added to his question.

"Hmm, I can say that he is a boyfriend material. Maalaga siya and I'm sure that he can do everything for his girl, he is… you know, a complete package man. Kaso parang ang labo naman yatang magka-girlfriend siya. He's the busiest person I know. Nagka-girlfriend na ba 'yon?"

"Yeah...but I guess you're right. Wala siyang oras. Don't worry, I can say to him to always make time for his girl." He chuckled.

"Why? Does he like someone right now?" tanong ko.

He sighed and smiled a bit. "Yes."

Tumango na lang ako. Pareho silang may nagugustuhan, huh? Bestfriend goals.

Lumayo ako sa kaniya at lalong sinuyod ang buong kwarto. He, on the other hand, is just watching me. Pati siguro sa bahay nila ay may sarili siyang kwarto ng mga masterpiece niya. Grabe, he is very skillful. I heard that his sister is also fond of arts but she's more fond in modeling and the likes that is why she's abroad. I haven't seen his sister but if she's a model, sobrang ganda rin niya siguro.

Nagawi naman ako sa pangalawang table sa gilid niya. There are plenty of art materials gathered neatly on his table. Maayos ang pagkakasalansan pero isa lang nakakalat. A white crayon. I don't know but I suddenly feel saddened about the white crayon well in fact, it's just a white crayon! Nakatitig lang ako doon sa white crayon na iyon. Bakit kaya nakakalat? Hindi siguro ginagamit ni Levi.

"Why are you staring at my white crayon?" Levi suddenly asked. Napansin siguro niya ang tagal ng titig ko doon.

"Uh..." I smiled bitterly. "Wala lang. I can just see myself in that white crayon. Useless." I laughed again, bakas ang pait no'n.

Natahimik siya ng ilang segundo. Looking deeply in my eyes, he walked towards me. He took the white crayon without releasing his deep gaze with me. Naghila siya ng isang canvas sa gilid na may drawing nang sadya but I can sense that the colors are not yet done. He skillfully colored the main parts of the canvas, it's a drawing of a girl facing backwards while looking at the auroras.

Hindi bakas sa unang tingin ang ginagawa niya pero habang tumatagal, the art has more defined shading and highlights. In every angle, the white crayon is creating a great proportion to the painting making it an amazing masterpiece!

"Wow..." I mumbled out of amazement. Nilingon niya ako nang makalapit ako sa kaniya.

"See? White crayons are not useless. Artists like me is using white colors for a better shading and highlights..." He puts the white crayon in my hand. "Which turns into a beautiful masterpiece."

Napakurap ako ng ilang beses habang tinignan siya at ang white crayon na hawak ko. May kakaibang pintig na naman ang puso ko. I don't know but I feel relieved but at the same time, nervous. I thought that white crayon is useless because I'm not actually using it! Iyon pala ay may malaking purpose ito para sa mga katulad ni Levi.

"W-wow..." ulit ko pa rin dahil sa labis na pagkakamangha. I smiled widely while staring at the artwork. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko at hinawakan ang canvas, I stroked the area where Levi puts the white crayon.

"If you're thinking that you are just like the white color because it's useless, mali ka. You are like the white crayon because you are an instrument for a great masterpiece. You are appreciated Aya. Don't feel down to yourself because you have a purpose in this life," he said meaningfully. "I already told you that, and I am not going to get tired of reminding you that."

Itinigil ko ang pagtingin sa art niya at ibinaling ang tingin sa kaniya, sa mga mata niya. I smiled but suddenly fades upon realizing the way he's staring at me. His stare feels familiar, katulad ng titig niya sa mga artworks niya. Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali. The way he's looking at me is the same way he's looking at his artworks. I remembered him telling me that he's inlove with his artworks.

Pwede ba iyon? He's inlove with his works that's why understandable for me the way he looks at them but...Bakit sa akin ay ganoon din ang tingin niya? He is not inlove with me. He is clearly not.

Kusa akong umiwas ng titig sa kaniya. I can't stare at him for so long, I feel nervous. Everything feels new. I hate this kind of feeling. Parang ang sakit sa puso, masakit sa hindi malamang dahilan. Ewan ko ba, simula na lang noong nakilala ko siya, nagkaganito na. I did not feel this kind of feeling towards others, even my former suitors! Siya lang! Ngayon lang!

"Uh... Aayusin ko na gamit ko. Baka bukas hindi na rin ako dumiretso rito after my class. Thank you for letting me stay here. I-I appreciate...it… a lot," I can't look at him while saying that!

"You can always go here if you want to."

I licked my lower lip. "O-okay," nasagot ko na lang kahit hindi ko alam kung gugustuhin ko pang bumalik dito. Well, I want to but...Yes! I want to but I can't. I just cannot.

"You can rest now. You must be tired. I'll just finish some of my paintings," he commanded but I don't know if it's just me or his voice says otherwise. Baka namali lang ako ng rinig dahil hindi naman ako nakatingin sa kaniya.

"Good...night?" bati ko dapat pero sa sobrang kaba ko ay naging tanong iyon. I sighed heavily. Malala na ata ako.

I heard him chuckles and put his left hand on his pocket. Ang isang kamay ay ginulo ang buhok ko.

"Have a good night, Ayannah Miles."

~~~