Art of Serendipity

07

He really did tour me around the Art Gallery, not just to look for his works but for the artworks of others too. Velez Art Gallery established since the martial law era. Hindi pa pinapanganak si Levi ay nakatayo na raw ito. Their ancestors made this gallery grow at ipinapapatuloy lang nila. I bet even his sons and grandsons can still make this gallery successful.

"Some of the paintings here are already sold but most of them, purchased by museums and collectors," he informed me while we are walking.

"Huh? Hindi pa ba museum 'to?" pagtataka ko. Mas iginala ko pa ang mata ko at pinasman ang mga naggagandahang mga painting. I wonder if I can also make such painting. Parang malabo.

He shook his head. "Museum and Art Gallery are far from each other. They are different. Ang Museum, kumukuha sila ng artworks or historical things just to display and reminisce each, but for the Art Gallery, ang mga gawa ng mga pintor ay ibinibenta. It is also possible that Museums can buy art works from art galleries. Museums do not sell paintings, they were the ones collecting paintings."

Tumango ako ng dahan-dahan, unti-unti nang nagsi-sink in ang pinagkaiba ng dalawa. Magkaiba pa pala ang Museum at Art Gallery, though, I know when I heard that Art Gallery, maraming arts and paintings, maski nga sculptures ay mayroon dito. Nakakamangha lang dahil kahit papaano ay naipapamalas pa rin nila ang talento nila. Plus, kumikita pa.

Kaunti lang naman ang mga gawa ni Levi na naka-display dito, iyong mga iba pa raw ay naibenta na at iyong iba ay ginagawa pa lang niya. Tinanong ko rin kung may painting ba siya na nasa Museum na, sabi niya ay meron na rin daw. Just wow. How could he do that? Ang layo na rin pala ng narating nitong lalaking 'to, akala ko puro landi lang ang alam niya.

"Paano mo naiisip 'yung mga pini-paint mo? You have inspirations, perhaps?" I asked out of curiosity. Ang galing lang talaga kasi mostly wala naman silang ginagayahan, ako nga kailangan ko pa ng gayahan para lang umayos ang gawa ko pero wala, hindi talaga ako mahal ni arts.

"Sometimes, I paint based on my experience, not just mine but by the other people too. Minsan din, kinakailangan kong mag-interview just like what I did to you. Yes, painters do have inspirations as well. That is always," he said. "That's how I visualize things to ponder."

"Eh? How? I mean... vague details lang 'yung sinagot ko sa'yo noong nakaraan. Paanong navi-visualize mo na agad yon?"

He chuckled and looked at my eyes like I'm a kind of puzzle game. "What if I say that... your eyes can tell more than words that you speak and a painter always know how to translate their ideas into artwork?"

Napaiwas naman ako ng tingin. Sa pagkakaalam ko ay pintor siya at hindi manghuhula. Paanong makikita niya sa mata ko e wala naman akong pinapakitang emosyon sa kahit kanino. He's not even that close and attached to me so how? Samantalang ako ay wala man lang napapansin sa kaniya. What kind of a human is this man?

"Your painting will be done later, inaayos lang nila para hindi masira. For now, I'm hungry. Would you mind joining me for lunch?" he asked me after asking the assistant about the painting.

Bigla naman akong nagutom nang nag-aya siya. Kaunti lang pala ang kinain ko kaninang umaga dahil nagmamadali kaming umalis.

"Where are we going to eat?" I'm just looking at him while asking that. We're coming out of the Art Gallery. Ewan ko ba, nasanay na ata ako kasama kumain 'tong lalaking ito. Araw-araw na lang ba?

"There is a nearest mall here, " he answered.

"Okay-aww." Muntik na ako matumba nang mabangga ako isang babae pero nahawakan agad ako ni Levi at naalalayan.

"Oh, shi*t. I am sorry, are you okay?" the girl sweet voice asked me.

"Yes, sorry. I wasn't looking at the way too," I apologized too. Nakatingin kasi ako kay Levi kaya hindi ko rin siya nakita.

Nang nakaalis na kami sa Velez Art Gallery ay hindi pa rin ako binibitawan ni Levi. Baka daw mabangga ulit ako. Inirapan ko na lang siya pero hinayaan din kalaunan.

"Sa daan kasi ang tingin, hindi sa akin," pangaasar pa niya.

I just rolled my eyes again. Of course, I was talking to him! Kanino niya pa ba ako gustong tumingin?

We really went to the nearest mall and ate to a fast food chain. Naglinga-linga pa ako dahil sobrang daming tao. This is not my first time to eat in a fast food chain because Nanay Luz is always bringing me here. Siguro lang, kung si Tita Donna ang nandito, baka puro reklamo lang ang marinig ko.

But, this is my first time going with someone new, with Levi.

"How old were you when you found out that you have talent in arts?" I asked while eating. Gustong-gusto ko malaman ang tungkol doon dahil hindi ko talaga maiwasang mamangha.

"When I was like... four? Or five? I can't really remember but Dad told me that I started meddling with his art materials when I was still a baby," he shrugged.

My mouth formed an 'o' while nodding. Ang bata pa pala niya noong nalaman niya 'yung talent niya samantalang ako hanggang ngayon, wala pa rin or kung mayroon ba talaga. Palagi lang akong sumusunod sa plano. I do not know. I can feel that I can excel at everything, but when I hear stories like this, I always question myself of what I really want to do. Iyong plano ko talaga sa sarili ko. Iyong hindi ako sunod-sunuran sa plano. I want to want something in specific.

"Why?" he asked and I just shook my head.

I don't want him to know what or how I really feel towards this issue. He might tease me or what. Having something to like are the right ones for what I am passionate to do, that I can trust my instincs pero wala talaga, e. Maliban sa pagta-travel ay wala na talaga. Do I get paid in travelling? I think not.

"Does Alastrid know?" I just added to my questions. "You, being a painter, I mean."

Iniwas niya ang tingin niya nang banggitin ko ang pangalan ni Alas. "Of course. He knows from the very start."

"Did he already purchased paintings to you?"

He gazed at me and lean backwards. "Yes. Honestly, siya palagi."

I pouted. "I should have bought the painting then. You should not gave it to me. It is kind of unfair."

"It is fine. I told you, that painting is not for sale."

"Kakasabi mo lang kanina na hindi nagdi-display ng paintings ang art gelleries tapos…" hindi ko na tinuloy ang sinabi ko at umiling na lang. Ang labo niya rin, e.

Itinuloy ko na lang ang pagkain ko. My amazement has defeated my hate for him. I stared at him in awe, wondering how one so flirt and playful like him could achieve this level of talent.

"Will you go back here?" he asked, medyo nagulat pa siya na nakatingin na ako sa kaniya but I didn't flinched.

I shrugged my shoulder. "Hmm, siguro. If you allow me to."

"You can go back whenever you want..." He sipped on his juice. "Where's your real mom?"

I blinked twice and sighed. "Heaven."

Bahagya siyang nahinto sa pag-inom bago ibinalik ang tingin sa akin. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," nasabi ko na lang.

It is not a big deal to me anymore. I just do not want to hear insults about my mom, like what Tita Donna is doing. I never wanted her meddling with my life because she always makes decision that makes everything difficult. Hindi ko ba alam dito kay Dad kung bakit sa lahat ng pwedeng mapangasawa ay iyong wala namang ambag sa buhay namin.

Napansin ko lang. Parehong parte ng pagkatao namin ang nalaman at nakilala namin ngayon. But I'm a bit worried, nightmares ko lang ata ang nalaman niya samantalang ako ay magaganda ang nakikita sa kaniya. Okay lang, kaibigan ko naman siya, e, 'di ba? I should not worry. I believe that he is trusted.

"Uuwi ka na after mo makuha yung painting?" Naglalakad na kami palabas ng pinagkainan namin habang tinatanong niya iyon. Lumapit naman ako sa kaniya dahil marami talagang tao.

"Maybe, although, wala naman akong gagawin sa bahay-" I was cut off by him.

"Let's stroll around here for the meantime. Tell your Dad that I'm going to take you home..." inilagay niya yung dalawang kamay niya sa pocket niya. "It's time to relax, you know."

Ngumiwi ako. "I thought you are always relaxing with girls under your sheets."

His laughter growled. "What a judgment!

My eyes rolled. Judgment? Parang hindi naman…

"So, ano? Are you G?" tanong niya.

Hindi naman ako nakasagot agad dahil may magagawa pa ba ako, e, hinila na niya ako at dinala ako sa arcade ng mall. Arcade, really? Ang childish naman.

"Have you tried playing here?" he asked, hindi niya na rin binitawan pa ang kamay ko dahil hinawakan niya ito noong dumagsa ang mga tao roon sa fast food chain na namimigay ng free meal.

"No..." I mumbled. Siguro, dati pa pero hindi ko naman na matandaan. Bata pa siguro ako no'n. Ayaw ko rin naman pumunta ngayong matanda na ako, nakakahiya na kaya.

Hindi na siya sumagot doon. Hinila niya agad ako roon sa basketball machine. Hindi naman ako naglalaro no'n kaya hinayaan ko lang siya. Tsk, para naman akong may bantay na bata nito! Ayaw kong malingat, baka mawala!

Hindi na ata siya aalis doon dahil walang palya ang shoot niya sa ring. Hay nako. Bahala nga siya riyan. Hawak ko 'yung card kaya naglibot-libot na lang ako. Nilayuan ko muna siya at doon ako napunta sa claw machine. Hindi naman siguro masamang i-try 'to 'di ba?

Nakatatlong try na ako bago sumuko. Ayaw ko na, ang daya. Dumudulas 'yung plushie sa claw. That feeling that I almost got that plushie, but suddenly, it will fall! Maba-badtrip lang ako. I winced before turning my back but I bumped into Levi's chest. He held my arm to get away a bit.

"Akala ko iniwan mo na 'ko roon. Don't leave without telling me where are you going," medyo inis ang tono niya. "Lagot ako kapag nawala ka."

~~~