Art of Serendipity

12

To Levi Velez:

Morning! Are you in the gallery today?

Pagkabihis ni Ate Noreen ay tumulak na kami paalis. Na-open ko lang ang phone ko nang makasakay kami sa kotse.

From Levi Velez:

Good morning! Yes, why? Are you going here? I'll wait for you.

I did not reply yet because Ate Noreen is talking about random things. Hindi ako makapag-reply sa sobrang daldal niya. Natigil lang siya ng makarating kami sa pupuntahan namin.

"Velez Art Gallery? Oh, I know this! They are extremely famous you know! But... Why are we here?" that was her question upon stepping inside the gallery. Famous pala ang mga Velez, ngayon ko lang nalaman.

"Baka may magustuhan kang painting. Their paintings is good, very artistic," I promoted.

"Saan ko naman ilalagay? Our house is not yet done renovating but oh, well, pwede naman kapag natapos na..." she's talking about our maternal family's ancestral house. "And since when ka naging interested sa paintings, huh?"

I didn't answer her, instead, I looked for Levi. Magbibigay lang naman siya ng issue kapag sinabi ko kung paano ko na-discover ito. I saw him in the stairs going down, kumaway ako para makita niya ako agad. He immediately smiled when he saw me.

"Wow, you came back, huh? Suki ka na ba namin?" biro ni Levi but I just shrugged and gestured my Aunt who are looking intensely at Levi.

"Lev, this is Ate Noreen," pagpapakilala ko kay Ate. "Ate Noreen, this is Levi, my friend and the owner of this gallery."

"Oh, hi! So you're one of the legendary Velez, huh? Tanyag kayo pagdating sa sining. I didn't know that I will meet one," she laughed mockingly. Inilahad niya ang kamay niya at agad naman itong tinanggap ni Levi.

"Thank you. Have a look at our paintings, there are plenty of them," Levi complied with a smile.

"Sure!" Ate Noreen went closer to me. "Now I know what's the answer to my question earlier," she whispered and smiled at me teasingly.

"Shut up. Maghanap na lang tayo ng paintings," I rolled my eyes.

"Sus, h'wag ka na sumama! I am pretty sure that you already take a look of all of this. Have a great talk to your friend," she emphasized the last word. Kinurot niya pa ako sa baywang bago umalis sa harap namin.

"I thought you don't have a friend. Meron pal," Levi spoke when Ate Noreen left.

"She's my Aunt, my Mom's sister."

"Oh, really? She's young though." He looks interested.

"She is two years older than me," I answered honestly. Hindi ko alam kung bakit tinatanong niya pa iyon. Is he interested to my Aunt? Oh, man.

"Oh, he's just about Alas' age."

"Huh? He is two years older than me? E'di graduating na siya ng Pre-Law niya?" puna ko. I never knew that.

He licked his lower lip. "Hmm, probably next or next next month."

I nodded, hinanap ng mata ko si Ate Noreen pero hindi ko na siya makita oa. Nasa taas na siguro at nalilibang na sa mga painting dito.

"Your aunt must be enjoying. Let's go for a while. I'll take you to the basemen," aya ni Levi sa akin na agad ko namang pinaunlakan.

We went to the basement. My amazement did not even change, mas lalo lang atang nadagdagan. Marami na ring nakatambak na unfinished paintings doon at nabawasan naman ang mga tapos na na mga painting.

"The parallel world is done now. You wanna see it?" He gestured something to me. Nakabalot na ito ng white blanket.

Ako na ang nagbukas no'n at napasinghap ako sa sobrang ganda. Ang painting ay hati sa dalawa, I bet the other one is the reality and the other one is what they called it 'parallel world'. The other half is full of darkness and a little girl is there, looking strong but her eyes is crying and the other half is colorful, punong-puno ng masasayang tanawin with the same little girl but now, she's smiling so wide.

"W-woah..." nasabi ko na lang.

"Do you like it?" he asked from my back.

"I love it, Lee Valkiery! How did you do this? You're so good!" I said happily. I even uttered his real name because of amazement.

"I'm glad that you love it. It's your idea, you have the credits. I can give that to you if you want," I can sense from his deep voice the difficulty.

"H'wag na. Kabibigay mo lang ng unang painting, e. Ibenta mo na lang! I would be so proud if someone buys our idea." I smiled at him. Sobrang saya na sa idea ko pa pala mismo niya nakuha ito.

"Our idea... More like, Our artwork." He nodded. His stare was so intense.

Our artwork? Hindi ko naman talaga idea iyon. He asked me about the topic and I just answered it from what I know. Kaunti lang naiambag ko kumpara sa kaniya but why do I feel so happy? Feeling ko lumulutang ako noong sinabi niya iyon. For the first time, naramdaman ko na ang laki ng naitulong ko sa isang bagay kahit feeling ko hindi. I am still skeptical. I just said that for what it's worth.

"Thank you.. for the credits," I said softly.

He smiled too. His eyes are so different in moments like these, more soft than his usual. If it were anyone else, I would drop my gaze but with him, I'm drawn in closer.

Nang hindi ko na kinaya ang titig niya ay umiwas ako at nagpunta sa mesa niya. May nakita akong bukas na envelope doon kaya binuksan ko iyon, for myself to be distracted but what I saw inside is fascinating.

"An exhibition proposal? They are requesting you to join and participate to an exhibit event? Woah," I asked what I read inside the letter.

He walked towards me and sat on the chair in front of me. Kinuha niya sa akin yung letter at ibinalik sa loob ng envelope.

"I'm planning to turn it down," he said, looking uninterested with the news I just read.

My brows furrowed. "Bakit? That's a great opportunity for you. A great experience too! Magaling kang pintor kaya bakit aayaw ka?"

"I'm not into this. I haven't done any of this before. Hindi ko kailangan ng opportunity at mas magandang maibigay na lang sa iba and besides, wala akong maisip na ipepresent doon," he said seriously.

I sighed. Seriously? I want him to accept this one. Tsaka, siya? Walang maisip? Impossible! Gusto ko siyang mapapapayag pero hindi ko alam kung paano. Ang galing niya kaya! Kahit isang beses lang naman!

"Let's go back outside. Your aunt must be looking for you," paga-aya niya bigla.

Pagdating sa labas ay nasa information desk na si Ate Noreen kaya ako na ang lumapit sa kaniya. She looks worried but when she saw us coming, her face enlighten.

"I thought you left me na, e. Saan kayo galing ng friend mo?" she emphasized the same word again. Mapang-asar talaga kahit kailan.

I rolled my eyes. "Just somewhere here. May napili ka na ba?"

Napasapo ako sa noo ko dahil marami nga siyang napili! Choices niya raw pero hindi pa final kung bibilhin niya o hindi. Nadadaan pa naman 'tong Tita ko sa salestalk minsan pero hindi na ako umangal sa mga pinagpipili niya because most of them, Levi's paintings.

"This painting is all about finding peace. It can be displayed in a peaceful place," Levi explained his work. "This one is all about dreams, the hardship to get your dreams."

"Wow, how'd you know that?" Ate Noreen wondered.

"He's the painter, Ate," I boredly said.

"Oh wow! Nice." Ate Noreen was so shocked.

Hindi pa makukuha ngayon ang mga paintings. Apat iyon at pare-parehong ilalagay sa ancestral house namin. Sinabi kong babalikan ko na lang bukas para mafollow-up kaso hindi naman daw makakasama si Ate Noreen dahil flight niya na raw bukas. So, we went home without having anything.

After kong ihatid si Ate Noreen sa airport kinabukasan ay bumalik na ako sa Art Gallery agad-agad. Suki na nga talaga ako rito pero saglit lang naman ako, may pupuntahan pa kasi kami ni Nanay Luz mamaya.

"Ma'am Vegas, it will be delivered tomorrow in your house," the assistant said in finality.

"Okay, thank you." I nodded.

I was about to go but I remembered Levi. Hindi naman masama kung kukumustahin ko siya 'no? Though, nagkita kami kahapon but he knows that I will comeback here. Bakit hindi siya nagpakita?

"Uhm, Miss. Do you know where is Levi?" I asked the desk.

"Yes. I'm here," A voice from my back made me turned around and there, I saw him wearing a white button down shirt, a simple jeans and a leather shoes. His hair is perfectly refined too.

"Uh..." I started but I immediately closed my mouth. Nasa harap ko na siya pero wala akong masabi. Na-erase na naman dahil sa presence niya.

"Are you going to stay here again?" siya na ang nagpasimula ng tanong.

Umiling ako. "I just checked the paintings. I'm going somewhere later, e."

"Saan? Pwede sumama?"

I got stunned by his question. Well, he can come. Magsisimba lang naman kami ni Nanay Luz at mamalengke. Walang dahilan para hindi ko siya isama pero bakit? Bakit gusto niya sumama?

It's not that I don't like to be with him but this past few days, palagi ko na siyang kasama. I don't know if that was just a coincidence but, nakakapanibago lang. Nakakapanibago para sa isang tulad ko or ganito lang talaga kapag may kaibigan na?

"Sure."

Pinasunod ko na lang sa amin ang kotse niya papunta sa bahay. Pagdating ay agad kong ipinaalam kay Nanay Luz na sasama siya at pabor na pabor talaga siya. Unang pagkakataon daw na may sumama sa amin na ibang tao. Naitanong pa ni Nanay Luz kung katoliko si Levi. Good thing, he is. Hindi naman kasi pwedeng magsimba sa church namin ang mga hindi katoliko.

Nagpalit ako ng damit for my sunday getaway, a square neck white dress and a rubber shoes since hindi ako nag-sasandals or heels. Madali kasing magpaltos ang paa ko at matagal gumaling. I also half-braided my hair, loose iyon kaya may iilang buhok na hindi nasama.

Pagdating namin sa simbahan ay nakahanap agad kami ng upuan. Hindi tatabi sa amin si Nanay Luz dahil usher siya. She is oftenly going to church to serve pero minsan ay hindi dahil sa trabaho kaya ako na lang sumasama sa kaniya minsan.

"Mabuti pala at sinama mo ako, may katabi ka," bulong sa akin ni Levi. The mass is not yet starting so he can still talk to me.

"Okay lang din naman na hindi. Sanay ako," I said casually.

He chuckled. "I will pray for you."

Napalingon ako sa kaniya. "Ako? Pray for yourself, Levi."

"Nah, that's rude. I'm not selfish. I will pray for everyone especially..." he leaned closer to me. "You, silly."

I shrugged my shoulders. "I'll pray for you, too."

Hindi na siya nagsalita dahil nagsimula na ang mass. Nakikiramdam siya kung tatayo or hindi. Hindi siguro siya sanay magsimba. He was asking several questions to me. Pati yung homily ni Father ay itinatanong niya.

"Together, we pray the prayer that Jesus taught us..." the priest announced as the communion rite starts.

Nagsimula na silang magsitaasan at maghawak ng kamay para sa 'Ama Namin'. Ito namang isa sa tabi ko ay nakikiramdam at hindi alam ang gagawin. He looks innocent while roaming his eyes.

I sighed and held his hand. Itinaas ko ang parehong kamay niya at ipinirmi sa tabi. Hinawakan ko ang kanang kamay niya at pinagsalikop sa kamay ko. I also raised my other hand after that.

"Our father..." I sang but I could feel his stare. Habang kumakanta ay nilingon ko siya at tinaasan ng kilay. His jaw moved aggressively before turning his gaze away.

Nagulat ako nang hindi na niya binitawan ang kamay ko after that. Hindi na rin ako nagreklamo dahil nasa simbahan kami. Nang matapos ang mass ay tsaka niya lang ako binitawan. Lumabas kami at doon na lang hinintay si Nanay Luz.

"I can't remember when did I last went to church. Medyo nabawasan na ba mga kasalanan ko?" He chuckled a bit.

"Oo, pinag-pray din kita. Plus 5 ka na sa langit," I joked and laughed too. Medyo gumaan ang pakiramdam ko dahil nakapagsimba na.

He stared at me while I'm laughing. I can't help myself but think about his hand. Walang pasabi ko ulit na hinawakan ang kamay niya. His hand is soft and has dainty long fingers. Obviously, bigger than mine. A painter like him, I expected a rough and calloused hands but this one is softer that I thought.

"Alam mo? I'm proud of myself because I got the chance to hold an artist's hand. For me, your hand is so precious because it can bring millions of smiles in the form of doing an art," I said wholeheartedly. Ewan ko ba, nagsimba lang naman ako pero lumakas na ang loob ko.

He squeezed my hand too." And your hand is as so soft as your heart, Aya. Always remember that."

I gulped hard when I felt something in my stomach, there were butterflies, no, lions in my stomach. My heart beat erratically in my chest so hard but why do I felt good about it? Nakakakaba. Nakakatakot.

What is this? Bakit ganito? Ayoko nito.

~~~