Art of Serendipity

37

"It was not actually okay to me, but I have to understand her too. I'm just wondering how you guys disobey her?" I asked.

"It's a long long process! Daddy and mommy even fought over it. You know, daddy has no problem with what we want unlike mommy, she is the one who insisted for us to become medical practitioners, but can she force us? Wala sa forte namin ang pagdo-doctor kaya sa huli ay wala na siyang nagawa but hell! Nirereto niya kami sa kung kani-kaninong may anak na magdo-doctor! Can she be considerate even just a little?" frustrated na ani ni Laia.

"May nirereto rin ba kay Levi?" maingat kong tanong.

Kasi kung meron man, mas magugustuhan nga siya ng Mommy ni Levi. Doon pa lang, talo na 'ko. I lose her vote now, and I am going to lose it over and over again

"Once lang, but big time. I also rarely see Mommy's friend with a doctor's daughter so ending, ako palagi ang nareretuhan dahil mas maraming kaedaran ko na doctor na lalaki, pero hindi ko naman hinahayaan." Umiling siya, dissapointed sa mommy niya. "Hindi ko rin naman nagugustuhan ang mga nirereto niya sa akin. Hell! I tried, okay? But they are very very passionate to the nature of their profession to the point that I am the one who is left waiting. Nagmukha tuloy na ako ang may gusto! I do not want that to happen again, so I turn down my own mother because of that."

I can also feel the struggle with them. Kung ako iyan, marahil ay naglayas na rin ako. I think, we have different ways to handle different situations, whether negative or positive.

I always thought that Levi get what he wants easily but I am certainly wrong. Pahirapan niya rin palang nakuha ang gusto niya. Sabi na e, dapat tinatanong ko rin siya. I felt bad for him. I should check on him more often.

"But I like you more as kuya's girlfriend! You know, when I first saw you, akala ko talaga girlfriend ka na ni Kuya because I can see it the way he looks at you," she added. "I already knew that he likes you..."

I smiled. Atleast, I have Laia's vote…

Nagkuwentuhan pa kami nang nagkuwentuhan hanggang umabot sa kung paano siya naging model, naikwento niya na ata ang buong buhay niya sa akin.

"At first, I liked painting. Well, until now, I am painting, pero hindi na ako sumasali sa mga exhibits, unlike kay Kuya na isinabuhay niya talaga ang pagpipinta. I started modelling when I was thirteen here in the Philippines. Eventually, I got discovered so I moved to other country," she explained. "Now, I am studying Mass Communication, because I really want to master it."

I nodded, looking so interested. "You are still painting, right? Where are your works?"

"Nasa ibang bansa. Hmm, sometimes, I would ship them here so that I could also earn from it. Si Kuya lang ang pinagaasikaso ko," aniya. "How about you? You also like painting?"

Natatawa akong umiling bilang pagtanggi. "I do not have talent in arts."

"But you can learn it! Nothing is impossible, especially that you have my brother now! Magaling siyang magturo! He used to be my first teacher when it comes to arts," pagmamalaki. "So, are you really into hotel business?"

Tumango ako. "Iyon ang kinalakihan ko, that is why I like it because ever since I was a kid, I was really curious how the hotel industry works. That is where my parents came from, after all. But lately, I have found my new dream, which is to be a flight attendant."

Her eyes widened. "Really? A flight attendant? Yes! It suits you best! Oh, now, I can imagine you assisting me inside the cabin."

"Thank you." I smiled genuinely. "Kung hindi pa nga iyan pina-realize sa akin ng kapatid ko, hindi ko pa malalaman. I like travelling a lot!"

"Me too! Hope to travel with you soon."

Laia is a very vocal person, wala siyang pagaalinlangan na sabihin sa akin ang bawat detalye ng buhay niya. Sabi niya ay wala siyang masyadong nakakausap sa ibang bansa kaya parang minsan lang magkaroon ng kaibigan na makukuwentuhan and I'm glad that she's telling me all of these. Hindi ko lang siya nakikita as Levi's sister, but as my sister too. I do not have any sibling and I think maganda at masarap din pala sa pakiramdam ang magkaroon ng kapatid.

We both stopped giggling when we heard three knocks on Laia's door. I looked at the door, secretly hoping that it is not her mother.

"Tsk. Hiniram lang pala kita kay Kuya. The time is now over." She rolled his eyes, then, she went to the door to open it. "Kuya, nagkukuwentuhan pa nga kami, e!"

When I heard that, I stood up and showed myself to him. His eyes narrowed for the both of us. I giggled because Laia hugged me in a possesive manner, ayaw na yata akong pakawalan.

"Laia, stop it. Iuuwi ko pa siya mamaya," Levi said to his possesive sister.

"Hmp!" Binitawan ako ni Laia. Natawa naman ako. "When will you comeback? I'm not going to stay here i the country for long, too."

Sumulyap ako kay Levi na natatawa na rin sa inaasta ng kapatid niya. "I'll try to comeback as soon as possible, Ly. It's nice to be with you anyway."

Tuluyan niya na akong binitawan kaya iginiya na ako palabas ni Levi. Inambahan pa ng suntok ni Laia ang kapatid bago kumaway sa akin, she even kissed my cheeks. Kumaway na rin ako bago niya isinarado ang pinto. Nagkatinginan kami ni Levi at sabay na natawa.

"Your sister is so childish yet cute," natatawa kong ani. "Ang kulit niya!"

He held my elbow and brushed it gently. "Yeah, I think she's not having that bunch of friends abroad but I'm glad that you're getting along with her. She is a family."

We stepped in his room. Binitawan niya ako at hinayaang pagmasdan ang buong kwarto niya. Nakapamewang kong pinagmasdan ang kabuuan ng kwarto niya. Hindi na ata mauubos ang pagkamangha ko. Kumpara sa room ni Laia, this room is more on its vintage and traditional designs pero kaunti lang naman ang painting. The king size bed is obviously, embroidered by his mom. Bakit pa ba ako magtataka na ang gaganda ng bawat sulok ng bahay nila e pamilya nga pala sila ng magagaling sa arts?

"Woah. Parang hindi niyo na ata kinailangan ng interior designer sa pag-gawa ng bahay niyo ah?" puna ko.

"We are the interior designer, too," he scoffed.

Lumapit ako sa bandang kama para matitigan ang portrait niya sa gitna. "Ilang taon ka nito?" sabay turo ko sa portrait.

"I was seven years old in that painting. Iyan ang kauna-unahang portrait na gawa ko when I was eleven years old." Lumapit din siya sa banda ko. I let him hugged me from my back and he made his way to my shoulder.

I stared at it more. Imagine, eleven years old pa lang siya noong ginawa niya ito pero polished na siya at walang mintis ang gawa. Para namang hindi bata ang gumawa, e.

Humarap ako sa kaniya at kinurot ang magkabilang pisngi niya, he then winced. "Ang galing galing mo talaga! I'm so proud of you, you know."

"I know."He smiled. Umupo siya sa kama niya at hinawakan ako sa baywang, my hands stayed on his shoulders. I crouched to meet his gaze.

"Come here..." He pulled me to sit on his lap, I did. He did his favorite thing, hugging me while burrying his face on my shoulders. I feel comfortable this way, though. "Are you okay?"

"Your mom is very intimidating. Ramdam ko na ayaw niya sa 'kin kasi hindi ako med student," I said calmly.

"Hmm..." He looked up. "I am so sorry, love. I already talked to her, anyway. H'wag mo na lang pansinin yung mga sinabi niya kanina. She will eventually like you."

I nodded. I put my forehead on his forehead. "I'm not going to make it a big deal pero aaminin ko, medyo na-offend ako but it's okay. No problem. Nag-usap kayo kanina? Sana hindi kayo nag-away. I don't want to cause a conflict between you two."

"No, hindi ko aawayin si Mommy. For now, they are okay with you. Wala namang problema..." He sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm okay with your dad but you're not okay with my mom."

"Ayos lang 'yan. As you said, she will eventually like me. I trust your words, Lev." Hnawakan ko ang mukha niya at hinaplos ang panga niya. "Speaking of Dad, I haven't told him about us but for sure, matutuwa siya. Dati pa talaga niya sinasabi na gusto ka niya para sa akin."

"We will talk to him by tomorrow. Is that okay with you?"

I nodded and smiled. Ang bilis ng aksyon niya, una talaga niyang naiisip ang sasabihin ng pamilya ko.

"Do you have a room for your paintings here?" I asked. "I am so sure that you have."

He chuckled and hugged me. "I will bring you there. Wait lang."

Hinayaan ko siyang mamahinga sa bisig ko. Nakatanggap pa nga ako ng tawag galing kay Ate Noreen habang nakayakap si Levi sa akin. Nang maging sapat ang pahinga niya ay sabay kaming tumayo. Ipapasyal niya raw ako sa bahay nila. His parents went to their work, si Laia naman daw ay matutulog.

Una niya akong dinala sa room for paintings niya. Hindi naman na bago sa akin ang mga ito, hindi rin nabago ang labis kong pagkamangha kaya nag-stay kami roon ng ilang minuto lang. I could feel that when I am with him, I am always wandering around museums and art galleries. Punong-puno talaga ng kulay ang mundo kapag kasama ko siya.

"And this is our library." He opened the door to the room beside the art room. "Hindi na kita papapasukin pa sa loob dahil maalikabok. We are kind of changing the books and renovating it so sobrang magulo pa."

I nodded. Isinilip ko na lang ang ulo ko sa siwang. I see. Ang ibang book shelves ay wala pang laman, nakikita ko rin ang iba pang books na nakabalandra pa sa gilid. May nakita ako na mga canvas sa gilid-gilid na nakatalikod, also, there are chairs and table that are unarranged.

Because of that, mabilis kaming nag-transfer sa Velez Art Gallery office nila kung saan madalas ang daddy ni Levi. He is working from home oftenly.

They also have gym and terraces and roof tops where we can see the almost whole of Forbes Park. Ang huling naging destinasyon namin ay ang kanilang garden. Malawak ito at kahit dito ay may touch of art pa rin because the bushes are perfectly shaped with different figures.

I know that their legacy will always be remembered from generations to generations.

"I will hire your artworks for my hotels. Is that okay with you?" I asked softly. Narito pa rin kami sa kanilang garden at nakaupo sa isa sa mga bench doon. Pinagmamasdan namin ang mga kasambahay na nagpapalaro sa mga aso.

"Oh, I am willing to apply, though," he joked. "Sure, Love. Happy to serve you."

I smiled, and eventually turned to my giggle. Napagod ako kakaikot sa bahay nila kaya nag-aya na akong umuwi kami upag makapagpahinga dahil bukas naman kami magsasabi sa aking mga magulang.

~~~