Art of Serendipity

Prologue

“What a tiring day," I retorted out loud as I arrived in my hotel.

My last flight from Japan to here in Manila was very tiring. Well, being a Flight Attendant is not really my plan. Who encouraged me, by the way? Ah, siya.

Siya naman talaga ang nagsabing mag-Flight Attendant ako noong tinanong ko siya. Kung tutuusin, hindi ko kailangan nitong trabahong ito pero ewan ko ba, hindi ko maiwan-iwan! As much as I wanted to resign, there is something that is pushing me not to do it. Something is pulling me back here again... Or should I say, someone in my mind?

"Ma'am Vegas. Narito po ang Tita ninyo, papasukin ko ho ba?" my secretary informed me after I acknowledge her three knocks. It was Jeanete.

Tita? D*mn! Kagagaling ko lang sa flight, baka pwedeng magpahinga muna? Ni hindi pa nga ako bihis at naka-flight attendant uniform pa ako tapos mambubulabog agad siya?

I sighed. "Go ahead."

She nodded. Seconds passed and the door immediately opened. Napairap na naman ako sa kawalan. My Tita is just two years ahead of me, although, she's my mother's sister, malayo ang agwat ng edad nila kaya ang Tita ko ay tinuturing lang akong parang kapatid. I am her bestfriend more than she is my aunt.

"Kamusta, Aya? Gosh! Your hotel looks so boring. Walang kakulay-kulay!" puna niya agad pagkaupong-pagkaupo niya pa lang sa harap ko

I rolled my eyes again and threw her a bored look. "My hotel's design is just sitting between minimal and vintage, Ate Noreen. Mata mo ang lagyan mo ng kulay."

"What? And you're just fine with your design?" she exaggerated. "Grow up! Yes, your hotel looks aesthetically good but as the time passes by, nagsasawa ang mga tao, Aya."

"What do you want me to do, then?" walang emosyon kong sabi. Tinanggal ko ang heels ko dahil nagpapaltos ito. My feet hurt so f*cking bad. I hate wearing heels but I know that that’s what needed in my work.

She clapped her hands twice. "We will renovate your hotel, just a bit renovation. We will add paintings, sobrang daming paintings," magkasalungat niyang ani. Hindi ako naniniwalang 'a bit' renovation lang iyon.

"I don't know what's wrong with you, Ate Noreen. Everytime na pumupunta ka rito, palagi na lang may nababago sa hotel ko. Hindi ka mapirmi sa isang disenyo lang." Humalukipkip ako. Last time, pinabago niya ang disenyo ng mga kwarto. Hindi ba siya nag-aalala sa gastos?

"Because you're too boring, Ayannah! Kung ako ang magbu-book sa hotel mo? I would rather not to book here, lilipat na lang ako because I’m so used with this interior design of yours.”

I shook my head. "Fine, I'll consult my employees. Maghintay ka."

Pinababayaan ko siyang mag-suggest sa kung anong gusto niya rito sa hotel ko. Nasa akin pa rin ang desisyon, ganoon din sa mga empleyado ko. I'm not that dumb to realize that my Tita is partly right. Just like my emotions every day, my hotel is empty, no colors playing, or meron man, pero naubos na ang tingkad sa paglipas ng panahon.

I had a meeting with my employees, and they voted for yes. Nasulsulan na ata ng magaling kong Tita. Hindi rin naman agad masisimulan iyon. Kailangan pang pag-usapang mabuti. Another exhausting words for me, pero para naman sa nakakarami iyon kaya ayos lang.

"Ikaw na bahala sa magiging supplier ng paintings. Ako na sa materyales ng pagpaparenovate," I said to Ate Noreen. We're here in my office, just the two of us.

"Oh dear, I am born ready. I already contacted our supplier and the owner agreed! Kapag na-finalize mo na 'yung sa materyales, tsaka tayo makikipag-meeting sa kanila."

She crossed her legs upon saying that, smirking at me.

Hindi na ako umalma doon. "Name of the supplier?" I asked while browsing the papers where so many construction companies are listed.

"They are the greatest art gallery here in Luzon, or even in Visayas! I'm sure na magugustuhan mo ang service nila!"

I don't care about that. Ang mahalaga ay mayroon. Although, something popped in my head, mabilis kong pinaalis ‘yon. I won’t ever. "Just name it," I asked, still browsing.

"Velez Art Gallery,” she announced with a bit of teasing in her voice.

My breath suddenly become heavy and rapid upon hearing that. Naitigil ko bigla ang ginagawa ko. My eyes glued at my hand and my mouth also parted.

Expect ko na dapat ito when she said the words that can describe that gallery but of all the art galleries here in the Philippines? Why that?

Why the Velez Art Gallery? Bakit sa Art Gallery na pagmamay-ari nila pa?

Para saan? Para manloko ulit? No, thanks. No. Freaking. Thanks.

~~~