Art of Serendipity

36

They live in Forbes Park. Just what as usual and what as expected, their house is full of artworks and masterpieces that no one could ever imagine. Entrada pa lang ng bahay ay nakamamangha na. The bonsais and bushes are perfectly shaped and arranged outside, even the gate are painted with different patterns! Ang Lolo naman daw nila ang gumawa at nagpinta no'n. Levi and his Dad were the ones who painted the design in the terrace while Laia for the rooms and their mom for some interiors. Grabe, sila na maski ang naging designer ng bahay nila. Hindi na nila kailangan ng kung sino-sino pa man.

Nevertheless, I am still nervous. Hawak-hawak ni Levi ang kamay ko ngayon at papasok na kami sa bahay nila. Pinagpapawisan na rin ako ng malamig at hindi mapakali ang mga mata ko. I became so uneasy!

Sinalubong agad kami ng maids and they are all attentive, not just because I am here but because of Levi's Mom, I guess.

Iginiya ako ni Levi sa kanilang Dining Hall kung nasaan ang buong pamilya niya. Kung kanina ay pinagpapawisan na ako ng malamig, ngayon naman ay parang mahihimatay na ako nang marinig sila. Nagtatawanan silang mag-asawa kaya hindi na nila napansin ang pagdating namin... not until Laia's voice echoed.

"Kuya! You are here!" Laia's eyes darted on me. "Oh, you are with her! Hi, Aya! Nice to see you, again," Laia greeted so bubbly.

Sabay na napatingin sa amin ang mga magulang ni Levi. Their mom's gaze turned to me and her smile suddenly faded, napalitan iyon ng mapanuring ekspresyon, samantalang ang padre de pamilya nila ay ngumisi lamang sa anak niya na ngayon ay hawak pa rin ang kamay ko. Levi's mom glanced at our hands, ibinalik ang nakakaburyong tingin sa anak, nagtatanong na ngayon.

I know that I should smile, but I do not want to show a fake or a nervous one, so I just bit my lower lip and glanced at Levi. Oh, my. I am dropdead nervous!

"Dad, Mom... This is Ayannah Miles Vegas, my girlfriend," Levi introduced me formally.

He turned to me and gives an assuring smile pero hindi na umuubra pa sa akin ngayon.

But I have to be brave so I stepped once. Levi's mom is intimidating. Dito pa lang sa kinatatayuan ko ay ramdam ko na ang awtoridad na hindi pa naipakita o naiparamdam sa akin ng kung sino man. Awkward na lang akong ngumiti at bahagya pang yumuko bilang paggalang.

"Good day po, Mr. and Mrs. Velez. Please to meet you po," I formally said, bahagya pang huminga ng malalim dahil sa kaba.

"I'm glad that you're here, hija. You come very often in our gallery and my son always talks about you. No wonder why my son finally introduced you to us. Come and join us," nagagalak na ani ng tatay ni Levi.

I smiled and glanced at Mrs. Velez who are sipping on her juice gracefully. Bahagya na akong hinila ni Levi paupo sa dining table. Katabi ko siya at nasa harap namin ang ngiti-ngiting kapatid niya, ang mga tingin sa kuya niya ay nang-aasar. Nasa kabisera naman pareho ang mga magulang ni Levi.

Maingay ang paglapag ng baso ng mommy ni Levi. Humarap siya kay Levi at tinaasan siya ng kilay. I looked downward... Not wanting to meet her gaze. She is so intimadating, kulang na lang ay kainin na ako ng lupa rito.

"Is she a med student or perhaps, planning to be one?" her mom's authorative voice made me tremble.

Oh, shoot. She will dislike me, she is, surely. Hindi ko na pipilitin pa ang sarili ko na maniwalang magugustuhan niya ako. I knew it. Her children did not get what she wanted so now she is asking that.

Yumuko akong muli. Nakakapangliit ako tignan dito.

Levi sighed. "She's not, Mom. She is a hotel management student, heiress of La Vegas, so technically, she has no plans of becoming one and hindi na rin naman po kailangan."

She gives me a dissapointed look. "Hotel management? Sounds so..."

Cheap?

Alam ko na iyan ang iniisip niya, I conlude. Hotel management is cheap for her. Oo nga naman, kumpara sa hirap ng med students ay walang-wala ang mga hotel management students.

But does it matter? All courses are difficult. Kung tutuusin ay pare-pareho lang naman ng pinagdadaanan ng lahat ng students when it comes to academic. It is not just a college course, it is a life course where everyone can learn. Mabuti nga at nakapag-aaral pa. Ano problema niya roon? Kailangan bang masunod ang gusto niya palagi?

I felt Levi's hand brushed mine under the table. Ramdam niya ang panginginig ng kamay ko kaya hinigpitan niya ito lalo. He is trying to give me comfort and all, but I just could not take it. My body felts so cold.

"Evangeline, it doesn't matter if she's not. I mean, look at her. She's beautiful, smart and a descent woman. Tama lang para kay Levi. C'mmon, stop being choosy and intimidating. Tinatakot mo ang bata, oh," subok na pagtatanggol sa amin ng Daddy ni Levi. Then, he turned to me.

"Oh, are you scared of me, hija?" Mrs. Velez asked too, but I could almost hear the sarcasm on it.

I did not answer. I could not. I cannot.

"Evangeline..." Mr. Velez tone is like a warning. Then, he turned to me.

"I'm sorry, hija. Let's eat now."

Umiling-iling ang Mommy ni Levi, kulang na lang ay irapan na niya ako dahil kitang-kita ko talaga ang inis niya. Wala pa man din siyang sinasabi ay ramdam ko na ang pagka-disgusto at pang-iinsulto niya sa akin. I thought I'm now immune with those kind of insults because of Tita Donna but I'm wrong. She is more than Tita Donna because she is the mother of my boyfriend, and no matter how hard I would not think, her opinnion of me is bigger than anyone, it always matter.

At kahit gusto kong magsalita, pipilitin at pipiliin ko na lang na manahimik.

All of us ate in silent because of the growing tension. Even the talkative Laia did not try to talk but it looks like she is used to it. Kung ganoon ay ganito talaga sila kapag kumakain? Tahimik lang? Sabagay, I'm also used to it unless I'm with Levi alone.

I glanced at Levi. His jaw is tensed and his eyes were as cold as the winter call. Halos hindi niya na magalaw ang pagkain niya dahil sa mga iniisip. I bit my lower lip and stared at my food.

Now, I feel that I should not be here. It is wrong that I am here.

"Hija. I heard your father is constructing another hotel branch in Batanggas. We have met last weekend there, I was with a client," Mr. Velez caught my attention.

"Yes, Mr. Velez. My dad is planning to add more hotels in Visayas, too," I answered politely. It is slightly good that the topic is kinda diverted.

"Why did you take Hotel instead of Business management?" Mommy ni Levi iyon. She sounds calm now.

I cleared my throat. "We're more focus in hotel industry po, and ever since I was a kid, mulat na po ako sa pagha-handle ng business. I can also learn more business strategies and all through my exprience and also, Dad po. That is why, instead, I focus on management and markerting of the hotel itself po, Doctora Velez," I explained in a nervous tone.

Tumango siya at sumimsim muli sa juice niya. I sighed as a relief, mabuti at kalmado na siya ngayon. Tapos na kami kumain habang nag-uusap pa sila Levi at magulang niya, about the client his Dad talking about a while ago.

I caught Laia staring at me. She immediately smiled when I glanced at her, napangiti rin ako. I guess, she's also afraid of her mother. Nakakatakot naman kasi talaga siya. Ni hindi man lang nga ako nabati kanina.

Nagulat ako ng masaya siyang tumayo at pumunta sa banda ko. Hinila niya rin ako patayo kaya nakuha nito ang atensyon ng tatlo.

"I'll borrow her muna, Kuya. Punta muna kami sa room ko, okay? Enjoy there!" masayang ani niya at hinila na ako papalayo roon. I didn't have the chance to even glance at Levi to tell him.

Well, mabuti na rin ito. Atleast, I am now able to breathe properly.

Naglakbay ang tingin ko sa kabuuan ng second floor nila. It's a mixture of modern and traditional design and, of course, there are different kinds of paintings, scultures and even embroidered curtains. Woah, I might hire their gallery for my Hotels when I already have the control! That is a good and better idea!

Hawak-hawak pa rin ako ni Laia at idinadaldal niya kung sino-sino ang gumagawa ng mga arts dito. Levi and their Dad for the paintings and sculptures while Laia and their mom for the embroidered items. Grabe. Wala akong masabi sa galing nila sa arts.

We arrived at the wooden door. Pinto pa lang ay may disenyo ng butterflies. I will never lose my amazement with them.

"This is my room and it was designed and organized by none other than, yours truly!" Laia proudly said.

I chuckled. "Oo na. You're really good. I am so amazed."

"Ito naman ang room ni Kuya. I will not elaborate that much on Kuya's room, he will take care of it," sabay turo niya sa room na nasa tapat.

I glanced at it with curiosity. Gusto ko rin sanang makita ang loob pero mamaya na lang. Pumasok na kami sa kwarto ni Laia. Well, the internal is more girly than my room. Halos magkasing size lang pero mas maaliwalas ang kwarto niya. Totoong siya nga ang nago-occupy sa isa pang room sa Condo ni Levi dahil pamilyar ang ambiance ng kwartong ito sa kwarto niya sa Condo ni Levi.

"Sorry nga pala kay Mommy a while ago, ah? She's just like that. Gusto niya kasi may doctor din sa family maliban sa kaniya that is why she is kinda controlling us. It's just that none of us is interested in her profession, so she thinks that at least, for our future partner, there is a doctor," ani niya nang makaupo kami pareho sa vanity table niya.

Hindi ko alam kung ano gagawin namin dito pero sinasabayan ko na lang siya. Kaysa namang naroon ako sa labas...

~~~