Painting the Bliss

Unang Kabanata

Ullyses

"It wasn't in the colors or the excellence of work. The truest internal outcome of art is the interpretations and reflections of people from a masterpiece" parang naluha ako sa sinabi ni Mr. Ramon Caktiong.

He's the current president of the Art Virtuoso of the Philippines. Totoo nga. The fundamentals of arts shouldn't just plainly lies on what materials you used. It should be on the context and substance of it.

Pumalakpak lahat ng nasa bulwagan. Napatingin ako kay Barry na nakangiti sakin. If this is art, for Barry, it will be an appreciation and gratitude. I don't want him to misunderstand my actions and sweetness.

Nakipagkamayan din siya sa mga kilalang tao sa kabilang table. Nag-ugat naman ang tingin ko sa lalaki na tinutukoy niya kanina. Papalapit siya sa upuan namin ngayon. May kakaiba talaga sa kanya. He seems  professional and highly respected.

"Canvass, 30 minutes magstastart na." Hinawakan niya kaagad ang kamay ko. Nagulat naman ako sa sudden gestures niya. Naagaw ang atensiyon niya ng papalapit na lalaki. Hinugot ko kaagad ang kamay ko sa kanya.

"Mr. Ullyses, nice meeting you." I can hear the gladness of Barry. Parang once in a lifetime lang ba ang encounter na ito from his tone.

" Also to you, sir. But I would like to excuse myself" napatingin na ako ng tuluyan sa lalaki. Ang arogante naman. Nakita niya ang pag-irap ko kung kaya nagulat ako sa titig niya.

"Oh, this is Canvass my acquaintance" kinuha ni Barry ang kamay ko. Kaya naging uneasy ako sa harap ng lalaki. Tinanaw niya ang kamay ko. He eyed me with curiosity at nakakunot noo siya. s**t! His perpetual stares could drown me.

" I'm sorry. I really need to go." Nanatili sa ere ang kamay ko.

Wow. This is really the positive vibes of socializing huh.

Binawi ko ang kamay ko to lessen the embarrassment. Marami kasing nakatitig sa interaction ni Ullyses sa table namin. Pretentious at my actions, I just sipped the tequilla kahit hindi ako masyadong umiinom.

"In a matter of minutes, we will start the Festival of Strokes" napaayos ako ng upo sa announcement ng emcee. "But with a specific theme, this is a special request of Mr. Ullyses Lamiernos Mendez" nanuyo ang lalamunan ko. I'm not freaking aware that there will be specific theme. This will be a pain in my head.

"Canvass, you can do it. Think of something na naiiba ah?" Napatango lang ako kay Barry. I might disappoint him because of this spontaneous announcement.

"The theme will be " Plight of the needy".

"Potragis, salamat" I cursed when the theme matches with my formulated concept.

Narinig pa ata ng kabilang table ang sinabi ko dahil sa titig at paglagatok ng leeg nila. Kaya yumuko ako at tinubuan ng hiya.

The pre-contest started with the reading of guidelines. Medyo marami yung established guidelines dahil medyo malaki ang premyo. It took 10 minutes after the judges were presented.

Ang isa ay professional artist ng Le'Vante, isa sa mga kilalang kompanya ng sketch industry. Nakasalamuha ko siya kanina at medyo strict. Another girl graced the stage confidently, with her lucent-like skin, I think she was furnished by vitamins and skin care. Respetadong lawyer, critic ng PETA at Fine Arts Community. The last person stood out with arrogance and charisma. Naririnig ko pa ang halinghing ng mga kababaihan sa loob ng bulwagan. With his perfectly styled suit at nakasabit ang camera sa dibdib, it jives the whole facade. His disheveled hair never hinder to showcase his assets. I was in awe absorbing his achievements as multi-awarded photojournalist and national renowned architect.

Tila nagulat naman ako sa mga adjectives na lumabas sa bibig ko. The hell!

"Within 20 minutes, we will formally start the contest proper" the emcee said.

I tried to focus on the wine glass on my table. I even intertwined my finger on it to entertain myself.

"Okay kalang?" Barry carresed my exposed back. Shocked at his touch, I forcefully pinch his hand for doing it. Nanlamig naman ako.

Nakita ko ang pagkuyom ng bagang niya. He seems skeptic with my actions.

"I'm sorry, Barry. I'm just nervous plus na nashock ako sayo" paghihingi ko ng paumanhin sa kanya. Napahinga naman siya ng malalim. At lumamlam ang mga mata niya.

"Look, you don't need to be nervous. Whatever output you'll produce. I'm so proud of you" it sent serenity in my mind.

Nahihibang na ata ako ngayon. Bat ko nga ba tinitreat ng ganito si Barry? He's kind and gentleman. It's just that his gestures and action this past few days changed. Kung sana hindi ko nalang nalaman na ganon ang pagtingin niya sa akin. Medyo naasiwa  talaga ako sa ganon.

"Thank you Barry. Comfort Room muna ako" I tapped his shoulders before I went to the comfort room. Naagaw ko rin ang attensiyon nang iba dahil sa lakad ko. Medyo may height kasi ako and they say I walk with poise and confidence which I acquired from the influence of my deceased grandmother, Victoria Asuncion Cortes. Kontisera at biretera kasi iyon. She even won the Tawag ng Tanghalan in her good old days.

Dumiretso agad ako sa cubicle na pinakahuli. Pagkatapos I went to the wash area to retouch my myself. Alam ko hindi ko na magagawa to mamaya. Siguro haggard na ako pagkatapos ng contest na ito. I just chuckled on my thoughts. Nailihis ko naman ang iniisip ko since I got a text from my mama.

Mama:

Anak, kailan ka uuwi dito sa probinsya?

I sighed. Namiss ko narin si mama. The thought of homecoming is not in my mind right now. Konti palang ang ipon ko ngayon. At gusto ko pag-uwi ko sa Estancia may sapat na ipon ako.

Ako:

Ma, kukunti palang po ang ipon ko. Malapit na po ma. Don't worry.

It's almost 3 months when I decided to work here in Manila. Worried lang ata si Mama sa akin. Bukas na bukas magpapadala ako ng pera dahil nakasweldo nako sa isang raket  sa Club 101. Naaawa ako sa sarili ko. I graduated as Magna c*m Laude in Engineering but I didn't pursue it because of insufficient money. I had tried many times applying Engineering Companies here pero dahil hindi ako nakatake ng Engineering Board Exam, palpak palagi at hindi nabibiyayaang makakuha ng trabaho. I lack credentials and experience too.

Ayoko na man na tulungan ako ni Barry dahil baka isipin nang iba na gold digger ako at social climber ng taon.

"Miss?" Paalis na sana ako kaso may tumawag sakin. Nalingunan ko ang isang lalaking nakatuxedo at mestiso.

"Yes, po?" I stopped and stared at him for  swift seconds. Humalakhak naman siya.

"You're too formal. I'm Galligher." Naglahad siya ng kamay sa harap ko. I must say it's not really a sin to socialize. Naalala ko naman ang paghintay sa ere ng kamay ko sa aroganteng lalaki na yun kanina for the sake of that frigging socializing thingy. 

Tinanggap ko naman at ngitian siya. "I'm Canvass." Tumango tango siya sakin. I can say that his features is that of a true aristocratic. Just wow.

"You're here for the contest or you're an auctionist?" narinig ko ang ingay sa bulwagan kung kaya nagmadali ako.

"I'm sorry. But I really need to go. See you next time" I bowed at nagtungo na sa bulwagan. Naririnig ko pa ulit ang pagtawag niya sa akin pero dumiretso na ako ng tuluyan.

"Canvass, nandito na ang mga materials mo. Goodluck" Barry caressed my face right now. Kinuha ko na ang paper bag na tinutukoy niya at huminga ng malalim.

"For the information of everyone, it will be a live contest in front of the stage" I immediately shook my head.

This is it, Canvass!

Pumuwesto na ang lahat sa kani-kanilang assigned seats. Supreme Paints funded the personal space for every artist. Mula sa Artist chair at Art Board. Napalinga ako. Yung iba mukhang handang handa na talaga. Some contestants ay medyo may edad na at baka nga bihasa na sa ganitong klasing kompetisiyon.

Napahinga ako ng malalim habang inaayos ko ang paint materials.

Nahagip ng mata ko yung Ulysses na yon kasama yung lalaking nasa sa CR kanina. They are standing in the secluded VVIP Section of the hall. Boyfriend or colleague niya? I chuckled when judgmental thoughts intrigued me.

"Goodluck" Galligher mouthed as if we're reay close. E, kakikilala palang namin eh. Pafall!

Umirap naman ako pero naurungan ako dahil sinalubong ako ng kunot noo na mukha ni Ulysses. I calmed myself. Those stares really are different as if he's assessing every inch of your soul.

"The contest duration will only last for one and a half hour. No extension of time. Strict regulations will be practiced. As an artist, you must know this mantra" the emcee spoke intricately on us. The contestants giddily nodded in unison.

"The time starts now!" naghiyawan ang lahat sa sinabi ng emcee.