Love in Sorrow

Kabanata 15

Kabanata 15

Painting

“Ms.Valenzuela could you wait here,please?”

She points to a seated area of white leather

chairs.Behind the leather chairs is a spacious glass-walled meeting room with an equally spacious dark wood table and at least twenty matching chairs around

I smiled.“Thank you.”

“Ms.Valenzuela would you like a coffee?Juice?”the black hair woman dressed impecably in black and white. “Mr. Rosales will see you any minute from now.”

“Glass of water please.Thank you.”I croak, and clear my throat.

I sit down, fish the questions from my satchel, and go through them.This is what they said about him,napakaganda ng opisina nito ang mga furniture and more goddess statue the woman who coverings her things and the other hand was covering her breast.

His secretary returns with a glass of iced water.“Here it is,Ms.Valenzuela.”

“Thank you.”

Iniwanan ako nito pagkatapos ibigay ang inumin ko,hindi na ako nag-patulong pa kay Eumz dahil may bagay na kailangan din itong ayusin sa buhay nito.

“Good afternoon ladies.Where Ms. Valenzuela?”

“Inside Sir. Armand.”

I put down the lomi that I'm holding on when I came in Armand office is so privilege to talk him, it's hard to have appointment just to see him.I stand rather shakily trying to suppress my nerves.

“Why you are here,Ms. Venezuela?”

“You know the answer why I'm here Mr. Armand Rosales.”I said directly without emotion in my face.

So young–and attractive,very attractive. He’s tall, dressed in a fine gray suit, white shirt,and black tie with unruly dark copper colored hair and intense, bright black eyes that regard me shrewdly.

He dropped off his sight to me.“I never met the girl who has a surprising mouth,and acting so brave even you are shaking.”

“I'm here to ask your permission to help me with my school problem,I know Eumz already told you about the school reputation.”I mutter.

Saglit na tinapunan ako nito ng tingin.“Why should I do that?Is doesn't my problem,you make the problem and now you asking me to clean your mess?”

What he problem?In the first place I face him I don't like his attitude towards to mine, I understand that he is the most successful person in this world but sometimes I might forget it.

“I'm not doing this for myself Mr. Armand Rosales,I do this just to enlightenment the mind of every student in our school even they didn't know.”

Apart from the paintings, the rest of the office is cold, clean, and clinical. I wonder if

it reflects the personality of the Adonis who sinks gracefully into one of the white leather

chairs opposite me. I shake my head, disturbed at the direction of my thoughts, and retrieve and put myself together.

He look deadpan.“You know how pathetic you are?You are the only daughter of Valenzuela group you know how many ways your dad did to my company?”

“What I'm not here to discuss my Dad crime doings, dahil wala akong pakialam duon.Nandito ako para gawin ang lahat para sa school ko.”I depend myself to him even he was looking at me from head to toe.

Pagak na ngumisi ito.“I never thought you would come here just to discuss the details of your chitchats about your school. Alam mo Ms.Valenzuela bilib ako sa katapangan mo kaso...”

“Make it straightforwardly don't beat around the bushes. Mr. Armand.”I uttered to him.

He don't say anything—while we reading each other thinking about me waiting patiently – I hope – as I become increasingly embarrassed and flustered.

“I'm sorry.”he slutter then stare at me.“I used to be like this, I'm willing to help you in one condition.”

I flush. He’s teasing me? I hope. I blink at him, unsure what to say, and I think he takes pity on me because he relents.

My mouth drops open. I am staggered by his lack of humility.“In what condition Sir?”

“Kung nadadaan mo sa madaling paraan para makuha si Mateo,Carlo, Eumz puwes ako hindi,dapat pahirapan muna kita.”He replies  his voice soft and for some inexplicable.

I smirked.“Walang bagay na hindi nadadaan sa proceso kaya gagawin ko ang iniuutos mo anuman iyon?”

“Sige ihanap mo ako ng painting na mataas ang value balak ko iyon ilagay sa lobby,hindi lang basta maganda ito dapat ay kapag tinitignan ito ay nakakakuha kaagad ng atensyon sa lahat.”

I smooth a stray lock of hair behind my ear.“Saan naman ako makakahanap ng ganun painting at paano ko malalaman ang sagot duon?”

“Problema mo na iyon Ms Valenzuela dalhin mo dito ang listahan kapag may napili ka na, sabihin mo sa akin kung bakit mo iyon napili.”ang pagpapaintindi pa nuon sa akin habang nag-iisip ako ng painting na sinasabi nuon.

I'm not interested in art but I know a little of it and why they important to them,ano bang klaseng utos ito hindi ko magawang magreklamo dahil sa kailangan ko ang tulong nito.

Tumango ako.“May idagdag ka pa ba Mr. Rosales?”

“Bakit may reklamo ka ba tungkol duon?Don't worry once you finish your task,I will help you no matter what.”He c***s his head to one side.

“Wala naman nagdala ako ng lomi dahil sinabi ni Eumz na paborito mo ang pagkain na iyan.”ang dugtong ko pa na ngumiti rito.

Naiintindihan ko kung malamig at masyadong pinapaikli nito ang pagsasalita nito, I think every words will come out in his mouth will cost enormous amount of money.

Sumandal ito sa desk nito at humarap sa akin.“Thank you but I need to add this, gusto ko na pag-aralan mo ang pag-kakaiba ng original at fake paintings.”

“What?How I would know if it's fake or not?”I audibly asked with a frowned.

He shrugged.“That's your assignment, you have three days to define it while I'm reading your and taking a first move to the school.”

“Gagawin ko ang makakaya at babalik dito dala ang resulta na hinahanap mo sa akin.”ang dugtong ko pa kaniya.

Sa dinami-dami ng ipapagawa nito sa akin ay bakit ang painting ang pinapa-imbestigahan niya sa akin? Problema nuon?Lagi utak ang pinapagana nito kaya wala siyang puso sa ibang tao.

He turned and took a step toward the voice.“That's good if you fail you know what will happen to you, I won't accept your offer and never help you.

“Fine. I know what would happen eat that and I have to go. Nasabi ko na ang dapat kong sabihin kaya aalis na ako.”

“Pinangarap mong maging architect hindi ba?At madami kang trabaho na pinapasukan dahil ayaw ng Dad mo na nagpupunta ka sa site.”

Did Eumz tell her something about me?Of how I did to my life?You are a dead meat Eumz!

Tinaaas ko ito ng kilay.“Stalker ba kita?Huwag mong pakialaman ang buhay ko,puwede?”

“Hindi ko ugali yung mang-stalk ng  tao lang kung wala akong mapapala.”ang matigas na komento pa nito.

Naglakad ito muli papunta sa swivel chair  at naupo duon sabay humalukipkip sa akin,naiintindihan ko na hindi ako ang  pang-karaniwang babae na kailangan ng side kick kung kinakailangan.

I grinned.“You are right. I have to go Mr. Rosales will you,I  excuse myself.”

“Huwag mong kalimutan na kailangan gamitin mo ang puso mo at hindi ang utak para maramdaman kung mahalaga iyon.”he farewell said then gave me a deadpan.

Tumayo ako bago bahagyang iniyuko ang ulo saka tuluyang tinalikuran na ang lalaking iyon,pinigilan kong kumulo ang dugo sa lalaking ito habang palabas ng office nito.

Ano nga ba ang painting na mataas ang value? Gamitin ang puso at hindi ang isip?He so demanding and yet he is so handsome.

“Painting na mataas ang value?”

Carlo put his glass of juice on the table and raise his sight to me,he is older than on me. He still wearing his sporting racing jacket and pants,I like his unconventional black thick and long eyebrows and eyes lashes.

I cleared my throat.“He said that I have to find it in three days,what the heck!”

“I will help you if you want to I have some idea in arts but not so good.”he laughed, revealing even white teeth and a grin.

Nasa isang japanese restaurant kami ngayon pagkatapos manggaling sa building ni Armand Rosales, everything that his friends said is true and... nakakainis talaga siya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit naiinis ako sa kaniya...tama naman ang sinasabi nito. Pero ang hindi ko gusto ay ang pag-pakialam nito ang tungkol sa buhay ko...that man he doesn't care about my school.

I grabbed the sushi roll and eat it.“He said that I need to find it own my own without all of you help.”

“He always like that Avina,you must aware that but, wala tayong magiging problema pagdating sa problema mo.”

“Ano ibig mong sabihin?”

May kinuha itong brown rectangle envelope sa loob ng racing jacket nito.“Here I found out that,she is the reason why all the metal fall on you in the construction site.”

Nanlaki ang mata ko.“A what?Paano nangyari iyon?”

Bakit ako gustong patayin ng mommy ni Flora,natatakot ba siya na alam ko na mabubuko na siya balang araw?Bakit?

“Binayaran ng Mom ni Flora ang lalaking iyon para magpakalayo-layo, napag-alaman ko na Ninang ni Flora ang principal niyo.”

“Hindi ko alam na magagawa sa akin ni Tita ang ganun bagay,hinihila nila ako pababa para maiangat ang anak niya.”ang naluluhang saad ko na nagbaba  ng paningin.

I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t afraid.Nakakatakot silang mag-ina parang gusto kong pag-bayarin ang dalawang iyon,matagal na nila akong gustong patayin para sa company pamilya ko. Naging mabait na tao ako sa pag-asa na ganun din ang gagawin sa akin ng iba...pero mali ako duon.

Carlo nodded, albeit with a feeling of reluctance.“Naisip ko na mababaw kung ang grade mo lang ang nais nila,tiyak na ang company niyo ito. Nalaman ko na may relasyon ang Dad mo at ang Mom ni Flora bago sila ikasal ng Mommy mo.”

“Kaya nila ako gustong patayin hindi ba? Arrange marriage ang pamilya ko dahil sa yaman ng Mom ko.”pagak na tumawa ako kahit pakiramdam ko sinusuntok ng ilang tao ang puso ko.

He rotated his drink, and stare at me.“Are you okay?”

“As always I know about this and no need to asked if I'm okay, Carlo.”I lied said with smile demurely.

Tumikhim ito.“So alam mo na hindi naputol ang relasyon nila hanggang ngayon,hindi ba?Ikaw pa din ang magiging valedictorian ng school niyo nakita ko ang results you got 98% while Flora got 97% in over all examination. Madami pa tayo ibubunyag na kalokohan nila kaya dapat natin makuha si Armand, sa lalong madaling panahon.”

Natigilan ako sa pag-nguya ng sushi roll ng sabihin iyon ni Carlo,so pinakasalan lang ni Dad si Mom dahil sa yaman nito? Nakakatawa parang nasa pelikula lang kami,kaya pala ganun na lang ang galit sa akin ng pamilya na iyon at ni Dad dahil napilitan lang silang mag-pakasal. At ngayon nagpapatuloy pa din ang relasyon na iyon na walang kaalam-alam si Mom.

“Kaya pala naiintindihan ko na ngayon, Carlo maraming salamat.”hindi ko maintindihan parang sasabog ang dibdib sa galit sa kanilang lahat.

Mabilis na tumayo at walang sali-salitang iniwanan na ito sabay nagmamadaling naglakad palayo sa restaurant na iyon. Hindi ko mapigilan na mapaiyak habang na papunta sa parking lot sumakay kaagad ako sa porches.

Inilagay ko ang kamay sa ibabaw ng manubela at iniyuko ang ulo duon.“Parang hindi ko na kakayanin pa mabuhay sa mundong ito,I'm the result of arrange marriage. Ako naiintindihan ko na ngayon kaya ganun na lang ang galit sa akin ang lahat.”

Bawat kasinungalingan niyo gagawin ko ang lahat-lahat para mapabagsak kayong lahat kahit kahihiyan ang dulot nito sa akin at sa pamilya ko.Ngayon na nalaman ko na ito paano natitiis ni Mom ang ganitong sakit ng dahil sa pagmamahal nagiging uto-uto ang Mom ko.

“Mukhang mahirap ang homework mo Ms.Valenzuela.”

Nang sumunod na araw ay okupado ang isipan ko ng paghahanap ng painting na sinasabi ni Mr. Rosales at ang sinasabi nito na gamitin ang puso at huwag ang utak sa paghahanap nuon.

Muling sumimsim ako ng soft drinks.“Hindi naman ito homework Darsie.”

“Kung hindi iyan homework bakit pag-aaksayahan mo iyan ng oras?It's art,you know how much I love art?”bungad pa niya na naupo sa katapat na wooden chair.

Dumako ang paningin nito sa mga libro na nahiram ko sa library ng school namin na mga sikat na painting sa bansa na ito, ang hirap-hirap parang halos magkamukha kaya paano ko malalaman kung peke  o hindi  iyon. Sa halos dalawang oras na paikot-ikot sa art museum at sa mga sikat na landmark habang sinusulat kung bakit iyon mahalaga at tinatangkilik.

Ngumiti ako.“May alam ka sa painting?Halos lahat naman ng painting ay magaganda at mataas ang value pero hindi ko malaman kung peke o hindi ang isang painting. Ito mukhang totoo pero peke yung akala ko peke ay ang totoo naman.”

Sinalubong nito ang paningin ko habang pinagmamasdan akong magsalita ng gusto kong sabihin sa kaniya. Talagang mahirap ito.

“Alam mo nagiging mataas ang value ng isang painting kung gagamitin mo ang puso mo at kung ano ang nararamdaman nuon.”ang sagot niya na parang expertong-experto nga ito sa ganun bagay.

I choose this place to identify and to figure out how to know the fake or not painting, and why I should choose this. This is the last day before I present this output. It's so hard to choose a one painting but one painting that attract my eye when I first lay my eyes on it.

I shapely brows formed a V when a bright idea comes on my mind.“Ang peke gagawin nitong original ang obrang ginagawa niya para hindi mahalata na peke iyon samantalang ang original ay mananatiling original pero mararamdaman mo iyon kung puso ang gagamitin para duon.”

“Exacly!Hindi mo kailangan mahirap madali lang iyan,mukhang hindi ko kasama si Eumz ngayon?”ang biglang tanong niya na tinulungan ako na isara ang libro.

Ngayon ko naintindihan kung bakit sinabi ni Mr Rosales na gamitin ko ang puso at hindi ang isip malalaman natin. Now I know that's why I immediately clean the book and place it to my satchel.

I shook my head.“He is busy for too much school load so he can't be attended here. Thank you Darsie but I have to go see some other time.”

Kinawayan ko ito bago tinalikuran na at tinignan ang orasan, kailangan kong makarating sa bahay ni Armand ng two pm exact time. His time is so precious and he didn't wait.

“Good afternoon Ms. Valenzuela did you do your task?”

Inilapag ko kaagad ang satchel sa white metallic chair we are in his garden just me and I,he was busy reading tabloids while sipping in his coffee.

He offered me to sit down on the other chair.“Have a sit Ms. Valenzuela, so we could start with your business.”

“I already to your secretary of what I choose in your lobby's painting Mr. Rosales.”I said with a serious tone of voice.

He was looking at me so bad looking serious, he wearing gray long sleeves and unconventional black tuxedo. His long and thick black eyebrows and eyes lashes.

Bumalatay sa mukha nito ang pagkamangha.“Mabuti so paano mo napili ang painting na iyo,Ms Valenzuela?Ayokong masayang ang perang ipapambili ko nuon.”

“Ang painting na ito ay ‘Lady violet lost in the woods ’ siya ang pinakamisteryosong babae na ang buong katawan niya ay nababalutan ng kulay violet na kasuotan at tanging ang mata lang nito ang nakikita at nasa kagubatan ito.This painting describe of what path the girl wants to go if is the right and the left one? Parang nahihirapan tayong mag-desisyon sa buhay natin,napili ko ito dahil nakikita ko ang sarili sa babae iyon kaya kapag iyan ang inilagay niyo sa lobby niyo tiyak na makaka-attract kaagad ito ng tao.”

Matapos sabihin ay tinignan ko ito na parang namumutla si Armand habang nakatingin sa painting na ipinakita ko sa kaniya.Nakita ko ang painting na ito sa isang restaurant I don't why they have a such beautiful masterpiece on earth.

Tumikhim ito.“S...Saan mo nakita ang painting na ito? Sabihin mo sa akin?”

“Sa isang lomi house restaurant po, bakit? Hindi niyo po ba nagustuhan?”

Bakit ba parang nahihirapan itong makahinga at magsalita ng makita iyon? Hindi ba niya nagustuhan?

Matiim na tinignan ako nito.“Tinatanggap ang proposal mo, tell me where did you find this interesting painting. You may leave.”

Kinuha nito ang tasa ng kape at nagmamadaling naglakad papasok sa malaking mansion nito, why he acting so weird?Did I do something to make him annoyed?