Her Unheard Weeps

Museum with you

Chapter 5

"Ash!" Pababa ako ng hagdan nang marinig ang tawag ng kapatid.

"Hmm?"

"Saan ka pupunta?" Tanong niya. Napansin sigurong sobrang bihis ako.

"School" i simply said.

"School huh?" Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. Looked at me suspiciously.

I shot her a knowing look. And her mouth gape at tsaka tumango-tango siya. Alam niya na ang ibig 'kong iparating. We kinda do this very often. Every time i have somewhere to go to that doesn't need our mother's knowledge.

"Okay! Mag-ingat ka sa school huh?" She grinned, emphasizing the word 'school'.

I chuckled.

"Why don't you go to school and come home afterwards astrid? So that you can join us and your sister's boyfriend for lunch" ani ni mommy.

I looked at our sala at doon ko pa lang natantong nandoon pala ang nobyo ng ate.

"Kuya tom!" I smiled. "Good morning"

He chuckled because of my enthusiasm. "Good morning ash. Where to?"

"School" i chuckled.

"Astrid?" Okay...i totally forgot about our mom..

"Hayaan mo na siya my. Baka hassle pa sa kaniya 'yan. Babalik pa siya ng school pagkatapos. Tayo na lang ang mag lunch" And of course, to the rescue na naman ang ate. Tinanguan niya lang ako ang gestured for me to go while our mother wasn't watching.

I muttered my thanks and took my bag and ran off.

I looked at the white board in front while our prof was writing something in it.

"Again...for those who will be the first to label these specified parts written on the board will not only add up to your class participation but also be the first to go home early" ani nito.

Okay...so maybe this was not my lucky day after all.

I looked at the board once more and grunted bago sinimulang magsulat sa blankong papel. Of course, okay lang sana kung label lang. Kayang-kaya ko iyon. Pero para e drawing pa 'yong illustration?! That will take a f*****g while!

In a fast pace, i drew what was needed, okay lang kung hindi maganda 'yong pagkaka drawing ko basta makatapos lang. Okay...so this was supposed to be a human body with various muscles right? Pero bakit itong ginuhit ko, mukhang bangkay na nakaranas ng kalunos-lunos na pagkamatay?

Gusto kong matawa, but i was too tensed to even do. Lalo na't sunod-sunod ang bahgyang pag vibrate ng phone ko sa aking armchair.

"Do you mind putting away your phone Ms. Dizon? Baka nakakaabala sa iba mong kaklase"

And yeah...i forgot to mention that my anatomy prof was the same gay prof who had a good conversation with us 3 days ago.

This time, he asked in a most formal, but soft way.

"I'm sorry sir" kinuha ko na ang phone at tinago iyon sa bag. Nagtaka ako ng ilang segundo pagkatapos ko iyong itabi ay hindi pa din siya umaalis sa harap ko.

"By any chance...was that...mr. Tan? That was texting you?"

Ah...kaya naman pala.

"Yes po sir...sorry po."

"No! No need! What does he want from you ba?"

"Siguro nasa parking lot na po siya. Lalabas po kasi kami" nahihiya 'kong sabi.

"Goodness! Ikaw talaga Ms. Dizon! You shouldn't keep your boyfriend waiting! Baka kanina pa iyon! Ang init-init pa naman sa parking lot!" He exclaimed na ikinagulat ko.

Mas lalo akong nagulat nang walang sabi niyang hinablot ang aking papel.

"You are free to go now"

"Pero sir...hindi pa po ako tapos. I'm still halfway thr—"

"It doesn't matter! Go! Aalis ka or i will mark your paper zero?"

Bahagya naman akong natakot kaya kaagad akong tumayo. Kita sa mukha ng mga kaklase ko ang taka pero hindi na ako lumingon sa takot na baka totohanin ng guro ko 'yong banta. 100 points pa naman 'yon.

Nang makarating sa parking lot, malayo pa lang ay kitang-kita ko na si oliver. His built after all is somewhat different from boys my age. And plus, he looked hot with his white polo, nakatupi ito hanggang siko, partnered with his maong pants. And a devilish grin rocking the stethoscope on his neck.

"Oh hi beautiful" salubong niya.

I tiptoed to kiss him on his cheeks.

"Hi handsome. Are you single?" I said seductively, wrapping my arms on his neck.

"I am. But you somewhat look like my girlfriend though" i giggled when he reached for my lips. His soft lips met mine and I can't help but close my eyes. "Your lips tastes like hers too"

He wiggled his brow. Napatawa ako ng malakas at bahagya siyang hinampas sa dibdib. "Bastos!"

"What?" He asked innocently after opening the passenger's door to let me in.

"Kanina ka pa? Sorry. May pinagawa pa kasi sa amin"

"It's okay. Ako lang 'yong maaga. What's important is you didn't ditch me"

"Oh i was even planning to. Hindi ko na lang tinuloy dahil kawawa ka naman kung saka-sakali." I laughed. "Where to?"

He looked at me with a knowing look. I shot him the same look.

"The usual?" I smiled.

"The usual" he answered.

"Yes! I'm so excited!" I shrieked at nag seat belt na. He started the engine and minutes later, we stopped by for a drive thru.

After receiving our ordered food, kaagad ko iyong nilantakan. God! I'm sooo hungry!

Seconds, i heard him chuckle from his seat, looking at me. "I can tell that you're Enjoying your food" he stated.

I continued to hum and tilting my head from side to side, raising the burger.

"What? This is my happy dance" i said and took a bite once more. Sinusubuan ko naman siya from time to time.

The recent that i made him took a bite, he grimaced. Looked at me weirdly.

"I don't get your tastes buds. If it weren't for the fact that we didn't made love yet, iisipin ko talaga na buntis ka" ngiwi niya.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin, "anong 'yet'? You and your perverted mind"

He just grinned and continue to drive. Habang ako ay nagpatuloy sa pagdi dip ng cheese burger sa gravy na may halong ketchup.

"We're here" he announced.

I shrieked in excitement. And when the car was parked. Ako pa 'yong humila sa kaniya ng malakas papasok ng malaking gusali. Natatawang nagpahila naman siya.

I roamed my eyes on the aesthetic-worthy museum and i saw that there wasn't much of a people visiting. It was a good thing.

We stopped first in a certain spot and i took my phone out.

"Picture tayo"

He smiled. Hindi siya nagsalita. I forwarded my hand that was holding the phone and shifted it multiple times to catch my desired angle. And once done, i clicked snap.

Inulit ko iyon ng ilang beses pa. With different poses of course. Last one, i took a boomerang of us and before i could click snap, he pulled me by the waist na nagpabigla sa akin, and before i could react, he already kissed me on the cheek.

I bit my lip to prevent myself from smiling like a giddy teenager.

Humarap ako sa camera at nakita kong nakuhanan pala ang ginawa niyang paghalik. I giggled when i saw that it turned out really good. Only that, the camera caught how i looked completely off guard by his sudden move.

I heard him chuckled by my behind, his jaw was now leaning on my shoulder as he was hugging me by the waist.

"I like that. You should send me that one"

"Psh" kunwaring simangot ko. "How about this?" I grinned before i tilted my head and captured his lips. The kiss lasted for a while and we both separated with a slight smack.

Napatawa ako sa gulat niyang mukha.

"Ooh! That turned out good. Look at it baby." Pinakita ko ang kuha ko sa kaniya. The picture showed me closing my eyes while his was the complete opposite. He looked taken aback in it. "Should i send you this one too?"

He looked at me in the eye for a minute before a smirk made it's way on his luscious lips. "Yeah. So that i can put up in a billboard"

Tumawa lang ako. "Sira"

Ilang minuto pa ay hinila ko na naman siya. We stopped in front of a certain painting.

We turned to look at it, appreciate it for a minute before turning to each other, grinning from ear to ear.

"Milady." He held out his hand. "May i?"

Tinanggap ko ang kamay niya.

"Yes, of course...fair gentleman" i said with an accent.

Hinapit niya ako sa beywang. I giggled.

The portrait shows two individuals, a man and a woman, sharing glances with each other, completely close with one another. The background shows a fine-looking ballroom. And two individuals were dancing in a slow pace. At 'yon ang ginagaya namin.

Minutes later of just giggling and laughing dahil most of the time, people visiting the museum would look at us weirdly. We just shrugged it off and continued to imitate paintings. The guards, in the other hand, would just chuckle and look at us na tila sanay na sila sa kanilang nakikita.

Minutes later, we found ourselves staring deeply on a certain painting. I tilted my head on the side na tila inuunawa talaga ang art na iyon.

"I don't get it" i furrowed a brow.

"Don't even bother. Ilang beses na tayong pumunta dito pero hindi talaga natin alam kung anong meaning ng painting na 'yan"

"Tell me...what do you see?" I asked the wise.

"I see disfigured legs" he said.

"That's it?"

"Bakit? Ikaw? Ano bang nakikita mo?"

I stared at the painting and it's title for a while. It was famous for it's title 'figures on a beach'. It was just a replica though.

"I see...dinosaurs" I snorted. And we both laugh.

"I really don't get it" iling-iling ko at humalukipkip na. He was silent na parang nag-iisip din siya. "What else do you see?"

He put his hands on his pocket and shrugged. He didn't answered.

I rolled my eyes. "You know...you are free to say it"

"What?" He chuckled.

"That you can see figures of boobs. Big boobs.."

He cracked up. "Baby! It's Picasso! You are not supposed to criticize it like that"

"What? Ayaw mong sabihin, edi ako magsasabi." I rolled my eyes. "You know, for a doctor, you aren't blunt"

"Should i buy this?" He asked when we moved sa parehong paborito naming painting.

"You like it that much?" I asked.

Tumango siya.

"Oliver..it's in a museum for a reason. It's not for sale" i chuckled. "Pero mayaman ka naman e. Kayang-kaya mo 'yan"

It's true. He can. But only if he wants it that much.

I looked at it and can't help but admire it too. I admire it so much. The meaning, and the painting itself. That's why it's our topmost pic. We love it both.

We had dinner that night. In a fine dining. Hindi din ako nagtagal dahil ayokong magtaka si mommy kung bakit sobrang ginabi ako.

I got out of oliver's car a few blocks away from our house. I didn't want my mom to see his car and suspect anything. Hindi naman siya umalis though, hinintay niya pa ako na makapasok bago siya nag drive paalis.

Exhausted by our walks, hinubad ko ang suot na heels nang makarating sa sariling kwarto.

I was about to lie and rest my aching back when i heard my mother's call. Kaya kahit pagod sa lakad ay bumaba pa rin ako. It will be war if i didn't.

"Myy?" I asked nang makababa. Nakita ko siya sa kusina.

"Nakarating ka na pala. Hindi mo man lang pinaalam sa akin. Dumeretso ka na kaagad sa kwarto mo"

Napababa ako ng tingin.

"Sorry po" ani ko sa mahinang boses.

"Siya...hindi na mahalaga." She said. "Paki hugas na lang ng mga pinaglutuan ko. I didn't had the chance to finish them earlier dahil pumunta na ako ng trabaho"

"Sige po"

"Yong ate mo. 'Wag mong istorbohin sa kwarto niya huh? Baka natutulog na iyon. Pagod iyon sa pag-aasikaso sa boyfriend niya"

"Opo" i said and just continued with the dishes.

"Astrid"

"Mommy?"

"Napapansin ko, bakit palaging gabi ka na umuuwi?" I stilled for a moment. "At palagi kitang naririnig na may kausap sa telepono kapag dumadaan ako sa kwarto mo"

"P-po?"

Strikta niya akong tinitigan.

"Tell me honestly astrid haydn, do you have a boyfriend na hindi mo sinasabi sa akin?" Halukipkip niya.

"W-wala po my. Marami lang po talagang gawain sa school dahil nga po graduating na ako."

"Ah..."

"Tsaka, 'yong katawagan ko po, mga ka group mates ko po iyon"

Tumango lang siya.

"I don't want you to have a boyfriend astrid. I want you to finish your studies first. Am i clear?"

"Crystal mommy"

"At kung saka-sakali, i want him to be as better as your kuya tom. Look how lucky your sister gets. She does indeed know how to pick a man"

Of course, never in a conversation did she skipped to praise her oldest.

"Ah..."

Napalunok ako tsaka nagpatuloy na sa ginagawa. Narinig ko naman ang mumunting yabag na nagsasabing paalis na ang ina. I let out a deep sigh.

"Kung ako ang tatanungin, your boyfriend is better" sabi ng boses sa likod ko na nagpagulat sa akin.

"Ate!" Sapo-sapo ang dibdib akong lumingon. "Akala ko ba tulog ka na?"

Umiling siya. "Your boyfriend is better ash"

"Ate...shush! baka marinig ka ni mommy" pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata

She chuckled.

"Paano mo naman nasabi?"

"Because! Mas pogi siya. At mas mayaman" she wiggled her brows.

Napasimangot ako.

"Kuya tom is rich too you know. Besides, not because oliver is more capable, doesn't mean he's better."

"I know, i was just kidding" She laughed.

I rolled my eyes. "And why are we even having this conversation?"

"Because i think tom and your doctor should meet. I mean, ako, i would like to also formally meet your boyfriend. Hindi mo pa ako napapakilala sa kaniya."

"Soon ate. I will" i assured.

"Okay. I just want to see with my own eyes how he treats you. Kung mabuting tao ba siya."

"He's nice ate. He loves me"

"Good!" Ngiti niya, "we're sisters. And we're supposed to look out for each other"

"Talaga ate? Hindi ka aalis? You will always be there for me?" I smirked.

"Of course silly! Saan ba ako pupunta?"

"Bakit? Wala ba kayong plano ni kuya na magpakasal?"

Napatawa ako nang makita ang pagpula ng pisngi niya.

"Ash! Wala pa sa isip namin 'yan!" She rolled her eyes. "But i promise, nandito lang palagi ang ate" she smiled.

————

Photo/art not mine

Figures on a beach by Pablo Picasso

Look at it and tell me you don't see no dinosaurs!? Hahahaha! And my mind! Myghaddd!