The Paintbrush Deal

CHAPTER 02

"I guess that would be all, everyone," sabi ni Ms. Laina. "Kami na po ang bahala sa lahat ng mga kailangan niyo para sa art exhibit. You don't have to worry anymore. Also, thank you very much once again for choosing our restaurant."

Ngumiti naman ang kasama kong si Ms. De Vera. "Thank you for accommodating us. We'll be going now."

Nakipagkamay naman sa 'ming lahat si Ms. Laina. We headed out of the restaurant right away lalo pa't late na rin at kailangan ko nang magpahinga. Habang naglalakad kami palabas ay kinausap naman ako ni Kelly.

"The food was great, sir," he said. "I told you that this restaurant is good. Hindi niyo naman po kailangan na parating humingi ng tulong kay Mico sa tuwing may event kayo."

I smiled a bit. "Nahihiya ka pa rin ba sa kanya?"

Kelly blushed. "No, sir. Maganda rin po kasi na may variety ang mga kinukuha niyong services. Besides, parati niyo nang kinukuha ang restaurant niya sa tuwing may event kayo. Kaibigan niyo siya pero hindi naman sa lahat ng oras ay kailangan niyong magsama."

I raised my hands. "Kalma. Masyado ka nang defensive. Napaghahalata ka."

"No, I'm not, sir!" Kelly replied indignantly. "Also, stop teasing me. Mico's just a friend."

I smirked. "Okay. Sinabi mo."

Kelly is my personal assistant. He's been working for me ever since I became big in the world of painting. Well, he's actually kind of my younger adopted brother. Ulila na kasi si Kelly. His parents worked for my parents for a long time, at nang mawala ang parents niya ay kami na ang nag-asikaso sa kanya. Ayaw naman niyang tumanggap ng pera direkta mula sa amin kaya pumayag siyang maging PA ko. He's even living on his own. Nag-aaral pa rin naman siya. Pera para sa school expenses lang niya ang talagang tinatanggap niya mula sa 'min.

"I have to go now, Mr. Perez and Mr. Alba," paalam sa 'min ni Ms. De Vera pagkarating namin sa parking lot. "May mga aasikasuhin pa po ako bukas para sa exhibit niyo."

Siya rin kasi ang organizer ng art exhibit, kaya siya ang nag-aasikaso ng lahat ng mga kailangan ko. Kelly and I have been working with her for several months now.

"Thank you so much for your help, Ms. De Vera. Please rest well," sabi ko sa kanya. Kelly bowed at her bago siya dumiretso sa kotse niya.

"Uuwi na rin po ako, sir. Late na," paalam ni Kelly pagkaalis ni Ms. De Vera. "Take care po. Ingat sa daan. Good night."

"Ihahatid na kita," sabi ko naman.

"Sir, late na po. Magta-taxi na lang ako. Besides, malapit lang naman po rito ang condo ko. Umuwi na po kayo at magpahinga. Kaninang umaga pa tayo paikot-ikot dito sa city," sabi niya.

"Samahan na lang kita hanggang sa makasakay ka na," sagot ko naman.

Kelly raised his hands. "Okay, fine."

Habang naghihintay kami ng taxi ay nasakto naman na nagsilabasan ang mga crew ng restaurant. I looked behind me and saw the guy from earlier heading out with a girl. Napataas na lang ako ng kilay dahil sa kaibahan ng aura niya ngayon kumpara kanina. Earlier, he was all smiles and sunshines and rainbows. Ngayon, seryoso na ang expression niya at matalim din kung gumalaw ang mga mata niya.

The guy has a wild bunch of brownish hair that extends down to his forehead as a fringe. His body was quite petite, just like his face which was overshadowed by his overpowering aura of toughness. His sharp, gray-colored eyes also added to his dominating demeanor. Hindi akma sa size niya ang higanteng aura niya. Parang ibang tao na kasi ngayon ang nakikita ko.

"Mauuna na po ako, sir!"

Kelly's voice snapped me back to my senses. Papasakay na pala siya sa isang taxi.

"Oh, okay. Ingat ka. See you soon," paalam ko naman.

As I headed towards my car, I gave the guy one last glance. He seemed to sense that I was staring at him, so he looked back and our eyes met. Upon seeing me, his expression immediately soured before frowning at me. Siya rin ang unang nagbawi ng tingin, rolling his cold, gray eyes in the process.

Looks like I offended him because of what I said earlier.

I just ignored the guy as I headed towards my car. Habang papaalis na ako ay napansin kong wala na ang dalawa doon sa puwesto nila kanina. I was left wondering what could've possibly caused that guy to be such a grumpy, unfriendly person.

●●●

Nagising ako nang sumunod na araw sa tunog ng alarm clock. After kong mabalibag ang alarm clock sa dingding ay naghilamos na muna ako at bumaba para magluto ng breakfast. To my surprise, nandoon na si Kelly at papatapos nang magluto ng agahan.

"Good morning, sir! Kain na po kayo!"

"How many times do I have to tell you na hindi mo kailangang pumunta pa rito para lang ipagluto ako? May pasok ka pa yata," tanong ko naman pagkakita ko sa school uniform niyang suot.

"Wala naman po talaga akong balak na pumunta rito, sir," Kelly replied. "It's just that your parents are visiting you today. Nag-ayos na rin po ako at nag-linis dito. Alam ko naman po kasing late ka na magigising. Ayaw ko namang wala man lang kainin sina tita at tito pagkarating nila rito. Aalis din po ako after nito."

"Bring my other car. Baka ma-late ka," sabi ko habang nagtitimpla ng kape.

"Okay po, sir. By the way, you should really get a helper. Ang gulo nitong bahay mo. Ang dami niyo naman pong kasambahay," sabi niya.

"No way. Besides, this is an organized mess. Kahit magulo dito, alam ko kung saan ko hahanapin ang dapat kong hanapin. They might just end up ruining things or my paintings. Baka makapatay ako nang wala sa oras," sagot ko naman.

Kelly placed the last plate of food on the table. "Okay, sir. I guess I'll just have to look after you for a little bit longer. Tapos na po akong magluto. Eat up. Kumain na po ako bago ako pumunta rito. Aalis na rin po ako. Have a good day, sir!"

"See you soon," paalam ko naman bago ako naupo para kumain. "They car key is just beside the door. You can also keep that, kagaya ng parating sinasabi ko sa 'yo noon pa."

"Mahal po ang gasolina, sir," sagot ni Kelly habang nagsusuot na ng coat niya. "Bye! Have fun with your parents!"

Hindi nga nagtagal ay dumating na ang mga magulang ko. Agad ko naman silang pinagbuksan ng pinto at niyayang kumain. Buti na lang talaga at marami-rami ang niluto ni Kelly.

"Did Kelly tell you na bibisita kami?" tanong sa 'kin ni mama pagkaupo namin sa mesa para kumain.

"Opo. Maaga nga po siyang nagpunta rito para magluto ng agahan," sagot ko naman.

"Kaya naman pala ang linis ng bahay mo ngayon. Still, 'wag mo namang papagurin si Kelly at i-asa sa kanya ang lahat. He's still studying. Baka nakakaabala ka na sa kanya," sabi ni mama.

"Hindi naman po ako nagde-demand sa kanya masyado. He has a flexible schedule naman po. By the way, ba't po kayo napadaan dito? May kailangan po ba kayo?" tanong ko sa kanila.

"Well, we just wanted to check on you. You've been so busy these past few months. Ni hindi ka man lang nagpunta sa dinner ng pamilya natin last week. Magtatampo na kami sa 'yo. Nainis sa 'yo ang mga kapatid mo at hinintay ka ng mga pamangkin mo," sabi ni mama.

I sighed. "I was busy that time, 'ma. Tsaka importante ang lakad kong 'yun. I couldn't just cancel it. Pasabi na lang po sa kanila na babawi po ako. Also, don't worry dahil after po ng exhibit ko ay magkakaroon na po ako ng oras para sa inyo," paliwanag ko naman.

"Ang laki mo na talaga. Parang kailan lang ayaw na ayaw mong mahiwalay sa 'min. Ngayon, bibihira ka na lang namin na makausap o makita man lang," sabi naman ni papa.

Here we go again.

My parents are so clingy and sentimental. Well, I couldn't blame them, really. Sanay sila sa affection ko noon lalo pa't ako ang bunso sa pamilya. Unfortunately, even the youngest children have to grow up. Now at 25, I don't really entertain the idea of acting like the spoiled little prince that I used to be. Nag-iisang lalaki rin ako sa tatlong magkakapatid. My two sisters already have their respective families, too.

I am Skyler Julian Alba, the guy who can't seem to escape the loving and overly caring arms of my family, especially my parents. Even at my age, they still treat me like a breakable family heirloom. I don't resent them for it, but as people always say, too much of a good thing can also be sickening. I just wish that sometimes they were a little bit harsh to me. I know it's weird, but my family is just too perfect.

They love me so much that they allowed me to do everything and anything I want. That's the reason why I followed my passion and became a painter. My sisters and brothers-in-law, on the other hand, continued the huge business of our parents. I'm thankful for that, really. Dahil sa desisyon nilang saluhin ang negosyo ng parents ko, nagkaroon ako ng freedom na gawin ang gusto ko.

They love me so much that they allowed me to attend an overseas art school and get separated from them for several years. It was I who proposed the idea. I initially thought that they would disagree, given how attached they are to me. To my surprise, the stars aligned and I was able to pursue the one thing I love the most.

They love me so much that they didn't even stop me from loving my classmate back in high school, who also happened to be a fellow male and my childhood friend.

They love me so much, it's annoying. All throughout my life, they've been really supportive and loving, both in my victories and failures. Halos wala akong matandaan na instance na tinutulan nila ang gusto ko.

Sometimes, I think about doing a really bad thing in order to test their patience, but I couldn't even imagine how my parents would react if I did anything terrible. I also love and care for them so much that I always prevent myself from executing the bad ideas that sometimes enter my mind. I've been raised too well.

"Skyler, son, I don't want to rush you or anything, and I certainly don't have anything against your preference, but you're already 25. You should start thinking about when you're going to settle down. Besides, you're the remaining Alba in the family who could pass down our surname," my father said.

Agad naman siyang sinagot ni mama. "There you go again, Hector. Just let your son do whatever he wants. He's still young! Hindi mo ba nakikita na masaya ang anak natin sa ginagawa niya ngayon?"

Thank you, mother.

"I also want our son to be happy, Susan. Gusto ko rin na makitang mayroong tao na nagpapasaya sa kanya. Skyler deserves to be happy, especially after everything that he has done and achieved in life," my father replied.

I smiled faintly. "'Pa, I am happy. I'm doing the thing that I love the most. I have you. I have my friends. Masyado na akong maraming nakukuhang atensyon mula sa inyo. Sa ngayon, hindi ko pa naman yata kailangan na dagdagan 'yun. As for me settling down, nandiyan naman po sina Ate Hannah and Ate Hildy. Hindi po ba sapat ang mga apo niyo?" tanong ko naman.

Pinadaanan ako ng titig ni papa. "Are you still waiting for Miles?" tanong niya.

"Hector. . ."

I sighed. "Kagaya po ng sinabi ko, masaya po ako sa ginagawa ko ngayon. Kayo lang po ang kailangan ko para maging masaya. You've been drowning me with your love and care for as long as I can remember. I'm really grateful for your support throughout my life," sagot ko naman.

"See, Hector? Our son is happy! We should be happy for him, too. Marami pang mangyayari sa buhay ng anak natin. Don't rush him. Sinisira mo ang appetite ng anak natin," sabi naman ni mama.

Ngumiti na lang ako bago ko sila inabutan ng ilang envelope. "Bago pa po kayo mag-away, here's your invitation for my art exhibit next month. Pakibigay niyo na lang po kina ate ang invitation nila. Pambawi ko na po 'to for not spending dinner with you guys. I'll be expecting you there."