The Paintbrush Deal

CHAPTER 03

Elio's POV

"Listen to me, everyone. I need to dish out some reminders for the upcoming art exhibit," sabi sa 'min ni Ms. Laina habang nagliligpit at naglilinis na kami ng restaurant isang gabi. Agad naman kaming pumalibot sa kanya.

These past few weeks, we've been really busy preparing for the event. Dahil on-site ang preparation ng mga pagkain, we've been stocking up supplies. Halos sa sunod na rin kasing linggo mangyayari ang art exhibit kaya naman busy na talaga ang mga tao rito.

"Well, alam niyo naman na siguro ang basic protocol sa mga ganitong event lalo pa't hindi naman natin unang beses na gagawin 'to," sabi ni Ms. Laina. "Still, here are the pamphlets containing the rules and proper behavior that you should observe. May ilang additional reminders 'yan lalo pa't first time nating mag-serve sa isang art exhibit. Please read them."

She distributed pieces of paper to us.

"Moreover, the event is divided into two parts. Mauuna ang program at dinner sa isang hall. Dito tayo magiging busy lalo pa't marami-rami ang pupunta sa art exhibit. After that is the exhibit itself. Dito naman ay wala na kayong masyadong gagawin except sa magdala ng mga drink at umikot-ikot sa buong hall. However, I highly advice you to be extra careful pagdating sa art exhibit. You know, liquids and paintings don't go too well. Hindi basta-bastang artist ang may gawa ng mga painting sa exhibit na 'to. These artworks are worth a lot of money. This is also part charity event, and a considerable portion of the proceeds will go to a charity supporting children with cancer," dagdag pa niya.

"I still can't understand why people would pay unbelievable amounts of money for some random drawing. Rich people don't know how to spend their money well," bulong ko naman kay Zoe.

"Manahimik ka na lang. Kung makaasta ka parang ang galing mo. Ni stick man nga hindi mo ma-drawing nang tama. You're millions of miles apart, for your info," sagot niya.

"Yeah. Whatever."

"Ibibigay rin namin sa inyo ang mga uniform niyo bukas para kung hindi akma ang fit ay magagawan pa natin ng paraan," sabi pa ni Ms. Laina. "Also, Elio and Zoe, may mahalaga kayong gagawin sa unang part ng event."

"Ano po?" tanong naman namin.

"You two are going to head the team of waiters na magse-serve sa pamilya ni Mr. Alba sa event. Ibig sabihin, kayo ang mag-aasikaso ng mga kailangan nila sa dinner. Pupuwesto kayo malapit sa table nila. Don't worry dahil after ng dinner ay makakabalik naman kayo sa regular waiting duties niyo. I just want Mr. Alba and his family to be as comfortable as possible. Malaki ang tiwala ko sa inyo kaya kayo ang kinuha kong manguna sa team na mag-aasikaso sa kanila."

"What?" tanong ko bago ko pa man mapigilan ang sarili ko.

Ms. Laina raised an eyebrow. "Why? May problema ba?"

I immediately shook my head. "Wala po."

My shoulders fell. On any other occasion, I would've been really happy with the news. However, considering my first impression with that Alba guy, hindi ko maiwasan na mainis. Still, being the good employee that I am, tumango na lang ako.

Nakwento ko na rin kay Zoe ang nangyari sa 'min ng lalaki sa unang beses na pagpunta nila sa restaurant. Pinagtawanan lang niya ako at sinabing maging ako raw ay hindi nakawala sa charm ng mokong na 'yun.

Upon seeing my reaction with Ms. Laina's news, Zoe smiled meaningfully before elbowing me. "Mukhang hindi pa magtatapos ang labanan niyo ng staredowns," bulong niya sa 'kin.

"Shut up."

Hindi naman na nagtagal pa ang mga reminder sa 'min ni Ms. Laina. Dali-dali naman kaming umuwi ni Zoe lalo pa't exam week namin ngayon at may ilang exams pa kaming kahaharapin. Patapos na rin kasi ang school year. Last week naman na ng exams namin at pagkatapos ng linggong 'to ay malaya na kami mula sa school.

Zoe and I share a room in our dorm. Wala namang issue sa kanya lalo pa't since first year college ay magkasama na kami sa iisang kwarto. Wala rin naman akong pake kung babae siya. Third-year na kami ngayon at halos tatlong taon na rin kaming magkasama. Kagaya rin ng nasabi ko dati, magkaklase at magkaibigan pa kaming dalawa.

Halos alas-onse na ng gabi nang makauwi kami, pero imbes na matulog ay agad kaming nag-aral para sa exam namin bukas. Ala-una pa naman ng hapon ang exam kaya may kaunting oras pa naman kami. We've been studying for days, kaya light reading lang naman ang gagawin namin para ma-refresh ang mga inaral naming dalawa.

"Ilang exams pa ba ang mayroon tayo?" tanong ni Zoe habang hinahanap ang scheduler niya.

"Tatlo pa," sagot ko naman. "Isa bukas, dalawa sa sunod na araw. After that, we're free to go."

"By the way, uuwi muna ako sa amin after ng exams at ng catering service natin. Kukumustahin ko man lang sina mama at papa. That means maiiwan ka rito," sabi ni Zoe.

I rolled my eyes. "Magtatrabaho pa rin ako. Still, have fun. Before that, tumahimik ka muna at mag-aral."

"Ayaw mo bang sumama sa 'kin? We can both rest and relax in our house. Deserve mo namang magpahinga lalo pa't hellish ang buwan natin ngayon with the exams and catering service," sabi ni Zoe.

"Like I said, I'll pass. Alam mo namang mas pipiliin kong magtrabaho," sagot ko.

Wala naman kasi akong ibang mauuwian maliban sa dorm namin. I've been living here ever since I entered college. Magmula summer vacations, semestral breaks, at pati Christmas vacations, lahat 'yan ay dito ko ginugugol. Para may pambayad ako sa renta ay nagtatrabaho pa rin ako kapag walang pasok. Wala namang pinagkaiba na lalo pa't nagtatrabaho pa rin naman ako kahit may pasok kami.

Alam ko na agad kung ano ang itatanong niyo. Where are my parents? Well, back when I was kid, I lived a shitty life with them. We were poor, my father was a drunkard and abusive, and my mother was a hopeless, tolerant woman who allowed my father to treat her like garbage. It was only a matter of time before our family collapsed. It happened when my mother left. She didn't even bring me with her. Nabalitaan ko na lang na sumama na pala siya sa ibang lalaki.

My father, being the good-for-nothing man that he is, eventually found another woman. Ang masaklap, may sarili pang mga anak ang babae. Having no other family left, I went with my father. Things were fine for a while. Doon ko natutunan na mas gusto ko palang hindi pinapansin kaysa sa magtiis ng mga sigawan at bulyawan. It was the most peaceful, most quiet time of my entire life.

But that didn't mean that I loved that way of life. Sa katagalan ay nagsawa rin ako sa kawalan ko ng lugar sa bagong pamilya ng tatay ko. I chose the lesser evil, that's why I liked my mother more than my father. When she left me alone with my father, I thought that maybe she never really cared for me. I eventually concluded that my parents were equally useless. Having had enough of their bullshit, I left my father without even leaving a single trace.

Since then, I vowed to myself that I will pull myself out of poverty. Fresh from high school, agad akong naghanap ng trabaho para masuportahan ang sarili ko at ang pag-aaral ko. I eventually ended up in the restaurant where I'm currently working. I was 18. Si Zoe rin ang rason kung bakit dito ako sa dorm nakatira ngayon.

Not to toot my own horn, but I am intelligent. Gasgas man sa pandinig, pero iisang bagay lang ang alam kong makakasalba sa 'kin mula sa kahirapan, and that is to finish my studies. I specifically chose a course where I would excel and get paid with lots of money once I have a job. Nag-apply din ako for various student assistance programs para wala akong gastusin sa pag-aaral ko. I know I have assets, and I was never afraid to exploit them.

Now at 21, I can say that my shitty childhood was the reason why I'm working my butt off, both at work and school. Looking back at my life, I'm actually thankful for my parents. They helped me realized what type of people I don't want to become. Dahil sa kahirapan na dinanas ko kasama sila, hindi ko sana gugustuhin na yumaman. Kung hindi dahil sa kanila, hindi sana ako ganito ngayon.

Because of my past, I learned to be tough and unyielding. I endured so much s**t when I was younger, and I'm not having any more of it now that I am older. I only act friendly and cheerful whenever I'm working because I only want to be professional, but my real personality sits right at the opposite end of my behavioral spectrum.

Suplado. Mataray. Brash. Prideful. I get those a lot from strangers who are unlucky enough to suffer the wrath of my real personality. Hindi naman ako nakikipag-argue sa kanila lalo pa't totoo naman. I just give them a taste of the attitude that they say I have. Minsan napapaaway pa ako, but I always make sure that I'll be the one who will emerge victorious.

I am Elio Rivera, the guy whose life is driven by money. Bago niyo pa ako husgahan at tawagin na mukhang-pera, sana ay alamin niyo muna ang rason ko kung bakit ganito ako. Once I'm rich enough, I will find kids who are also living in poverty with dysfunctional families, and I will use my money to give them a better life. Ayokong maranasan pa nila ang hirap na pinagdaanan ko, kaya gusto kong maging tulay para matupad ang mga pangarap nila.

Walang masama sa pagiging mukhang-pera, lalo pa kung sa tama at legal na paraan ka naman kikita.

Don't blame me for wanting to become rich. Blame my childhood and my useless parents.

"Grabe. Graduating na tayo next year," sabi bigla ni Zoe. Malapit nang mag-hatinggabi at matutulog na kami. Nasa taas ako ng bunker bed at kasalukuyang nakatingala sa kisame ng kwarto namin.

"Sinabi mo pa. We've been through a lot," sagot ko naman. "Parang kailan lang ang nene mo pa tingnan. Look at you now. Sino ba ang mag-aakala na gusgusin ka dati?"

"Wow. Nagsalita ang hindi dumaan sa jeje phase niya," sabad ni Zoe pagkatapos niyang masipa ang higaan ko. "Pare-pareho lang tayong mga kriminal dito."

Tumawa na lang ako.

I heard Zoe sigh from below. "Sigurado ka na ba talaga sa life plan mo? Ilang taon ka na ring puro aral at trabaho. Maybe you should consider slowing down a bit. Masyado kang busy, wala ka pa ring love life. Maraming tao nang nagsasabi na dapat may partner ka na at least before you graduate from college. Mahihirapan ka nang makahanap ng love life kapag may trabaho ka na dahil magiging busy ka na rin."

"Kaya 'yan ba ang rason kung bakit may Marlon ka na? Also, akala ko ba malinaw na sa 'yo ang plano ko? Once I graduate, sisiguraduhin ko na mataas ang grades ko. That way, the best companies themselves will scramble to hire me. Big companies mean big salaries. Aanhin ko pa ang pag-ibig kung marami naman na akong pera? Besides, love won't keep you alive. Money will. Hindi ako tanga para hindi ma-realize kung alin ang mas ipa-prioritize ko," sagot ko naman.

"Fine. Mukhang set in stone na talaga ang ambisyon mo sa buhay. Sana naman hindi mo ako makalimutan kapag mayaman ka na. Alam ko namang mas mataas ang chance mo na mag-succeed sa career na 'to, kaya good luck na lang ang masasabi ko sa 'yo," sagot ni Zoe.

Ngumiti na lang ako. "Ayoko namang sabihan mo ako na walang pagpapahalaga sa friendship natin. Also, sana talaga bumaling ka sa boyfriend mo para sa future mo. Siya ang bubuhay sa 'yo sa hinaharap, hindi ako. Payag akong maging ninong, hindi maging sponsor," sagot ko naman.

Zoe laughed. "Alam mo namang wala akong tiwala sa future ni Marlon. Of course alam ko namang hindi niya ako pababayaan. Gusto ko lang na mayroon akong backup plan just in case everything in my life fails."

Huminga na lang ako nang malalim bago ko binalot ang sarili ko ng kumot. "Matulog na muna tayo dahil matagal pa bago mangyari ang mga plano ko. Good night."

"Yeah, you're right," she said. "Exams muna and then the catering service. Good luck, Eli-boy."

"Shut up."