The Paintbrush Deal

CHAPTER 16

I was an absolute wallflower back when I was younger. I was shy, awkward, and not really the type of person you'd want to hang out with if you're hyperactive and outgoing. Sometimes, I think that nothing has changed with me at all, that I'm still that silent and withdrawn kid from many years ago. I just learned how to properly deal with people, but my natural instinct to avoid making interactions them as much as possible will always remain with me.

Painting is my way of expressing my emotions. Hindi naman kasi ako magaling magpakita ng nararamdaman ko. People around me tend to think that I don't care about anything, that I am too apathetic. That is actually wrong. Just like any ordinary human, I can still feel emotions. I feel happiness and sadness. I find puppies and kittens really cute. I get scared with good horror and thriller films. I get angry at incompetent and absolutely idiotic politicians.

I am capable of feeling all the possible emotions that any ordinary human being can feel. I'm just not good enough at showing or expressing them. In fact, people always say that I convey my emotions better in my paintings.

However, one particular person challenged that trait of mine.

"Mom, why do I have to get dressed like this?"

I was around eight years old when I first met him. Earlier that day, my parents woke me up and informed me that some visitors will be arriving today. My mother loves to dress me up, but I always know that something important is going on whenever she pulls out all the stops in my closet. Today, she's making me wear long-sleeved shirt paired with shorts. I was still whiny and sensitive back then, so I was a little bit unhappy because they forced me to wear something that I don't like.

"Skyler needs to look presentable today," my mother replied as she combed my messy hair. "Now look at yourself. You look so cute. I'm sure our guests will adore you."

"But where's Ate Hildy and Ate Hannah? They should get dressed, too. Why am I the only one preparing?" I said.

"Well, they're in school today, so they won't be able to join us. Come now. Our visitors will be arriving soon. Smile at them, okay?" she said, taking my hand as she led me out of my room.

Based from what I heard, their visitors today are potential investors in my parents' business. Still, I didn't understand why they had to drag me into a thing that I don't even understand. However, being the obedient little prince that I am, I didn't argue any further. Marami akong tanong, pero masunurin naman ako kahit na papaano.

I eventually found out the reason why my parents dressed me up. Their visitors arrived just before lunch, and as I took my place on the table, I immediately noticed another kid seated on the other side. He looked really shy and timid. He's also wearing jumpers, with one of the straps dangling on his side. The one thing that made me nearly laugh was his perfectly symmetrical bowl cut hair. Fortunately, I was able to prevent myself from bursting into laughter by pinching myself really hard.

"Lame. . ." I whispered to myself as I looked away, my face all red and twitching in my attempt to suppress my laughter.

Habang kumakain kami ay mas lalo kong napansin na mahiyain nga ang bowl cut na 'to. Kinakausap siya ng parents ko at tipid lang ang mga sagot niya. Of course, naging sentro rin ako ng usapan. I played my part perfectly and with a smile on my face. I can't say the same thing for the other kid, though. Sa tuwing nababaling sa kanya ang usapan ay mas lalo siyang nanliliit sa upuan niya.

I was able to finish eating my lunch without bursting into hysterical laughter. As the conversation of my parents drifted towards their business, I slipped away from the table quietly to do something else.

"Skyler, one second," my mother called after me. "Why don't you take Miles with you? You two can play in the living area. Go on."

The bowl cut kid didn't move from his seat, but after a nudge from his mother, he finally approached me. Nakayuko lang siya at hindi man lang tumititig sa 'kin. I just glanced at the kid before heading towards the living area without saying anything to him. Dinig ko naman ang pagsunod niya sa 'kin.

Well, medyo masama talaga ang mood ko kaya hindi ko siya masyadong pinapansin. Pagkarating ko sa sala ay agad kong binunot mula sa ilalim ng isang upuan ang isang box na puno ng mga drawing materials ko. During this time kasi ay mahilig na akong mag-drawing at painting. Napansin din ito ng parents ko kaya agad naman nila akong in-enroll sa isang painting class.

Hindi pa rin umiimik ang kasama ko. Nakatayo lang siya sa isang tabi at hindi man lang nagsasalita. I couldn't care less about his silent behavior, so I just continued drawing in equal silence.

After what it seemed to be ages, the bowl cut kid finally spoke. "Do you like drawing?"

His voice was so subtle and gentle that I didn't hear him clearly at first.

"What?"

His face literally took the color of a ripe tomato. "Do you like drawing?" he asked.

I turned my attention back to my drawing. "I do like it," I said.

"Do you also go to school?" he asked once more.

I nodded.

"Do you have friends there?"

"Not really. I like being alone."

"Do you play outside?"

"Sometimes, when my sisters are not busy."

"How often do you play with them?"

"Not much."

The kid finally looked like he ran out of questions, which was a relief for me. I was already peacefully coloring my illustration when I suddenly heard a sniffle. Lumingon naman ako at laking gulat ko nang makitang kong umiiyak na pala siya.

I literally jumped and ran towards him out of shock. Baka sabihin nilang pinaiyak ko ang bowl cut na 'to kaya natakot talaga ako lalo pa't mukhang importante ang usapan ng mga magulang namin. Buti na lang at nasa backyard na ang apat kaya hindi nila narinig ang pag-iyak niya.

"Why are you crying?" tarantang tanong ko sa kanya. "Did I do something wrong? Did I make you cry? Please stop crying."

Sa pagkataranta ko ay pinunasan ko ang mukha niya gamit ang sleeves ng suot kong polo.

"I'm sorry. . ." the bowl cut kid said. "It's just that my father said that I should make friends with you, and that it will upset him if I don't make you my friend. I really don't know what to do. I don't even have friends back at my old school. . ." he added, desperately trying to wipe his tears away.

So that's why he was trying so hard to start a conversation with me.

"Look, I'm sorry if you had to force yourself to make friends with me," I said before offering my hand to him. "Okay. I'm Skyler Julian Alba. We can be friends. What's your name?"

The bowl cut kid finally calmed down a little. "I'm Miles. . . Miles Oliviero. . ." he said before taking my hand.

I'm equally bad at interacting with people, that's why I usually stay silent and avoid people altogether. This kid, however, just went out of his comfort zone just to talk to me. That made me feel bad, lalo pa't hindi ako masyadong naging cooperative sa attempts niyang makipag-usap. I don't like seeing people sad or crying, so I immediately tried to comfort him.

"Would you like to eat ice cream? Do you eat one? We have some in the fridge if you want to eat," I asked him.

Miles smiled a little. "Ice cream tastes nice. . ."

I smiled back before taking his hand and leading him to the kitchen. "Then let's eat some. . ."

The two of us talked to each other. I learned that their family just moved to the city, that's why he's still adjusting to his new life here. Wala pa nga pala siyang nalilipatan na eskwelahan. Miles also said that he really didn't have any friends back at his former school, that's why he's trying to make new ones here in the city. Nag-iisang anak lang din siya kaya wala talaga siyang ibang kasa-kasama man lang. His parents are also usually out on business, kaya yaya lang niya ang madalas na nag-aasikaso sa kanya.

By the time na papauwi na sila ng parents niya ay marami na kaming napag-usapan. Kumaway pa kami sa isa't-isa habang paalis na sila.

That night, agad namang kinumusta ng mga magulang ko ang naging usapan namin ni Miles.

"He was nice, and we ate ice cream together," sagot ko sa tanong nila.

"Look who's making a new friend," sabi naman ni Ate Hannah. "It's surprising to hear that you finally made friends with someone your age. May nakain ka bang masama?"

"Ate, 'wag mo namang tutuksuhin masyado si Skyler," sabi naman ni Ate Hildy.

"I still like being alone," I said. "It's just that Miles is the only child. He doesn't have siblings unlike me. Nakakalaro ko kayo ni Ate Hildy, kaya okay lang sa 'kin kahit wala akong kaibigan sa school. Miles situation is different. I don't want to see him sad, so I made friends with him."

Naalala ko bigla ang sinabi niya kanina.

"Miles mentioned that he still doesn't have a school to go to. He can go to my school!" sabi ko bago ako bumaling sa parents ko. "Can you please convince Miles' parents to enroll him in the school where I attend? We can go there together so that both of us don't have to be alone anymore."

My parents both smiled.

"Well, today is your lucky day. Maganda ang naging usapan namin kanina ng parents ni Miles. They agreed to invest in the company. Mukhang ilang beses pa kayong magkikita ni Miles," papa said.

My heart raced in excitement. "Does that mean. . ."

"You and Miles will be going to the same school together!" sabi naman ni mama. "In fact, napag-usapan namin kanina ang paglilipat ng school ni Miles. His parents mentioned it. We suggested the idea of him enrolling in the same school where you're studying. They agreed."

Miles was my very first friend. Malaki ang naging impact niya sa 'kin sa mga sumunod na taon ng buhay ko. In fact, malaki ang naging kontribusyon niya sa paghubog sa pagkatao ko. Miles changed me. He changed me a lot.

Even today, I can still feel his influence on my life.

"And I'm done with the dishes!" Elio said with a clatter as he placed the plates inside a cabinet. Bumaling naman siya sa 'kin pagkatapos. "Magpapahinga na po ako. Kung may kailangan ka, bahala ka sa buhay mo. See you tomorrow!"

He then marched towards the stairs and disappeared from sight. Kanina pa sinundo ang kambal ng mga magulang nila. Si Kelly naman ay hindi na rin nagtagal kaya kaming dalawa na lang ni Elio ang kumain ng hapunan. Kasalukuyan akong nanonood ng palabas sa TV.

Huminga ako nang malalim bago ko pinatay ang TV. Ilaw na lang dito sa sala ang naka-on. Alas nuwebe na rin ng gabi. Matapos kong patayin ang ilaw sa sala ay dumiretso na muna ako sa workroom ko.

Pagkarating ko sa pinto ay tumigil muna ako nang ilang sandali bago ako huminga nang malalim at pumasok sa kwarto.

The room was dimly lit. Natatakpan pa ng kurtina ang nag-iisang bintana sa kwarto. Pagkasara ko ng pinto ay mas lalong lumakas ang dilim. I was working on a painting here earlier, pero hindi na ako nag-on pa ng ilaw dahil wala naman na akong balak na magtrabaho pa. Kabisado ko naman na ang kwarto kaya kahit maglakad ako rito nang nakapikit ay hindi ako babangga.

At the center of the room stood an easel holding a painting. Ilang taon na ang nakalilipas mula nang matapos ko ang painting na 'to, pero ni hindi ko pa man lang ito nailalabas. Wala pa nga nitong nakakakita maliban sa 'kin. This painting has been sitting here in my room for years—the only bright and colorful thing in the middle of all the dark and gloomy mess of this place.

I lowered myself on a stool and bowed my head low. Before I knew it, copious tears trailed down my face. The painting was standing right in front of me, the smiling face of its subject a direct contrast to the emptiness that I'm currently feeling. I just held on to the painting before whispering to the air. . .

"I still miss you so much. . ."