The Paintbrush Deal

CHAPTER 15

Elio's POV

Ilang araw na ang lumipas pero hindi pa rin kami nagkakausap ni Skyler mula nang malaman ko ang ginawa niya. Kelly also apologized to me, at as expected ay wala akong ibang nagawa kung hindi ang patawarin siya dahil hindi talaga kayang talunin ng trashy attitude ko ang kabaitan niya. Si Skyler naman ay mukhang sineryoso ang sinabi kong hindi ako hihingi ng apology.

Call me overreacting or whatever, but I'm sensitive about my personal life. As much as possible ay ayaw kong napag-uusapan ang nakaraan ko, lalo kung hindi ko naman ka-close ang kausap ko. Nakaka-insulto naman kasi sa part ko na basta-basta na lang silang naghalungkat ng impormasyon at nakaraan ko nang hindi man lang sa 'kin nagpapaalam. It's not the right thing to do.

Dahil sa nangyari, balik kami sa usual na walang pansinan sa bahay. Madalas din akong mag-take out ng pagkain mula sa restaurant ni Sir Mico kaya bibihira na lang akong bumababa para magluto. Parati na lang akong nagkukulong sa kwarto ko. Malakas naman ang wi-fi at AC kaya wala naman talaga akong rason para bumangon mula sa malambot kong kama. Papatapos na rin ang Abril at nagpapabida ang araw kaya mas lalong wala akong rason na lumabas.

Unfortunately, wala akong trabaho today. Balak ko sanang gumala kasama si Adrian o si Zoe, pero overseas ang una at may trabaho naman ang huli. Mukhang hindi rin lumabas si Skyler dahil hindi ko narinig ang kotse niyang umalis. Ayaw ko pa namang makita siya today, as usual.

Magtatanghali na nang magising ako kaya nagpa-deliver na lang ako ng pagkain. Buti na lang at tanaw ko ang gate mula sa kwarto ko kaya nabantayan ko ang nag-deliver. Unfortunately, tumunog pa rin ang door bell habang tumatakbo ako papunta sa gate.

Binilisan ko na lang ang galaw ko habang nagsasalin ng mga pagkain sa mga plato at bowl.

"Was that for you?"

Napatalon ako sa gulat nang marinig ko ang boses ni Skyler. Lumingon ako at agad na nag-init ang pisngi ko nang makita kong boxer shorts lang ang suot niya. Mukhang galing din siya sa workroom niya. Minamasahe niya rin ang kamay niya.

Natigilan naman ako.

He's almost naked. . . He's massaging his hand. . .

"No! Don't come near me!" I shouted, taking a step backwards.

May stool pala sa naatrasan ko, kaya natumba tuloy ako sa sahig. Habang sinusumpa ko ang lahat ng tao sa buong mundo ay lumitaw naman si Skyler sa harap ko.

"Hey, that was dangerous," he said. "Are you okay? Nasaktan ka ba?"

"Don't touch me!"

"I know I have paint all over my body, but let me help you. 'Wag ka munang gumalaw," sabi niya.

"What?"

"I was painting," Skyler replied. "I usually don't wear clothes dahil hassle ang pag-laundry. Kaninang umaga pa ako nagtatrabaho kaya nangangalay na ang kamay ko."

"Oh. . . I see. . ."

Silly me.

Still, tumama bigla ang paningin ko sa katawan niya habang nakaluhod siya sa tabi ko. Agad naman akong lumingon sa kabilang direksyon.

"May masakit ba sa 'yo?" tanong niya.

"My heel twisted a bit. Medyo masakit," sabi ko.

"Let me carry you to the sofa," sabi ni Skyler bago niya ako kinarga sa mga braso niya. Kahit na nag-iinit ang pisngi ko ay humawak na lang ako sa batok niya.

"Am I interrupting something?"

Lumingon ako sa direksyon ng boses at nakita ko si Kelly na nakatitig sa 'min. Kung awkward ang sitwasyon kanina, mas lalo namang kaduda-duda ang posisyon namin ngayon.

Even Skyler blushed furiously. "It's not what it looks like."

Bago pa man ako makapagsalita ay bigla na lang akong nalaglag mula sa mga braso ni Skyler, sanhi para lumagapak ako sa sahig. Napahawak na lang ako sa likod ko habang namimilipit sa sakit.

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" maiyak-iyak kong sabi sabay hampas kay Skyler ng stool na naatrasan ko kanina. "Are you trying to break my backbone, you jerk?!"

"I'm sorry!" medyo gulat niyang sabi bago siya lumuhod sa tabi ko. "I didn't mean it. Nagulat lang ako."

"Go get some clothes first, you idiot!" I shouted before pushing him away. "Kelly, help me!"

Agad namang lumapit sa 'kin si Kelly bago niya ako inalalayan papunta sa sofa.

"Naglilipat lang ako ng pagkain nang lumabas ang boss mo. He was painting. Nadulas ako at hindi ako kaagad na nakatayo kaya binuhat niya ako," paliwanag ko naman agad.

"Yes. I can see that," Kelly said with a smile. "You don't need to explain anything. Parati namang boxers ang suot niyan ni sir whenever he's painting. Actually, I suggested the idea to him. Madalas kasi na ako ang naglalaba ng mga damit niya at malaking problema ang mantsa ng pintura."

"I see. I just don't want you to get the wrong idea," sabi ko naman.

Lumitaw na si Skyler na may suot nang matinong damit at may dalang cold compress. Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin.

"Bakit ka pala nandito?" tanong niya kay Kelly habang inaasikaso ng huli ang namumula kong paa.

"Well, iiwan sana ni Ate Hannah ang kambal sa parents mo. Unfortunately, may lakad sila ngayon kaya sinabi kong dito na lang niya iwan. May pupuntahan kasi sila ni Kuya Iverson ngayon. They will arrive in a short while. Hanggang mamayang hapon lang naman maglalagi ang kambal dito," sagot ni Kelly.

Pinadaanan niya kaming dalawa ng nananantiyang tingin.

"I have to prepare lunch for us lalo pa't dito kakain ang kambal. Ikaw na po muna ang mag-asikaso rito kay Elio, sir," sabi niya. "Please be careful. Baka malaglag na naman 'to si Elio."

Skyler took Kelly's place. Kahit alam ko ang totoong motibo ni Kelly ay hindi na ako sumalungat pa dahil masakit talaga ang paa ko. I just projected my usual sour expression and kept my eyes away from Skyler.

"Does it still hurt?" he asked after a few seconds of awkward silence.

"What do you think? Ikaw kaya ang pilipitan ko ng paa at ilaglag sa sahig? Matutuwa ka ba?" sabad ko naman.

Skyler sighed. "I'm sorry."

"I don't believe in apologies. Kapag nagawa mo na, nagawa mo na. Apologies are one of the most pointless things on this planet. People only use it as an excuse so that they'll feel better whenever they did something wrong," I said.

"I know that. Still, it was insensitive and disrespectful of me. I should've thought about what you might feel. I was impulsive and shortsighted. I will never commit the same mistake again. I know that you don't believe in apologies, but I want you to know that I regret what I did. It will never happen again," Skyler said.

"Also, I'm really sorry for letting you go earlier," he added. "I was just as shocked as you were. I genuinely ask for your forgiveness for that one."

Using my other foot, I kicked him on his abdomen, sending him towards the opposite end of the sofa.

"How did that feel?" I asked with a smirk.

"Yeah. . . That hurt," Skyler said while coughing. "Still, you shouldn't move or you'll aggravate your sprain. Just stay here for a while."

Hindi na lang ako sumagot pa. After a few moments, Skyler looked at me again with his hazel-brown eyes.

"We're cool?"

My expression immediately soured as I looked away, but, ever so slightly, I nodded.

Skyler smiled. "Well, that's good enough for me."

●●●

Skyler's POV

Kelly and I are currently cooking lunch. Nasa sala naman si Elio kasama ang kambal na iniwan lang kani-kanina ni Ate Hannah. Surprisingly, the kids immediately got close with Elio. After a few invasive questions, the three of them were already playing happily in the living area.

"Looks like Elio can handle kids pretty well," Kelly said while busying over the stove.

"Yeah. Looks like it," I agreed.

Maya-maya pa ay narinig kong nagtanong ang isa sa mga kambal. "Why are you staying here in Uncle Skyler's house?" tanong ni Yumi.

"Well, your uncle is just like you. He also needs a babysitter because he's a big baby. He's too much of a baby that he can't even look after himself without the help of your Uncle Kelly," Elio replied.

"Hey, I heard that," I snapped at them.

Bigla namang nagtanong ang isa, si Yami. "Are you two a couple?"

Pareho naming naibuga ni Elio ang juice na ginawa kanina ni Kelly.

"Of course not!" panabay naming sabi sa gitna ng mga hagikgik ni Kelly mula sa pwesto niya. Agad naman akong lumapit doon sa tatlo.

"Okay, where do you get those ideas?" tanong ko kay Yami sabay buhat sa kanya. "I'm going to have a talk with your Mommy Hannah later. It seems that she's polluting your minds with unnecessary stuff."

"Well, when people live together, they're usually a couple," sabi ni Yami. "Mom and dad are a couple. Lolo and lola are a couple. Uncle Kelly lives alone, so he doesn't have a partner unlike you."

"The world doesn't work that way, okay?" I said. "You're too young to be thinking about stuff like that. Why don't you help Uncle Kelly over there? He seems to be having a really good time laughing at nothing at all. Go on."

As the twins ran towards Kelly to pester him, I turned to Elio who was cleaning up after their mess.

"Sorry about that," I said.

"No worries. Tutulungan ko na lang si Kelly. My foot feels fine now. You should probably get back to painting. Judging from your look, mukhang may mga kailangan kang gawin today. We'll keep the kids away from you," Elio said.

"Thanks, but I really won't be able to work with all these distractions. I'll just help you and Kelly. Those kids can be a handful. You could use some help," sagot ko naman.

Elio just shrugged his shoulders before heading towards the kitchen. "Do whatever you want to do, then."

"Ano ba talaga ang rason kung bakit nandito ka?" tanong ko habang nakasunod kay Ate Hannah. Mula sa puwesto namin ay tanaw si Elio kasama ang kambal na nasa sala.

"Well, kabayaran mo na 'to sa hindi mo pag-attend sa family dinner natin the other time. I never forget, brother. Besides, day off ngayon ng mga kasambahay, kasama na si Yaya Girly. May ginagawa sina mama at papa, tapos may importante kaming lakad ni Iverson. You're our only hope, little brother," she said.

"Fine. Whatever," I said, waving her off.

Ate Hannah eyed Elio for several moments. "He seems like a good guy. The kids are comfortable with him, too."

Good guy? Saang banda?

"Mukhang alam ko na ang rason kung bakit pumunta ka rito," sabi ko.

"I just wanted to have a second look. Besides, Kelly's reports are not enough. It's always better to look at the situation firsthand," sagot naman ni Ate Hannah. "At least you won't be alone in this house anymore, now that you have Elio. Even the house looks a lot livelier."

"Houseboy si Elio, hindi clown," sabad ko naman.

Ate Hannah just ignored me. "We only want you to be happy, little brother. Kagaya ng sinabi ko sa 'yo dati, know the reason why you're acting like this when it comes to Elio. Is there something special with him? Do you see something or someone in him?" she said.

I threw her a bewildered stare. "What the hell are you even trying to say?" I asked.

Ate Hannah entered the car without a single word. Kumaway naman sa 'kin mula sa loob si Kuya Iverson.

"Just a reminder, little bro. Elio is Elio. He is not someone else. He is just Elio. Sana ay makita mo siya sa totoong pagkatao niya. He's a different picture, so don't force him inside a frame in which he will never fit. I'll see you later, brother. Take care."

I stared at the car in utter disbelief as it sped away from my house.

"What the hell?"

Pagbungad ko sa kusina ay si Elio na ang nakaharap sa stove samantalang si Kelly naman ay binubuhat na palayo sa oven ang kambal. Habang nakatitig ako kay Elio ay nagpapaulit-ulit naman sa tenga ko ang mga sinabi sa 'kin kanina ni Ate Hannah.

Am I really acting differently when it comes to him?

It's easy to overlook the changes in our own behavior. Sometimes, we don't even notice those little changes until someone points them out. Ngayon na marami na ang nagsasabi sa 'kin, it seems na hindi ko na nga pwedeng i-deny na iba nga ang trato ko kay Elio.

Deep inside me, I think I know the answer. I just don't want to admit it because it will bring back some old memories that I'd rather not remember. As I pondered with my thoughts, I finally realized that Elio and I share a common preference:

We don't want to remember our past.