The Paintbrush Deal

CHAPTER 11

"Thanks for dining with us, sir! Have a good day!"

Isang malapad na ngiti ang ibinigay ko sa customer kasabay ng pagbulsa ko ng tip na ibinigay niya sa 'kin. Agad ko namang nilinis ang mesa na pinagkainan niya.

"I must say, our customers seem to really like you. Even our usual patrons do. This restaurant has become a lot livelier ever since you started working here," Sir Mico said as I brought the dishes to the washing area.

Ngumiti na lang ako. "Ganito po talaga ako magtrabaho, sir."

Well, nagsimula na nga akong magtrabaho rito sa restaurant. Halos isang linggo pa lang naman ang nakalilipas mula nang magsimula ako. I must say, medyo mas malalaki ang mga tip na nakukuha ko rito lalo pa't kadalasan ay mga nagtatrabaho sa kalapit na business establishments at offices ang mga kumakain dito. Maraming ring kakilalang mga executives si Sir Mico, kaya mga big time talaga ang mga tao rito.

"Kumusta pala si Skyler?" tanong pa niya.

Natigilan ako. "He's doing his usual things po. I think he's still working over his new collection," sagot ko.

Wala naman akong pakialam sa ginagawa niya sa bahay kaya isinagot ko na lang ang napapansin kong usual routine niya. Hindi naman talaga kasi kami nagpapansinan kapag nasa bahay kami.

"I see. . . Well, good for him. Still, I miss seeing his old paintings," he said.

Napataas ako ng kilay. "Old paintings?"

"Oh, I forgot. Hindi mo na nga pala naabutan ang time na 'yun," Sir Mico said. "Well, when he was still a budding painter, he used to work with really bright and lively colors. In fact, doon siya unang nakilala. His paintings back then really bring a smile to your face. They were inspiring, lively, and bright. Skyler was considered a genius for being able to convey overwhelming positivity and happiness with his colorful paintings."

Biglang sumagi sa isip ko ang mga dark at gloomy na painting ni Skyler doon sa bahay. In fact, I'm really thankful na may en suite bathroom sa bedroom ko. Lumabas ako minsan sa kalagitnaan ng gabi para uminom ng tubig at halos atakihin ako sa puso dahil akala ko ay nakakita ako ng multo. I realized after one painful fall that it was only a painting of a human which looked eerily alive in the faint light that illuminated the dark house. I had to fight the urge to burn the painting into nothing.

"But his paintings in the house are quite. . . depressing," I said quietly.

Sir Mico sighed somberly. "Well, people change. Skyler has changed a lot these past few years. His style really changed when Miles left. Still, I would love to see his old paintings. Sana makahanap siya ng rason para gumamit ulit ng bright colors sa paintings niya. Kung sakali man na may mahanap ka sa bahay niyang ganoon na painting, dalhin mo agad sa 'kin. I'll pay you handsomely."

"I think I'll pass, sir. I don't want to be stabbed to death by a paintbrush. . . or get head trauma for being hit by an easel," I said, raising a hand.

"I totally get you," Sir Mico replied, chuckling a bit. "That'll be a new cause of death."

Hapon na at naghahanda na naman kami para sa bugso ng customers ngayong gabi. Dahil bakasyon, pinili ko ang full shift at may overtime pa hanggang sa closing time. Alas-diyes ng umaga nagbubukas ang restaurant at alas-nuwebe naman nagsasara. I'm going to use this opportunity to earn as much money as I can.

Nag-aayos ako ng mga silya nang may pumasok na naman na customer. Pagbaling ko kay Ms. Olivia ay agad na nabura ang ngiti ko nang makita ko ang kausap niya.

What the hell is he doing here?!

Of course, kilala niyo na kung sino ang tinutukoy ko. I immediately concluded na may lakad siya dahil sa pormal niyang pananamit. Suot pa niya ang eyeglasses niya. Agad naman akong tumalikod at nagkunwaring hindi siya napapansin, pero ramdam ko pa rin ang mga titig niya kahit nakatalikod na ako.

"Skyler!" biglang sabi ni Sir Mico mula sa kitchen. "What brings you here? Wala ka man lang pasabi na pupunta ka pala rito ngayon," sabi niya sabay lapit sa table ng mokong.

"Magtrabaho ka. Restaurant mo 'to," sagot naman ni Skyler.

"I've been working all day. Besides, hindi naman ako ang nag-iisang chef dito," sagot ni Sir Mico. "Anyway, ba't ka nga napunta rito?"

"I delivered a portrait to a client. Nasakto pa na malapit lang dito kaya naisipan ko na ring dumaan. Besides, baka marami nang nabasag ang bagong employee niyo rito," replied Skyler.

Pumitik naman ang kilay ko. Basagan kita ng baso sa mukha, gusto mo?

Sir Mico just laughed. "Don't be silly. Elio is great. In fact, our customers love him! Tumaas ang reviews namin sa customer service dahil lang sa kanya. He's a blessing, really. Thanks for recommending him, by the way. Speaking of which, Elio, come here."

Labag man sa loob ko ay pumunta pa rin ako sa table nilang dalawa. "Yes, sir?" nakangiti kong sabi sa kanya.

"Please bring me a serving of seafood ravioli and a cucumber drink," sabi ni Sir Mico.

"Noted, sir," nakangiti kong sagot bago ako bumaling kay Skyler. "What the hell do you want?" sabi ko sa kanya kasabay ng pag-asim ng mukha ko.

Humagalpak na lang ng tawa si Sir Mico.

"Spaghetti and cucumber drink," Skyler replied.

Tumalikod na ako. Habang naglalakad ako papunta sa kusina ay narinig ko pa ang sinabi ni Skyler: "Is this the kind of customer service that you are so proud of?"

"Elio's kind and beaming when it comes to other people. Kagaya ng sinabi sa 'kin ni Kelly, kung mabait sa lahat ang isang tao maliban sa 'yo, baka ikaw ang may problema," sagot ni Sir Mico.

"I'm pretty sure he's the one who has a problem with me. Walang mali sa 'kin at wala akong ginagawang masama," sabi naman ni Skyler.

Hindi naman ako tanga para hindi ma-realize ang patama niya sa 'kin. Hindi ko na lang sila pinansin pa at tuloy-tuloy na akong pumasok sa kitchen.

●●●

Skyler's POV

"Talaga bang nag-deliver ka ng portrait kaya ka nandito?" nakangising tanong sa 'kin ni Mico habang kumakain na kami.

I sighed. "There's a newly-wed couple who asked me to paint them a portrait a couple of months ago. Recently ko lang natapos ang portrait at dinala ko 'yun ngayon sa condo nila. Apparently, the girl is a huge fan of my artworks, so she requested that I personally deliver it," paliwanag ko naman.

"Okay. I believe you. Congrats. Mukhang may pera ka na naman," sagot niya.

"How is he doing?" I asked quietly.

Mico just smiled faintly. "Like I said, he's doing great. He's very professional. Alam ko naman na iba ang ugali niya, but he's mature enough to set it aside when he's working. Malaking tulong ang experience niya."

Matapos ihatid sa 'min kanina ni Elio ang mga order namin ay umakyat na siya sa ikalawang palapag ng restaurant. Pansin ko na hindi pa siya bumababa mula nang umakyat siya.

"Dahil binigyan mo ako ng magaling na waiter at pinayagan na ako ni Kelly na manligaw sa kanya, libre ko na ang spaghetti mo," sabi ni Mico.

Napangiti naman ako. "Really? Wala pang sinasabi sa 'kin si Kelly."

"Kanina ko lang nakuha ang permission ko. I visited him. Well, thanks for the help, bro."

"At sana tandaan mo ang sinabi ko sa 'yo noon. I've got my eyes on you. Sa oras na may gawin kang kalokohan ay hindi ka aabot nang buhay kay Kelly. Malamig na bangkay ang bubugbugin niya kapag niloko mo siya," sabi ko naman.

Mico just smiled before raising his hands. "Like I said, seryoso ako kay Kelly. I most certainly cannot say that I love him now, but I like him. It took me a long time to finally notice him, but what's important is that I want to find out where these feelings will bring me. I know how important Kelly is to you, at isang malaking pambabastos sa pagkakaibigan natin ang gagawin ko kung lolokohin ko siya," sabi niya.

"That sounds good enough for me," sagot ko naman.

Tinitigan ako ni Mico nang ilang sandali. "Ikaw? Wala ka pa bang balak asikasuhin ang puso mo? You're already 25. You should start thinking about when you're settling down."

I rolled my eyes. "You sound a lot like dad. I'm too busy with painting. Besides, I'm still young. Hindi ako kagaya mo na mataas ang tendency na magkaroon ng maraming anak. . . na lahat ay panganay."

He just laughed. "That's mean. Also, hindi mo naman siguro kailangan na tumingin sa malayo kung maghahanap ka ng love interest."

I raised an eyebrow and narrowed my eyes. "What do you mean?"

Mico smiled meaningfully before pointing a finger upwards.

"You're kidding, right?"

"Like Yana said, he reminds me a lot of Miles. Their attitudes may seem different at first glance, but they have a lot of similarities aside from their auras. Are you really sure that you have no ulterior motives for letting him stay in your house?" he asked.

"You and everyone else," I said, rolling my eyes. "He needs to pay for what he has done. Kung may pera lang naman siya ay hindi ako mag-aaksaya ng panahon para patirahin siya sa bahay ko. Unfortunately, wala naman siyang ibang paraan para mabayaran ang nasira niya kaya heto siya ngayon, nagsisilbing houseboy. Kayo lang naman kasi 'tong nagpipilit na maglagay ng malisya sa isang napakasimpleng bagay," paliwanag ko naman.

Mico just raised his hands. "Okay. Sinabi mo."

Bumaling naman ako sa relo ko. "I have to go. Kaninang umaga pa nagtatrabaho rito si Elio, 'di ba? Kukunin ko na muna siya. Tell him that I'll meet him in my car just outside," sabi ko bago ako tumayo.

"And may I know why you need my waiter when he's still working?" my friend asked.

I frowned. "Grocery shopping. Also, he's my houseboy first before he was your waiter."

"May ganyan na pala kayo ngayon?" Mico replied with a triumphant smile.

"Shut up."

Naghintay naman ako sa labas ng kotse ko pagkalabas ko ng restaurant. After a few minutes ay lumabas na si Elio, nakapagbihis na at suot na rin ang usual niyang expression sa tuwing nakikita niya ako.

"What the hell do you want from me? I was working, for your info," he said.

"Walong oras ka nang nagtatrabaho. Hindi pa ba sapat 'yun?" tanong ko bago ako pumasok sa kotse.

"I was planning to work overtime, you jerk," Elio replied.

I just stared at the road. "Get inside."

"Can't you do your grocery shopping alone? Besides, akala ko ba may nagde-deliver sa 'yo ng groceries? I didn't expect that an introvert such as yourself is capable of going out in the open," sabi niya pagkapasok niya ng kotse.

My eyebrow twitched, but I ignored his attack. "I still need to buy some things. Fresh produce and such," I said before driving. "Also, why would I go grocery shopping alone when I have someone like you? I'm just getting the best out of our deal."

Elio just rolled his eyes and gazed out of the window. Hindi na siya nagsalita pa hanggang sa makarating kami sa supermarket.

"Get a cart," baling ko sa kanya.

Walang kaimik-imik si Elio habang namimili ako, pero pansin ko na sa tuwing may nilalagay ako sa cart ay tila mas lalo lang siyang naiinis. He finally snapped when we arrived at the fresh produce area.

"This is the problem with you, rich kids!" Elio said, waving his hands impatiently.

I raised an eyebrow. "What the hell is wrong you?"

"First and foremost, you don't pick things that are placed right in the middle of the shelf. They're the ones with the shortest shelf life or are about to expire. Try to check things behind the displayed products or at the topmost and lowermost shelves. Also, always check their expiration date. Unfortunately, since you don't want your hands to get dirty and you're too much of a fool, please enjoy your groceries that will expire a couple of months from now."

He then turned to the fresh produce in front of us. "When choosing fruits and vegetables, take a time to inspect them. Are they bruised? Do they have holes? Are they in good shape? After that, feel them. Weigh them in your hands. Does their weight match with their size? Are they too heavy? Too light? Lastly, smell them. Are the fruits overripe? Do the vegetables smell like they're about to rot? Do they still smell fresh? Do they smell like they've been soaked in pesticide? You don't just pick them randomly and then throw them in your cart," Elio added.

"I. . . didn't know about that. . ." I said quietly.

"Ngayon alam mo na," sabad niya. "Step aside, you idiot. Leave this to me. Ugh. . . rich kids," he added, rolling his eyes.

I just stared at Elio as he dived into the crates of fruits and vegetables. "Well, thanks a lot, I guess. . ."