The Paintbrush Deal

CHAPTER 14

Skyler's POV

"Ano na naman po ba ang problema natin, sir?"

Kelly's voice made me jolt in surprise. I looked behind me and saw him carrying two cups of coffee. Inabot niya sa 'kin ang isa bago siya naupo sa tabi ko.

"Susunod na lang daw si Mrs. Pelez. May kinakausap pa kasi siya," dagdag pa niya.

I nodded. "I see. Thanks for the coffee, by the way."

Nandito kami ngayon sa headquarters ng charity na tinutulungan namin. We're just checking on them lalo pa't hindi ko pa sila nakakausap man lang since the exhibit. Kaming dalawa lang ni Kelly ang magkasama. Alas-kwatro na rin ng hapon. Pagkatapos nito ay may family dinner naman kami sa isang restaurant. Balita sa 'kin ni Kelly na may na-close na deal ang mga kapatid ko kaya selebrasyon na rin namin 'yun.

"You're avoiding my question, sir. May problema po ba? Nag-away na naman po ba kayo ni Elio?" Kelly asked.

I sighed. "Sinabi ko sa kanya ang ipinagawa ko sa 'yo. Nasabi ko rin na hindi lang personal information niya ang nahanap natin," sagot ko.

Kelly nodded. "At nagalit siya?"

"Yeah. I tried to apologize, pero kilala mo naman 'yung tao," sabi ko.

He just shook his head while smiling. "Never pa talaga kayong natatahimik, ano? Parati na lang kayong may issue. Well, sinabihan na po kita dati pa na hindi matutuwa si Elio sa oras na malaman niya ang ipinagawa mo sa 'kin. Mapapatawad niya ang paghahalungkat natin sa personal info niya, pero hindi ang pag-alam natin sa nakaraan niya. Some people are really sensitive about their past, especially if they had a difficult and problematic one. Tumigil ako sa pag-uusyoso sa nakaraan niya nang malaman kong lumayas siya. It's insensitive to invade his privacy lalo pa kung ayaw naman niyang sabihin sa 'tin ang nakaraan niya."

"We were doing fine earlier last night," I said. "He even apologized and cooked kare-kare for me. I really don't know why we can't seem to get along well. I mean, ginagawa ko naman ang lahat para hindi siya mahirapan sa obligasyon niya. I no longer argue with him kung galit siya. Mabait naman ako sa kanya. Am I doing something wrong?"

"Are you expecting that Elio will also be kind to you just because you're kind to him?" Kelly asked.

I didn't reply.

"Well, Elio's not really the type of person who'll reciprocate the emotions of other people. I think nagiging mabait lang siya sa mga taong maganda ang first impression sa kanya. Just look at the guy who tried to flirt with him. He had the nerve to actually retaliate and attack the guy when the latter crossed the line. Sa 'yo naman, well, hindi ko na kailangan pang ipaliwanag kung bakit maasim ang trato niya sa 'yo mula sa simula pa lang," dagdag pa ni Kelly.

"Malaking bagay din siguro ang gap sa economic status niyong dalawa. Elio grew up with almost nothing, while you've always had everything. Your way of living is an insult to the poverty that he experienced before. Moreover, kumpleto pa ang pamilya mo. Elio doesn't really envy or hate you because of those things. In his eyes, you're the person that he wanted to be. Lahat ng wala siya, mayroon ka. Alam rin niya deep inside na kahit ano ang gawin niya, hinding-hindi siya magiging kagaya mo. I'm only guessing, but I think those things contributed to the feeling of animosity that he has with you."

I stared blankly in front of me, the late afternoon sun bathing my face with its warm, reddish light. In the playground several meters in front of us were children accompanied by their parents or guardians. Their cheers and lively noises giving life to a somewhat lonely and dull afternoon.

"Ano po ba ang gusto mong mangyari?" tanong sa 'kin ni Kelly makalipas ang ilang saglit.

"I just. . . don't want Elio to hate me."

Kelly raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"The look on his face last night when I revealed to him that I know something about his past. . . I've seen it before. He wasn't angry. He wasn't frustrated. He was. . . hurt. I don't want to see him with that expression again," I said quietly.

"Classic you," Kelly said with a faint laugh. "Ayaw na ayaw niyo po talaga na nakikitang may nahihirapan na ibang tao, ano? You look really uncaring and detached on the outside, pero deep inside ay sentimental at maalalahanin din kayo. Well, I guess you really have a kind heart, sir."

"Really?" I said flatly. "How cheesy can you get?"

"Duh. Look at me. I'm the living proof of your kindness. Kung hindi po dahil sa 'yo at sa pamilya mo, baka kung nasaan na ako ngayon. Hopefully, makikita rin ni Elio na mabait kayo. Just continue what you're doing, sir. Just be yourself. Sigurado ako na magiging hospitable na rin ang atmosphere sa bahay mo soon," sabi ni Kelly.

Sakto naman na lumapit sa 'min si Mrs. Pelez mula sa loob. "Pasensya na po kayo, Sir Kelly at Sir Skyler. May mga kinausap lang po ako. Bakit po pala kayo napadaan? May ibang pagkain pa po kami sa loob. Doon na lang po tayo," sabi niya.

"Actually, I prefer here outside," I said. "Dumaan lang po kami para mangumusta sa inyo. Hindi pa man lang po kami nakakapunta rito since the exhibit."

"Ayos lang naman po kami. Malaking tulong po ang mga donation na natanggap namin, pati na rin po ang publicity dahil sa ginawa niyong art collection. Mas maraming tao na po ang nakakaalam ng ginagawa namin rito. Dumami rin po ang gustong mag-donate," sagot ni Mrs. Pelez.

Ngumiti naman ako. "Buti naman po. Basta po kung may mga kailangan kayo, tawagan niyo lang po si Kelly. Matutulungan po kayo ng kumpanya ng parents ko. They won't think twice about helping you," sagot ko.

"Sige po. Kayo po, Sir Skyler, kumusta na po kayo? Baka po masyado na kayong napapagod sa mga ginagawa niyo. Magpahinga rin po kayo. Kailangan po kayo ng maraming mga batang nangangailangan, kaya sana naman po ingatan niyo ang sarili niyo," sabi ni Mrs. Pelez.

"Nagpapahinga naman po ako," sagot ko naman. "Tsaka kapag nakakatanggap po ako ng mga bagay kagaya ng mga sulat ng mga bata na ibinigay niyo po sa 'kin ay naaalis po ang lahat ng pagod ko."

"Maliit lang po 'yun kumpara sa mga nagawa niyo para sa 'min," sabi ni Mrs. Pelez. "Basta po mag-iingat kayo parati. Bibihira na lang po ang mga taong kagaya mo. Ang mahihilingin ko na lang ay sana maalis na kung ano man pong mga problema at pasanin ang mayroon kayo."

Huminga na lang ako nang malalim.

"Sana nga rin po."

●●●

"Here comes the little prince," sabi ni Ate Hannah habang papalapit kami ni Kelly sa table nila.

"When will you stop calling me that?" sabad ko naman bago kami yumakap ni Kelly kina mama at papa.

"Never."

Kararating lang namin ni Kelly sa restaurant kung saan napagkasunduan ng pamilya na mag-dinner. Nandito nga ang buong pamilya kasama ang mga asawa ng mga kapatid ko at ang mga anak nila.

"Saan ba kayo galing na dalawa?" tanong naman sa 'min ni mama.

"Sa charity po. Nangumusta lang po kami sa mga tao roon," sagot ko.

"Buti naman at nakapunta ka na sa family dinner natin tonight," sabi ni Ate Hildy. "You should've seen Ate Hannah's face on our previous family dinner. Muntikan nang maging paksiw ang lahat ng ulam sa asim ng expression niya. Who knows what she could've done if you didn't show up tonight."

"You don't wanna know," Ate Hannah replied.

"Let's all just relax and be happy that we're complete tonight," mama said. "Besides, this isn't about Skyler's absence last time. We're celebrating the big deal that our company was able to close!"

Dalawa nga ang kapatid kong babae. Ate Hannah is the eldest. Sumunod naman sa kanya si Ate Hildy. Both of them have kids already. Kambal ang anak ni Ate Hannah at one-year old naman ang anak ni Ate Hildy. Most of the time ay doon naglalagi kina mama at papa ang mga pamangkin ko, pero minsan naman ay sa akin iniiwan ni Ate Hannah ang kambal niya.

Like I said before, sila ang sumalo sa kumpanya, allowing me to pursue what I love. Well, nasa lahi naman talaga nila siguro ang pag-handle ng mga negosyo. It's just not my thing. In fact, mas may alam pa si Kelly sa workings ng kumpanya kumpara sa akin. Sinabihan ko na rin kasi siya na siya ang hahawak ng kung anumang shares ang mamamana ko mula sa kumpanya.

When I was younger, ako talaga ang sentro ng atensyon ng pamilya. Nakadagdag pa doon na lalaki ako. Kahit nag-iisa akong lalaki ay hindi ko naman naramdaman na nag-iisa lang ako. Still, girls will be, well, girls. Especially during my adolescent years, doon ako nakaramdam ng gap mula sa dalawa kong kapatid. I mean, alangan naman na sumali ako sa usapan nila tungkol sa monthly period at paborito nilang boy bands. As I grew older and more mature, I was eventually able to bridge the gap between us.

Ate Hannah is the tough and strict big sister in the family, while Ate Hildy is the gentler and more lenient one. I equally love them both, so there's no favoritism here.

"Kumusta na pala ang houseboy mo?" tanong bigla sa 'kin ni Ate Hannah habang kanlong ko ang isa sa mga anak niya.

I immediately frowned. She's the last person that I'd expect to be interested about Elio. "Why are you even asking me that?" I said.

Kelly cleared his throat. "Madalas mangumusta sa 'kin si Ate Hannah, sir. Wala sa trabaho ko ang magsinungaling, so I always give her a general picture of the atmosphere in your house. She's been quite inquisitive about you ever since Elio started living in your house."

"And may I ask why?" I said, turning my eyes back to my sister.

She raised her hands defensively. "I just wanted to make sure that my little brother is doing fine at all times—"

"That's the worst lie that you could ever tell me."

Ate Hannah chuckled lightly. "Well, everyone here has become a little bit curious about you ever since you took in that waiter. I mean, you've been cooping yourself up in your house for so many years, so it was quite a shock for us when we learned that you're letting that guy stay in your house. Hindi lang nagtatanong ang iba out of respect for your privacy, but they're just as curious about him as I am," she said.

I rolled my eyes. "Ilang beses ko bang kailangan na ulitin ang rason kung bakit siya nakatira sa bahay ko? You personally saw what happened, sis. Kung may pera lang siya ay hindi naman kami aabot sa ganito," sagot ko.

"I know, pero if it were the usual Skyler, he would've let it all pass, considering na biktima lang din 'yung waiter at wala pa siyang pera. You usually don't care about anything at all, so why did you make an exception with that cute little guy?" Ate Hannah replied, casting me a calculating look.

Natigilan ako. Si Kelly naman ay linagok na mula sa mismong bowl ang soup na kanina lang ay ginagamitan niya ng kutsara.

"See? Alam kong hindi lang ako ang nakapansin sa kakaibang behavior mo pagdating sa waiter na 'yun," my sister said after a few moments of silence. "It was unnatural of you to do that kind of thing, unless of course kung may iba ka pang motibo. . ."

Agad na tumalim ang titig ko. "Care to elaborate on that?"

Ate Hannah shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I only know you, but I am not you. Kahit kapatid kita, ikaw lang ang nakakaalam ng tumatakbo diyan sa loob ng utak mo. Looking at you, mukhang ikaw ay hindi rin alam kung bakit ginawa mo ang bagay na 'yun. Well, hopefully ay maliwanagan ka one day as to why you did those things. I'll be waiting for an answer, brother," she said before turning her attention to her child.

"Am I really acting differently when it comes to Elio?" I asked, turning to Kelly.

"Well, yes. I'm surprised nga po na hindi mo 'yun nakikita, considering na ilang tao na ang nagsasabi sa 'yo. Lahat naman po ng nakakakilala sa 'yo ay nagtataka sa kakaibang behavior mo pagdating kay Elio. Buti na lang talaga at napuntirya ni Ate Hannah ang point niya, at mukhang na-realize mo na ang dapat mo pong na-realize noon pa lang," sagot ni Kelly.

"Ah. . . Looks like I have to stop calling you little prince from now on," Ate Hannah said with a smirk.

"Shut up."