Chapter 6-That Artist

[Vida's Point of View]

"I want... a mixed theme."

Pinangunutan ko s'ya ng noo. "Ano'ng ibig mo sabihin?"

"Mixed theme. Meaning, mixtures of different themes."

Argh, hindi ako tanga! Alam ko 'yon.

"Ano ba talaga ang gusto mo? Yong specific," tanong ko, nagpapanggap na kalmado.

"Well... you can suggest," pagkibit balikat n'ya.

I frowned at him. "What do you mean by that?"

"Mixed theme. Meaning, mixtures of different themes."

Gosh! I'm not stupid!

"What exactly do you want?" I said, pretending to be unbothered.

"Well, I don't actually know. Do you have any suggestions?"

He is really a jerk.

"Galaxies? Planets? Sunset? Ocean? Abstract?" As I said each words he kept shaking his head on me. "Can't you just tell me what theme you want?"

"Okay. I want something minimalist. Just like this."

He showed me a picture on his phone.

"That's a coffee shop, right?" He then smirked at me.

"Obviously."

I gulped a few times. What a shame, Vida!

It's a wall painting from a coffee shop. He said that he wanted that kind of painting. He wants me to put an inspirational quotes and bible verses. And I didn't expect it brooo. I mean—of course, my first impression to him isn't that good.

"Let's call it a day. See you tomorrow," his last sentence before I finally got out of their place.

I was actually feeling not okay, something strange, after I knew that the jerk is Mr. Camero's son. I don't know. This is insanely weird.

"Vida!!" sinalubong ako ng yakap ni Faye pagkapasok na pagkapasok ko sa pintuan.

"Vida, why you didn't wait for me, huh? I'm sulking."

"Sorry. I just wanted to get out of that place as soon as possible." Her eyes widened.

"What? Why? Did they hurt you? Are they bad people?"

"No. It's not like that."

"What then?"

"I'm tired. I feel so tired."

"Why? Don't say that... they hired you as a maid?" she asked seriously.

"Of course, no. I just don't feel well." She immediately touch my neck and forehead right after my response.

"Hey, I think you're not sick. But what's wrong? Are you tired mentally? emotionally? C'mon dear, tell me." I saw how worried she is so I ended my drama.

I laughed and hugged her. "I'm just kidding hahaha."

"What the fvck, biatch. I am so worried, you know??"

"Sorry hahaha."

"Ugh, I'm leaving. You're so mean to me." I continued laughing to her. Actually, sinadya ko talaga iyon para umalis na sya dito sa apartment namin. Nagtanong-tanong pa sya tungkol sa mga pinag-usapan namin lalo na don sa Dion pero wala akong kinuwento sa kanya. Sabi ko na saka na lang kapag nasa mood na ako. At success naman, umalis rin s'ya.

Pagkaalis n'ya, dahil wala naman si Lola Clarita, doon na ako nagsisigaw. Hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit basta gusto tumili. Siguro kasi nakaharap ko na naman ang lalaking sobrang kinaiinisan ko. Parang may kung ano sa loob ko na gusto kong mailabas mula pa kanina pagkaalis ko sa bahay nila Mr. Camero. Ang weird lang kasi pagkakita ko sa salamin kanina ang pula-pula ng pisnge ko.

Pero speaking of bahay nila Mr. Camero, bakit doon sila nakatira? Samantalang doon ko naman nakita si Dion the gonggong sa kapitbahay ng kliyente ko?

"Aish, ano ba pake mo Vida?"

Nagulantang ako nang biglang tumunog ang phone ko. May tumatawag pero hindi naman nakaregister ang number. Sino kaya ito? Baka scammer.

"Hello? Sino 'to?"

"Are you alright, Vida? Bakit nagsisigaw ka na naman? May problema ba?"

Nangunot ang noo ko. Shuta, sino 'to? Pa'no n'ya nalaman pinaggagawa ko?

"Sino ka? Stalker ka no?! Hayop ka pa'no mo nakuha number ko ha?" Mga ilang segundo s'yang natahimik. "Ano? Ano? Hindi ka na makasagot? Siguro stalker ka talaga ano?"

"Vida, listen. Sumilip ka sa bintana, nandito ako sa backyard. Gumagawa ako ng kanta."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko after marinig 'yon. Dali-dali naman akong sumilip sa bintana at doon nakita ko si Kuya Vincent na nakatingin sa direksyon ko habang nasa kaliwang tenga ang phone n'ya. Nginitian ko s'ya at kinawayan pero hindi naman ako pinansin.

"S-Sorry, Kuya. Akala ko kasi kung sino hehe."

"It's okay."

"Sige, Kuya. Maghuhugas pa ako ng pinggan. Salamat sa concern."

"Mm. Okay ka lang ba? If you have a problem you can talk to me."

"Noted, Kuya Vincent. By the way, pa'no mo nakuha number ko?" kausap namin ang isa't-isa pero magkatinginan lang kami mula dito sa bintana. Medyo naiilang na nga ako. Mukhang worried na worried talaga s'ya.

"Uhh, binigay sa'kin ni Lola Clarita. Para daw madali kitang macontact lalo na 'pag may emergency."

"Ahhh hahaha. 'Kay. End ko na ang call, Kuya. Galingan mo pagcompose ng song."

"Mm. Thanks."

[Dion's Point of View]

Kagagaling lang namin sa church, our family day every Sunday. Kahit gaano pa kabusy gumagawa talaga kami ng paraan para magkasama-sama sa pagsimba.

Si Mom and Dad dumidiretso sa trabaho nila after ng misa.

"Bunso, kanina may dumaan ditong babae. Mukhang hinahanap ka," Ate Peony said. Nandito kami ngayon sa salas nanonood ng tv.

"Hm? Sino daw ate?"

"I don't know. Baka secret admirer mo."

We both chuckled. "Kung secret admirer ko talaga 'yon, kawawa s'ya kasi wala na s'yang pag-asa sa'kin."

"Aha? Don't tell me, may nililigawan na ang kapatid ko?"

I grinned to her. "Ate, tomorrow may pupunta ditong artist," pag-iba ko sa usapan.

"Artist? You mean a drawer?" Napatawa ako ng malakas dahil sa sinabi n'ya.

"Where'd you get that word 'drawer'? It's not the term, Ate."

"I mean kasi, a person who draw," paliwanag n'ya.

"Yeah, a person who makes anything about arts."

"So, what about that artist? May ipapagawa ka?"

"Yeah, kami ni Dad. Wall painting sa room ko."

"Oh, really? That's cool. Friend mo ba 'yong artist?"

Umiling ako sa kan'ya. "Definitely not."

Nagulat ako sa sumunod na nangyari. Lumundag si Ate mula sa kabilang sofa papunta sa akin. I never expected that, mabilis ang pangyayari kaya huli na ng mamalayan ko na hawak na n'ya ang dalawa kong braso mula sa likuran. She was sitting on the top of the sofa habang ako naman konting galawa na lang for sure mahuhulog na ako sa sahig.

"Atee! What are you doing?"

"May hindi ka sinasabi sa akin, Cole. Diba I told you na 'wag na 'wag kang magsisinungaling sa akin?" Mas lalo nyang hinigpitan ang hawak sa dalawang braso ko. Medyo masakit na.

"Ate, let go of me. I don't know what you're talking about," pagpupumiglas ko. I forgot nag-aaral nga pala s'ya ng martial arts. Hindi talaga ako dito mananalo.

"Kanina, when I ask you kung friend mo ba 'yong artist—nakita ng dalawang bola ng mga mata ko ang pagsmile mo. You think I'm dumb? Of course not!"

"What? What are you trying to saying? Just let go of me para makapag-usap tayo ng maayos."

"No! Kaya pala. Kaya naman pala naghire ka pa ng pintor para mapinturahan agad ang walls ng room mo kasi magpapamural paint ka? sa artist? Bakit? Jowa mo ba 'yong artist na 'yon?!"

"Ate, alam mong comedy ang pinapanood natin. Sino'ng hindi matatawa?"

"Bulok mo magreason!"

"Ouchh!" dahil sa malakas na daing ko napilitan na rin si Ate Peony na pakawalan ako. Nice act, Dion.

"Go, mag-explain ka na!"

"Ate?"

"Ano?" Her eyes widened kaya napabuntong-hininga na lang ako.

"She's just a crush of mine," sinadya kong iniwasan ang mga titig n'ya.

"Okay. Simple as that. Sasabihin mo lang naman sa'kin kung may nagugustuhan ka na ulit, hindi mo pa magawa."

"Ate, bago pa lang naman. Almost a month pa lang. I didn't lie to you."

"We?"

"Yeah. Hindi naman talaga kami friends. In fact, she hates me a lot and don't know why."

"She?... Don't worry the more you hate, the more you love. Believe in that quote."

"Oh, really? Then, love na love mo pala si Lia—"

"Definitely not. Forget what I said," saka ito umalis and I just chuckled. She looked so serious.

I know Ate acts like that just to protect me from heartbreak. She knows me well when it comes to love, or should I say, when I love. But I don't blame her tho because in my past relationship it ended bad kaya siguro gan'yan s'ya.

"Hey! I wanna meet that artist tomorrow. Tawagan mo 'ko 'pag nandito na s'ya," aniya, nakasilip sa pintuan.

"Kikilatisin ko ang babaeng 'yon."