One Single Memory

Simula

Tinitigan ko ang portrait na ipinipinta ko. It is a portrait of a man. His slightly messy tousled hair, dark brown almond shape eyes fringed with long thick eyelashes and eyebrows. His narrow nose and thin pinkish lips, all perfectly fits on his small face. He has also ear piercings that gave him a more boyish look. He's indeed handsome. He seems very familiar to me but it was too distant to remember. Palagi ko siyang napapaniginipan. So I wonder who he is.

I snapped out of the moment when I heard a beep of a car coming. Nilingon ko ang malayong tarangkahan at nakita ang sasakyan ng aking asawa na pinagbubuksan na ngayon ng mga kasambahay.

Dali dali kong itinago ang canvas at pinalitan ito ng ibon na madalas kong ipinta. Nagpanggap akong nagpipinta nang makarinig na ako ng pagbati ng mga kasambahay sa ibaba kasabay ng mabibigat na yabag na paakyat na ng hagdan ngayon.

Napalingon ako sa may bukana ng hagdan at nagkatinginan kami ng aking asawa. Pilit akong ngumiti at nagpatuloy sa pagpipinta.

Ito na ang nakamulatan kong buhay isang taon na ang lumipas. Nagising na lang ako na wala na akong matandaan tungkol sa aking nakaraan. Not even a single memory. Only that I have been told that this man right here is my husband and now we're married for two years.

"What are you painting?" Yumuko si Priam at tinignan ang painting ko.

"A bird," tipid na sagot ko.

He smells expensive. I must say Priam is a good looking man. He's also smart and intimidating but I don't why I don't feel anything about him. They said he's my husband and the evidence was on our ring finger but I doubt it. Hindi ko siya mahal at wala akong maramdaman na kahit ano sa kanya. He was a total stranger to me. Ang sabi ng mga doktor natural lang 'yon dahil nawala ang alaala ko pero bakit may parte sa akin ang naniniwalang hindi talaga kami mag asawa?

"Have you eaten yet?" tanong niya nang lumingon sa akin.

His face is now an inch from me so I avoided his gaze and stood up.

"Not yet. Kumain na tayo," sagot ko at inayos na ang mga gamit.

Nanatili ang titig niya sa akin hanggang sa tinulungan niya akong ligpitin ang mga gamit ko.

I cleaned and fixed myself first before heading downstairs where they were waiting for me patiently. Handa ang pagkain at ako na lang ang hinihintay. In the long table sitted his family. His mother, father and her younger sister Cassie whom they claimed my bestfriend. There are other three older siblings that weren't home anymore. Ang sabi may mga asawa na sila at nakabukod na. Umupo ako sa gitna ni Priam at Cassie at nagsimula na kaming kumain.

"Are you visiting your art gallery today, Cassie?" panimula ni Tita Thralaine, their mother.

"Yes, mom. It's been a week since I last visited. Masiyado kasi akong busy sa Picasso."

She's talking about her art school she built for kids.

"Oh I see. Why don't you take Zosia with you para hindi naman siya maboring dito?" Tita smiled gently at me.

"Iyon nga po ang plano ko." Nakangiting bumaling si Cassie sa akin.

I forced a smile and resumed eating.

"Medyo busy lang kasi ako sa Picasso kaya hindi na kami nakakalabas," dagdag niya.

"That's good. How about you exhibit your paintings, hija? I'm pretty sure you have good arts. Palagi kang nagpe-painting."

Umangat ang tingin ko sa kanya.

"Really?! Patingin ako mamaya ng mga paintings mo ah?!" Cassie giggled.