Lay A Glance On Me 1 (Lost and Retained #2)

Kabanata 29

Kabanata 29

''Lucy? Nasa mesa na ang mga Kuya mo. Sabayan mo raw kumain ng agahan,'' ani Manang pagkatapos kumatok.

Tamad akong tumayo. I was so tired from trying to study last night. Paano ba naman kasi, malapit nang mag-prelims kaya kailangan ko nang mag-aral. I was kind of motivated to study so I took the chance. Nagpa-print ako ng readings, bumili ng highlighters, nag-prepare ng coffee, at nag-paskil pa ako ng ''Do not disturb!'' sign sa pintuan ko pero sa kasamaang palad, nakatulog lang ako sa pagsubok na mag-aral. 

Lintek.

''Bababa na po ako! Pakisabi, Manang!'' sigaw ko.

Dumiretso na ako sa CR at ginawa ang usual routine ko. Wala naman akong gagawin masyado bukod sa pagbabasa. Kapag natapos ako ng maaga, baka mag pinta na lang ako dahil kailangan kong mag-practice.

Kuya Ismael discovered my love for painting when I locked myself up for how many weeks. Ironically, painting was one of the things I did to divert my attention when Jarrell and I broke up. Akalain mo 'yun? Siya, na nanakit sa 'kin, ang dahilan kung paano ko na-discover ang pagkagusto ko sa pagpipinta, pero sa huli, 'yon din pala ang tutulong sa 'kin para makabangon dahil sa ginawa niya.

Kuya was just supposedly hand the coffee he made. E', nasaktuhan niya akong nagpipinta. He liked the line art I made so he asked me to make one for him, too.

Bumaba na ako nang matapos mag-hilamos. Hindi na ako nag suklay o nagpalit pa ng damit dahil wala naman akong lakad ngayong araw. Mamaya na lang 'pag tapos kong maligo.

At the dining table was Kuya Roman who looks tired and weary while shamelessly gawking at Kuya Ismael who's shaking his head while laughing. May tinitignan siya sa labas na tila interesadong-interesado siya. My forehead creased. 

Problema nitong dalawang 'to?

''What's funny?'' I asked as I sat across Kuya Ismael. Kuya Roman's beside me, looking like he's about to die because of stress. I couln't help but to laugh, too. ''Himala. Wala kang pasok?''

He only stared at me. Napa-irap na lang ko. Kailan kaya magsasalita 'to? 'Kala mo robot, e.

''Are you done with the painting?'' si Kuya Ismael iyon. ''I'll wire the payment to your account.''

Umiling ako at kumuha ng bacon. Something flashed in my mind but I immediately shook it off. Everything reminds me of him. Napalunok ako.

''Not yet,'' I answered. ''Baka bukas, ibigay ko. I still have pending readings, you know.''

''You paint?'' Kuya Roman butted in. Siguro'y nagulat kasi sino ba namang mag-aakalang nagpipinta ako? No one knows, even myself, what I would love to do in my life!

Before.

But now, I really could say that I love painting. How its done, how it is made to convey a message, and how it used to deliver a supposed feeling to the viewer amazes me. I want to do this in the long haul.

''Sort off.'' I scrunched up my nose. ''Bakit? Papa-paint ka? Mahal TF ko. Baka hindi mo afford.''

He shook off his head and only game me a lopsided smile.

''Do you need anything? Para masabi ko kay Daddy,'' si Kuya Ismael ulit. ''Are the groceries in your fridge enough? Your bank account?''

Umiling ako. They have provided me everything already. Kahit nga mga hindi ko kailangan e' naibigay na nila, e. I don't know if Kuya Ismael told Daddy what happened to Jarrell and I but for the past few weeks, they were extra caring to me. Which really, really helped me. Buti na lang at nariyan sila. Lalo na si Kuya Ismael.