The Paintbrush Deal

CHAPTER 47

“I like you, Skyler. I’ve always liked you since the beginning, since the very first time that we met each other.”
 
As Miles’ words echoed inside my ears, I lowered my head and just stared blankly at the empty air.
 
“I’m sorry if I sound pushy,” Miles added. “I just don’t want to beat around the bush anymore. Masyado nang maraming taon ang pinalampas ko. Matanda na rin tayo. We shouldn’t act like innocent, dewy-eyed teenagers. I only want to tell you the truth.”
 
I sighed. “I understand.”
 
“Hindi mo naman ako kailangang sagutin,” sabi naman niya agad. “Hindi ko hinihiling na magustuhan mo rin ako. Gusto ko lang talaga na masabi sa ‘yo ang totoo. I can’t really make amends with my past without telling you what I feel. Ngayon na maayos na kami ni papa at nasabi ko na ang gusto kong sabihin sa ‘yo, I can finally move forward with my life.”
 
“You were also special to me,” I said in a low voice. “I treasured my friendship with you. Totoo nga na hindi ako pala-imik noon. I liked being with you. Hindi ko kasi kailangan na magsalita kapag kasama kita. We just. . . understood each other. I think that kind of relationship is really special and unique.”
 
“However, masyado akong nakampante sa pagsasama natin. Strong relationships are built over strong connections. You can’t build a good relationship without proper communication. That was the fatal mistake that both of us committed many years ago. We understood each other, but people didn’t understand us,” I added.
 
Miles smiled lightly. “That’s too accurate.”
 
Tumayo ako mula sa sofa. “Come with me. I want to show you something,” I said before heading towards my workroom.
 
“What’s this?” Miles asked me as I opened the door.
 
Tumambad sa ‘min ang workroom ko, kasama ang mga brush, pintura, canvas, at lahat ng mga gamit mo. Miles entered the room, his face torn between awe and surprise. Bumaling naman ako sa isang cabinet at naghalungkat.
 
“Well, this certainly looks like the studio of a world-renowned painter. You’re acting like I’m the only famous person here, but you’re also well-known internationally. I don’t think I could even afford your personal paintings,” Miles said as he inspected the room.
 
I chuckled. “Don’t be silly. A lot more people know you. Not everyone is into arts.”
 
“Hey, can you give me one painting? Gusto ko talagang magkaroon ng kahit isang painting mo,” sabi pa niya.
 
“Jeez. You sound like Mico,” sagot ko.
 
“Speaking of that bastard, how is he? What’s he up to now?” Miles asked me.
 
“Busy with his restaurants. In fact, magkasosyo kami. By the way, ilang buwan na silang magkarelasyon ni Kelly. Gusto na nga niyang pakasalan ang tao, kaso gusto pa ni Kelly na tapusin ang pag-aaral niya,” sagot ko naman.
 
Miles almost dropped the can of paint that he’s currently holding. “Wait. Mico and Kelly are in a relationship? Seryoso ka? Kelly is too good for that jerk! Why did you even allow their relationship?” he said.
 
“That’s exactly what everyone thought in the beginning,” I answered while shaking my head. “Well, magugulat ka sa laki ng pinagbago ni Mico. Besides, hindi naman nagkakaiba silang dalawa. They’re exactly identical inside despite their seemingly clashing personalities.”
 
“I’m not really worried about them. I’m pretty sure you’ll protect Kelly. Remember when you defended him from bullies back in high school? You got seriously beaten up. You even broke your eyeglasses. Tita Susan was beyond furious when she saw you,” Miles said as he chuckled lightly.
 
I looked back at Miles as he laughed gently, his face radiating with colors that seemed to bring back life to the dull and monochromatic atmosphere of my workroom. I just felt my lips curving into a small grin as fond memories of our past came rushing back in my head.
 
Finally finding what I was looking for, I stepped away from the cabinet and propped a canvas on an easel. Miles approached me right away, staring curiously at the canvas covered with a piece of cloth.
 
“What’s this? Are you seriously going to give me a painting?” he asked.
 
I just smiled at him before finally removing the cloth covering the canvas.
 
“I wanted to give this to you many years ago. Unfortunately, umalis ka nga. It’s been sitting here for several years now. This is the last painting in which I used colors. I want you to have it,” I said.
 
Miles just stared at the painting. He then raised his hand and touched its colorful surface. “It’s me. . .”
 
It’s the painting that used to be the centerpiece of my workroom, a painting bursting with life and colors. The smiling face on the painting seemed to reflect the expression on Miles’ face.
 
“I kind of remember you telling me that you were creating a painting for me. Ito ba ‘yun?” tanong niya.
 
I nodded. “I finished that painting a few months after you left.”
 
As Miles continued staring at the painting, his eyes suddenly glistened with tears. I was about to approach him when he suddenly faced me.
 
“Can I hug you? Kahit ngayon lang?”
 
I smiled lightly before opening my arms. Miles immediately wrapped his arms around me, and within moments he was already crying silently. He just leaned his forehead against my chest and bowed his head low, his hands squeezing my back.
 
That’s right. . . I thought. Despite his usual lively and colorful demeanor, he’s still hurting inside. His wounds haven’t really healed yet, and he’s still trying to heal them even after so many years. He’s still trying to fix whatever it is that’s left in him.
 
“I’m sorry. . .” Miles said, sniffling loudly as he tried to control his tears. “After everything that I went through. . . After all the pain that I endured. . . I never thought that I’d still see you. I never thought that I’d still get a chance to be with you again. I’m really sorry. I missed you so much that it hurts.”
 
I just allowed Miles to release everything that he’s holding inside him. Even though he already made amends with his father, alam ko na hindi pa rin naging madali ang buhay niya magmula noong bata pa lang siya. Kahit na pinili niya ako noon, masasaktan pa rin siya. Kahit nga rin pinili niya ang pamilya niya ay hindi pa rin siya nakaiwas sa pananakit ng papa niya. In the end, he chose to endure the pain all by himself rather than drag me into his own conflict with his father.
 
Miles finally calmed down after a few minutes. “I’m sorry for my ugly crying. Ang tagal ko na kasing gusto sabihin ‘yun sa ‘yo. I know I just wept my eyes out, but I’m really happy and relieved that I finally got to tell you the truth after so many years.”
 
“No worries. Masaya rin ako na kahit papaano nagkaliwanagan na tayong dalawa. Just like you, ilang taon ko ring dinala ang pagsisisi ko. It may sound strange and weird, but it seems that we both freed each other from our respective burdens and regrets,” I said.
 
Miles smiled at me. “You’re right.”
 
I stared at his tear-streaked face for several moments as I pondered with my thoughts. Finally making up my mind, I held his hand and said, “Do you want to try if things will work out for us?”
 
He looked at me in mild surprise.
 
“I’m not forcing you, pero pwede naman nating subukan kung saan tayo daldalhin ng mga nararamdaman natin. We could go out for dates and such while you’re still here. I really don’t have any idea about dating, so. . .”
 
Miles chuckled. “You’re still the awkward little Skyler that I used to know. Well, kung ‘yan ang gusto mo, then I’d also like to give it a try. Thank you so much, Skyler,” he said before hugging me tightly.
 
I also wrapped my arms around him. “Welcome back, by the way,” I said, smiling faintly.
 
Miles stared at me flatly. “Yeah. We’re a little too late for that.”

● ● ●

It’s already dark when Elio and Kelly finally went back home. Kanina pa nakaalis sina Yana at Miles. I was about to approach Elio pero bigla akong hinarang ni Kelly sabay saksak sa bibig ko ng ilang isaw.
 
“They taste so good, sir!” Kelly said. “You want some more? Eat up. Elio and I will just cook our dinner, so feast on them for the meantime!”
 
“What took you so long?” I asked him. Si Elio naman ay nasa kusina na at nagtatakal na ng bigas.
 
“Well, nawili po kasi kami sa paglalakad. Hindi niyo naman kasi kami tinulungan sa paglilinis ng bahay. Napagod tuloy kami. We had a great time, though. Buti nga naisipan pa namin na umuwi rito,” sagot niya.
 
Kelly glanced at the kitchen for a moment before looking back at me, his gaze sharpening.
 
“What happened here while we’re away, sir?” he asked me in a low voice.
 
I sighed. “Miles and I talked. Nagkumustahan din kami.”
 
“’Yun lang?” tanong pa niya.
 
Kinuwento ko rin sa kanya ang mga sinabi sa ‘kin ni Miles at ang lahat ng mga ginawa namin habang nandito siya kanina. I also told Kelly about my plan with Miles. By the time na natapos akong magkuwento ay nakatulala na lang siya sa ‘kin.
 
“Wait. . . You seriously told me na gusto mong subukan kung gagana ang relasyon niyong dalawa? You’re basically dating now?” he asked.
 
I nodded.
 
Kelly looked like he couldn’t believe what he just heard. He was about to say something, but he suddenly glanced at the kitchen before grabbing my hand and dragging me out of the house. Sa isang medyo tagong parte ng bakuran ako dinala ni Kelly.
 
“Sir, narinig niyo po ba ang sarili mo nang sabihin mo ‘yun? Nag-isip po ba kayo bago kayo dumating sa ganyang desisyon?” tanong niya sa ‘kin.
 
“Miles told me that he likes me, and I certainly have feelings for him, too—”
 
Kelly slapped his forehead. “What about Elio?”
 
Natigilan ako.
 
“Sir, hindi po ako bulag. Mas lalo namang hindi ako tanga. Kung sakaling hindi mo po na-realize ang muntik niyo nang gawin ni Elio noong gabing iyon, then let me tell you what I saw instead. You two almost kissed. Muntik na kayong maghalikan. Hindi po gawain ng dalawang ordinaryong magkaibigan na maghalikan nang walang rason,” paliwanag ni Kelly.
 
“Tapos ngayon sasabihin mo na liligawan mo si Miles? Sir, alam niyo ba na may masasaktan kayo dahil sa ginagawa mo ngayon? Alam ko naman po na hindi mo intensyon na makapanakit. You’re a thoroughly honorable man. Unfortunately, medyo clueless po kayo pagdating sa pag-ibig. Baka po sa paningin mo ay walang problema ang sinabi mo kay Miles, pero dahil po sa ginawa mo, linagay mo silang dalawa ni Elio sa isang mahirap at kumplikadong sitwasyon,” dagdag pa niya.
 
I sighed deeply as realization finally hit me. As usual, nagpadala na naman ako sa emosyon ko. I allowed my heart to take control of my mind once again. Mas inuna ko na naman na sundin ang bulong ng puso ko kaysa sa rason na sinasabi ng utak ko.
 
“I’m sorry. . .” I said in a low voice.
 
“Elio doesn’t have a lot of friends. You’re my family, sir, and I love you very much. Unfortunately, mas kailangan po ako ni Elio ngayon. You have a lot of supportive people behind your back, samantalang halos mag-isa lang po si Elio. He’ll need all the help and support that he can get,” sagot ni Kelly.
 
“Maybe I can still talk to Elio about it,” sabi ko naman agad. “I can still tell him—”
 
Kelly smiled at me gently before placing a hand on my shoulder. “Sir, hindi po kayo ganyan pinalaki nina Tito Hector at Tita Susan. Miles is important to you. Obvious din naman na may nararamdaman kayo para sa isa’t-isa. Choose Miles. Ako na po ang bahala kay Elio. Sa ngayon, kailangan mo munang ayusin ang nakaraan mo kasama ang kaibigan mo mula noong bata ka pa lang.”
 
I just bowed my head low. “I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to put Elio in such a difficult situation. I only wanted the best for him. . . I’m so sorry. . .”
 
“Don’t apologize to me. In fact, don’t apologize to anyone. You and Miles have all the right in the world to date. You’re childhood friends, you like each other, you’re both very successful. . . Kahit sino naman iisipin na bagay kayong dalawa. Go with Miles, sir. He needs you now more than ever,” Kelly said.
 
He then tapped my shoulder several times before walking away from me. “I’ll just go with Elio, sir. He needs me. Good luck na lang po sa mga plano mo with Miles. I’m happy for you.”