Embracing the Dark (PSYCH SERIES #1)

Chapter 24

Habang naglalakad ay hindi maiwasang magtagal ang tingin ko sa pasilyo na puno ng kakaibang uri ng mga muwebles.

Ang kisame na gawa sa salamin, ang pader na hinaluan ng disenyo mula sa makalumang panahon, at ang kakaibang pakiramdam na dulot ng mansyon kung nasaan ako ngayon.

The mansion looks very old but it made it more interesting and appealing to the eyes. Every paintings and sculpture are on point. Every little detail in the mansion resembles each other. From the sculpture of a thorned rose to a painting of a woman crying blood.

"As you can see, kinuha ko ang inspirasyon ng mansyon mula sa Roma. The architecture of the ceiling to the ground was designed by a Filipino architect and the house itself was very much inspired by the Vatican Rome,"

Magarbo at mamahalin. Iyan agad ang maiisip ng tao kung bibisita sila sa mansyon. Lahat ng gamit dito ay halatang mamahalin at nasisiguro ko na mas mahal pa sa buhay ko ang mga gamit dito sa mansyon ni Lola Milagros.

"Are you following me, iha?" Lola Milagros stopped walking and glanced at me.

Hindi nakatakas sa paningin ko ang litrato ng ipininta ng isang kilalang tao. It was a portrait of Mona Lisa who was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci. The portrait was hanging in the center top of the mansion together with two paintings beside it.

The Girl with the Pearl Earring by Johaness Vermeer and The Weeping Woman by Pablo Picasso was placed beside the portrait of the Mona Lisa. It is a portrait of women and in my opinion, it describes femininity and resilience based on the chosen portraits.

"Yes po," tugon ko at muling sumulyap sa portrait.

Sinundan ni Lola Milagros ang tingin ko at napangiti nang nakita niya ang tatlong paborito niyang mga paintings. I watched her smile from my peripheral view.

"I see, maganda 'di ba? Those three portraits are my all-time favorite paintings. Bukod sa mga babae sila, gusto ko rin ang mga mensahe ng bawat mga paintings," nakangiti niyang paliwanag habang pinagmamasdan ang mga ito.

Lumingon ako sa kanya.

"Ano po ba ang ibig sabihin ng mga paintings, la?" I asked her.

She smiled before answering.

"Pinakapaborito ko ang ipininta ni Picasso. The Weeping Woman. Base sa litrato, umiiyak ang babae habang may hawak mula sa kanyang kamay. It's a portrait of a woman who was holding her dead child,"

She glanced at me. Iniwas ko ang paningin ko at tinignan nang maigi ang litrato. Totoo ngang may hawak sa kamay ang babae at para itong nagdudusa.

"Pinili ko 'yan dahil halos magkatulad kami ng babae. Siya walang anak at ako, piniling hindi magkaroon ng anak. I chose it as my personal favorite to remind me that having no child wouldn't make you less of a woman. It represents dignity and honor."

Napangiti ako. Kahit matanda na si Lola Milagros, mayroon pa ring words of wisdom na nanganggaling sa kaniya. She talks with elegance and she is the meaning of the word elegance.

From the way she talks, from the way she dresses, and from the way she carries herself. It's all coming from elegance.

"I like your house," I commented.

Nagpatuloy sa paglalakad si Lola Milagros at tahimik naman akong nakasunod sa kaniya. I licked my lips and brushed my hair when I was feeling bored. Kanina pa kami nandito sa mansyon niya.

Hiniram niya ako mula kay Darcy kanina pagkatapos naming mag-umagahan. I didn't have the guts to say no so I agreed to her. I would also like to take this opportunity to think about her offer.