Written On A Canvas

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

"Talk?" Kasabay ng pag-kunot ng noo niya ay ang pagpasada niya ng kamay sa basa niyang buhok. His expression shifted and he suddenly gestured his hand inward. "Pasok ka pala muna..."

Impit akong tumango at pumasok sa loob ng bahay. Mabilis ko lang inilibot ang paningin ko at napansing ganoon pa rin ang set-up ng loob kaso bagong mga gamit na. Halimbawa, ganoon pa rin ang pwesto ng sala ngunit ibang brand na ng mga upuan ang naroon. Napansin ko ring marami nang nakadikit na painting sa kahit saang pader. Nag-mukha tuloy mini-gallery ang loob ng bahay.

"Upo ka," giya niya sa akin sa sala. Sumunod naman ako. "I'll just... go get dressed," at mabilis itong tumakbo sa isang direksyon.

Hindi ko alam kung dapat pa ba akong masurprise nang makita siyang papunta sa pamilyar na hallway. Hindi niya talaga binitawan ang kwartong iyan. I wonder kung ganoon pa rin ba ang itsura compared noong huli kong pasok doon?

Umupo nalang ako sa isang single couch at patingin-tingin sa paligid.

So mag-isa siya rito? Or... baka may kasama siya? Perhaps, his partner he mentioned back in the city? Sino kaya 'yon? Nasaan kaya? Would he or she magically enter this house?

Nakabalik si Zibon na may suot nang t-shirt. Umupo siya sa adjacent na couch at hinarap ako na may pagtatakang nakaguhit sa mukha.

"What are we going to talk about?" he asked, his eyebrows still meeting.

"Business," I answered. Nawala ang pagtataka sa mukah niya. Sa halip ay napalitan ito ng kaseryosohan. "Are you busy?" tanong ko naman.

"Ngayon? No... Why?"

"You see..." I heaved a deep breathe. "One of my cast wants to learn something. And he really wants to learn it. It's a particular art style."

His expression shifted as if he was finding it interesting. "Really? What art style, by the way?" His eyebrows met curiously.

"Impressionism..."

Nag-form ng o ang bibig niya at tipid na tumango. "Interesting. What do you want me to do?"

"Teach him how," sabi ko naman. "Iyon lang."

"Like teach him how to do Impressionism art?"

"Exactly," I said. "Don't worry. You'll get paid to do this. That, if you agree."

"Will I sign a contract to do this? What are the terms and conditions?"

"I can ask my assistant to make one," I told him. "Well, for the terms and conditions... pwede kang mag-latag ng sarili mong mga kondisyon once maibigay ko na ang kontrata. Then we can work things around. I apologize for not bringing one right away, though. Biglaan lang din ito..."

"No, it's fine. It's fine. Medyo nakagugulat lang pero ayos lang," ngiti niya. "Mapo-postpone ba ang shooting niyo?" dagdag niyang tanong.

Umiling naman ako. "No. May scenes naman na wala si Ramil. We can do those while you're teaching him. And... Ramil's a very passionate guy. He'll learn fast," pagpro-promote ko.

I'm really sure this would inspire Ramil. Kitang-kita ko ang determination nang sabihin niya sa aking gusto niyang matuto ng sinasabi niyang art style. And I also find his reason valid. He could have just chose to do normal art like what is written in the book but he didn't.

"So bali, indefinite ang deadline sa trabaho ko dito?"

I nodded as if I understood him clearly. "Yes. If you can do it in just a week, good. If extended to two weeks, it's fine. Just make sure Ramil can do it confidently. That's all I ask."