Look of Love

Chapter 33

Nauuna akong maglakad habang hawak ko ang kamay niya. Salubong naman ang kilay niya nang huminto kami sa saradong pinto. The door creaked when I opened it slowly. Noong parehas na kaming nasa loob ay sinarado ko ulit iyon.

"You're the first person I brought here. Wala pang nakakaalam nito, ikaw ang una."

My voice echoed. Nilibot niya ang tingin sa malawak na silid. Ang maluwang na espasyo nito ang dahilan kaya umalingawngaw ang boses ko. Wala pa masyadong gamit. Tanging mga ilaw lang at iilang obra ko na dito nakalagay.

"Is this your other studio?"

I swallowed hard and shook my head. "No..."

Binalingan niya ako kaya marahan akong ngumiti. The sound of my heart grew wilder as I took a step forward towards the huge white curtain. Nilingon ko siya, pero hindi pala siya sumunod sa akin. Nakatayo lang siya doon at sinusundan ako ng tingin. I tilted my head, confused that he's not taking a step forward.

Naglakad siya palapit sa'kin. My eyes lowered down on his hand because he reached mine. Malamig iyon sa hindi malamang dahilan. He look so puzzled with this place. Is he nervous?

Hinawakan ko ang hiwa ng kurtina. Hinawi ko ito sapat lamang para makapasok kami sa kabilang bahagi. When he saw what's on the other side, his lips parted.

"Welcome to my future art gallery, Primo."

He looked so amazed. Maigi ko siyang pinagmasdan na maglibot ng tingin... hanggang sa huminto ang mga mata niya sa pinaka-malaking obrang nakatanghal sa pader. Natatakpan din iyon ng tela.

Nilingon niya ako kaya nagkatinginan kami. I jerked my head towards that painting. He blinked.

"Go on," I nodded.

"You want me to uncover it?"

I nodded again.

He licked his lower lip and run his fingers through his hair. Naglakad siya palapit doon. Sinundan ko siya, ilang metro ang layo sa kaniyang likod. Malaki talaga iyon at mas matangkad pa sa akin. My breathing starts to feel heavy as I stare at him. He reached for the cloth and pulls it, revealing my winning piece.

"What the fuck..."

Lumipad ang puting tela sa ere dahil sa kanipisan nito. It falls on the ground gently like a feather. Napaatras siya, laglag ang panga at nanlalaki ang mga mata.

His reaction... priceless. He's at loss for words. Like he couldn't find any words to describe what he's seeing.

He's couldn't say anything. Kinagat ko ang aking labi dahil sa kaniyang katahimikan. I started to feel embarrassed.

"Maxi Anne."

Napapitlag ako at muntik nang mapamura nang banggitin niya ang pangalan ko na nakalagay sa ibabang bahagi nito.

"Look of Love," he uttered its name.

I swallowed hard and stood beside him.

"His eyes has the look of love..." he said huskily, reading the plaque beside it.

He makes me want to stare at his eyes, so that I can see my reflection on it. So I painted him. So that he, too, can see his reflection on my eyes. Through mine.

He was smiling so softly while the wind is blessing his skin. The night sky behind him made him more surreal. His eyes looks so real. I could stare at it all day long. It makes me feel thousands of emotions. Hanggang ngayon, humahanga pa din ako na ako ang may gawa nito.

"That's how you look like the night I became yours."

Iyon 'yung araw na sinagot ko siya. Hindi ko makakalimutan ang itsura niya. That's one of the happiest night of my life.