UNCOVER JANE DOE

Chapter 7: Searching for the unknown

"Hah!" I stretched my back while looking at the nearly finished portrait that i'm making.

My hand is almost numb from hours of perfecting the details. Not quite perfect but almost.

A satisfied smile registered on my face. But I abruptly shook my head coz of the mess I made myself. Smudge of charcoal all over my hand, on my thighs and surely on my face. Some are on the floor where I sat doing sketches.

"You want me to clean you up, baby?"

Kiara who had been here for some hours just watching me do the sketches offered me some washcloth to clean my hands.

"I'm good. I'd better take a shower to freshen up."

"Darn! What do I have to do to atleast get your attention, Regina? I'm here for hours watching you do your thing, without hearing any word from you. All I wanted was for you to talk to me or glance at me for once."

Nilingon ko s'ya. "Seriously, Ki? Hindi ko naaalalang pinapunta kita dito o kahit manlang niyayang panoorin akong magtrabaho. You did it all by yourself. Tapos magrereklamo ka? In the first place, why are you here? You weren't even my assistant nor my model in this portrait that i'm making."

She stiffened and couldn't find her words. "Damn! You're always like that!"

Tumalikod na s'ya sa akin at tinungo ang pinto. Walang lingon-likod na lumabas na saka pabalibag na isinara ang pinto ng studio.

"Girls these days! Hay! Can't read through them sometimes."

I rolled my eyes and continue on what I was suppose to do earlier.

I took a shower and changed into some fresh clothes before going into the kitchen to find something to eat.

I looked at the kitchen clock to discover that it's almost 6 in the evening but I haven't eaten lunch yet.

"Now I know why i'm starving."

Napailing nalang ako at binuksan ang ref para kumuha ng pwedeng makain. Just to discover that I don't have anything, even leftovers.

"Meow!" I heard scratching from the top of the cupboards. A pair of rounded brown eyes appeared and stares at me from above.

"Lucho! Baby! Comere! Hug ate."

Tumalon s'ya sa mesa sa harap ko and stretched his body while looking at me. I grabbed him by the nape and hug him instantly.

"Cutie! Cutie! Ate misses you, Luch! Where have you  been?" I tickled his chin and kiss his nose. "Hmmm! Kakagigil ka!"

"Meow!"

I petted him and fed him cat food. Pinanood ko s'yang kumain habang nangangalumbaba sa lamesa.

Hindi ko namalayan ang muling pagbukas ng pinto ng studio. Nawili ako sa kakapanood kay Lucho kumain. Bumalik si Kiara na may bitbit na plastic bag.

"Food..." sabi n'ya sabay lapag ng plastic sa mesa. Nang hindi ako gumalaw para buksan ang dala n'ya, naiiling na s'ya na rin ang nagprepare ng pagkain at kumuha ng kobyertos para sa akin.

"Kaya ko ang sarili ko, Ki. You don't have to do anything for me. I can cook my own food. Besides, i'm not yet hungry."

Pero pinahiya ako ng sarili kong t'yan ng inilabas n'ya mula sa plastic ang ilan sa paborito kong mga pagkain.

"I know your ref is empty when I get some water earlier, there's nothing you can cook nor eat. And... you can say anything you want but your stomach growled in protest. Eat up!"

Wala akong nagawa kundi ang kainin ang dala n'yang pagkain. Nangingiting tinitigan lang ako ni Kiara habang nilalantakan ang inihaw na isda na isa sa paborito ko.