UNCOVER JANE DOE

Chapter 11: A painter's dillema

"Meow!" I opened my eyes as Lucho continue yowling beside me... looking around without leaving my side as if guarding me.

"Lucho, baby..." I hugged him tight but he pushed me away with his paws.

"Ah! Ayaw mo ha? Ha! Ha!" I rubbed his belly with my hand knowing that he'll love it.

"Hay! Tama na nga. Stop being a cutie patotie and let me prepare breakfast for the both of us. My clients might come in early. I need to finish my chores by 8."

Hay! Nakakagigil lang talaga itong si Lucho na hindi ko matapos-tapos ang mga gawain ko on time. Uunahin ko pa talagang makipaglaro sa kanya.

I need to start working early. Mas gusto kong nagtatrabaho gamit ang liwanag mula sa labas kaysa gumamit ng ilaw ng bulb. Natural light means true and realistic colors for the painting as well. Though light from the bulb can also be of use when necessary like finishing artwork during rainy days or working late at night.

I showered first and changed into some fresh clothes before going out into my backyard garden for some greens to make some fresh veges salad. I poured a cup of hot green tea for myself and opened a can of cat food for Lucho which he finished within a minute.

"You really like whiskas, don't you?" He just stared at me and yown.

"Pastilan! Kain tulog lang tayo ah. What a life!" He ignored me, stretched his body and went straight to the top of the cupboards where he usually sleeps and disappeared completely from my sight. Naiiling na nangingiti nalang ako. Mas okay na 'yon kaysa paglaruan na naman n'ya ang mga brushes and paints ko habang nagtatrabaho ako.

[Knocking]

I was finishing the last bite of my salad when I heard a loud knock on the front door.

"Coming!" I shouted and went to wash my hands on the sink. I'll get back for the dishes later.

"Hi! Come in." I welcomed them with a smile.

"Hi, Regina! Good morning." A cute mid-twenties lesbian couple entered my studio as I opened the door wider for them to get in.

But my expression changed when I saw a hairpin still stucked in my keyhole.

"What the fuck!? Is it the reason why Lucho was on my side when I woke up? He was guarding me while i'm asleep because of this? May nakapasok nga yata talagang tao kagabi."

I took a picture of the hairpin in the keyhole before I pocketed it.

"Mapapahamak ako ng dahil sa'yo, Kiara. Hay! It's really not a good idea going out clubbing with the girls late at night. " Naiiling na sabi ko sabay sarado ng pinto sa likod ko. I'll deal with it later. Got some work to do for now.

"Hi, you two. How's your trip going here?"

Hinarap ko ang mga clients kong kanina pa iniikot ang paningin sa kabuuan ng studio ko. This place also serves as my gallery where most of my paintings are hanging on the wall.

"Muntik na kaming maligaw but we're here, we made it. Buti at hindi kami nalapa ng mababangis na hayop sa kagubatan. Andy by the way." A short-red haired, tall but skinny woman extended her hand to me.

I studied her for a minute. Finding her hot with her gothic look in a cute croptop and ripped jeans. Her exposed ringed belly-button looks nice too.

"Nice to meet you, Andy." I shook her hand.

"Hi, Regina. I'm Sarah, the one who commissioned you to do our nude painting."

She's the formal one of the two. Wearing no make up, just in a plain white t-shirt, maong pants and sneakers. But that doesn't mean she's not as hot the the other. They look cute together.