The Princess of Thieves

Chapter 2

Manila, Philippines

Yna

I inhaled big airs and exhaled it abruptly out of lungs, as I walk closely to Amelia's art gallery exhibit. I'm not nervous, am I? I shouldn't be nervous. I mean, I can't be nervous. . but why am I sweating like I've been on triathlon or something? Geez, I'm just going to take the easiest task on Earth. Pero bakit parang, di ako mapakali.

Yna Xandria Sevilla, you're just deluding yourself. Stop overreacting!

Okay, this is--

"Yna, what the fuck?! Could you move your ass now? Mind I tell you, that every seconds counts on you! It's already three pm, motherfucker."

I shiftly move the earpiece away from my left ear, because of Max's amazing tone voice (don't forget to insert sarcasm there).

How dare she called me motherfucker. Pasalamat siya, dahil malayo lang siya sa 'kin, kundi baka kanina ko pa siya nasuntok sa sikmura. The nerve of the bitch to call me such name. Ang ganda nga ng pinangalan ng Nanay ko sa 'kin. Though, I don't really saw my mother, I thank her anyway for giving me such a wonderful name. Thanks, Mama. Um, wherever you are. 'kay fine.

Anyway, I am already here inside the gallery. And as expected, crowds were raging from each of the corner of the room. Most of the crowd has there own camera--like I am--to take pictures on Amelia's art collection. At dahil, isa itong gallery, malamang, binebenta niya ang mga collections niya sa mga taong interesado bumili. Me on the other hand, has no intention in buying her stuffs. I'm not interested on paintings or any other art for that matter. And mind telling you that, I have couple of bucks inside my pocket, so don't go gaga on me. It's just that, I am here for just one task only. At hindi ang mamili ng art pieces, na kung tutuusin ay walang kwenta. I am here to take pictures! Pretty cool, isn't it?

Yeah, I couldn't agree more. Well anyway, I'm gonna move na, baka magwala na naman si ateng amazona (don't tell Max about it).

I started to step forward on the gallery and held my DSLR, like I'm taking pictures on something. Kahit naman talaga, hindi. The camera is just a props anyway. Ang totoong layunin ko talaga dito, is to study the whole house for our heist mission later this evening. Siyempre, di naman kami mga tanga para lumusob na lang sa lungga ng kalaban nang di pinag-aaralan ang buong bahay na lulusubin namin. Ayoko kayang makulong. That is so No NO to me.

Now, where is that freakin' lilies?

The lilies I'm talking about, is the art piece made by the famous landscape painter, Claude Monet. Ever heard of the name, bitches? Well anyway, as I was saying, Monet created that around who-knows year. And because, our godfather is into collecting landscapes, he ordered us to steal it from Amelia, since the woman has the original one. How did he know? Hindi ko alam. He would've bought it, anyway in a very smart deal. The thing is, the old woman, wouldn't to it. Eh sa hindi niya daw yun, binebenta. The fuck.

So, we don't exactly have a choice but to steal it from her. Malas na lang niya.

"Hey yah, Yna. Have you found it?" Drey's voice pierce into my earpiece.

"Not yet, I haven't. Growing a little impatient, aren't we?" I teasingly whisper.

"Just shut up and move." isa pa 'to eh. Mabangasan nga 'to mamaya.

"Yeah, whatever." I even rolled my eyes as if she could see me or something. Now, I really have to move. Nakakangalay ring tumayo lang dito.

"Um, Hi." I approach the man just few inches from where I'm standing. Mariin niyang tinititigan ang isang canvas na nakasabit sa may dingding ng gallery. Tiningnan ko naman ang tinitingnan niya.

Um, it's an art piece with four equal size squares on it. Yung first square which is located on the upper left corner of the canvas shows the mixing of color yellow. . Um, orange ang a little red on it. It's more like a sun, but it don't exactly look like a sun. Weird, i know. The next square, shows a plain cartoon girl. With a hair braided like an Indian style with no eyes and mouth and nose? What the heck? The next two other square are all shits. Just like, the first two one. Pusta ako, di 'to bebenta. Ang panget. . Pwe! (eww gross).

"Hi." At nagulat pa 'ko nang magsalita yung lalaki. 'Kala ko bingi to eh. "It's really beautiful, isn't it?"

Huh?

Tumingin siya sa 'kin, pagkaraan ng ilang segundo nang wala siyang makuhang sagot. And I almost gasped when, he look right at me. Well, the man is. . . Oh My God. . . So gorgeous. Ang gwapo ng lolo niyo! Well, ehem! That's not the issue here. The big issue is, to where is he referring beautiful to? Ang hirap naman kung ako. . Gumamit siya nang it's eh.

"I'm talking about the painting."

The painting? What painting? Wait. . Is he talking about this piece-of-junk in front of me? This is not really a good description of beautiful! The painting is super duper ugly talaga. I don't see any figures that describes the word he use. Wait. . . Is he a color-blind, person? Cause if he is. . I would totally, understand.

"Um, yeah. Yeah, it is." I even force to smile. . Oh My Gosh, this is totally super turn off. Well, I'm not against people who's having this kind of um, what do you call this? Socially impaired qualities. It's just like. . . Ugh! 'wag na nga lang. .

"I like how the artist made it's real meaning." dugtong pa ni kuya.

Meaning? Seriously, I don't see any meaning from the shit.

"Um, can I ask you something?" It's better to go straight. Baka, 'san pa mapunta ang usapan namin ng gwapong lalaking 'to.

"Yeah, sure."

"Um, 'san ko ba makikita sa bandang 'to yung masterpiece ni Monet? I am a big fan of his works, you know. Kaya kahit saang lupalop ng mundo pinuputahan ko para makakita lang ng real life art. So please, will you tell me where can I find it? Narinig ko kasing may isang piece si Amelia. You know, the owner?" lies, lies and lies. .

Tiningnan lang ako ni pogi like I'm an animal from the zoo. Sure, he's thinking that I am being extremely weird.

"Um, it's not displayed actually."

"What? I thought, it could be her somewhere." I said with matching lonely voice. Maawa lang sana 'tong lalaking 'to kasi parang may alam.

"Yeah. Andito nga pero hindi dito nakadisplay. Nasa library ng may-ari ang painting."

WHAT?!

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