Hold Me Into Fading

Kabanata 28

Kabanata 28

Flirt

"Nasabi nga ni Paul ang nangyari. Pero mas gusto kong sa 'yo mismo manggaling, Reel. What happened?"

Bumuga ako ng hangin. Hindi ito ang itinawag ko kay Philip.

"Cancel Hiraeth's last exhibit. Ayaw ko ng ituloy ang Heart's Delusion series, Philip."

"Ha? Teka... bakit biglaan ang naging desisyon mo? Have you thought of this thoroughly?" sunod sunod na atake ng kuryusidad niya sa akin.

"Hindi biglaan ang desisyon ko. Kung nasabi ni Leon sa 'yo ang tungkol sa nangyari sa kasal, imposibleng hindi niya nabanggit ang tungkol sa plano naming dalawa."

He chuckled on the other end. Iyong nahihibang na nalolokohan sa sinabi ko.

"Now you sound like a young maiden planning to elope with her lover. May hindi ba ako alam sa inyo ni Paul, Reel?" nang-aakusa ang tanong!

Napasulyap ako sa kaharap ko. Leon is sipping on his coffee with that innocent and unfazed look. Abala ang mga mata na naglalakbay sa paligid.

I stared at my coffee that's still untouched.

"Do you know where I am now, Philip?" I asked in a menacing tone.

"I don't know. Nasaan ka ba?"

"I'm in Italy. Leon and I are wandering around the city for museum visit."

I heard him scoff, surprised this time.

"So nagtanan nga kayo? Wala akong alam sa nangyayari, Reel! Lilinawin ko sa 'yo na hindi nabanggit ni Paul sa akin ang kung ano mang plano ninyo. I feel like I'm being left behind."

"Hindi kami... nagtanan," I cleared my throat when Leon gazed at me.

"I wanted a breather, Philip. Kailangan ko na munang lumayo. And you know that, don't you? I should've deserted Primavera a long time ago if it wasn't just for my brother's wedding."

"And how does it work for Paul? Bakit magkasama kayo?"

"He wanted to go with me. You know, join me in my escapades."

"Uh, okay," halatang hindi kumbinsido. "Pero wala namang feelings involved?"

I curved a condescending smile and thought for a moment.

"I've visited Pinacoteca de Brera, Castel Sant'Angelo, and Uffizi Gallery, Philip."

He chuckled on the other end.

"Chaging the course, huh?" he teased. "But yeah, what about these galleries and museums?"

"Naitawag ko na kay Vior ang tungkol sa plano kong bilhin ang bahay ni Lolo. He told me it was already transferred to my name. My brother and his family will move out one of these days to their own home, still in Primavera."

"Wow, that's a flash! What's your plan now?"

Nagkatinginan kami saglit ni Leon. He smiled at me as he remained patient from my call and talks.

"The reason why I canceled the supposed exhibit is that I plan to have my own museum. Sa bahay ni Lolo. The house is still in a good condition. Kaonting ayos at renovation lang, pwede na 'yon. Isa pa, parte ng nakaraan ni Lolo ang bahay. I want to preserve it."

"That's a great idea. I'll cancel the exhibit, then. Ipapahanda ko na ang lahat ng portrait at mural para sana sa exhibit at ipapadala ko sa Primavera. How does that sound?" he talked.

Napangiti ako. I can imagine the look of it.

"I know I can really count on you with this matter. Just like the drill, I will have you to do and manage the renovation. Well, uhm... I need you to take care of everything there while I'm out for my travels. Don't worry, we will still undergo the same process for payment and-"