Underneath The Horizon

prologue

PROLOGUE

"It's a great painting, 'no?" Napalingon si Cyg sa may katandaang lalaki na tumabi sa kaniya.

The old man was pertaining to the acrylic painting in front of them. Cyg couldn't take his eyes of off it, he looks enthralled. Napansin iyon ng matanda so he came closer and pointed it out to him.

Out of all the paintings he passed by in the exhibit, the one he's standing in front was the only one that pinned him down on his spot. At first glance, it looked like a normal painting. Mukha itong painting about patriotism dahil primary colors ang ginamit na kulay ng artist. But it was more than just meets the eye.

The imagery in the painting shows a swan with open wings in the middle of a lake, looking directly at the sun. The swan is in color yellow, the lake being in blue and the scorching sun with the color red. No matter how much Cyg stared at the painting, he couldn't really comprehend what it was about and that was what piqued his curiousity.

"It's named 'Northern Cross'. I would love to tell you what the painting means but I think it's best if you could talk to the actual artist yourself," muling bulalas ng matanda.

Akala ni Cyg ay umalis na ito kanina dahil hindi naman niya ito pinansin. But now that he glanced at the man properly, doon lang niya napagtanto na ito pala 'yong host kanina.

Napakamot siya sa batok. "Hindi po ba kayo ang nag-paint nito?" he asked.

Umiling ang matanda at mahinang natawa. "This is my exhibit, yes. Pero I collected works from different people to showcase here. This one specifically--" tinuro niya ang painting na Northern Cross. "--is owned by one of the artists I invited. Narito rin siya ngayon, I could introduce you to each other." Malawak ang ngiti ng matanda sa binata.

Natatawang nailing naman si Cyg dahil sa suhestiyon nito. As much as he was curious about it, he personally believes that the painting's charm lies within it's incomprehensible nature despite it's simplicity.

"Ayos lang po." He smiled in return.

The old man shrug and gave him a funny look. "Alright. But I think you two would get along."

Pagkasabi n'on ay nawala na sa paningin ni Cyg ang matanda. Nakita na lang niya ito sa may 'di kalayuan at nilapitan ang isang babae na nagtitingin din ng painting sa kabilang dulo ng exhibit.

On the other hand, the old man greeted Marli with a warm smile. "How's the exhibit to your liking?"

Marli was smiling from ear to ear as well. Nakatitig siya sa isang painting na nadaan niya kanina. She loves savoring any form of art by staring at it. Pakiramdam niya kasi ay unti-unti siyang nalalamon ng bawat obrang nako-consume niya papunta sa ibang dimensyon. It was a lovely escape for her.

"Kung pwede ko nga lang pong i-uwi lahat ng paintings na magustuhan ko, kanina ko pa po silang nahakot sa compartment ng kotse ko," pagbibiro niya kaya sabay silang natawa ng matanda.

"I'm glad you're enjoying." Tinapik ng matanda ang balikat ng dalaga.

"I'm glad rin po na pinakilala ako ni Prof. Mora sa inyo. Sobrang worth it po ng three-hour biyahe ko from Manila to Tagaytay today." She glanced at the old man who nodded at her.

"Speaking of which, I think you just found your first client." Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Marli dahil sa narinig at saka sinundan ng tingin ang daliri ng matanda na nakaturo sa kabilang sulok ng exhibit.

There stood a guy, his back was facing them. Nakatingala ito sa painting niya and although they couldn't see his expressions, it was obvious how interested he was by the way his body moves.

A sudden rush of adrenaline came through Marli's senses. For some reason, she felt her stomach tumbling and her mind blurring just by the thought of someone getting interested in her work.

Bago pa man magbukas ang exhibit kanina ay naroon na si Marli. Hanggang sa bumukas iyon at nagsimula nang magdatingan ang mga tao ay naroon na siya para unang hanapin ang sariling obra.

Sa tagal na niyang nakatambay roon mula pa kanina, madalas sa mga dumarating ay dinadaanan lang ang kaniyang ginawa. Ngayon lang niya nakitang may tumigil doon para pagmasdan nang masinsinan ang kaniyang gawa.

She felt seen. Her artwork was a piece of her and that piece of her was now taking someone's attention.

"Seize the moment, Hija," aniya ng matanda saka mahinang tinulak ang likod ni Marli para kumilos ito.

She took a deep breath and nodded to the old man. Naglakad siya patungo sa direksyon ng painting niya kung saan nakatayo ang lalaki.

Every step she took felt like years, she was both curious and worried. Curious with how that person perceives her art work, and at the same worried that he actually hates it deep inside.

Pagdating niya sa tabi ng lalaki, nagpanggap siyang nakikitingin lang din sa sariling painting pero pasimple niya itong sinilip. She couldn't help but stare when she saw how his eyes glistened while looking at the piece she made. She was lost for words.

Nang maramdaman ng lalaki na mayroon ulit tumabi sa kaniya, he instantly glanced at her. Mabuti na lang  at mabilis ang reflexes ni Marli kaya agad niyang nilipat ang tingin sa painting.

"Ang weird ng choice of colors ng artist niyan, 'no," Marli tried starting a conversation.

Nagtataka man sa sinabi ng dalaga ay napailing naman si Cyg. He didn't want to be rude but he didn't want people to judge someone else's work either just because of what they see.

"'Di naman siya weird. Sa palagay ko nga, ang creative niya sa part na kahit tatlong kulay lang ang ginamit niya ay na-execute pa rin nang maayos yung visuals ng painting. Partida, primary colors pa ginamit diyan at hindi man lang niya pinaghalo 'yong mga kulay," Cyg answered firmly.

Hindi tuloy maiwasan ni Marli nag matawa. He looked like an avid fan kahit alam niyang ngayon lang naman nakita ng lalaking iyon ang gawa niya.

"O, bakit ka tumatawa?" His nose scrunched in confusion na lalong nagpatawa kay Marli.

"Ay, sorry. I mean you're right. I actually like the color combinations, I was just testing you kung fan ka ba talaga ng painting na 'yan." She gazed on him but immediately diverted it to the whole surrounding. "Kasi most people lalo na 'yong younger generation nowadays are trying to hop on what's mainstream. They don't really understand the concept of art, dumadayo lang talaga sila for clout."

Cyg nodded in agreement. He wasn't an actual fan himself, he understands it but not exactly fond of it either, at dahil bago sa paningin niya ang lugar, his curiousity got the most out of him. Hindi nga lang niya in-expect na mahuhumaling siya sa isang artwork.

"Alam mo ba na kaya 'Northern Cross' ang title niyang painting na 'yan ay dahil inspired siya sa Cygnus constellation," Marli stated still fixing her gaze on the painting.

Cyg was shocked, both because of what the stranger had said and why a stranger knew that fact. Was she a fan of the artist?

"Cygnus constellation? Seryoso?"

Tumango si Marli. "Oo, gulat ka 'no?"

Tumango rin si Cyg. "Not in the way you thought. My name's Cygnus as well. Kaya siguro ay pakiramdam ko connected ako sa painting."

Ngayon ay si Marli naman ang nagulat sa narinig. She didn't expect that her first audience had the same name as her first exhibited artwork.

"Oh, my God," ang tanging na untag ni Marli habang nakatakip ang dalawang kamay sa bibig.

Now, Cyg was more than determined to get his hands on the painting. "Kilala mo 'yong artist nito? Sabi n'ong matanda kanina kakilala raw niya e. Magkano ba ang presyo nito?"

Her mind slightly malfunctioned for a few seconds before answering, "I'm Marli, the artist."