Chase Pastor, Chase!

Chapter 23

"Ma'am may photoshoot pa po tayo mamayang hapon ah? Just reminding you lang po, baka makalimutan mo"

I sat on the chair, staring blankly at the mirror habang nagkakagulo ang room dahil sa taping namin for an advertisement. Ayoko sanang gawin pero nandito na ako kaya wala na akong magagawa.

"Akala ko ba last ko na 'to?"

"Sabi po kase ni boss eh, importante daw yung photoshoot na yun para daw sa bagong billboard"

I just sighed heavily. Akala ko makakauwi ako ng maaga pero di pa pala. I've been so busy compared to the past years, wala na akong free time and I can't spend my time for myself. Pag ako talaga nagkaroon ng opotunidad na hindi pumasok, kukunin ko talaga.

We finished the taping and thank God it only took for a while. I thought it was gonna be taking a lot of my time but I'm happy it didn't.

Before I left the building, I waved them goodbye. Paglabas ko naman ay may sumalubong kaagad saaking mga journalists na tanong nang tanong about what happened last night. Ayoko sanang sumagot sa kahit isa nilang mga tanong pero na trigger ako.

"Please, don't blame me for what happened. It was clear in the video that I already left and that guy sexualized me. If there is anyone to blame for this death, I'm out of it"

Naglakad ako ng mabilis at pumasok sa kotse ko para pumunta kung saan saan. Malayo pa ang next schedule ko kaya gusto ko munang gumala. I rested my head and closed my eyes for a while, the traffic was heavy and I thought it might be great if I rest for a bit.

I suddenly remember him driving my car when I was drunk. He drove me to his home because he didn't know where I lived. I can still remember it vividly inside my mind and many because every memories I have with him is everything to me.

I breathed out when I felt I was about to cry again. Puta. Akala ko okay na ako, bakit naiiyak pa rin ako? Bakit siya pa rin?

You left a long time ago but I still feel your presence everywhere. Bakit hindi kita makalimutan? Habang buhay na lang ba ako magiging ganito?

I flinched when a car beeped. It was already a green light kaya nag drive na ako. I blinked multiple times because my eyes were teary, baka ma sira pa make up ko.

Hindi ko alam kung saan ako papunta pero patuloy pa rin ang pag ddrive ko. Paran bang may kusang nagtuturo sakin na pumunta sa kung saan. Habang nag mamaneho ay napatigil ako sa isang art gallery, I haven't been here before and I kind of wanna explore inside.

Paglabas ko ng kotse ay nakita ko kaagad ang malaking building. Pagpasok ko ay may dalawang guard, they recognized me and told me na free nalang daw ako sa entrance but I still paid for it.

The interior was really beautiful. It's so my style and it's giving a vintage vibes. A worker approached me and offered me to be my guide, she was really nice and she was a fan of me.

Ang gaganda ng painting at kada isa sa kanila ay parang pamilyar. The art style is giving me relaxation and I liked it, it's putting me at ease. Habang naglalakad, napagisip isip kong baka pwedeng bumili ng isa sa mga painting since I really liked the style.

"Is it possible if I can buy one of these?" I asked.

"Opo pero dapat kausapin nyo muna yung artist para rin po ma settle"

I nodded. Lahat ng painting ay magaganda at realistic pa, hindi ko alam kung bakit kakaiba ang nararamdaman ko ngayon habang nakatingin sa kanila.

"Ito naman po ay pinangalanang 'My most and all'. Ginawa po ito para sa isang babae na mahal na mahal ng artist dahil siya daw ang lahat sa kanya at wala nang iba. Ang pagkakagawa din nito ay matagal dahil nga daw po sa pagiging busy niya sa kanyang kasintahan" She smiled.

Ang swerte naman. Artists really have a genuine love for their girls. Naaalala ko nanaman siya.

"Ang swerte nila ma'am no? Hindi kaya bihira ang magpinta. Ikaw ma'am? Na experience mo na rin bang mapinta?"

I paused. Matagal na panahon na rin nung nakita ko ang mga paintings niya, I thought I could move on easily pero hindi. Siya pa rin talaga.

The painting reminded me of him. Ang bigat nanaman ng puso ko at paiyak na rin.

"Ma'am? Masyado po bang sensitive yung tanong ko? Pasensya na po" She apologized.

"No it's okay, ipagpatuloy nalang natin" I smiled.

The rest of the gallery was nice. All of the paintings felt like only one person did it but still, it was all beautiful and meaningful. I felt relaxed.

Naglakad kami pabalik habang pumili ako ng isa sa mga paintings kung ano ang bibilhin ko pero gusto ko ang lahat at hindi ako makapili ng isa. All of them were meaningful to me and all of them were surreal.

I asked the girl if I could stay for a while so that I can decide what I really want and she told me to take my time.

My heels echoed as I walked back. I suddenly noticed that I was the only tourist here and it was odd. How could this place be so unpopular when all of the paintings here are so nice and dreamy? This deserves a lot of appreciation and love.

Looking back at the paintings, I finally decided what painting I would buy. It was a scenery where it was a cloudy day on the beach, the waters were clear blue and the sand was white. On the right side, there was a big stone with a girl in front of it, staring at the view.

I felt relief, tinitigan ko pa ito ng ilang mga minuto. I could stare at it and I imagine myself being the girl in the painting. Suddenly, I miss going to the beach. Kung hindi lang ako full schedule ay pupunta talaga ako.

The girl approached me again and stared at the painting as well. Nagagandahan din siya siguro.

"I'll take this" I looked at her and smiled.

"Sige po. Tatawagin ko lang yung artist para kayo po ang maguusap"

She left and I stayed. I stood here for almost an hour now and my toes were aching because of my heels. I was wearing a white simple dress that almost reached my feet. My hair was also styled dahil sa taping namin kanina and it fits me a lot.

I waited for the artist to arrive pero mukhang isang oras na ako nakatayo dito, gusto ko nang umupo. My phone suddenly rang and I quickly grabbed it from my shoulder bag. Wena's calling me.

"Sorry ah hindi ako nakapunta kanina, may emergency kasi sa bahay kanina" Her voice sounded apologetic.

"It's okay, kaya ko naman"

"Nga pala, saan ka ngayon? Tinawagan ko yung staff kanina sa taping niyo, umalis ka daw pagtapos niyo?"

I looked around and I stared at the painting again. "Nasa isang art gallery lang ako, nagpapahinga"

"Sige, enjoy ka muna, hindi na kita iistorbohin"

"Hindi okay lang, gusto ko kasing bumili ng isa sa mga paintings dito pero hindi pa naman dumadating yung kakausapin kong may-ari kaya usap muna tayo" She laughed.

"Yung vitamins mo pala, nakalimutan mo dito sa bahay namin. Ikaw ha, pinapabayaan mo na sarili mo"

I chuckled, I thought she was joking but then I checked my back and it wasn't there. I've been so busy and I'm forgetting about myself, I'm not even taking care of myself now.

"Di mo na talaga naaalagaan ang sarili mo, pati birthday mo nakakalimutan mo na"

"Busy lang kase. Thank you dahil pinaalala mo 'ko"

We both laughed.

"Ma'am nandito na po yung may-ari"

When I heard her voice, I turned away to talk to Wena in private and continue our conversation later. I put my phone inside my bag but when I turn around to see the person's face I lapsed.

(nag-play yung intro ng tadhana by up dharma down tas slow mo din yung pag-ikot niya)

Almost 4 years.