Sinking Deep (GL)

CHAPTER 14

A week has passed since Ma'am Rhea started training me. She's been teaching me various techniques, especially on how to blend colors perfectly and improve my art skills. However, our interactions are limited, and she rarely engages in conversation, simply coming to the room where we train and leaving without a word.

Curiously, nakikita ko siyang nakatayo lang sa parking lot paglalabas na ako sa building every evenings, and she drives away once I get into my car.

Pero baka nag-aassume lang din ako since may boyfriend siya, malay ko baka si Montejo ang inaantay niya.

The national competition is just one week away, and I'm fully focused on preparing to win it. I did learn lot of things from her, yes, she's that good.

Dumating na rin ang parents ko at balik na ulit sila sa trabaho nila. Sinabi nila sakin na binili nila ang isang lupa doon sa town nila dad para sakin raw tapos nagsimula ng magpa-construct si dad ng bahay para sakin.

Well, I thanked them especially si dad since siya ang nakaisip na bilhan ako ng sariling lupa at nagpatayo pa ng bahay. They're also happy that I won in the competition, they know I always won.

Binilhan ako ng sariling lupa pero kotse hindi, galing ng Dad ko e.

It's Monday, I arrived at room 118 in the afternoon, since tapos na ang class, hoping to find her there, but she wasn't present. Binuksan ko ang room, nilagay ang mga materials ko sa baba ng upuan saka umupo doon. Since wala pa siya maghihintay muna ako saka magsimula, she'll be here later.

Dumaan ang ilang minuto at magtatakip silim na pero hindi pa rin siya dumadating, "Where are you, Miss Rhea?" I mentally said.

Wala pa talagang nagpapakita sakin kahit anino niya at wala rin siyang sinabing hindi siya pupunta ngayon.

Tiningnan ko ang blank canvas, tumingin rin ako sa may pintuan pero wala talagang pumapasok na Rhea kaya nagpasya akong mag paint nalang without her.

As I sat in the empty room, waiting for her, I couldn't help but feel both excited and anxious. This was my chance to show her that I've learned so much during our one week of practice sana but she's still not here.

May meeting ba sila? bakit hindi niya sinabi sakin? or baka she's with her boyfriend again, enjoying the night while I'm here hopelessly waiting for her to arrive.

Mabigat na naman ako dibdib ko. I sighed again, feeling empty in this empty room.

I picked up the brush and started to paint the Irises by Van Gogh on the blank canvas in front of me.

"Okay, Freyja, you can do this. Just remember what your wife taught you," I whispered to myself, trying to steady my hand. I wanted to capture every detail, every stroke, just the way she would have done it.

I want to prove also na I'm worth of her time, na hindi masayang ang effort niya for teaching me. I focused on each brushstroke, pouring all my effort into the painting. I could almost feel her presence guiding me as my hand moved across the canvas. With each stroke, I tried to channel the essence of her artistic prowess.

"Bakit gusto ko siyang ma-impress sakin?" I wondered aloud, my voice echoing in the empty room. "Maybe because I admire her so much." I added, still moving my hand with the brush.

"Mhmm.. mhmm.. mhmm," I hummed while painting. Malapit ko na matapos at kaonti nalang matatapos na.

As I continued to paint, my eyelids began to feel heavy. Nakaramdam ako ng antok kahit nagkape naman ako kaninang umaga maybe the hours of practice and anticipation had taken a toll on me.

Pinilit kong hindi makatulog pero inaantok na ako, I wanted to take a nap kanina pero hindi ko na nagawa kasi may pinapagawa rin ang ibang professor samin. Hindi ko pa natatapos ang painting ko, despite my best efforts to stay awake, sleep crept in, and before I knew it, I had dozed off on the black canvas, still clutching the brush in my hand.