Drawn by Dawn

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Gabi na nang makarating kami sa Manila. Tig-dalawang maleta ang hila namin ni Art papunta sa elevator. Lahat iyan ay gamit ko. When we were in his unit, he put my suitcases in my new room, just next to his.

Since wala pa akong kama ay makikitulog ulit muna ako kay Art. And as expected, we cuddled to sleep. I was the small spoon, and it really felt nice and comfy.

We spent most of the next few days looking for furnitures to add in my room, this includes the bed and an inverter aircon, a study table, and dividers. May mga staff na ni-hire para mag-install ng aircon and before all the furnitures were put inside, my walls were repainted with pastel green, sa pinakababa ay dark green lining to match the outside's minimal design. Mabilis lang din iyon since we hired people.

Si Berde naman ay sa salas nakalagay ang enclosure, bagay na bagay naman iyon doon and he took only a little space of the coffee table.

As for our bills, we decided to pay alternate per month. He said he can pay everything, pero ayaw ko naman maging pabigat at palamunin. Ganoon din sa groceries namin, para hindi magulo.

Bumili rin ako ng faux wood style backsplash tiles for the flooring of my atelier next to my room, and another cream colored sticker for the walls. Para kapag maging sobrang kalat ko na sa pagpipinta, tatanggalin na lang ang stickers at palitan.

Since iniwan ko na sa bahay ang mga painting materials ko, we went to a few art shops to buy paints, brushes, palettes and pallete knives, a few easels, canvas of different sizes, tape, and others. Sinet up namin lahat iyon sa mini-studio ko. I was happy because Art told me I can have two of the rooms. Ang unit pala niya ay may isang banyo at tatlong kwarto.

We also went out para mag-grocery for food and stock, and my essentials too. Mabuti na lang at pareho kaming marunong magluto. Mas makakatipid din kasi kami kapag homemade kesa naman mag-order pa sa labas. I wanted to be practical lalo't ang dami ko ring gastos agad pagkalipat pa lang dito. Kompara sa probinsya, mas mataas ang cost of living dito sa Manila.

I had no time to scroll my socials at all, kaya nang okay na at maayos na ang lahat para sa pagtira ko rito sa Manila, I spent my free time checking my social media. Nagulat ako dahil ang dami na ang nag-follow sa akin, lalo sa Facebook at Instagram. Sabog ang notifications ko!

Mabuti na lang at private person ako, kaya wala masyadong details na nakalapag sa internet. Iba talaga ang epekto ng naging press conference ni Art noon! He made a public announcement about us too. I watched the actual video even if I was personally there. He really looked charming and great on camera.

Naisip ko na i-promote ang sarili, kaya naman pumunta ako sa studio ko at nag-selfie habang nakanguso. Pinakita ko ang mga blangko na canvas ko rin at mga materyales. Nag-post ako sa Instagram, at ang caption na nilagay ko ay 'chasing my dream again 🎨'. Automatic na rin na mag-post ito sa Facebook.

I smiled, kaka-post pa lang ay ang dami agad nag-like at comment. I checked some, curious. Most were strangers, but I also knew a few.

angelicaxyz: Wow!

earlcntra: uwi ka na di na ako galit :((

summerein: Manila ghorl na sya

misscaitlyn: Fback po pretty lods hehehehehe

mcarthurs: Turtle 💚🐢

I chuckled, feeling like a teenager who is in love because of Art's comment, 'di ko pa pala na-follow si Arthur kaya naman ginawa ko na pati si Caitlyn. Mostly ang comments nila ang nagkakaroon din ng maraming likes at engagement.

Sobrang bilis din lumipas ang araw, mabuti at mas inagahan namin talaga ang pagbalik dito sa Manila, kasi kaka-settle ko pa lang, sa sunod na araw ay ang simula agad para sa commercial taping.