"Ayos ka lang ba? Parang kanina ka pa hindi mapakali, eh..." ani Klio sa tabi niya.
They're having a late lunch in a restaurant near the Davao Airport and she saw something inside the establishment that excites her.
"Yes," nakangiting sagot niya sa asawa.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah," she answered and smiled at him again. "Can I go out there for a while?" paalam niya't itinuro ang painting sa isang sulok ng restaurant.
Malapit iyon sa bar counter kaya kitang-kita sa mesa ng mga diner.
"Okay, I'll just finish my coffee," anang asawang tumayo't hinila ang upuan niya para makalabas siya.
"I'll be fast," aniya't hinalikan ito sa labi bago maglakad papunta sa sulok ng restaurant kung saan nakasabit ang painting niya.
The restaurant is crowded so she stood near the painting and out of the way as much as she can.
If her memory is serving her right, that painting of meat with a bottle and glass of spilled wine hanged in the wall is one of her paintings displayed in her art exhibit last year.
Hindi nga lang siya nakapunta sa mismong araw ng exhibit no'ng nakaraang taon dahil may mas mahalaga siyang kailangang asikasuhin.
"Excuse me. How may I help you?"
Napalingon siya nang may marinig na nagsalita sa likuran niya.
She was greeted by the smiling face of a handsome young man.
Sa tingin niya'y hindi nagkakalayo ang edad nila. Kung mas matanda man ito sa kanya, siguro, mga isa o dalawang taon lang.
"Oh, nothing. I just noticed that it looks good on here," aniya patungkol sa painting.
"Yeah, nakadagdag nga sa accent nitong restaurant ko."
"Oh, so you're the owner?"
"Yeah," nakangiting sagot ng lalaki.
He has a pleasant aura. Parang ang gaan kausap.
"Did you personally buy this painting?" tanong niya.
"Yeah. I was in Manila with my friends last year when we came across this certain art gallery. We're art enthusiasts so we decided to check who was holding an exhibit inside. I liked this particular one so I brought it home immediately. Baka maunahan pa ako ng iba, eh. Sayang nga lang wala ang artist doon. Hindi tuloy siya napirmahan," pagkuk'wento ng lalaki.
"Well, I can sign it now," nakangiting sagot niya sa kausap.
"Wait, no, don't tell me..."
"I am Xirah Quesada," pakilala niya sa sarili gamit ang pen name. "I am the painter of Vin," aniyang ang tinutukoy ay ang obra maestra.
Vin is a French term which means wine in English.
"Oh, no..." natatawang sambit ng lalaki. "Hindi nga?"
"Do I have to show you my PSA?" natatawa na ring sabi niya.
Tumawa ang lalaki. "No, but I have to get a pen and have you signed it now."
Tinawag nito ang isa sa mga staff at nagpakuha ng marker.
"Oh, no, my bad! How rude of me. I'm Tyron, Ms. Xirah."
"Nice meeting you," aniya't tinanggap ang pakikipag-kamay ng lalaki.
Hindi niya alam kung namamangha lang itong makilala siya kaya medyo napatagal ang pagkakahawak nito sa kamay niya.
BINABASA MO ANG
CUS #5: Into You
Misterio / SuspensoThe downfall of the Chronos Union led Phinex to fall under the hands of Detective Lauder of the Luxirr Investigation Bureau. To save her ass, she bit the deal to use her skills in Psychopath hunting to catch one of the Bureau's persons of interest...
