Falling for the Masterpiece

Chapter 11: Chidori

IVAN

There are so many things in this universe that I have yet to discover. Isa na rito ay kung paano binibiyayaan ng kalawakan ang mga tao ng talento. May ilan na siguro ay ipinanganak nang mahusay sa isang larangan. While the others had to learn things as they grew in order to become geniuses in their art.

Napakaraming misteryo sa universe. One of which is how something would turn out to be a masterpiece. Kung paano ang isang bagay na ginawa mo ay magugustuhan pala ng lahat. Hindi lang ng mga tao sa henerasyon mo kundi sa mga susunod pa. Like, how would artists come up with concepts that would serve as their imprint for centuries to come?

How did Leonardo da Vinci come up with the Monalisa? Ano ba talaga ang totoong itsura ng mga kamay ng Venus De Milo? Or why do people adore the Eiffel Tower so much compared to regular electric pylons?

Mula noong napagpasyahan kong obserbahan ang mga bagay kesa laging maglabas ng opinyon, unti-unti kong mas nakikilala ang kalawakan. Mali. Mas maganda sigurong sabihin na mas lalo kong nakikilala ang sarili ko.

I've learned that I could draw best in two conditions. One, in total silence, where my imagination takes over my entire head. Minsan, nagugulat na lang ako na kusang gumagalaw ang mga kamay ko, until I finally draw a masterpiece. Kaya minsan, kapag ako lang ang nasa kuwarto, sa gabi ako gumuguhit. I get inspiration from silence. My head holds an infinite number of universes that only I can discover. And I like that.

The second condition is when there's a certain song that's been playing in my ear. Kumukuha ako ng inspirasyon sa bawat ritmo ng kantang pinapakinggan ko. Humuhugot rin ako ng motibasyon sa mga linya ng awitin nilikha ng ibang tao upang iparating sa kalawakan. Ako naman, I would interpret those songs in my art.

Whichever of the two conditions works for me.

Sa tatlong araw na panonood ko kay Yuki at sa kapareha niya, napakarami ko nang naiguhit na sketch ni Yuki habang sumasayaw. Iba't ibang posisyon halos lahat.

There are some drawings of him in our school uniform. His ID lace is dangling in the air while he is dancing a waltz.

I also drew him wearing a prince's costume with a cute crown on top of his head and a cape behind his back. Magarbong kasuotan ng isang prinsipe habang nakasuot ng ice skates habang umiikot sa yelo on one leg at nakataas ang isa pa.

There is even a drawing of him as an astronaut dancing in the galaxy while he is doing some break dancing as he floats in space.

Itong iginuguhit ko ngayon is him as a male pixie fairy na sumasayaw sa ilalim ng mga bulaklak ng puno na sinisilungan ko.

I was lost in my head again.

"A, e, Ivan?" tawag ni Angel sa akin. Yuki's dance partner's name is Angel. Yuki is not good at introducing people to each other. I just have my ways of knowing people.

"Ano 'yon, Angel?" tawag ko as I set aside my sketchpad.

"You know my name?" Hindi ko sigurado, pero para siyang nahihiya sa akin. Itinatago niya ang ngiti niya. Hindi niya ako matignan sa mata.

"Yeah, I saw it on your Keroppi keychain on your bag." I gave her a smile. "Are you guys on break?"

"Yes," she said sheepishly. I looked behind her. There, I found Yuki sitting on the grass habang nakatungkod sa mga kamay niya. He's looking at us in his unbuttoned shirt.

I looked back at Angel. Umurong ako ng puwesto sa bench para mabigyan siya ng puwesto. "Sorry, hindi kita kinausap agad noong mga nakaraang araw. I've been watching you guys practice for a few days now at hindi man lang kita nilapitan. Wanna join me?"