What Happened? || MaColet (BINI #1)

Chapter 33: Art Exhibition

Maloi started watching our practice every now and then. Minsan nakakausap niya rin si Jho at hindi naman sila awkward sa isa't-isa. I could say that Jho is really a good person. Masyado ko lang yata siyang na-judge noong umpisa. I didn't like the privileged people kasi. Feeling ko matataas pride nila at masasama ugali kasi mayroon silang mga bagay na hindi nakukuha ng iba. Although Aiah proved na hindi lahat ganoon, ay hindi pa rin nagbabago opinyon ko.

I met a lot of rich kids since dito ako sa isang university nag-aaral. Hindi naman ako nabu-bully even though I'm only scholar pero iba pa rin kasi talaga kapag pinaparamdam sa ’yo na iba ka, na parang hindi ka belong sa kanila. I've been through a lot before being admired by many. Sayang kasi hindi ako agad nag-glow up.

"Sabay sabay na tayo sa pagpunta sa kabilang building." Inayos na ni Jho ang gamit niya habang hinihintay namin siya ni Maloi.

Aiah texted me na pumunta na kami dahil mag-uumpisa na. However, kailangan muna namin tapusin ang practice kaya ngayon pa lang kami nakakapag-ayos.

"Nandoon na rin sila Mikha." Maloi informed us. "Tara na, Jho. Ang bagal naman kumilos."

Jho chuckled and nodded. Sabay sila ni Maloi naglakad habang ako ay nasa likod nila kasama si Franz. Mukha tuloy ako ’yung nakiki-third wheel sa kanila, buti na lang nandito si Franz.

"I found out who's your fiancée na." I chuckled at Franz while we were still walking.

"Oo, kaibigan mo na e." He rolled his eyes. "Binadmouth ko pa naman."

"Hindi naman gaano." I laughed. "Sabi mo lang is worse than me. Pero grabe naman kung ’yun ang tingin mo kay Gweny. Mabait naman ’yon," I said.

"Mabait? Oo. Sa iba. Sa akin hindi. Palagi akong inuutusan. Akala mo siya nagpapakain sa akin." He ranted out. "Pasalamat siya takot sa kanya."

"What?" I chuckled again.

"Huwag ka na ngang magulo!" Franz walked ahead at sumabay sa lakad ng dalawa.

Pagkarating namin sa mismong exhibition ay nag-uumpisa na. Tapos na ipakilala sila Mikha, Gwen at Sheena at saktong kami na ang susunod.

They are just giving certificates of appreciation para sa mga pumayag na magpa-drawing. Actually, it's an honor na nga kung hindi lang itong Christian ’yung nagdrawing sa amin.

After the mini program ay nagsipasok na rin kami sa venue. Ang gaganda. Hindi lang pala basta mukha namin ang nandoon. Nandoon din ’yung ibang works ni Aiah na nakikita ko sa drawing room niya. May iba ring painting na may mga quotation. Sobrang naaliw talaga ako tumingin-tingin ng mga ’to.

I lost track of my time kakatingin sa mga painting. Nakalimutan ko rin na may kasama ako. When I looked back, I saw Jho looking at me. Si Maloi ay nasa kabilang dulo ng venue at kasama si Franz na tumitingin din.

"You like it?" she asked.

"I love all of the paintings here. Ang gagaling talaga ng mga architecture students ng university natin," I said.

Jho walked slowly towards me and looked at the painting in front of us. "When I met Aiah, I asked her if she could sell this to me." She smiled sadly.

The painting is just a small hut near the beach. Ang peaceful kasi talaga ng painting. Parang kapag tinitingnan mo ay parang doon ka rin nakatira.

"She didn't sell it to you?" I asked.

"No," she replied. "She said she painted this for someone. And then kanina I tried to buy it again since all of these paintings are for sale, kaso nabili na raw."

"Who?" I asked.

"Mikha Lim." She smiled again and heaved a sigh. She wanted to touch it pero bawal. "Balak ko sana ibigay ’to sa special someone ko kaso si Mikha pala ’yung someone na tinutukoy ni Aiah. Definitely, she won't sell this to me because she painted this only for Mikha Lim."

"It's fine. Marami pa namang iba dyan." I patted her shoulder. "Makakahanap ka pa ng mas maganda kaysa rito."

"Sana." She chuckled. "Okay lang naman. Since Mikha is going to donate this sa school, titingnan ko na lang palagi. Okay lang kahit hindi siya akin. Okay lang basta nakikita ko siya palagi."

Bigla akong napaisip. Ayoko mag-assume pero feeling ko double meaning ang sinasabi niya. I shouldn't care anymore pero medyo naaawa ako sa kanya. Minsan talaga kahit gaano tayo kayaman hindi lahat ng bagay makukuha natin.

"Ikaw, may napili ka na?" she asked.

"Aimer!" Maloi waved at me at may tinuro.

"Oo," I said. "Puntahan ko lang ha. Dito ka lang ba?"

"Yes. Enjoy," she said and waved.

Mabilis akong naglakad kung nasaan si Maloi at Franz pero kahit na may pinapakita si Maloi na painting ay nakatingin lang ako kay Jhoanna. She was still admiring the painting. I wanted to ask her about what she felt pero alam kong masasaktan lang siya.

I shouldn't care pero nakakaguilty. Hindi dapat ako ma-guilty pero ito ako ngayon, wala sa sarili ko at iniisip ang nararamdaman niya.

Should I talk to her and be clear? Pero clear naman lahat sa amin ah? Baka hindi naman double meaning. Baka ako lang nag-iisip ng ganoon.

"Aimer, nakikinig ka ba?" Maloi asked and looked at the person I was looking at. Bigla siyang natahimik. "Puntahan mo muna. Parang anytime itatakbo ’yung painting. Pigilan mo."

"Ha?" I furrowed my brows.

"Sige na, samahan mo muna si Jho. Nandito naman si Franz. Mukhang mas invested pa siya sa mga art style ko." She chuckled and nudged Franz. "Di ba?"

"Sige na, Colet. Ako na bahala rito sa tinatangi mo." Franz chuckled and I nodded.

Agad akong bumalik kung saan nakatayo si Jho pero tahimik pa rin siya at gusto nang umiyak. Grabe naman ang epekto sa kanya ng painting na ’to.

"Ayaw mo ba talagang tumingin sa iba?" I asked. "Para ka nang nasasaktan oh."

"Kung kaya ko lang ginawa ko na," she replied. "Tangina. Hindi ako nagmumura pero ang sakit pala." She chuckled, trying to ease what she was feeling.

"Gusto mo ba kausapin ko si Mikha?" I asked again, genuinely concerned about what she felt.

"Baliw. Ayos nga lang." She wiped her tears. "Masaya ako na at least kahit hindi siya sa akin napunta, nasa tamang tao naman siya."

"How would you know? Eh ido-donate nga ni Mikha ’di ba?" I asked again. Naguguluhan na talaga ako. Hindi ko na alam kung painting pa ba ang pinag-uusapan namin.

"Because Mikha knew na mas safe ’to dito. Mas maaalagaan dito." Jho stepped back para mas makita nang buo ang painting. "Sana magsawa talaga akong titigan ’to before I go back to the States."

"So, you're going home soon?" I asked again and again and again. Puro na lang tanong ang ginawa ko sa buong conversation namin.

"Yes, but don't worry. ’Yung offer ko sa ’yo pang lifetime ’yan. If ever you changed your mind and wanted to release a song just call me. I'll help you become a singer." She smiled.

I nodded. Hindi ko rin alam kung tatanggapin ko pa ba. I'm planning to settle down once I graduate—of course with Maloi.