Chapter 11
Painting A Masterpiece
His hair dance softly with the winds beat. His smile unfaze as if he is flirting with me. His eyes stare at me and only me.
*Badump*
*Badump*
He looks so manly. Kung hindi ko alam na bakla siya, papasa na siya bilang lalake. Pero hindi nga siya into girls kasi siya ang girl.
Why is he doing this? Is he contemplating for what he said back earlier? I mean, masakit talaga sa aking part 'yon, but he didn't need to do this, hindi naman kami close.
"What are you doing?" I ask with a hint of irritation. "If you're doing this because of what you said earlier, I forgive you. Now, can I have my solitude?"
He put his fingers on his lips as if his thinking. Bakit pa kailangan niya pang pag-isipan ito? I already said I forgive him.
He flip his hair and smile at me. "You know what, I'd like to know you more."
*Badump*
*Badump*
Why would he want to know me more?
"You don't need to do this. Haven't you heard what I said, I forgive you. Magagalit si ate kung malalaman niyang narito ka."
He stand up and walk towards me then stop infront of me. He is too damn close! Kailangan ko pang tumingala para lang makipagtitigan sa kanya. I can smell his rich, sweet and musky perfume. I felt intoxicated with his scent.
I like to smell him forever.
Shit Elara! What are you thinking? Hindi naman ako ganito.
I lowered my eyes to face the ground. I felt my cheeks are glowing pink.
Ang dali naman nag-iba ang ihip ng hangin! Parang kailan lang ay lumalayo siya sa akin.
His kneel down infront of me so that we can see each other. He tilt his head and smile. "What's wrong? Are you having a hard time to paint my beautiful look?"
I covered my face immediately. I felt my cheeks blush turns red!
Is he teasing me?! Oo na... ikaw na ang maganda!!
"I--I c-can." Mahina at nauutal kong tugon habang tinatakpan ang mukha ko.
Naramdaman ko na may humawak sa wrist ko at ialis ito sa pagtakip sa mukha ko.
Nakatingin siya sa akin na may ngiting mapaglaro sa kanyang labi. "Hindi ko marinig ng maayos ang sasabihin mo kung tatakpan ang mukha mo."
Inaakit ba ako ng baklang ito?! Because it works too well!!
"Fine! I'll paint you!" Pikit mata kong sigaw sa kanya.
Muli kong iminulat ang aking mata nang bitawan niya ang pulsohan ko. Umupo siya sa upuan niya at muling nagpose kapareho kanina.
He smiled and said."Then do your work, artist."
I compose myself. I should remove my embarassing moments earlier and look at him carefully. He is stayed in the position and looks regal with the light surrounding him like a halo.
I pick up my brush and then slowly brushing on my blank canva.
Many minutes have been passed and slowly the image on the canva come to life. It is still not vivid because I like to take things slow to show the intricate design of the piece.
The awkward silence that surrounded us is suddenly broken by him. "When did you start painting?"
My hand with brush stop stroking on the canva, leaving it in mid-air.
Why is he curious about it? He maybe just want to open up a conversation to break the awkward silence.
I regain my conscious and continuous to paint. "I started painting when I was 5 years old."
He look at me as if asking, "Yun lang?"
I sigh and continued. "He saw my potential so he take me to a museum. That museum papa take me is the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Nothing really got my attention there but on the time I laid my eyes on the Mother and Child on the Boat by Edmund Tarbell. That made me realize, I want to paint the people I love to cherish their memories through my paintings."
He look at me softly. "It seems you really love to paint."
"Huh? How would you know?" Nagtatakang tanong ko sa kanya.
"Nakangiti ka habang nagkukwento. And the very first genuine smile I see on you."
Huh? Do I immerse with my story that I haven't notice I'm already smiling. I touch my face to feel the creases my smile made.
He put his fingers on his chin with a mischievous grin. "I felt envy to the people you love. Why not love me too?"
His sentence caught me off guard that I drop my brush.
*Badump*
*Badump*
Ramdam na ramdam ko ang lakas ng tambol ng puso ko. Why is he flirting with me?!! I covered my face with my hands, I felt my cheeks are turning beetroot!
I heard him laughing kaya sumilip ako sa kanya. "I'm just teasing you." He said between his laugh.
Napatayo ako at galit na dinuduro siya. Ramdam ko ang pagtaas ng dugo ko. "Y--You! S-Stop teasing me. You know what, hindi ko na tatapusin ang painting!" Galit kong sabi.
He realize that he made me angry. He'd like to talk to me but I immediately pass him while flouncing.
Mamaya ko na kunin ang mga gamit ko kung wala na siya!!
Tinawag niya ako habang nakasunod siya sa akin pero hindi ko siya pinansin. He then grab my wrist but I didn't look at him then said. "Hey Elara, I'm sorry."
I snatch my hand back and continue to walk away. He run infront of me then block my way. Nung lampasan ko siya ay hinarangan niya muli ako. I walk on the other side and he still did the same. Para kaming naglalaro ng patentero.
"Please listen to me my artist, I really am sorry." He sincerely said but that me forgive him.
Dadaan na sana ako sa ibang direksyon ay hinarangan na naman niya ako. "Bakit ka naman nagalit? I was just joking ."
Galit akong tumingin sa kanya at dinuro siya. " Because you... Because you...!"
Because you keep my hopes up! Hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko nang marealize ko na malapit akong nadulas sa sasabihin ko. I bite my lips to keep my mouth shut.
Naguguluhan siyang nakatingin sa akin. "Because what?"
Ano bang sasabihin ko. "Because... Because..." Tumingin ako sa kalangitan at tinuro ito. "... Ano yun?"
"Huh?" Napatingin siya s tinuro ko kaya I take that chance to pass him while running fast.
I heard him shouting my name but I did not faze. I should better be far from him!
I keep running until I trip on my other foot and I lose balance. I close my eyes and brace myself, accepting my fall. But suddenly, somebody hug my waist which divert my fall to someone. Instead of the dirt, I fall on soft yet well-structured body.
I heard him groan in pain. I open my eyes and I see that I am on top of him. I'm on top of Felix!
Our gaze met and lock on each other. Our face are dangerously so close!!
Dahil dito, mas nakita ko ang kabuan ng mukha niya.
His foxy eyes are the same color as the chocolate with thick eyelashes surround it. He has small mole on his left under eye, tip of his nose and on the right side of his lower lip. His nose is tall and slender. And his thin yet kissable lips are pinkish. He looks like an ethereal beauty.
I'm drawn on his lips. I wonder how his lips form while calling my name.
"Elara..." He called. I look at him in the eye. He want to add something but our attention get caught to a woman screaming.
"Elara?! Faye?! What are you doing?!" Sigaw ni Ate Tat sa amin with a horror plaster on her face.
Oh uh, she did not misunderstand us. Does she?
BINABASA MO ANG
My Adamant Elara
Teen Fiction"Elara, you are the most adamant woman I have ever met. I don't regret everything I did just to make you happy. Even if that means helping you to have him."
