Double Take

Chapter 22

Jealous

I gently placed the white canvas on the easel. It was a sunny afternoon when I requested for a short break in the middle of our session and thought of painting him to make use of the time that he granted me.

No'ng una ay ayaw niya pang ipinta ko siya pero kalaunan ay napapayag ko rin.

A small smirk played on my lips when I saw Rael standing on the spot that I told him with his crossed arms and scrutinizing eyes. Dahil maraming sinampay si Tita Danna sa harapang bakuran ng bahay nila, dito niya ako dinala sa likod kung saan ay natatanaw namin ang lawa ng San Vicente. Halos ilang metro lang ang layo sa tree house nila.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked in a doubtful voice.

Ngumuso ako at pinagmasdan siya lalo. Wearing his usual white shirt and black shorts, he was standing near the wooden fence beneath the shade of a Mahogany tree. I placed him in that specific spot so I could make the scenery behind his background but how could I appreciate it now that he's there?

Kahit ang pagbalik ng tingin sa canvas ay kailangan ko pang pilitin ang sarili. I wanted to paint him but he's already a masterpiece himself. I don't think I could ever give justice to his visuals. Bakit ko pa ba kasi 'to naisip? Sana pala pinicture-an ko nalang siya!

"Magagawa ko 'to basta 'wag ka lang masyadong malikot. Pipinturahan ko lang naman 'tong canvas..." I answered as if painting was just a piece of cake to me. Gago rin kasi ako, e. Sana pala kumain nalang kami ng cake na binake ni Tita o di kaya'y cake na lang ang pininta ko! Mas madali pa!

"You're too far from me..." He pointed out. Napaangat ako ng tingin sa kanya, ang ngiti sa labi ko ay kasalukuyang sumusugat. "Mainit pa diyan sa puwesto mo. Iitim ka lalo niyan," he teased me before he unraveled his arms and put his hands inside his pockets. Napasimangot ako dahil sa paggalaw niya.

"Ang sabi ko, huwag kang malikot..." I was supposed to sound like I was scolding him but my tone betrayed me. Parang inaalo ko pa tuloy siya. Tangina lang. Sige Benj, lambingan mo pang hayop ka!

Bahagya siyang natawa. "For sure background pa lang naman ang ginagawa mo..."

Oo, tama ka Rael.

Pero sino bang masusunod? Hindi ba dapat ako kasi ako naman ang nagpipinta rito? Nakatayo ka lang diyan kaya i-zipper mo na lang 'yang bibig mo.

"Ah, basta 'wag kang gagalaw..."

"Sure..." he agreed, finally.

Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalagay ng kulay sa canvas at kagaya ng napagkasunduan, hindi na nga siya ulit gumalaw. Napangiti ako. Whenever he's indulging me, I can't help but melt inside.

Sinong hindi?

Si Azrael Villarin na 'yan, e.

"Are you ready for tomorrow?" He suddenly asked in the midst of silence. Natigil ako sa paghahalo ng mga kulay para balingan siya. I caught him watching me intently.

"Anong meron?" Pagmamaang-maangan ko na kaagad niyang ikinasimangot. I couldn't help but laugh at his reaction. Pinaningkitan niya ako ng mga mata habang hinihintay na matapos ako. "Biro lang, Rael. Of course, ready na ako... palagi kaya akong nagrereview kahit week days. Bibiguin ba naman kita?" Bawi ko.

He nodded and looked away. "Yeah, right..."

Muli akong natawa. "Hindi ka yata masaya? Mukhang mananalo ako sa deal natin, ano?"

"Why won't I be happy if you ace your exams?" Tanong niya at ibinalik sa akin ang buong atensiyon. "I agreed to have a deal with you 'coz I want you to be motivated while taking your exams. Walang kaso sa akin kung matalo ako, basta maganda ang resulta ng exam mo. I want you to pass all of your subjects, so you could graduate this year, too."