Paint Me, Jonathan (BXB)

003- A Fragile Beginning

|003|A Fragile Beginning

Pangalawang araw ko na ngayon na hindi umuuwi sa bahay. Natigil na rin sila Mama at Papa na kontakin ako dahil hawak naman nila ang debit card ko. Pera ko lang naman ang habol nila. All the money I earned from my paintings was directly transferred into my account. Since I was a minor at the time, they took the responsibility of managing it for me until now. Habang may pera sila, wala silang pakialam kung nasaan man ako.

Meron naman akong separate savings kung tutuosin. It's for my education. Hindi nga lang ito sin-laki ng pera na meron ako sa isang card, pero ayos na rin para sa mga gamit and daily expenses na magagastos ko habang nandito ako kay Azrael.

My train of thought was abruptly interrupted when I heard his dog whine, a pleading sound, as if it were begging for Azrael's attention.

His dog is a golden retriever, but her fur was not golden, it's white, almost gray.

I looked at the dog then to Azrael who was now preparing himself to leave. Inutusan ko kasi siyang ibili ako ng mga personal kong mga gamit dahil hindi ako nakadala ng kahit na ano noong lumipat ako rito. Ayaw ko naman gamitin ang mga gamit niya at mas lalo ng ayaw kong umuwi sa bahay para kunin ang mga gamit ko roon. Kasi ate ko naman, edi para lang akong kumuha ng bato para ipukpok sa ulo ko 'di ba?

He paused for a while, kneeling his one knee to give his dog a pet. "Awe, don't be sad, nandito naman si Tito Jonathan. He'll take care of you while I'm gone," he smiled, leaving me speechless.

Siguro kung kayo rin ang nasa kalagayan ko, pati kayo matatameme dahil mga 'te, his appearance doesn’t match his personality at all! He has a perfectly sharp jaw, a pair of pinkish, full lips, and bushy, thick eyebrows, not to mention a perfectly toned body that looks like it was chiseled from stone. But his personality? He’s like a warm, cozy teddy bear! Idagdag mo pa na para siyang babae dahil ang kinis-kinis niya! Ni hindi man lang ata nakaranas ang balat niya ng hirap.

The dog seemed to understand him because it stops whining, and just wagging her tale while following Azrael wherever he goes. She's like a living person, able to communicate with her owner. When all of a sudden, his eyes went on me. I startled as our eyes intervened.

"Take care of Pepper while I buy your things, please?" He plead. "Bago ka pumunta sa Art Studio, feed her and make sure to leave her water. She's always thirsty," he added, as if he knew everything her dog needed.

Wala akong nagawa at tumango bilang tugon.

Syempre nahihiya pa rin naman ako sa kaniya. He was still a stranger but he never made me feel as if I was one. Papa'no, simula noong gabi na dumating ako rito, siya na ang umasikaso sa akin, from my food down to my clothes. He's so soft and gentle that it made me comfortable around him. All the worries I felt after agreeing to help him with his Gallery, it all faded away, like a bubble popping into thin air.

"Promise me," paninigurado pa niya na bahagya kong kinangiti.

Such a caring motherfucker.

I sighed. "Fine. Ako na ang bahala kay pepper," I said, as I don't have any choices.

"Sabi mo yan ha! If anything bad happened to her, I will..." natigil siya sa kaniyang sinasabi, tila nag-iisip pa kung ano nga ba ang gagawin niya.

Napatawa ako. "You will what?" I posed for a challenge.

"I will surrender you to your parents myself," he said, as if he was so sure about doing it. 

Nginisian ko siya, knowing that he can't do it anyway. "Go ahead! Hindi naman ako ang may kailangan sa sarili ko. I know you need me," I teased and the latter just sighed in defeat.