I Wanna Be Yours

Chapter 11

Everything is gray
His hair, his smoke, his dreams
And he's so devoid of color
He don't know what it means
~Colors - Halsey

Clark watched Leah's expression carefully as she inspected the rocking chair. He didn't know why he felt so nervous.

Finally she looked up at him. "Ang ganda, Clark!"

He breathed a sigh of relief. "Really?"

"Oo naman. Pwede?" She asked, gesturing to the chair.

"Yeah, go ahead."

Leah gingerly sat down on the rocking chair as if she might break it. It took a minute for her to fully settle in and start rocking.

"Ay grabe, walang ingay!"

Clark grinned. He was particularly proud of that. His rocking chair made no squeaking or rocking noises, it just seamlessly and gently moved. Even inside of the warehouse, Leah rocked gently back and forth like there was a silent wind pushing her. She ran her hands up and down the smooth wood of the armrests.

"Ang sarap matulog dito," she sighed.

"That's kind of the point," he said.

"Alam mo, sayang 'to."

"What do you mean?" Clark asked, anxiety already filling him at just the smallest hint of criticism from Leah.

"Sayang na magiging gallery display lang. Don't get me wrong, it's a fine example of your work. Pero...ang rocking chair na ganito, dapat ginagamit, hindi tinitingnan lang."

"It's only a loan," Clark said. "Ibabalik rin nila sa akin at the end of 6 months."

"Kung sa bagay..." Leah reluctantly stood up from the chair and then stared down at it. "Kung ibebenta mo 'to, magkano mo ibibigay?"

"For this particular piece? I would put the starting price at 799 probably. It's value will go up once it's been in the gallery. People might start bidding on it."

Leah looked at him in shock. "799 dollars?"

Clark nodded.

She pointed at it. "799 dollars para dito? 40,000 pesos?"

"Its because of the wood," He explained. "And I handmade it myself with my own signature carvings. It drives the value up. Plus, you tested it. Have you ever sat in a rocking chair like that?"

"Oo."

Clark did a double take, not expecting that answer. Leah was still staring at the chair, a wistful look on her face.

"Noong bata ako pumupunta kami sa mga Lolo at Lola ko sa Ilocos Norte. May rocking chair sila na ganito. Parang ganito rin, maganda ang kahoy, matibay. Sabi ng Tatang ko, sa rocking chair na 'yon siya dinuduyan ng Lola ko. Kaya ang tagal na," Leah laughed. "Kung kaya ko lang, bibilin ko 'to para sa Tatang ko. Sigurado ako magugustuhan niya. Pero wala eh, di ko abot ang mga designs ni Clark Medina."

Clark scratched the back of his head in embarrassment. "I don't set the price. People pay for artistry. Hindi namin pwede babaan ang presyo dahil parang binababa namin ang value...I don't know, it's Diana that's in charge of this stuff. She has the experience and connections."

Leah laughed. "Joke lang. Naiintindihan ko naman."

"The stuff that we reproduce is much cheaper," Clark said. "We have rocking chairs that go for one to two hundred dollars, regular chairs even less."

Leah was still looking longingly at his rocking chair and Clark felt a pang in his chest. He wanted to give it to her on the spot but he knew she would never accept.