My Piece Of Art, Love

Chapter 2

Dave is sitting next to his niece. Suzy must be tired for what happened to her this afternoon because after the mini talked they had a while ago, Suzy fall asleep while she was holding his hands. Inayos niya ang kumot ng pamangkin niya at hinaplos niya ang mukha nito na himbing na himbing na ang pagkakatulog. He looked at the left side of the bed nakita niya ang favorite teddy bear nito na katabi rin ng pamangkin niya sa pagtulog. Nang tumayo si Dave, nahulog sa kama ang mini wood canvas. Pinulot niya ito at pinagmasdan. It's a round shape wood canvas na may sabitan at nakapinta roon ang magandang dagat at araw na papalubog na siguro dahil base na rin sa kulay nang kalangitan. At the back, may initial na W.R. "It must be the artist's initial." Inilagay na lamang niya sa table next to her niece's bed. And he left the room quietly.

"Hello, Dave! How's Suzy?" tanong sa kanya ng tita Andrea niya. Base sa pagtanong ng tita niya mukhang wala itong alam sa nangyari sa pamangkin kaninang hapon.

"She's fine, Tita. She's already sleeping now. You can call again tomorrow if you wanna talk to her." sabi ni Dave na tinignan ang relo. Past 10 P.M na ng gabi, bakit kaya ito napatawag nang ganitong oras ang tita niya.

"Tita, is everything alright? Alas-diyes na ng gabi napatawag kayo?" nag-aalala natanong ni Dave.

"No, everything's fine,dear. Napatawag lang ako coz I want to talk to you about something alam ko busy ka rin kasi kanina. Oh, how's the conference?" biglang tanong ng tita nito sa kanya. Mukhang wala ngang alam ang tita nya sa nangyari kay Suzy kanina.

"Ayos naman po tita. Everything is going as planned. So, what it is that you have something to tell me? Tungkol po saan?" He was on the library at umupo siya sa sofa while talking to his aunt.

"I have a favor to ask from you. At the end of the month I have to attend an exhibit of one of my friends. So, I want you dear to be my escort. And I already checked your schedule you're free so you don't have to say no this time to your lovely tita,okay?" sabi nito sa kanya. Napailing na lamang siya dahil alam na rin naman nya kung bakit ito ginagawa ng tita niya. Malamang isinama siya bilang escort pero hindi iyon ang dahilan may ipapakilala na naman ito sa kanya as prospect girlfriend or fiance-to-be nya.

Napabuntong hininga na lamang siya. "Okay, tita. I'll be your escort. Just tell Kris about the date para ma-i-schedule niya. Iyon lang po ba tita?"

"And I'll visit Suzy tomorrow mamasyal kami."dagdag ng tita nya.

"Okay, Tita." pagpayag nito.

"Okay iho. Good night!"paalam ng kanyang tita sa kanya.

"Good night too!" sabi na lamang niya.

Ipinahinga na lamang niya ang likod sa mahabang sofa. He was so tired and exhausted. He's looking at the ceiling of his library. At inalala niya ang mga panahong kasama pa niya ang mommy ni Suzy na si Rose.

Rose was his dear childhood best friend. Mag-kaibigan ang kanilang mga magulang. They're same age, same school til college iyon lang magkaiba sila ng kursong kinuha. He's into business management and she's into fine arts. Rose was married to his older brother Jacob and they've a daughter named Suzy,my dear sweet niece. 

"Rosie" he uttered her name. "I missed you buddy. Your daughter — she looked like you a lot. The way she is smiling and doing puppy eyes." He smiled thinking of her best friend and her niece. Rose passed away five years ago due to an accident. She died from drowning. And his brother got into car accident two years ago and still in coma.

For the time like this when he's alone and thinking. He find himself thinking of the days they had together. The good times with his best friend and brother.  He's trying his best to make his niece happy and not to make her feel lonely without having a parents at that young age. Somehow, he's doing what it takes to be a responsible guardian for his niece. And he knew that Rose is going to be sad if he still agonizing from the past. So, he decided to face the future with the brighter side na kasama ang pamangkin niya at babaunin ang mga magagandang ala-ala ng kaibigan niyang si Rose. That will be his strength to move forward in life.

***

"Tito Dave, wake up." Suzy is trying to wake him early in the morning. "Hmmm" iyon ang sagot nito sa pamangkin. "Tito Dave please wake up na po lets have breakfast together. Tapos na magluto sila nanay Lita." Nayayamot na tugon ni Suzy. Nang hindi pa rin magising ang kanyang Tito umakyat na siya sa kama nito at tumalon-talon siya. Gumagalaw na ang kanyang Tito pero hindi pa rin nakamulat ang mga mata nito kaya ginawa nya pinisil pisil ang magkabilang pisngi ng kanyang Tito. "Aww! Aw! Oh baby, I'm awake now!" hinimas ni Dave ang magkabilang pisngi nya at napangiti siya nang marinig ang malulutong na tawa nang kanyang pamangkin.

"Tito, now I know how to wake you up na." Natatawa ng tugon ni Suzy. "Yeah! You like that ha." Then He give her a hug and morning kisses. His room is filled with their laughters. One of the best morning he has.