The Antiquity of Us (La Fortuna Series #2)

Kabanata 3

Kabanata 3

Wet

It was Saturday and the midday sun was warm. Puro masama ang panahon nitong nakaraang mga araw kaya ikinagalak ko 'yon. I was busy all-day, painting an art project that's due at the end of the month.

It was a simple task of painting anything that inspired us which was why my creative juices were at the roof. Mas gusto ko talaga 'yong malaya akong nakakapagpinta—no boundaries and people to tell me what to do. For the eighteen-year-old me, it was the dream.

Freedom.

Nasa gitna ako ng pag-iisip ng kung ano ang magandang kulay na ipatong sa hindi ko pa natatapos na painting nang tumunog ang cellphone ko. I grabbed it and saw that it was my Mom. Agad kong sinagot 'yon.

"Yes, Mommy?"

"Honey, nasa masiyon ka pa rin ba? Can you please do something for me? Matatagalan pa ako rito sa town center, e," dire-diretso niyang bungad.

"Of course. I can run some errands right now, anyway. Ano po ba 'yon?"

She sighed exasperatedly. "Kanina kasi ay may dumating na package ang Dad mo. He was already at LAFOMA when it arrived so I didn't really bother, you know? Ngayon, tumawag siya sa 'kin dahil kailangan daw 'yon! Gosh, napakawala sa timing talaga ni Lucian! I'm in the middle of my retail therapy at the moment!"

"I can bring it to him, kung kailangan talaga."

"Yes!" It was almost a scream. "Baby, that would mean so much. Nandito pa rin ako sa salon at matatagalan pa yata 'to. Kiro's here 'cause he chauffeured me, but I'll send him home. Mag-ayos ka na lang habang on the way siya."

"Alright, no problem."

"Aw, thanks honey bunch! Love you!"

I chuckled. "Love you too."

Ganoon ang ginawa ko. I left the art room and decided to take a bath. Medyo frizzy pa ang buhok ko dahil nakapusod 'yon buong araw ngunit nang matapos akong maligo'y naging maayos naman. Habang nagbo-blowdry ako'y biglang pumasok sa utak ko ang maaalon na buhok ni Maeve. It stayed on my mind 'cause her hair was too perfect, like that of a Victoria Secret's models' coiffed ones.

It was a lot of work but since I wanted to try something new, I took out my curling iron and did mermaid curls on my hair. I admit, it was partly because of my growing idolization for her but mostly, I did want to do something refreshing. Ilang minuto ang ginugol ko roon at ilang beses din akong muntik nang mapaso.

In the end, I settled with my loose curls and proceeded to apply a light make-up. Matapos do'n ay tuluyan na akong nag-bihis. I wore a knitted bodycon dress that stopped two inches above my knees. Kulay puti 'yon at off-shoulder ang estilo. After that, I slipped into my wedged boots before finally feeling contented with how I looked.

"Kir, wait!" I shouted over my windows when he honked the Sedan's horn.

Nagmamadali kong kinuha ang maliit kong bag at bababa na sana nang makita ko ang nakabukas na pinto ng art room. I brisked toward it and was supposed to close the door but an idea flashed on my mind before I could do so.

When I saw my unfinished painting, a feeling of intense gravitational pull toward it held me captive. Tila gusto kong tapusin 'yon agad! It was insulting to gaze upon the truncated thing! So I thought, what if I continued painting it inside my Dad's office?

Hindi niya naman 'yon iindahin dahil marami siyang ginagawa. Isa pa, I only needed to add some furnishing and finishing touches, tapos, tapos na ako. It wouldn't be messy at all!