The Antiquity of Us (La Fortuna Series #2)

Kabanata 12

Kabanata 12

Piece of Art

I ate my meal like how a robot would—stiff and awkward. Hindi ko manguya ng maayos ang steak na hinanda ni Mommy dahil sa sobrang kaba na baka maya-maya'y ako ang maisipan nilang gawing topiko buong oras na nasa hapag kami.

Atlas was beside me but he was near where the patriarchal chair that my Dad sat on. Kaharap niya si Mommy samantalang kaharap ko si Kiro na tahimik katulad ng kahit anong normal na araw.

I thought I was doing fine because for the first half of the dinner, Atlas was the star of my parents' inquiries. Though after they had exhausted their questions about how the YSI was doing, the long-awaited shifting of topic toward me took place.

"Yona, baby," ani Mommy. Binalingan niya ako. "How's school?"

Kahit nakapaghanda ako'y natigilan pa rin ako ng ilang segundo. There was a deafening silence for a while. I glanced at my Dad and shivered when he still radiated an air of hostility. Labis-labis ang kaba ko na baka mapahiya at sa harap pa talaga nina Kiro at Atlas!

I took a deep breath. "B-binalik po kanina 'yong plate namin sa FigDraw..."

She nodded and arched a brow. "And what did you get, honey?"

"I got an 85, Mommy."

"85?!"

Eksaherada siyang suminghap kaya napatalon tuloy ako sa upuan ko. I dropped my fork which worsened the now uncomfortable air surrounding us. Yumuko ako at akmang pupulutin 'yong tinidor nang maunahan ako ni Atlas. He held my pulse and caressed it under the table. Nang ilapag niya sa lamesa ang tinidor ko'y nagkatitigan kami.

"Calm down," he whispered.

Umayos ako ng upo bago ibinalik ang tingin sa gulat na mukha ni Mommy. She let out an awkward chuckle before shaking her head in disappointment.

"I really don't know what's happening to you, Yona. Hindi ka naman ganiyan dati. I hope you know that it was hard getting you in LFU despite our money. Siyempre, kailangan ding pumasa ng art portfolio mo para matanggap ka roon. We pulled strings so that you could get admitted—Oh!" She gasped as her eyes widened. "I'm sorry, I said too much."

Kumunot ang noo ko habang pinag-iisapan 'yon. Anong ibig-sabihin nito? Na hindi dapat pasado ang portfolio ko? Was I not supposed to be studying in LFU if only they hadn't used underhanded methods?

When what she said dawned on me, a feeling of belittlement and shame swept over my system. Mas nanliliit na ako ngayon kaysa nahihiya.

"D-don't worry!" agap niya. She smiled sheepishly but it didn't change a thing in what I was feeling. "Panigurado namang deserve mo talagang makapasok sa LFU, hija. Maybe you just didn't showcase the right plates in your art portfolio!"

Umismid ako. "Mom, there was nothing wrong with my art portfolio. I told you, LFU has a bias. Kaya hindi napapansin ang mga plates ko dahil kahit maganda 'yon, hindi 'yon ang estilong hanap nila."

"Hija..."

"Can't you see? It's not that hard to understand, Mommy." I looked straight into her eyes. "It's the same with fashion. Kahit gaano pa kaganda ang damit na pinakita sa 'yo ng designer, kung hindi 'yon ang hanap mo, wala pong mangyayari!"

"But hija, a good designer is versatile. Kaya niyang magcompromise para sa estilong gusto ng kliyente niya. That's how a good artist should be!"

"Your Mom is right," Daddy butt in. Tinapunan niya ako ng matalim na tingin. "No one cares about what you want in the modern world, Ionna. We're in the 21st Century. You need to adapt to what is in and what is frequently used. Kung kahit 'yan ay hindi mo magawa, wala kang patutunguhan."