Wonderstruck

CHAPTER 14

The Power

MATAPOS ANG NAGING usapan nina Maximo at Asher ay agad siyang kumilos na tila ba'y may hinahabol siyang oras.

"Wil..." he whispered like a baby while caressing his forehead going to his soft messy hair. He's now starting to sweat the heat out.

"Hmm?" he responded in a sleepy voice.

"Balik na muna ako sa hotel, ah? Magpahinga ka na muna rito. Babalik din ako agad. May kailangan lang akong asikasuhin. Tawagan mo na lang ako kapag may concern ka." Tumango na lang si William bago ipinagpatuloy ang kaniyang pagtulog.

He kissed him on his forehead before storming the way out of the shop. Bumalik na muna siya saglit sa hotel para gawin ang mga importanteng bagay.

The very first thing he did was covering the huge canvas using the clean paper then plastic. William is the main subject of his nude painting that's why this masterpiece is really important to him. Those memories they shared together were also priceless. The beach scene was the core memory of their starting relationship.

Matapos niyang balutin 'yon ay sunod naman niyang niligpit at nilagay sa dalawang maleta ang kaniyang mga damit. I need to move out or else my parents will find me here and bring me back home. Tutuloy na muna ako saglit kay William para kahit papaano ay alam ko kung gagalawin nila ang pinaka-importanteng tao sa buhay ko.

He put his two bags in the car compartment while the canvas was on the passenger seat. Its size was perfect for the whole space of the back seat. Matapos 'yon ay muli na siyang bumiyahe pabalik sa shop. Hindi niya lubos maisip na magiging ganito ka-komplikado ang buhay niya. Hindi naman niya hiniling na magkaganito ang lahat pero bakit pinahihirapan siya? All I want is to chase and live with my happiness, and those are the arts and my man named William.

Habang nasa kalagitnaan ng biyahe si Maximo ay agad na bumalik sa kaniyang alaala 'yung pinag-usapan nila kanina ni Asher.

The moment his phone rang, he went outside the room in order not to disturb William's slumber. Medyo tumila na rin ang ulan kaya naman hindi na rin 'yon magiging sagabal sa kanilang pag-uusap.

"Napatawag ka? Alam mo ba kung anong oras pa lang ngayon?" bungad ni Maximo sa kaniya. He saw his friend on the other line, and it's really weird to see that they have the opposite time. It's dark here and bright there.

"I know, I know, but you have to hear this out. Maximo, umalis ka na riyan sa tinutuluyan mong hotel room. I-off mo na rin 'yang phone mo after ng usapan na 'to, okay? Your parents are really agitated and they're on their way to fetch you. Your parents were so hopeless and relentless." Nanlaki naman ang mata ni Maximo sa kaniyang narinig.

"Ano? Seryoso ka ba?"

"Oo, pre! Gagsti bilisan mo na lang kumilos. Hindi naman sa nangingielam at nanghihimasok kami ni France sa inyo kaya lang nakita namin 'yung pagbabago sa'yo, eh. The way you approach social media, the way you talk and tell a story to us. Sobrang binago ka ni William sa totoo lang kaya kung kinakailangan naming manghimasok ngayon ay gagawin namin para sa kasiyahan ng kaibigan namin." Natuwa naman si Maximo sa kaniyang naring mula sa mga kaibigan niya.

They are really true to him and the mere fact that they still didn't see his man personally, they still supported him and treated him the same way he was treated before.