Seeking Serendipity

Kabanata 13

Kabanata 13

Inspiration

"Aleng... Tumatanda ka lalo. Dapat ako lang ang nakakapagkunot diyan sa noo mo." pang-aasar ni Laurence sakin.

Iritado ko naman siyang tiningnan. He's being his usual self with his playful remarks again. Actually, we're now doing our individual activity. I thought it's easy but I was wrong. I already racking my brain to paint something but there's nothing coming into my mind.

Kanina ko na rin pinagmasdan ang buong paligid pero wala pa rin akong nakuhang ideya para ipinta. I need some inspiration but I can't find it.

Napansin kong ibinalik na ang atensyon ni Laurence sa ipipinta niya. I'm sitting next to him. He's anteriorly sketching the gumamela flowers in front of us. I kinda amaze of the techniques he uses while sketching the petals. He's really born to be a painter.

Now, I'm doubting myself. Maybe arts is not really for me.

Laurence stopped from sketching when he noticed my deep stare towards him. Mahina siyang tumawa at kinurot ang pisngi ko.

"I can't concentrate because of you. Stop looking at me." natatawa niyang sambit.

I arched my brows. "Pardon? I'm not looking at you, I'm looking to your hand gestures and specifically, to your canvas!" I defensively answered.

"Talaga? Bakit naman?"

"Kasi ang galing mong magpinta," seryoso kong saad.

Nahihiyang ngumiti siya sakin pero nakikita ko ang saya ng mga mata niya. "Hay, Aleng. Nababaguhan talaga ako sayo."

Natigilan naman sa kaniyang sinabi. Bahagya aking nagtaka. Pero nawala din ang atensyon ko nang nagsalita ulit siya.

"Mag-sketch ka na, nauubos na oras natin di ka pa nakagawa," he said.

Inirapan ko naman siya bago nag-iwas ng tingin sa kaniya. I started to sketch the cute bird on the top of the tree. My hand skillfully tracedevery edge of the bird. Napansin ko naman anh paninitig ni Laurence sakin kaya agad ko siyang pinukulan ng isang masamang tingin.

"May problema ka?" mataray kong tanong sa kaniya.

He chuckled. "Wala naman."

"Eh ba't mo ako tinitigan?" pagtatanong ko ulit.

"Pardon? I'm not looking at you, I'm looking to your hand gestures and specifically, to your canvas!" panggagaya niya sa sinabi ko kanina.

Nanliit ang mga mata ko at tumawa naman siya. Nang natapos siyang tumawa ay seryoso siyang tiningnan ako.

"Magaling ka naman palang magpinta," he said with a light smile. " I can watch you all day."

Naiilang akong tiningnan siya. "Sige, titigan mo lang yung gagawin ko at huwag mong gawin yung sayo." iritado kong saad.

Nakangiting bumalik siya sa pagpipinta at hindi na ako kinulit.I adjusted my sketch and started coloring it. All I thought that it was very easy to do. This is just the first activity but it is a quiet difficult. Noon ay napakadali ko lang itong gawin.

"Sure, that sounds easy, but how can you create when you don't feel inspired?" pagsasalita ni Laurence habang ang mga mata ay nasa ipininta niya parin. It was as if he could read my thoughts

He shook his hands before looking directly into my eyes. I looked down at what he had painted and saw that it was done. Napapatitig ako ng matagal sa ipininta niya. He's really a good painter.

"Alam mo Aleng, may mga bagay sa mundo na sa tingin mo ay madali pero pag ginawa mo na doon mo ma-realize na mahirap pala," saad niya. "You are the perfect piece of art, but sadly, you didn't dip your brush to your own soul. You are lacking an inspiration."

Napanguso naman ako sa sinabi niya. He's on point again. Tama naman siya palagi.

"Hapon na Aleng, wake up and start living an inspirational life today." he cheerly said on me.

I smiled a bit and nod. "I'll try my best to do that,"

Ginulo naman niya ang buhok ko na parang bang isa akong bata. "That's good."

I pouted again. Just because he's tall enough, he's able to do that to me.

"Try to look the surroundings, the things here that can inspire you." giit niya.

Inilibot ko ang paningin ko. I see some butterflies in the flowers. I look up the bright and beautiful sky, and forcing myself to inspire that. Pero wala parin. I shook my head.

"Wala?" he asked softly.

"Wala talaga." sagot ko habang nagmumuni-muni parin sa paligid.

"Aleng tingnan mo nga ako," pagsasalita ulit ni Laurence. His brown eyes twinkled as our eyes met.

I lazily looked at him. "Ano na naman?" Unti-unting nagsasalubong ang mga kilay ko. He smiles widely at me.

"Hindi ka ba na-iinspired sakin?" he utters while wiggling his right brow.

Napailing nalang ako dahil sa mga pinagsasabi niya. He bit his lower lip to hide a smile but I caught that. I bit the insides of my cheek so I can stifle a smile, too.

"Puro ka talaga kalokohan!" singhal ko.

"I'm not. Nagsasabi lang ako ng totoo," he answered directly.

I mentally rolled my eyes and looked back at what I had paint. Napabuntong hininga nalang ako at nagpatuloy ulit sa pagpinta. I feel that that Laurence's eyes were looking intently at me. Hindi ko na iyon pinansin. Tahimik akong nagpinta.

I put down my brush around the table and took a deep breath. Finally, I'm done. I stretch my body. Sumasakit na ang likod ko dahil sa pagpinta.

"Woah, it's really good." komento niya.

Nakita kong may kinuha siya galing sa bulsa niya. He get his cellphone and click the camera.

"We must take a picture for our first achievement," giit pa niya.

Aangal pa sana ako pero ipinuwesto na niya ang cellphone niya. Nasa harapan naman namin ang mga canvas.

"Say cheeze," he whispered.

I nodded.

"1,2,3..."

"SAY CHEEZE!" we shouted with a big smile.

Nakangiti niyang kinuha ang cellphone. He giggled and smiled. "Now, we already have our first picture," he paused. "I will treasure this."