Seeking Serendipity

Kabanata 17

Kabanata 17

Constellation

It's been a week since we joined this camp. Wala pa namang isinunod na activity at nag focus kami ngayon sa mga discussions ni Mr. Gomez. He is trying to teach us now on how to do an oil painting. Nagpipinta siya habang nagtuturo sa amin kung paano namin yun gawin.

I setted up my palettes and other supplies out in a well-ventilated area here in this large cultural center. I also invest my hog brushes. As what Mr. Gomez said 'Oil painting may sounds easy and versatile. But oil painting can be a struggle to pick up. There are some "rules" we need to be aware of and the techniques can take some time to become familiar with.'

"So that's it! I just finished my oil painting. Now, it's your turn. Goodluck!" masayang banggit ni Mr. Gomez nang natapos niya ang ipininta niya.

I formed my mouth into 'O' as I took a glance to his oil painting. Geez, he's so good! The wide range of painting techniques, including the blending, glazing, and scumbling are so perfect. We amazingly snorted and clap our hands to his incredible performance.

"Grabe, galing!" sigaw nang nasa likuran ko.

"Astig!" another person shouted.

Mr. Gomez smiled bigger. "It's your turn now," he stated and looked down to his watch. "By five, dapat tapos na yan. Pass it to me in my office. Sana'y may natutunan kayo sa mga itinuro ko. See you around, class!"

I trammeled a breathe as I looked straight ahead to my easels. Kinakabahan ako dahil baka hindi ko tuh magawa. My phone cautiously beeping, senyales na may nag text. Tiningnan ko iyon kung sino, It's Laurence.

Laurence:
You looked nervous.

I typed my reply.

Me:
Sort of.

Maya-maya pa ay nag-reply ulit siya.

Laurence:
Don't doubt yourself.

I smiled at his reply. Inilibot ko ang mga mata ko at hinanap siya. When I found him, our eyes met. He grinned at me and waved his right hand. I waved back. Hindi kami magkatabi ngayon dahil iba ang puwesto sa mga lalaki at babae, they were in the right corner of the cultural, while the girls were on the left corner.

Me:
I'm doubting myself now. Maybe art is not for me.

I looked at him. He's now looking at his cellphone. Nagreply ulit siya.

Laurence:
If you believe in yourself, things are possible to do.

I smiled again and the doubt from my heart is slowly fading.

"I can do this," bulong ko.

Sinimulan ko ang pagpinta. I stain the canvas with a thin wash of paint plus solvent. I do a rough sketch of the composition. I quickly block-in the general shapes and colors, trying to establish the structure and color harmony. Binigyan kami ni Mr. Gomez ng isang picture na siyang gagayahin naming lahat. It's a garden with full of red flowers, (maybe it's roses) butterflies, and a couple that are sitting in a large swing.

20 minutes before five ay malapit ko ng matapos ang gawa ko. I refine what is on the canvas until there are no more problems to solved. I write my name under the canvas and put a signature on it.

"You did well," someone whispered on my ears.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang tiningnan ko ang gumawa non. Laurence wears a light smile as he looked at me. Gulat ko parin siyang tiningnan.

Nakangiti niyang hinawakan ang ipininta ko. "Sabi ko sayo e, kaya mo itong gawin." he said.

Binigyan ko lang siya ng isang tipid na ngiti. "I just carried away by your words." I answered honestly.

He chuckled. "Tara. Magpapasa na tayo."

I nodded. "Sige."

Tumayo na ako at kinuha ang ipininta ko. Naglakad kami papunta sa office ni Mr. Gomez. Pagpasok namin don ay walang tao kaya inilagay lang namin ito sa kaniyang pahabang kamesa.

***

"Bilisan mo Aleng, ambagal mo namang maglakad." he chaffed.

We're now walking up to the rooftop of this school. We went out of our respective room for stargazing. Si Laurence ang naka-isip nito at pumayag naman ako.

Nang nakapunta kami don, inilapag na namin ang mga dala naming gasket kasabay sa gitara niya. He borrowed the guitar of Torce para kahit papaano ay may mapaglilibangan kami.   We layed down to our individual gasket and gazed up at the starry night sky.

"You're a Leo right?" tanong niya.

I nodded. "Yeah, August 18. How did you know?" I asked curiously.

He just smiled and shrugged. Ngumuso naman ako. I just feel guilty that I don't know anything about him while he knows me very well.

"How about you? When is your birthday?" tanong ko ulit.

"November 22," he answered casually.

Tumango ako. "You're a Sagittarius. Let me find that scale."

I lifted my right hand and I tried to traced the stars. I'm so familiar with it that I can recognize it in just one glance. Tiningnan ko si Laurence at nakita kong nagt-trace rin siya.

"What are you tracing?"

"Your constellation, Leo." then looked at me and beams.

I looked back to the blinking stars and I wonder what's happening out there in space. Did a star suddenly die and turned into a black hole?

How good looking the stars above. Nakakawala ng pagod. Especially when they shine, they immediately took away all the negativity of life. In other side the bright moon can see how bright life can be. The radiance and the sparks are giving a miles in our faces.

"Do you know that the stars are like humans too?" he asked in the middle of our stargazing. Ang buong atensyon niya ay nasa pagt-trace parin.

I furrowed my brows, "How do you say so?"

He leave a deep breath. "They are like humans who are struggling in life too. They didn't know what will happens next. They are struggling on how to fight the unknown creatures of the universe. Nagsasarili silang lumalaban at walang tumutulong ni isa." he answered with a deep meaning.

Napatitig ako sa kaniya ng matagal. What if you're like a star too? Shining in the eyes from others but having a somber feelings inside? And if you'll be a star, I am willing to help you no matter what. Even if it means that I'll sink.

"There you are!" he said with excitement. Natigilan lang ako sa pag-iisip dahil sa sinabi niya. I didn't know that I am sinking too much and his voices came back my senses into reality. Nakangiti siyang tiningan ako. I looked at his hands who's tracing the Leo's scale.

He just found my  constellation.