Kryptonited ✔ (Alpha Sigma Omicron #3)

23. Knight in Dashing Suit

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

"How's it going?"

"G-good," Tumikhim ako nang makita ko ang pagtaas ng kilay niyo. "Good."

"You're improving. I'm proud of you." She said, smiling.

I smiled back at Ms. Gemma, siya iyong friend ni ate na psychologist. She helped me let go my childhood traumas for the past months. Tinutulungan din ako nito sa speech therapy ko. And Papa would be so proud.

Ilang speech therapists ang pinuntahan namin noong bata ako, but I still have my constant stuttering. Kung hindi ko man magawang ituwid ang dila ko, gusto kong limitahan ang pagiging utal. It all boiled down to my trauma.

"These are such good artworks, Rainbow." komento nito habang nililibot ang paningin sa mga paintings ko. "What is it called?"

Sinulyapan ko ang canvas na tinitingnan niya. She was looking at the pendant that gave me good luck all my life. Wala na iyon sa akin ngayon. Pinaubaya ko na ito sa taong totoong nagmamay-ari ng kuwintas. Napangiti ako.

"The Lion Emblem."

"How about this one?"

Itinuro ni Ms. Gemma ang painting ng isang babae. The woman was in chains. She was scared but determined.

"Scarred S-soul," I replied. Napako ang tingin ko sa babae. Huminga ako nang malalim.

"It's progress. The fact that you are able paint this one with the exact same thing on your memory, it's such a brave act. Hindi lahat dumadating sa puntong kaya nilang harapin ang kanilang deepest fear." Tumango ako at ngumiti.

Bumalik ang tingin ko sa mga painting na nakahanay. Ever since the day I left, I dedicated myself to figure things out about me. I have always been drawn to painting, it's my way of releasing my thoughts. At hanggang ngayon, dito pa rin ako humuhugot ng lakas ng loob. Unlike before, I could talk and explain about my paintings freely. I can use my voice as well as my tools and brushes.

Sinuro pa niya ang ilang sumunod. Smile still etched on her face, as blood dripped from his head to the floor. I called it Freed. Malinaw sa memorya ko ang alaala niya. In my mother's case, death is her only freedom. It was one of my favorites.

Daddy's mansion was transferred to my name and I had it renovated for a museum exhibit. It wasn't my first exhibit, but this is gonna be so special. I painted all the things I remembered from my past and they would be the subject of the exhibit. Ilang buwan na rin akong naghahanda para sa viewing ng paintings.

I travelled around the world's museums within my first few months. At sa wakas, napuntahan ko rin ang Van Gogh museum na inaasam kong puntahan noon pa man sa Amsterdam. Hindi naman ako nabigo. The experience was surreal.

Van Gogh is one of my favorite impressionist painters, it was just tragic he didn't even know how successful and admired he was of the world. Muling lumibot ang paningin ko sa paligid.

The living room will be the walk of art. In each wall, there were vast collection of my paintings and architectural eye candy. I designed the renovated interior of the house. Bahagya akong natutuwa sa sarili ko. Hindi pa lubos na tapos ang kabuuan ng living area, pero masaya ako sa resulta. Mayroon pa akong ilang paintings na idadagdag.

Hidden elements abound in the dining area, and is comprised of a layered succession of circles, squares, and octagons complemented with traditional wall hangings and some of my abstract paintings. In the middle of the long table, hanged the Louis XVI corridor's 1970s Waldorf Astoria crystal chandelier.

The crystal chandelier was in daddy's possession since I was little. Minsan lang kaming kumain ng sabay sa parteng ito ng bahay. Madalas, ako lang mag-isa. I never realized how lonely my childhood was. Hindi ko naman kailangan ang sobrang laking mansyon, I just needed company.