"What is this painting about?"
I scrutinized the painting that was carefully hung on the wall of my room. Ngayon ko pa lang ito nakita. It was a pre-raphaelite art.
"Ah, 'yan po ba?" nagkamot ng ulo si Sebastian. "Hindi ko rin alam e."
"That was auctioned last night, so your husband bought it for you." Sebastian continued.
I just nodded my head as a response. Hindi ito ang gusto kong malaman, di ko lang kasi maintindihan kung bakit niya ito ipinadala sa kuwarto ko. What is he trying to say behind this painting?
"Oh, right!" parang naalala niya naman ito nang pumalakpak siya. "Naalala ko na!"
"That's the drowning painting of Ophelia."
Ophelia. That was one of the characters in Shakespeare's tragedy "Hamlet". It was a play pero may libro akong nabasa noon tungkol dito. Naiwan lang ito ng isang customer sa red-light district.
She was a minor character, the potential wife of Prince Hamlet. Ophelia was a pure and obedient daughter. She obeyed every command, especially her brother's and her father's. She was weak and naïve. Ophelia drowned and died in a tragic way.
But for me, her death wasn't tragic. Her death was beautiful. It was peaceful and serene. Ophelia was finally free from the shackles binding her.
"If you're wondering, your husband likes to collect romanticism artwork," Sebastian said kaya nilingon ko siya na nakatingin ngayon sa painting.
"Marami pa namang magagandang painting pero mas gusto niya raw ito. Siguro dahil sa buhok ng babae. Magkakulay kasi kayo." mahina siyang tumawa.
I shifted my gaze back to the painting. May konting kirot sa puso ko habang nakatingin ako sa painting. My shoulders slumped, and sadness overshadowed my bright features.
"Kailan kaya ako magiging malaya?" I mumbled softly.
"May sinasabi po kayo?" magalang naman na tanong niya. Napangiti na lamang ako at umiling.
May kumatok naman sa pinto kaya kami napatingin doon. My forehead furrowed, I gave him a once-over. Familiar ang mukha niya.
"Sir, aalis na raw tayo in three minutes."
I remembered! Siya iyong lalaki kagabi. Kaagad naman akong namula dahil nakita niya kami ni Frodo na naghahalikan. Ano kayang reaksyon niya? Nakakahiya talaga!
"My lady, may itatanong lang ako," biglang sambit ni Sebastian kaya naagaw niya ang atensyon ko.
"Haunted ba itong kwarto mo?" tanong niya sa seryosong tono.
Kumunot naman ang aking noo. "W-why?"
"May naririnig kasi akong pumapalakpak tuwing gabi."
Muli na naman akong namula. Napatingin ako sa lalaki kanina, namula rin siya. Hindi siya makatingin sa akin! Nakalimutan kong malapit lang pala ang kwarto ko sa kanila.
BINABASA MO ANG
Under the Red-Light District
General FictionNesrin is the wildrose in the red-light district, a prostitution house. She grew up and spent her childhood in isolation. One night, she was caught by the manager and was forced to charm the customers by dancing. Because of her enchanting beauty, sh...
