Painting Dreams (ECSB Series 1) (REVISING)

Chapter 1

Sunset here in Pinta MNL Art Gallery still amazes me. I've been working here for months now and I still couldn't get enough of the view; especially on the café rooftop – it's a breather.

"Kumusta ka naman dito?" tanong ni Uno habang sumisimsim ng kape n'ya.

School is starting next week and we all agreed to see each other before it starts. We take different programs, kaya naman kahit pare-parehas kaming nasa ECSB nag-aaral ay hindi rin kami gaano nagkikita-kita; pwera na lang kung may common free time.

"I'm enjoying it, so far..." I said recalling what I've been doing for the past three months.

Uno's family own this gallery and she referred me this as there's been an opening for a job. I didn't want to use her as a connection to get me this job. Nagpapasalamat na akong s'ya ang nagsabi sa akin ng trabahong 'to, pero iyong agarang sa akin mapupunta ang trabaho dahil sa koneksyon ay hindi ako panatag.

"Mas marami atang tao ngayon?" takang tanong ni Mau.

"Yeah. Although, some of them are a team of photographers and advertisers hired by the gallery. May upcoming event kasi..." tugon ko saka ko rin inilibot ang tingin ko.

"Kanina pa ko tinitingnan nung naka-itim na button down shirt..." ani Uno nang may ngiti sa labi. Our eyes automatically tried to find the person Uno was talking about.

"'Yung morenong naka-fold ang sleeves up to his arms?" tanong ni Mau habang nakatingin sa malayo na s'yang sinundan ko ng tingin.

However, I found it weird... because I felt like it was me who he was looking at. I saw how surprised and shy he was when our eyes met then immediately looked away and tried to find others that fit the description.

Umo-o si Uno sa sinabi ni Oli. "Parang kay Oli nakatingin e," sabi ni Mau na kumumpirma ng naiisip ko. I resist the itch to look anywhere else, but on my coffee.

"Oo nga 'no!" kumpirma ni Uno. "Kilala mo? Parang familiar din ang mukha," ani Mau na ikinailing ko't nanatili ang mga mata sa kape.

"Parang bet ka," sabi pa ni Uno.

"Baliw," tugon ko.

I don't want to put meaning on such small things. I don't want complications. I like it all simple and easy.

"Pogi, Oli! 'Di mo bet? Kasi if hindi, then pwede bang akin na lang?" sunod-sunod na tanong ni Uno.

"Mang-aagaw, kerida, kabet," pabirong sabi Mau na ikinatawa namin ng bahagya.

I think he's a photographer. He's one of the team introduced to us earlier this morning. I can see how he's physically attractive, especially when he holds his camera... so into the subject he was taking pictures of, but I took no interest in it.

I have a hunch that he's been eyeing me for a while now, especially with Mau's confirmation, and I couldn't help but feel scared and shy at the same time. I don't like being the subject of one's full attention. I'm not used to it and I don't think I'll ever be.

Napatingin ako sa relo ko at napansing patapos na ang trenta minutong meron ako bago muling bumalik sa trabaho.

"Balik na ko sa gallery," paalam ko at umalis na rin sila.

The gallery is accessible to all at affordable ang presyo ng ticket para makapasok. Friday to Sunday ang mga araw na mas marami ang tao. There are pieces made by popular artists in the industry hanging inside, especially Filipino artists. There are also paintings of new rising artists that can be seen which I'm drawn to; maybe because I get to see somehow part of their starting point and most are refreshing to eyes.

Nagiikot-ikot ako sa loob ng gallery nang mapansin ko 'yung dalawang batang nakatayo't pinagmamasdan 'yung gawa ni Tammy de Roca na "In a State of Resistance". Sa tingin ko para bang pinag-uusapan nila kung ano 'yun.

Nang makalapit sa kanila'y 'di ko na rin napigilang mapangiti nang tuluyang marinig ang usapan nila.

"I don't know what exactly it is, but it looks like water to me," the boy plainly said.

Tingin ko'y nasa sampung taon 'yung batang lalaki at mas bata lang ng kaunti 'yung babae.

"Like it's crashing," he added.

Parehas nila itong tinitigan pa ng ilang saglit at saka nagsalita 'yung batang babae, "You know what it also looks like?"

Tahimik na tiningnan s'ya nung batang lalaki habang hindi niya inaalis ang mga mata sa malaking painting na sa harapan nila saka s'ya nagsalita pa, "like a flower blooming..."

She heard no response from the boy and said, "I don't know, maybe it's the curves or something."

I smiled and commented that made my presence known, "That's a better thought... it gives off a better feeling."

Bago pa man sila makapagsalita'y nakarinig na kami ng ilang tunog ng pagclick ng camera at agad na napabaling doon. Bahagyang nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita kung sino ang may hawak ng camera... iyong lalaking tinutukoy ni Uno kanina.

"Sorry. Do you mind?" he apologetically asked.

"Not really, but... can I see the photo?" tanong nung batang babae at agad namang tumango 'yung lalaki na may hawak ng camera.

He walked towards us and I unconsciously took a step back, thankfully I think he didn't notice nor mind as he went closer to the kids and crouched so they could see the picture.

"I think my hair looks messy. Ugh! Curly hairs," sabi nung batang babae.

"I think it's fine. The curls are pretty," ani nung batang lalaki na marahang inabot ang ilang hibla no'n. I saw her smile. A cute moment.

"Kesha? Tobi?" tawag nung isang babae na mukhang nanay ng isa sa dalawang bata.

The kids waved and the lady did the same thing as she motioned them to come with her.

"We've got to go," ani nung batang lalaki sa batang babae na siyang tumango.

"Bye, Ate! Bye, Kuya!" paalam ng batang babae sa amin na siyang ikinangiti ko at kumaway na rin pabalik. Kita ko rin iyong nahihiyang ngiti nung babae na tumawag sa dalawang bata.

Tumayo na 'yung lalaki nang tumalikod na sa amin 'yung mga bata. I was about to walk away when just after a few steps he called, "Miss?"

"Gusto mo bang makita?" tanong nito saka bahagyang itinaas iyong hawak niyang camera.

Gusto ko ring makita 'yun pero hindi naman siguro gano'n ka-importane't oras pa ng trabaho ko. Iniisip ko kung ano ang isasagot nang tawagin ako ni Jen, isa ring assistant sa gallery.

"Maybe next time," tugon ko nang maibalik ang tingin sa lalaki. Tipid akong ngumiti rito nang tinanguan n'ya ako't batid din siguro ang dahilan ng sagot ko.

Sinabihan ako ni Jen na paparating na iyong mga ipina-deliver gawa ng mga featured artists para sa gaganaping event. Agad kaming nagpunta sa backdoor para tumulong kay Miss Esme, isa sa mga curator, saka siniguradong walang kulang o sira ang lahat.

Bandang alas sais nang magsara ang gallery.

"Buti andito ka pa! Ito pala, pinabibigay nung kausap mo kanina." Salubong sa akin ni Jen bago ako tuluyang maka-alis.

Tinanggap ko 'yun saka napagtantong ito 'yung litrato mula sa kanina.

"Kilala mo? Photographer 'yun sa team nina Sir Brian, 'di ba?" tanong niya. Sir Brian is the marketing head and led the team that was here today.

Pero sa halip na sagutin ang tanong nya'y nginitian ko na lang ito't nagpaalam.