The Sacred Rule of Love - (PUBLISHED 2019)

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

            "What is up with you? You seem very distracted," sabi ni Prof. V (Villavicer talaga kaya lang sobrang haba ng last name niya kaya V ang tawag namin sa kanya), "You see these lines na nagawa mo? It's good, but there's no emotion."

            I've been hearing that a lot lately. Wala raw emotions yung paintings ko. He would tell me that I always just create a picture, but nothing else comes with it.

            "It's true," nakisabat naman itong stalker ko kanina pa, "What do they say usually? Isa-puso mo?" sabi niya doon sa gilid.

            Kanina pa ako inaasar ni Alexus tuwing pinapagalitan ako nung Professor ko. Nakaupo siya doon malapit sa bintana at nakataas pa yung isang paa niya. He seemed like he was having so much fun.

            I don't know if I liked it better nung hindi ko siya nakikita at naririnig. Right now he's been teasing me so bad na gusto ko siyang batuhin ng paintbrush ko.

            Nung umalis si Prof. V sa area ko eh binato ko talaga si Alexus. I was actually pretty curious on what was about to happen, pero just like any other object—it just went through him. Kind of freaky actually.

            I noticed na tinawag na naman si Prof. V nung grupo ng mga babae doon sa kabilang side ng room. I could tell na nilalandi na naman nila si Sir. Cute naman talaga si Prof. V, but I wouldn't necessarily flirt with him. Kahit na medyo bata pa si Sir, he's actually married. Walang anak pa with his wife, but married nonetheless.

            Pumunta naman sa harapan si Sir.                                        

            "As you all know, during your last semester in this program, we hold an event at the very last month. It is to showcase your works in a one night event. It is a final project that is to be planned the whole semester..." narinig ko na sinabi ni Prof. sa harapan. I started becoming nervous dahil isa iyon sa pinaka-inaabangan ko na announcement. I've been aiming for the curator spot. The leader of everyone...

            I heard a whisper sa tenga ko, "Relax..." in the most soothing voice. Napatingin ako kay Alexus na nasa bintana pa rin nakaupo, and he just nodded at me. Even though he was far, he was able to tell me something and it somehow made me calm down a bit. Everything na sinasabi ni Prof. V nun eh parang words na lang na nagpa-pass sa tenga ko. It was kind of like screening a conversation na hindi ko gusto marinig.

            "...Zoe Aldana!"

            I heard my name and everyone started clapping. Narinig ko na lang yung mga congratulations ng mga tao sa akin. I did it! I finally did it. I'm going to be this year's curator ng senior project. It's going to be an amazing event. I stood up at nagpasalamat na lang ako doon sa mga classmates ko, and somehow, I just thought first hand, maybe he could read my mind without opening my mouth: "Thanks" which earned a smile from Alexus.

***

            To celebrate, nagpunta ako ng coffee shop. I don't know, coffee just does it for me. I love coffee. Kahit na supposedly eh it will make you nervous, it keeps my nerves in place. Kind of ironic really. Naupo ako doon sa isa sa mga booth at nilapag ko yung gamit ko doon sa upuan. I had a rolled-up piece of poster na inabot sa akin ni Prof. V bago ako umalis at sample poster daw nung isa sa past gallery event ng former student.

            This one girl served two cups of coffee sa harapan ko. Yung isa, pinalagay ko sa kabilang side ng upuan. "May company ka, Miss?" tanong niya sa akin nung nakita niya na dalawa yung kape na ini-order ko. I just told her I drink a lot of coffee kaya ganun, and she let me be.