If I have Nothing (Absinthe Series 5)

Kabanata 18

Kabanata 18

If I Have Nothing

Sinubukan kong sulyapan si Rhett sa kaniyang ginagawa. He was surrounded with kids as he sat in front of the classroom. Nakaupo siya sa armchair habang ang mga bata ay halos manghaba na ang leeg makita lang ang kaniyang ginagawa.

I watched as his veiny hands circulated on a piece of paper. Sa muli niyang pag-aangat ng tingin ay nagsasalubong ang kilay, minsan naman ay nakakunot ang noo. Sa kaniyang harap ay ang batang si Nelly na nakaupo at mukhang ginawang modelo sa ginagawa niyang portrait sketch.

"Mukhang na in love ang mga bata kay Boy Lamig!" nang-aasar na sabi sa akin ni Juni. May ibang bata rin naman kaming kasama, pero mas nahuhumaling talaga ang iba kay Rhett at halos hindi na umalis doon. Some of the kids were on a different session. Minsan kasi ay nahahati sila sa iba't ibang parte ng Orphanage para matuto. Some were assigned in the church for bible reading, some were in the garden to plant.

"Hindi mo ba talaga iyan gusto?" kyuryoso niya pang tanong. I curtly nodded and smiled at Jojo who came to me. Binigyan ako nito ng bangkang papel.

"He's not that likable to me. A-at isa pa, mas matanda siya sa akin. I don't think we're compatible." Inilapag ko ang bangkang papel sa armchair at dahan-dahang iginagalaw.

I heard the 'wows' of the little children upfront. Nakatayo na si Nelly at tuwang tuwa sa ginawa ni Rhett. Kanina kasi ay humiling ang mga bata na kung pwede ay maidrawing ang kanilang mukha. I wasn't that good in sketches, neither is Juni but then I remembered that Rhett is an Architectural student. Nakiusap naman ako sa kaniya at buti ay pumayag.

I just smiled because even though he was a bit awkward with these kids who are strangers to him, he managed to make them smile and see things. Especially his craft.

Nakita kong kinuha ni Nelly ang sketch ng kaniyang mukha at masayang ipinakita sa amin. There was her face on a hazy sketch. Nagkasya ang kaniyang mukha sa papel.

Namamangha din ako dahil halos lahat ng detalye ay kuhang kuha ni Rhett. He managed to draw that art in just minutes. Sa bilis ba naman ng kamay niya kanina, paniwala na akong matatapos niya ang sketch sa maikling oras. I had to look closely at the sketch. There were still visible lines that I think he made for starting points. I am not much of an artist but as I see how he gave life on that sketch with that artistic shadings amaze me.

He managed to make portrait sketches to five kids before they could go to the chapel. Sayang-saya ang mga bata at kahit na sina Sister ay natutuwa sa kanila.

"Oh, ilalagay natin iyong mga mukha niyo sa pader. Ipapa-frame natin kasi sobrang ganda." Natatawa na si Juni sa mga bata. They gave the sketch paper to Juni. Ang aking kaibigan naman ay isinilid iyon sa brown envelope.

I checked the time on my wristwatch. It was already three in the afternoon and I already feel hungry. Pinakain naman kami sa orphanage, nga lang juice at tinapay iyon dahil hindi naman kami kasali sa budget nila.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Rhett. He noticed that I was checking the time too that's why he arched a brow.

"Magpapaalam lang ako kina Sister tapos tutulak na tayo paalis." sambit ko. Tumango naman siya at hinayaan na akong sumama kay Juni patungo kina Sister Martha.

"Balik ka sa susunod, ha? At huwag mong pababayaan iyang sarili mo Syden! Tingnan mo nga't nangangayat ka! Kumakain ka pa ba nang maayos?" utas sa akin ni Sister Martha at hinagilap ang payat kong braso. My blouse was a fitted one that's why she manage to suspect that I was thin as a stick.

Mahina akong tumawa. "Kumakain naman po ako, Sister!  At busy lang po, hayaan niyo't magkakalaman din ako pagkatapos ng isang buwan dahil wala pang pasok."