The Universe and Beyond

Universe 18: Northern Lights

ZEN

Friday afternoon. I tie my hair in a bun while wearing my working jumper suit. Excited na rin si Josh nang malaman niyang magpipintura kami ng silid ko. He already changed into his working clothes. Ihinanda ko ang ibang mga spray paints at pintura na gagamitin namin. May kumatok sa pinto kahit iniwan kong nakabukas ito. Nang lumingon ako sa kumatok, agad na ngumiti sa 'kin si Rozend na bihis na rin at handa ng magpinta.

"Hello, Kuya Rozend!" excited na bati ni Josh. "Buti bumalik ka na! Para hindi na malungkot si Ate Zen!"

Wala sa sariling pinanlakihan ko ng mga mata si Josh nang marinig ko ang sinabi niya. "Ano'ng sinabi mo?" Natigilan naman si Josh nang tumingin sa 'kin dahil sa nagbabanta kong itsura.

"Ahhhh... may sinabi ba ako Ate Zen?" nakangiwing tanong ni Josh at nag-peace sign pa. Agad siyang tumakbo sa likod ni Rozend at nagtago.

Nakangiting tumingin sa 'kin si Rozend na tila kinukumbinsi ako na huwag ng magalit. I just roll my eyes and continue with the preparation. I stand in front of the unfinished Northern Lights on one side of the wall.

Lumapit sa 'kin sina Rozend at Josh. "So how do you like to design this Northern Lights?" tanong ni Rozend.

"Let's create silhouette of pine trees and bright lights of green, blue, purple and pink in a dark sky full of stars and a mountain covered with ice?" sagot ko. "How about that?" Nakangiting bumaling ako sa kanya.

"Beautiful. Then let's get started," he said. "Kami na ang bahala ni Josh sa mga pine trees at ice mountain. I'll guide him and help you with the lights later."

Tumango ako. Naghalo kami ng midnight blue na pintura para sa unang layer ng pader. We covered the wall with an all-midnight blue color. Maging ang mga bahagi na napinturahan na noon ay pinatungan namin. It's easier to start all over again than to start where you left off. Maybe one of the keys to move on is to start all over again, to start like a blank canvas.

He draws an outline of the ice mountain and the pine trees below for Josh using black paint. Naghanda naman ako ng mga spray paints at pintura na kailangan ko at kumuha ng upuan na matutungtungan upang maabot ko ang mataas na bahagi ng pader. Nagkabit rin ako ng mga dyaryo at masking tape sa pader upang hindi malagyan ng glow-in-the-dark paints ang ibang bahagi. Hawak ko rin sa isang kamay ang isang brush para ikalat ang mga kulay sa pababa at pataas na direksiyon.

I spray titanium white, purple and pink all together. I use the brush to spread the color in an upward and downward motion. I also paint some green and blue lights on some part of the wall.

I noticed that the two of them are really enjoying because of their laughter filling the room. I can only let out a satisfied smile while listening to the sound of their contagious laughter. My Mom checks our progress from time to time and will ask if we need anything. Looks like she's more excited to see the final output than us.

Nang matapos ni Josh ang mga pine trees hindi na siya tumulong dahil masakit na raw ang mga kamay niya. Mahina na lang kaming tumawa ni Rozend nang marinig namin ang reklamo niya. Lumabas siya ng silid ko upang magmeryenda. Bumaba ako sa upuan at napapagod na umupo sa sahig habang tinitingnan ang pader na halos kalhati pa lang ang natatapos. Minasahe ko at inikot ko ang mga balikat ko na bahagyang nangangalay na. Kinuha ko ang isang plato ng cookies at ipinatong sa sahig. Isinandal ko ang likod sa pader upang makapagpahinga nang maayos.

Rozend is still applying some white and blue paints, blended together, on the ice mountain and I'm silently watching and appreciating his skillful hands. Kinuha ko ang camera ko at kinuhanan siya ng litrato. But I suddenly realize that I don't need a photo of him from now on. I'm already done with my painting of him. So it's not really for the project. The photos I took is for me.

Right now, Rozend is my favorite person too.

Ibinaba ko ang camera at kumain na lang. Mas madaling kumain kaysa isipin kung tama pa ba ang nararamdaman ko.

He applies the final touches on the ice mountain and the pine trees before he turns to me with a smile. Ibinaba niya ang pintura at brush na hawak bago tumabi sa 'kin at kumain ng meryenda. There are paint stains on our working clothes and some on hands.

"I'll paint you tomorrow," saad ni Rozend.

"Do you need a model or not?" tanong ko.

"Hindi ka nga magaling magpose eh," pang-aasar niya.

"Ewan ko sa 'yo," inis na wika ko.

Mahina siyang tumawa at uminom ng tubig.

"I think I'll try to paint for the individual project tomorrow too," mahinang saad ko.

"Hindi mo pa rin alam kung ano ang ipipinta mo?" kunot-noong tanong ni Rozend.

"Wala akong maisip. But I'll paint my family tomorrow. Habang nag-iisip pa ako ng mga dapat ipinta."

Tumango si Rozend. "I'm not sure of your thinking process but let's do it this way. What if you're going to die tomorrow, what do you want to paint today? Things you don't want to forget," wika niya.

Natigilan ako. "If I'm going to die tomorrow, then I'll paint my family. And..." Seryosong tiningnan ko siya. He's one of the people I want to paint over and over again.

"And?" he asked with curiosity.

"And you. I'll paint you. Because you're my favorite person too, Rozend," nahihiyang saad ko.

He pursed and bit his lower lip. And maybe I caught him off guard because his eyes turn a little misty.

"Hey, are you going to cry?" I ask in panic.

"It hurts," mahinang sabi niya.

"Hey, I'm saying something good here," reklamo ko.

"Yes. You're saying something good that it hurts," he says and blinks his eyes to force the tears back.

"You're weird. How can something good hurt?" Salubong ang mga kilay na tiningnan ko siya.

He chuckles heartily and stands up. Hindi niya sinagot ang tanong ko. "Let's continue. I'll help you with the Northern Lights," he said with a smile.

Tumayo ako sa isang silya at ipinagpatuloy na ang pagpipinta sa Northern Lights. I can feel Rozend's gaze behind my back. So I turn to him with a frown. But he's just staring and smiling softly at me that makes me blush. I can't even complain.

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