Gesturing

Chapter 17. Gesturing

NANG maka-recover si Rellie, ang una niyang ginawa ay ang pumunta sa law firm, pero wala pala ang sadya niya roon—may hearing—pero kanina pang umaga iyon kaya maaaring tapos na, o patapos na. Kaya sa huli ay nagpasya siyang maghintay na lamang. Kakatwa na kahit isinaksak niya sa isipan niyang wala itong puso dahil kung wala itong pakay sa kaniya noon ay hindi naman siya nito tutulungan na makapunta sa ospital, hindi pa rin niya mapilit sa sarili na pangit ang ugali ng abogado. During the whole month—though she cried the last time they saw each other—she still couldn't get him out of her head.

It was embarrassing as well that sometimes, she felt hot whenever she imagined him naked—posing for her. But the artist in her was so excited to paint his nudity. There was not a day wherein she's not picturing him; modeling for her masterpieces.

Atty. Velizario entertained her when he was done talking with a client.

"How can I help you?"

Magalang na umiling siya. "I'll wait for Sinned."

Bahagyang tumaas ang kilay nito at pagkuwa'y tumaas din ang sulok ng labi. "Is he expecting you to visit today?"

"I'm not here to visit him." Literal ang pagkakaintindi niya sa salita dahil parang ganoon ang ibig ipakahulugan ng lalaki.

"Then, what is it about? Care to tell me?"

"I..." She still did not think of any reason at all.

He kept quiet, waiting for her to response.

"I just want to talk about something! Y-yeah..."

"Something, eh?"

"Oo. M-may stalker kasi ako." God, Rellie, why are you lying? You could've just said "yes". Period.

Sumeryoso ang mukha ni Atty. Velizario. "A stalker? Can you elaborate more?"

Napatungo siya at nanulis ang nguso. How would she explain that? Bigla tuloy siyang nakonsensiya.

The latter sighed his relief upon seeing her reaction. Then, he said, "Would you like some coffee? Tea? You've been here for an hour and a half already."

An hour and a half? Hindi niya napansin iyon. Naaliw siya sa pagmamatyag sa mga nagtatrabaho roon. Bukod kasi sa dalawang abogado ay may iba pang mga staffs ang nasa law firm. At habang nagmamatyag ay inilabas niya ang dalang sketchpad at nagsimulang iguhit ang loob ng law firm—dark grey ang walls, ka-partner ng black cover na may puting linings sa gilid ng sofa sa receiving area, puti ang kisame, may split type aircon kaya hindi mainit. Ang sahig naman ay naka-tiles ng puti. Simple lang pero comfy. May tatlong silid doon. And she's guessing that the two were the offices of the lawyers. Hindi nga lang siya sigurado sa isa pa kung anong opisina iyon.

"Would you like to eat something? I can join you since I don't have a meeting for the next three hours."

She put the sketchpad on her lap. "You'll join me? But you don't know me."

"Why? Are you a bad person?"

Mabilis na umiling siya.

"Just a sweet little liar, eh?"

Napaangat siya ng tingin pero mabilis ding nag-iwas dahil sa mapaglarong ngiti ng huli.

"I'm just kidding. Let's go?"

"Are you sure? Baka magalit ang asawa mo."

"I'm single, Miss."

Napakurap-kurap siya. "How about your girlfriend?"

"I'm single," ulit nito sa sinabi.

"Totoo? Sa itsura mong iyan, wala ka kahit nililigawan man lang?" Atty. Marc Velizario was handsome and she liked seeing his sharp jawline. His black hair was nicely cut, too. He was nicely built and was always dressed to perfection. Basta, unang tingin, disente na kaagad ang maiisip ng kahit sino.

Lalo naman si Sinned, Nagmamalaking aniya sa isipan.

"You're flattering me so much."

She chuckled a bit. Nagkuwentuhan pa sila ng huli at imbis na kumain sa labas ay nagpa-deliver ito ng chicken wings at pesto. Nasa kalagitnaan na sila ng pagkain nang mapagkwentuhan nila ang tungkol sa hobby niya.

"You paint? Wow... You must be artistic," manghang komento nito.

"Medyo. I'm still practicing. If you know my brother, you will say I'm just a kuto."

"A what?" Natigilan ito sa pagkagat sa manok.

"Kuto?" Napangiwi siya. Bakit ba kasi kuto ang nasabi niya?

"You're funny in your own way." Napangisi si Attorney.

"You mean, I am weird, right?" she added lightly.

They both laughed just because of that simple conversation.

"I didn't know you're fun to talk to, Atty. Velizario."

"Just call me Marc, Ms. Prietto."

"Well, then, call me by my nickname as well."

"Rellie, right?" he confirmed.

Tumango siya. "Do you want me to sketch you?"

"Out of the blue?"

Ngumiti lang siya. "I'm actually bringing my sketchpad." Pinakita niya iyon dito.

"Wait, you're not going to ask me to take off my clothes, aren't you?"

Natawa siya saka mabilis na sinabing hindi.

"Then, let me sketch you as well."

"You sketch?"

"Well, I'm actually an architect, and I can say I have the talent."

"Whoa... Are you practicing both?"

Tumango ito at sinabing mas focused ito ngayon sa pagiging attorney.

"How can you do that?"

"Uh, time management?"

"But still!" Namamanghang tumingin siya sa mukha nito. "Grabe, ang swerte ng mapapangasawa mo, ah."

"Baka nga wala na akong maging oras kung sakali," biro naman nito.

"How about Sinned? Is he an architect, too?"

"It depends."

"Ha?"

"He can be whatever he wants to," makahulugang bulalas nito.

"Paano?"

"I'm just kidding. He's not an architect." Sinabi nito ang pinag-aralan ni Sinned bago dumiretso sa law school.

Silly. Of course, she knew that. Nag-research na siya tungkol sa lalaki noong naging interesado siya sa huli.

"Do you want me to call him and ask where is he? Kanina pa naman na tapos ang hearing na dinaluhan niya."

Umiling siya. "Baka busy pa iyon kahit tapos na ang hearing. I'll just wait for him, I am free today. So, how did you meet Sinned?"

"We met at the law school. He's my junior."

"Oh! How was he as a student? Iyong tipong aral lang ba nang aral? I saw his achievements and he kind of look like that type of a person."

"Nagsunog ng kilay, at mahilig ding p-um-arty," direktang sagot nito.

"Party?"

"He loved to go to the clubs back then. Katwiran niya ay iyon ang isa sa mga nagpapawala sa pagod niya ng buong linggo. Na kapag hindi iyon nakapag-party o inom man lang sa loob ng isang linggo, hapong-hapo siya sa sumunod na linggo."

"Seriously?"

"Of course, I'm kidding. But, yeah, he used to party a lot along with his friends."

"I see." Parang normal lang naman iyon sa mga University boys.

"What else do you want to know?"

Ano pa ba? Ah, yeah. "About C-Candace Ferrer? Are they married or what?" Hindi kasi niya mahanap sa Internet ang tungkol sa bagay na iyon.

"Nah, they can't."

"Why?" Biglang lumiwanag ang pakiramdam niya.

Hindi ito sumagot.

"Is it confidential?"

"Let's say it is."

"I understand. Pero sa palagay mo, mahal nila ang isa't isa?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe you should ask them instead? They're already here." Tumagos ang tingin nito sa kanya. "Hey, Rellie has been waiting for you," baling nito kay Sinned.

Busangot na bumaling siya at napansin nga ang pagdating ng dalawa. "Why are they together?" she muttered.

"Excuse me, Rellie, I have to prepare for a meeting," said Marc. Hindi na niya ito pinansin dahil nabaling ang atensiyon niya sa mga bagong dating.

Naniningkit ang mga matang tinitigan siya ni Candace. "Why are you here?" the latter asked.

Tumayo siya at walang kibo na lumabas doon. Mukhang napansin naman iyon ni Marc at nahabol siya.

"I thought you came here because your stalker is bothering you? Don't you need a lawyer to represent you?" Seryoso man ay mahahalata sa mata nito ang pagtawa.

"Why don't you?" Candace interrupted upong hearing Marc.

"I'm busy, Ms. Ferrer. And besides, I already told Rellie he will help her." Bumaling ito kay Sinned.

At dahil nakatingin sa direksyon ng dalawa ay napansin niyang bahagyang kumunot ang noo ni Sinned.

"Why would Sinned help her?" iritadong tanong ni Candace kaya nabaling ang tingin niya rito.

"Why wouldn't he?" balik-tanong niya sa babae. Pagkuwa'y bumuntonghininga siya. "I'll just go. I don't really need help anyway."

'Kainis naman! Bakit pa palaging magkadikit ang dalawa sa tuwing sasadyain niya ang lalaki?

Bago pa makatalikod ay nagsalita si Sinned. "Wait for me here, Ace, or go shopping; you can go home afterwards. I have a client now."

Everything slowed down when he walked towards her, gesturing her to go with him inside his office.