Importante

Chapter 18. Importante

TAGUMPAY ang ngiting sumunod si Rellie kay Sinned at nakita pang padabog na umalis si Candace sa law firm bago sila nakapasok sa loob ng opisina. Hindi kalakihan, hindi rin naman kaliitan ang loob. She's loving the interior of the office despite of how the papers were piled up on the other desk. Maraming mga papeles, oo, pero hindi makalat. Malamig din sa mata iyong geometrical design na nasa isang banda ng pader, hindi gaya ng sa ibang nakikita niya na ang sakit sa mata ng kombinasyon. The only window in there had blinds so he pulled it up that made the office brighter because of the sunlight.

"Sit down here." Iginiya siya nito sa pang-isahang sofa. Umupo naman ito sa katapat na upuan.

"Thanks." Nakangiti pa rin siya. Subali't kaagad ding nawala ang ngiting iyon nang magsimula na itong magtanong tungkol sa kaniyang stalker.

Umabot na 'ata ng minuto ang pananahimik niya at hindi makaapuhap ng salita.

"Miss? Can you tell me more about your stalker? Do you have any idea if who that person is?"

"I..." Nag-angat siya ng tingin.

He's patiently waiting for her answer and he really looked as if he was willing to help her.

"I-I..." she stuttered.

"Try to calm down first."

She bit her lower lip. Bakit ba kasi nabanggit pa ni Marc iyon, eh, alam naman nang hindi totoo?

"I'll get you a glass of water."

"No, I'm fine. I'm sorry, there's no stalker. I w-was just making some stories a while ago so I could meet you."

He blankly stared at her which made her look away to avoid his gazes that turned cold. Hindi tuloy niya alam ang susunod na gagawin.

She gulped nervously; continously pressing her palms.

"Why did you do that?" Parang may gusto pa itong sabihin at hindi nga siya nagkamali. "You think it is a joke to have a stalker?"

"I know. I know. A lot of people suffer because of their stalkers. I'm really sorry, I won't do it again anymore..."

"You can go now."

"A-aren't you going to ask why do I want to meet you?" lakas-loob niyang tanong. Nandoon na rin naman siya, hindi ba?

Hindi ito kaagad na sumagot. Sabay pa nga silang nagsalita. "Is it about Candace?"

"I want you to be my model."

Silence.

Ramdam niya ang paninitig nito nang magbaba siya ng tingin, at kahit hindi niya tingnan ay mukhang nagulat ito sa direktang pagsabi niya ng pakay rito.

Mabilis na iniba niya ang usapan. "Why would I go to you if is it about that woman?"

Hindi man naiinis—dahil mas nangibabaw ang hiya sa kaniya—ay pinilit na lang niyang mainis.

"Wait, is it about that incident? Had I not told you I wouldn't file a case against her? Iniisip mong kaya kita pinuntahan ay dahil makikipag-areglo ako? Sa palagay mo, kailangan ko ng pera niya? Siya pa ang babayaran ko!"

Hindi ito sumagot at nagpatunay iyon na totoo ang naisip niya.

"You think I am that childish?"

"Do you think you are not being childish for saying that you have a stalker just so you could meet me?"

Napasinghap na lamang siya dahil na-guilty. Nawala ang kunwaring pagkainis niya at gusto na lamang lumubog sa kinauupuan.

"Look, Miss, I can't think of any reason why you would want to see me."

Oo, alam na niya. Kaya nito naisip na dahil sa pakikipag-areglo. Malay ba nitong araw-araw itong gumugulo sa nananahimik niyang isipan, hindi ba? Nanatili siyang nakayuko at napansin ang mga paa nito. Ang laki ng size ng sapatos kaya nasisiguro niyang malalaki ang mga paa nito. Tila tuloy gusto na lang niyang ilabas ang sketchpad at iguhit ang mga paa nito na walang sapatos. She wondered if how did they look like. Maugat din kaya gaya ng sa—

"If you don't have anything to say, I suppose we're done in this meeting already?"

Bahagya siyang umiling. "You still didn't agree to be my model yet..."

"I did not say I will agree."

Tama na, Rellie. Umuwi ka na lang. "Just once?"

"No."

"Uuwi na nga lang ako. Thanks for accommodating me, though."

Tumayo na siya at umuwi. Kung akala nitong titigil siya ay hindi. Babalikan niya ito hanggang sa pumayag na sa gusto niya.

When she went home, her brother was there, and he asked where did she go.

"Nagpahangin lang. Ikaw, bakit ka nandito?" balik-tanong niya rito.

"I'll be having a private exhibit, and I'm inviting you to be one of the artists. I'll be putting up your works afterwards."

"Talaga? Kailan?" nasasabik niyang tanong.

"Next week."

"Sige! Sandali, magbibihis lang ako. Dito ka na kumain."

At nang kumakain na ng dinner ay nabuksan naman ng mama niya ang usapin tungkol sa kaniyang pagmomodelo.

"The brands have been contacting me, asking if when are you going to have your comeback in the industry," pagbibigay-alam nito. Wala ang ama nila dahil may business conference itong in-attend-an sa Cebu.

"Saka na lang, 'Ma. Pero pwede naman akong tumanggap ng photoshoot."

"Why don't you go back to modeling? You already finished your studies anyway."

"Can you pass me the rice?" her brother interrupted. Ibinigay niya muna ang lalagyanan ng kanin sa kuya niya bago siya sumagot sa kanilang ina.

"I still want to focus on learning how to paint."

Her mom sighed, then, she glared at her brother. "You influence your sister."

"'Ma," magkapanabay na reklamo nila ng kaniyang kuya. Sa totoo lang ay ayaw ng mama nila ang ideya na nagpipinta o gumuguhit sila ng hubad na mga modelo. Her mom was kind of conservative but she came to accept what they wanted to do—sa kuya lang pala niya dahil hindi pa rin nito gaanong tanggap ang gusto niya sa ngayon.

"You're doing great with your abstract painting, love, why did you change your preference?"

"I find it interesting. I am really enjoying what I do now," paglilinaw niya.

"O, sige na. I'll just set up a meeting with some of the brands."

"Thanks for understanding, 'Ma."

Hanggang sa dumating na ang araw ng exhibit, halos tatlong oras na ay puro inulit niya ang ginawa; walang natapos. She frustratingly stood up and went to her brother who was looking at her critically.

"Are you stressing about something, Aurelia?" seryosong tanong nito.

Bumusangot siya sa itinanong nito pagkalapit niya. Nasa likuran lang kasi ito, nagmamatyag sa mga nandoon.

"I've been watching you, you can't even stroke your brush continously."

"I don't know, Kuya, and it's frustrating the hell out of me."

"Since when did it start?"

"Kailan lang. Noong nakaraan, nakapag-sketch pa ako; nakapag-paint. Pero puro mga lugar saka abstract. Pero kapag tao na, naba-blanko ako."

"Did you bring your sketchpad?"

Tumango siya.

"Let me see it."

Kinuha niya ang bag saka ang sketchpad doon. Seryosong tiningnan ng kuya niya ang mga sketches niya.

"You're into these details now. Is it some kind of fashion?" tanong nito nang napatitig sa sketch niyang bulto ng lalaki, na nakasuot ng pormal na damit.

When her brother turned it to the next page, she subconsciously licked her lower lip because what's in there was a pair of hands, upto the forearms—fixing the cufflinks. And she perfectly knew who owned those veiny big hands.

On the next page, it was the pair of brown leather shoes. And on the following page, it was an abstract sketch of that man's side profile.

Bigla siyang natauhan kaya mabilis na inagaw niya ang sketchpad sa kuya niya at sinabing, "I know the reason why I can't do anything. I'm sorry, Kuya, hindi ko na matatapos ang exhibit. May importante akong pupuntahan."