Painting

Chapter 22. Painting

THAT next morning, Rexton and Bree talked about his offer. She told him she'd think about it. He'd just have to wait for a week or two since she's still under Wang Xi.

Just before that weekend, she asked if could they have a conversation regarding that matter, and when he said yes, she went to meet him at MI Ent. on Friday. They talked about the contract.

"The band is just a project group, but instead of two years, we decided to make it five years," he went on explaining.

"Buti five? Other companies do it only two years. Tapos, reunion reunion na lang."

"That's what the manager wants. She's the one who proposed this project-band to me."

Pinaningkitan siya ng mata ni Bree. Jesus! Why was she wearing heavy makeup now? And she's dressed up in a different way—like a cosplayer. Weird, but cool. And, he wanted seeing that nice choker on her, too. Bagay iyon sa dalaga.

"Why are you looking at me? Pangit ba ang getup ko?"

Kaagad na umiling siya. "Why did you dress that way anyway?"

"Well, I just thought there might be an impromptu audition. Since you said it's a band, I put heavy makeup. Look at my eyes, this is called smokey—" Napatili ito nang mawalan ng balanse sa biglaang pagtayo.

Ayaw niyang tumawa pero hindi niya napigilan. Sa sobrang kasabikan kasi nitong lumapit sa kaniya, mukhang nalimutan nitong naka-knee-high leather boots ito na may mataas na takong.

"You're so ruthless! Tulungan mo muna kaya akong tumayo?" Sinamaan siya nito ng tingin.

He did and there's still a ghost of smile on his lips. Tinampal ni Bree ang dibdib niya sa sobrang inis nito.

"Maghihilamos na ako! 'Kainis!"

"Hey, huwag na—"

"Ewan ko sa iyo!"

"But it's cool. It looks great on you. Don't remove it," bulalas niya.

Napansin niyang napapangiti na ito.

"You're fishing for some compliments, huh?"

Bigla itong bumusangot at matalim na nag-angat ng tingin sa kaniya. Nakatayo pa rin sila sa gitna ng kaniyang opisina.

"What did I say again?" naguguluhang tanong niya.

"Uuwi na ako!"

"You can't. Rachel is on her way."

"Sino naman iyon?"

"The band's manager."

Nagtaas ito ng kilay. "First name basis, huh? Kaya siguro mabilis kang um-oo na gawin nang limang taon ang kontrata, 'no?"

"Huwag kang malisyosa, the board decided with me. Not only me."

"Nye nye n—"

"Para kang bata."

Naaasar na tinulak siya nito at umupo sa sofa. Ininom nito ang naka-serve na grape juice. Siya nama'y umupo sa inuupuan niyo kanina, nagkapalit sila ng pwesto.

"Get my bag nga. Kukunin ko lang iyong ponytail ko."

Inabot niya ang maliit na leather backpack nito. Wala sa sariling napatitig siya rito habang pinapanood kung paano nito inipon ang mahaba, tuwid at itim na buhok—wait, the insides weren't black. "Did you dye your hair?"

Tumango ito at inayos na ang pagkaka-ponytail ng buhok nito. Mataas ang ginawa nito.

"Kailan?"

"Kahapon lang. Nang maisipan ko itong getup. Then, I immediately went to the salon."

"Sinong kasama mo?"

"I went with Devon. Why?"

"Again? Buti hindi mo kasama ngayon?"

"Ah, umalis kasi siya."

Why did he even ask about him? Nawalan tuloy siya ng gana.

"Will you be hiring us bodyguards? I mean, kapag nag-debut na," she asked out of the blue.

"Yes." He sounded cold.

"Ilan?"

"Probably, one for each member," he idly explained.

Napatango ito at nanatiling nakatingin sa kaniya. "Can I stay with Devon?"

Nangunot ang noo nito.

"Bodyguard. Para hindi mo na ako ipag-hire ng iba. Besides, I'm comfortable with him around, just like with Matt before."

"OK."

Nanatili itong nakatitig sa kaniya. "Bakit nagsusungit ka na naman?"

He didn't response. Instead, he drank her juice.

"Akin iyan."

"So?"

"Ang sungit. Daig pa ang naka-regla," she mumbled as she crossed her arms. "Let's go clubbing later. Friday naman."

"I can't."

"May pasok ka ng Sabado?"

"I go here everyday."

"That's—"

"Saka sa malls."

"—boring."

"I have to. Walang ibang gagawa."

Natahimik ito at napayuko. "I didn't mean to say boring. I mean, it's boring but not that really boring."

"Ang gulo mo."

"Let's just watch movies! Isama natin si Hans."

Hindi na siya nagulat doon. Sa ilang beses na nagyaya itong lumabas, kung hindi rin naman clubbing, ay palagi nilang kasama ang anak niya. Usually they ate at restaurants, or go to the malls his family owned. Kung minsan nga'y hindi nagpapapasok ng ibang customers ang staffs, pero sinabihan din ni Bree na ayos lang kung may kasabay silang namimili, kumakain, o hindi kaya'y nanonood ng sine.

"Call?"

"Let's just go clubbing," desisyon niya. Kinalimutan na ang inis kanina.

Napanguso ito. "Why?"

Napatingin siya sa suot nito. "Your clothes..."

"Ah, magpapalit na lang ako."

"Sinasabi ko lang na sayang ang outfit mo."

"Huh?"

"Kaya biglaan ka na lang nagyayang mag-club, hindi ba?"

"How... did you know that?"

Ngumisi lang siya lalo na nang mangiti ito.

"Tama ka. Hindi pa kasi ako nag-club na ganito ang suot ko. These net stockings are cool! Ito ring ripped shorts, bagay sa spaghetti strapped top na suot ko, 'no?"

"Yes. But you should cover your shoulders while we're still not in the club."

"I have a blazer—Oh! Nakalimutan ko sa hummer ni Kuya!" She grabbed her phone and he's guessing she's going to dial her brother's contact number.

"Don't call him anymore. Baka busy na siya."

She nodded. "Wala pa ba iyong manager?"

Halos nakalimutan na niya ang tungkol doon.

"Tanungin mo kung magtatagal pa ba siya. Nagugutom kasi ako, para makakain muna tayo—wait, wala ka bang meeting?"

"Ikaw ang ka-meeting ko ngayon."

Tinampal nito ang noo. "Oo nga pala."

"Wait, I'll just call her."

Nang matawagan si Ms. Gozo ay nalaman niyang naipit ito sa traffic. Kaya nagpa-deliver na sila ng pagkain ni Bree. Mas nauna pang dumating ang pizza kaysa sa hinihintay nila.

Bree roamed around his office while she's holding a slice of pizza and eating it.

"Kailan ito pina-renovate?" she asked.

"Just half a year ago, I guess?" Or almost a year na siguro. Nakaligtaan na niya.

"Maganda ang interior. Sinong architect mo?"

"Architect Velizario."

Napatango lang ito at naglibot-libot. "Is that a door?" Naniningkit ang mga mata nito nang mapatitig sa malaking picture frame na nandoon. Ang nasa frame ay ang painting ng mansiyon nila.

"Bakit mo naman naisip iyan?" He stayed still, critically looked at her checking the painting. Ito pa lang ang unang nakapansin sa pintuang iyon, bukod sa mga kasamahan niya sa Phoenix.

"It is a door!"

"It's not." Mabilis na nilapitan niya ito saka iginiya pabalik sana sa sofa, pero nagmatigas ito.

"What's inside? Siguro nagdadala ka ng mga babae rito, 'no?"

"Fuck?" Nanlamig siya. She hit the right spot exactly.

"Is it some kind of—Wait."

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang pindutin nito ang maliit na button na nasa painting mismo, nakalagay iyon sa may main door ng mansiyon. Kung titingnan ay para lang iyong door knob sa painting.

"Whoa..."

"Shit!"

Para siyang binuhusan ng malamig na tubig nang pumasok si Bree sa silid. That's the reason why he's occupying the whole floor, because he had some dirty little secrets inside his main office.

Sinundan niya sa loob si Bree, napamaang ito at napakurap-kurap sa nakita.