Del Franco Brothers: Adien (Book 2)

CHAPTER SEVEN

Painting

I stared up at the ceiling as I put my arms behind my head.

Sleep eluded me.

Naiinis na napatingin ako sa orasan. Time told me that I’m staying like this for hours. Proof yung pamamanhid ng mga kamay ko.

With a sigh of resignation, bumangon ako ng kama. Maybe reading will put me to sleep. If I’m quiet enough, I can go to the library to get some books and return to my room quickly nang walang naiistorbo.

Not bothering to open the lights, I slipped out of my room and crept into the hallway.

Ginamit ko yung flashlight sa phone ko.

Natandaan ko na sinabi ni Manong Henry na yung library eh yung nasa pinaka dulo. Dumiretso ako sa kanan, I opened it quietly. Pumasok ako at kinapa yung switch ng ilaw. But what surprises me eh imbis na books, mga paintings yung nabungaran ko.

On the left corner, ilang canvas yung nag kalat sa gilid habang sa kanan, dalawang malaking shelves yung naka fix sa pader. Nakahilera yung ibat ibang gamit sa pagpipinta.

I frowned as I looked around. At dahil nasa dugo ko na ang pagiging usisera. Isa isa kong pinuntahan yung mga painting na nakasabit sa pader.

I know Adien can paint pero ang hindi ko alam eh na ganto pala sya ka talented.

I can’t help but be amazed.

Every stroke and every blend, parang professional yung gumawa.

And I noticed na lahat ng mga nakasabit sa pader ay landscape but what troubles me, they all made me feel with certain familiarity. Yung para bang pakiramdam ko, nakita ko na lahat yung mga to personally…Yung para bang napuntahan ko na yung lugar.

Naiiling na nilibot ko nalang ulit yung mga mata ko sa buong kwarto nang mapukaw ang atensyon ko sa malaking canvas sa may dulo. In fact, yon yata yung pinaka malaki sa lahat. Eto rin yung nag iisa na may taklob na tela.

Kusang lumapit yung mga paa ko papunta sa may canvas. Dahan dahan kong inalis yung takip nito.

I let out a surprise sigh as I stared at the painting in front of me, feeling confused and bewildered.

It’s freaking me.

It seems so real na ultimo yung nangyari nung araw na yon, natatandaan ko pa.

I closed my eyes as I remembered that day.

This is the day of my first cheer dahil sa kulay ng pompoms ko. Every year, pinapalitan namin yung kulay ang pompoms so I’m quite certain kung anong year to nangyari.

Pero ang gumugulo sa isip ko is how did he knows this?

I remembered that Adien was not in that particular game dahil the first time I noticed him was during my sophomore year at hindi naman ako kilala ni Adien noon dahil junior year na nung magkasalubong yung landas namin.

Or so I thought. Isip isip ko habang tinitignan ko yung painting sa harapan ko.

At dahil occupied yung utak ko sa pangyayari, hindi ko namalayan yung pagbukas ng pinto kaya gulat akong napalingon  ng may narinig akong ingay sa likuran ko.

I saw Adien looking at the same painting.

“Why are you here?” Kaswal na tanong nito.

I shoot him a disbelieving stare. I tried to meet his gaze pero sa painting pa rin to nakatingin.

He looked down at me. Inulit nito yung tanong nito. It was too casual for my liking. Apparently, this situation didn’t bother him in the least.

I cleared my throat, trying to ease the tension na nararamdaman ko. “Akala ko library tong napasukan ko.” Wala sa loob ko namang sagot ko dito. Napatingin ulit ako sa painting at pagkatapos napatingin ulit dito. “How did you know this?” Hindi ko napigilan na magtanong.

During our time in college, everyone knows his name. Kaya imposible na hindi ko to mapansin ng mga panahon na yon.

Nanatili lang tong nakatitig sa mga mata ko nang hindi ako sinasagot. And because of the intensity of his gaze, ako yung unang umiwas ng tingin dito.

After another few minutes of silence, akala ko hindi na ako nito sasagutin but he replied, “I saw it.” Simpleng sagot nito.

“You saw it?” I repeated, waiting for him na e-elaborate yung sagot nito. Nanatili akong nakatingin sa may painting.

Pero ilang minuto na yung nakakalipas, nanatili ding tahimik to and that’s when I look up para tignan yung mukha nito.

And that’s when he finally answered. “I know you long enough before you know me. I told you before, pixie. I’m no saint. I’m the contrary.”

With that, tinakpan ulit nito yung painting. “Library is on the other side.” kalmanteng dagdag nito bago umalis, leaving me more bewildered and confused as hell.

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