Should I Be Keeping You

Chapter 1: Museum

"I think I'm all set. Mukhang wala naman akong nakalimutan." I checked everything on my bag at ang mga dala ko bago lumabas ng condo.

Pumanhik ako sa elevator at pinindot ang ground floor papuntang parking area ng biglang may tumawag sa akin.

"Mira!" agad akong napatingin sa gilid dahil doon nanggagaling ang boses na narinig ko.

Napangiti ako dahil si Manong Erwin lang pala ang tumatawag sa akin. Siya ang isa sa mga staff ng condo na tinitirhan ko. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, nasa maintenance department siya naka-puwesto dahil nakasulat iyon sa bandang kaliwa ng damit niya and every time na may nasisira sa condo ako, siya agad ang pumupunta para ayusin.

"Manong, bakit po?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Close na talaga kami ni manong. Hindi pa ako nakakalipat dito ng makita ko siya sa condo ko na may inaayos. Simula nung araw na iyon, magkasama at palagi kaming nag-uusap tungkol sa trabaho niya at kung ano pa ang mga dapat niyang ayusin sa condo ko. Mom and dad met him and they like him. Mabait kasi si manong at magaling mag-ayos so marami talaga ang nagkakagusto sa kanya.

"Nakita ko yung mommy mo kagabi sa labas ng condo mo." saad niya habang ibinaba ang tool box na dala-dala niya.

"Po? Si mommy?" hindi pa nakakasagot si manong ay naramdaman ko na ang pag-vibrate ng cellphone ko.

Kinuha ko ito mula sa bag at nakitang nag-text si mommy sa akin. Tumingin ako kay manong at ngumiti lamang siya sa akin. Ibinalik ko agad ang phone sa bulsa ko at nagpaalam na kay manong.

"Saan ka ba pupunta? Baka pumunta ang mommy mo dito at magtanong sa akin." tanong niya sa akin habang tinitingnan ang suot ko at ang dala kong bag.

“Pupunta po ako sa Art Museum.” sagot ko kay manong.

“Ilang museum na ba ang napuntahan mo hija? Mukhang marami-rami na rin kasi palagi ka talagang may lakad. Kaya ako ang palaging tinatanong ng mommy mo eh.”

Nagmano ako kay manong bago ako tumalikod sa kanya. Ayoko na munang pag-usapan si mommy ngayon. I was very happy and excited this morning and I after hearing about mommy, I feel like I will be unhappy. So I think, pass na muna ako sa usapan tungkol sa kanya.

“Uuwi po ako ng maaga manong. Iyan nalang ang sabihin mo kay mom.” huling sinabi ko bago pumasok sa kotse ko.

This willbe the sixth time that I will be riding this black sports car. I know, I’m a beginner but hey, I am telling you that I am a good driver. I mean, not to mention the first and second try of driving but seriously, I learned very fast and my teacher told me that I can drive very well as long as I am not drunk and I can focus.

I will be starting my last year in college next week so might as well enjoy this summer before it ends.

I started the engine and went out of the parking lot. I waved at manong who’s looking at me while smiling.

Pagkalabas ko ng parking lot, agad kong kinuha ang cellphone ko dahil kanina pa ito tumutunog. Mom’s calling me. I rolled my eyes before I answered her call.

“Mom?”

“I told you to call me every time you go out of your condo.”

“I’m good. How’d you know?”

“Erwin told me. Who else would tell me about your location. You don’t have friends and even a boyfrie—” I know what she’ll say next so I cut her off.

“Mom, you should stop. What are you talking about? I have a friend, you know that. And don’t start the fight by saying that I need to have someone in my life because I don’t.”

“You don’t understand Mira. You’re on your last year in college and what will you do after that?”

“I’ll look for a job.” I said confidently.

“And then?” tanong niya sa akin.

“And then I work. Mom, what are you expecting? I’ll finish my education having a boyfriend and then get married as soon as I graduated?” dere-deretso kong sabi sa kanya habang nakatingin pa rin sa daan.

“That would be wonderful.” She said and I know she’s smiling.

“No it’s not.” I started to get irritated with our conversation.

“It is Mira and I’m telling you, start looking for your man right now. You’ve been to different blind dates—” I cut her off once again.

“It’s all because of you. Dad didn’t want you to interfere with my relationship with other people mom. I’m old now. I’m 21 years old for pete’s sake.” I really sound irritated this time.

“I’m sorry honey. It’s just that I am worried about you. You are not dating anyone ever since and you seem like you don’t have interests with boys.”

“That’s because I wanted to finish my studies mom. I promised you and dad that I would become an artist. You also want that, right?”

“Yes but. . .”

“No more buts mom. I’ll fall in love when I am ready. Don’t worry, I am not into girls if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Mira Lea!”

“Bye mom. I love you.” and then I ended the call.

I sighed in disbelief. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit gusto ni mama na magka-boyfriend na ako ngayon. It’s not as if mauubos ang mga lalaki sa mundo at ayokong magtiwala agad. I don’t want to end up lonely or heart broken. Mas masakit pa yun kesa sa walang boyfriend.

My drive will be very short since sa Cubao lang naman ako pupunta. I live in BGC and that would take me 23 minutes to be in QC.

I wanted to stop at a coffee shop to have a drink but I decided to continue because it’s just a short drive.

I live in BGC which is in Taguig and I live in a Penthouse, in Eight Forbestown Road. It’s a 175 sqm area and it has 3 bedrooms. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko sa dalawa pero wala na akong choice kasi hindi naman ako and bumili. When I reached 20, mom and dad decided to give me the penthouse and the car. Matagal nilang pinag-ipunan ang pera na ibinili nila dahil hindi naman talaga biro ang bayad doon. I am lucky dahil pagtira nalang ang gagawin ko.

I looked at the map that is leading me to the museum at mukhang malapit na talaga ako.

When I reached the place, I directly parked my car and went inside. Binati ako ng staffs nila at napangiti na lamang ako dahil maraming tao na rin pala ang nandito. It’s 3 in the afternoon and wala pa pala akong kain. Ang busy ko kasi sa painting this week kaya minsan, nakakalimutan ko na ring kumain.

I went to the admission area and pay 400 pesos since I’m still a student. Ipinakita ko lamang sa staff ang ID ko para ma-confirm niya.

Deretso na sana ang pasok ko ng tinawag ako ng isa pa nilang staff para kunin ang mga bawal sa loob.

“Po? May mga bawal po sa loob?” tanong ko sa staff.

“Yes ma’am. I wished you did your research before coming here. I can also tell you the things that are prohibited upon entering the museum.” nakangiti niyang sabi sa akin.

Huwag mo akong ngitian. Naku, sinasabi ko sa’yo kuya. Gutom ako, sana pwede ang pagkain sa loob kahit biscuits lang.

“Ma’am?” tawag ni kuya staff sa akin dahil napatulala na siguro ako.

“Ay sorry kuya. Pwede ko po bang malaman ang mga hindi pwede sa loob?”

Itinuro ni kuya ang couch sa gilid namin at pinaupo ako roon. Mukhang marami talaga kaming pag-uusapan ni kuya. Bakit naman kasi hindi ako nag-research ng maayos? Pangalan at address lang talaga ang inalam ko.

“Are you ready ma’am?” tanong niya sa akin.

“Ay grabe kuya, dapat ba akong matakot?” natawa naman siya sa sinabi ko.

“So as you can see, people are leaving their shoes upon entering the museum,” napatingin naman ako sa mga tao at inilagay nila ang mga sapatos nila sa counter. Does that mean? “which means that you have to leave your shoes before you enter. I bet you’re wearing your socks right now because it’s a bit cold inside.” nanlamig ako sa sinabi ni kuya at napatingin sa sneakers na suot ko.

I don’t wear socks because it will make me uncomfortable. Nagpatuloy lang sa pagsasalita si kuya at ako nama’y shock pa rin dahil ang dami pa kang bawal dito.

“You can bring your jacket inside, I bet you have. And if you don’t have a jacket ma’am, you can still avail to our slipper socks for 150 pesos only. It’s good that you are wearing you comfortable clothes because you’ll be doing a lot of movements inside. Flash and tripods are not allowed inside. Please don’t intrude the others when they are taking their pictures. Pets and foods are not allowed inside. You’ll be leaving your bag on the counter ma’am and you can bring with you your DSLR. You can stay inside for three hours and you can ask for the staff’s help.” mahabang sabi ng staff sa akin.

Tumingin ako sa bag ko at sa mga laman nitong pagkain at drinks. Nalungkot ako dahil mukhang mamaya pa talaga ako makakakain. Ngumiti na lang ako sa staff bago ibinigay sa kanya ang bag ko matapos ko makuha ang camera sa loob. Agad kong hinubad ang sapatos ko at pumasok na sa loob. Talagang malamig sa loob dahil fully air-conditioned and buong lugar.

“Welcome to Art in Island ma’am.” bati sa akin ng empleyado pagpasok ko.

I smiled at her at deretso lang ang lakad papasok. When I entered the first hallway of the museum, I saw the Masterpiece Zone. As what I have read about Art in Island, this museum has different themed zones and optical-illusion set-ups. Napakamot na lamang ako sa ulo ko dahil iyon lang talaga ang mga nai-research ko. Gutom na nga ako, nilalamig pa. Wala na bang mas ga-grabe sa nararanasan ko ngayon?

I sighed as I continue to walk in. I took pictures of the artworks in the Masterpiece Zone. This paintings may be clichè but as an aspiring artist myself, I love watching them over and over again.

I took a picture of the famous paintings from all over the world like “The Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh, “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci, “The Scream” by Edvard Munch, and so much more. I smiled in enthusiasm and I can’t hold my laugh. Marami ang napatingin sa akin at binigyan ko lamang sila ng matipid na ngiti.

I went to the underwater zone which is called as the Aquatic Advantures, the animal zone or Journey to the Jungle, christmas zone or Winter Wonderland, religious zone or Religious World of Art, the central hall or the so called Dungeons of the Ancient Times which I really love the most and the fantasy zone or the Magical and Mysterious Walls that made my jaw drop. It’s very beautiful and so majestic. I can’t get the right words to describe it.

How I wished Keren would be here with me, smiling and in shock at the same time with me. And I always wish that I am with her especially this time. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko para lamang makausap siya. I tried everything pero wala pa rin. I just can’t reach her anymore. She’s already unreachable for me.

Dahil wala ako sa sariling naglalakad, I bumped into someone. He fell into the floor at naawa ako dahil halos maiyak na siya sa nangyari sa kanya.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bumped into you. Did you hurt yourself? Here,” I reached for his hands at itinayo siyang nakaharap sa akin. “are you hurt or is there a bruise?” tanong ko sa kaniya.

He looked at his body at ngumiti sa akin.

“That was just nothing young lady. I’m good. I was running while looking behind me and I did not see you. I’m sorry.” he bowed at me and left.

Tinitigan ko lamang siya habang tumatakbo paalis. I didn’t realized that I am smiling. Kung sana may kapatid ako na katulad niya, I would probably be the happiest person in the world. I have a friend, I mean a best friend, pero she’s not here with me and I clearly understand. I will always understand her. Alam ko kung saan siya pero mas alam kong hindi ko siya pwedeng puntahan. I sighed and then continue walking as the boy slowly vanished in my sight.

How I wish na sana may kapatid akong katulad niya. Sana.