Unintentionally Yours

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

Art Hub

I almost forgot about this place. Art Hub is a place for artists to paint. Relaxing kasi ang lugar na iyon at talagang itinayo for artists. It’s been a year narin pala since last na punta ko roon.

My heart jumps excitedly as we arrived at the Art Hub. Para akong bata na napatakbo papasok at agad na naghanap ng magandang puwesto. This is my favorite bonding with Ruth. We both like painting as a hobby. Hindi ‘man kami ganoon kagalingan, pinipili parin naming pumunta rito para ma-relax ang sarili namin.

I discovered this place when I was three years old and my parents decided to take me here for me to play and I just fell in love with this place instantly. Also, this is the place where I and Ruth met each other. This place had witnessed how our friendship formed.

Art Hub is one of the huge areas in the mall. Once we entered, we were welcomed by the cool ambiance and vintage aesthetic of the room, the walls are tinted pink and teal, but if we continue walking towards the center of the room, there’s a door waiting for us to show a conservatory garden. This garden is inside a glass dome, filled with beautiful flowers.

“Honey, go pick up some paint,” my mom told me as she pointed to the table where the watercolor paints are.

I grab some watercolor paints colored burnt sienna, white, red, and indigo. I looked for a canvas and saw it on a small cabinet.

“Where do you want to paint?” my mom asked while looking around. I did exactly what my mom was doing, to look for a perfect place to paint. my mom and I always go in here whenever we go to the mall.

Ever since I was three, dito na ako nagpipinta at nakaugaliang ko na pumunta rito sa tuwing gusto ko humawak ng paintbrush at maghalo ng mga kulay. Iba-iba ang puwesto ko kapag pumupunta ako rito. Gusto ko kasi na ma-try at mahanap ang magandang lugar sa napakalaking hardin na ito.

Napatingin ako sa hawak kong watercolor tube paints at maliit na canvas. Pinili kong maupo sa tabi ng fountain sa may gitna ng hardin at inayos ang aking mauupuan.

“Dito kana anak? Gusto mo ba ng hot chocolate or something?” tanong ni mommy habang kinukuha ang wallet niya sa kaniyang hand bag.

“Opo, mommy. Kahit hot chocolate nalang po” sabi ko at nginitian siya.

“Diyan ka lang ha” sabi niya at hinalikan ako sa noo.

Dumiretso narin siya sa may canteen sa gilid lang naman ng garden. Ikinabit ko na ang canvas sa may painting easel at ipinatong ang mga watercolor paints sa maliit na lamesa sa aking tabi. Mayroon kasing paikot na mga upuan at lamesa sa palibot ng fountain para pagpintahan.

Ihahanda ko na sana ang paghahalo ng mga paint nang maalala kong wala pala akong nadala na tubig panlinis ng paint sa paintbrush at para sa watercolor paints. Inilapag ko muna lahat ng gamit sa lamesa at kumuha ng dalawang glass containers para punuin ng tubig mula sa maliit na hose na nakita ko sa may gilid ng row ng mga bulaklak sa may tapat lang ng puwesto ko.

Nang matapos akong punuin ang tig-kalahati ng container at nilingon na ang puwesto ko para maupo na. May isang bata sa katabing lamesa ko na nakasalamin at naka-ponytail na busy na nagpipinta rin.

Naupo na ako at isinawsaw ang paintbrush sa tubig at nag-mix ng kulay at nagumpisa nang magpinta ngunit hindi nakukuha nang maayos ng canvas panel iyong watercolor paint.

“Huh?” nasabi ko nang ayaw parin mapinta ng maayos iyong watercolor paint sa canvas.

Bawal ba ang watercolor paint sa canvas?

“Mali ka ng canvas na nakuha”

Napalingon ako sa batang babae na katabi lang ng lamesa ko na nakita ko kanina. Mga kasing edad ko lang siguro siya.

“Paanong mali?” nagtatakang tanong ko.

“Pang acrylic kasi iyang pinili mong canvas, hindi pang-watercolor” sabi niya at tinignan na muli ang canvas niya.

Napadako naman ang tingin ko sa canvas at dali-daling pumunta sa kung saan nakalagay ang mga canvas at humanap ng para sa watercolor paints at bumalik sa puwesto ko. Napatingin akong muli sa babaeng katabi ko at pasimpleng tinignan ang kaniyang pinipinta.

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita ang pinipinta niya. Iyon ay ang mga halaman sa harap namin kung saan ko nakita ang hose kanina at nakapinta iyong nakatalikod na batang babaeng may hawak na hose which I think is me…

“Nakaharang ka kasi kanina sa magagandang bulaklak, so, ginaya ko nalang” turan niya habang inisprayan ng fixative iyong canvas niya.

“Hmm” tugon ko at nagsimula na magpinta.

Pinuna ako nang pinuna ni Ruth noon sa way ng pagpipinta ko and doon na nga kami naging painting buddies until maging magkaklase kami noong grade five at tuluyang maging magkaibigan.

Napatingin naman ako kay Ruth na busy sa paglingon kung saan maganda pumwesto.

“Sa dating lugar nalang” sabi ko at nginitian siya.

I grab some acrylic paints and a canvas. We stayed at our favorite spot, the spot where we first met. I started mixing the colors yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and white, creating a color that I love. I started painting on my canvas as I listened to the relaxing sound the small fountain in the middle of the garden creates.

“I-try mo kaya muna ilapis?” tanong ko sa lalaking kanina pa nakakunot ang noo sa blankong canvas sa harap nito.

“Huh? Bakit pa?” napalingon ito sakin nang nagtataka.

“Para if ever magkamali ka, maayos mo pa” I answered while mixing my paints to join him while painting.

I smiled at the sight of him confused. I am helping him with his project. He didn’t ask for it. I insisted.

I was trying to relax. So, I went here to Art Hub and I saw Haunth staring at a blank canvas. He said that it was for a contest he’s planning to participate in internationally in Mexico.

“What’s your theme again?” I asked.

“There is no specific theme. It was just for us to show our inner selves” he said while staring at the untouched canvas.

“Hmm. So, anong plano mong i-paint?”

“I don’t know. I don’t have any idea yet”

“I don’t know na nagpipinta ka pala”

“I don’t,” he said while scratching his head.

“Just unleash your inner self. Express what you feel, what you think, or what you want to say”

He looked at me and said, “If I unleash my inner self, do you think they’ll like it?”

“Why wouldn’t they?” I asked.

He avoided my gaze and look back at the canvas.

“I know you are not open to me but all I can see in you is that you’re imperfectly perfect. That’s what I like about you. I may be wrong though but just paint whatever comes to your mind when you think about yourself. What do you see in yourself? Just be yourself”

“What do you see in me?” he said as he pierced his eyes to mine.

I blinked twice as I was not expecting his sudden question.

“I see an intelligent guy in you. Someone a girl could ever ask for. You’re good-looking, smart, and a good guy. You’re a type of guy I would love to introduce to my parents” I said unconsciously smiling feeling the heat forming on my cheeks.

He turned his gaze in the canvas and release a sigh.

“Are you nervous?” I asked.

“No, I am not… It’s just…” he said and slowly shook his head.

“What?”

“It’s just hard to please everyone. To be honest, it makes me anxious at some point” he said still looking at the white canvas.

“Why do you have to please everyone?” I asked making him look at me.

Seeing this guy who always refrains from showing his emotions towards me doubting himself hurts me. I indeed want to see his emotions but I don’t want him doubting himself…

“You can’t control everyone. They will have different opinions on everything. All you have to do is be proud of yourself, show them who you are and it’s up to them to accept it. If they did accept it, it’s great, and if they don’t, then accept it yourself”

He gently smiled and look at his canvas.

“So, I should use a pencil first?” he asked smiling.

I smile back at him nodding and return my gaze at my canvas. I am just painting random flowers and plants. Through my peripheral vision, I can see him scratching his nape causing me to look back at him.

“Anong problema?”

“Uhh, ano bang dapat unahin? Iyong background o iyong subject?” tanong niya nang nakakunot na naman ang noo.

I titter slightly and answered, “Depende sa ‘yo. Pero ako kasi, inuuna ko iyong subject and then saka na iyong background”.

Lumingon naman na siya pabalik sa canvas at nagsimulang magdrawing gamit ang lapis. Tumayo naman ako sa likod niya at bahagyang yumuko para panoorin siya magdrawing.

Iyong kamay niya ay hindi mapakali sa paghawak ng lapis at parang hindi alam kung paano mag uumpisa.

“Puwede mo namang isandal iyong kamay mo sa canvas, hindi yan basta basta tutumba dahil may painting easel ka naman” paninigurado ko sa kaniya.

Napangiti naman ako nang tahimik dahil mukha parin siyang kinakabahan. Napalapad naman ang ngiti ko nang may maisip na kalokohan. Umayos ako ng tayo at muling bumalik sa upuan ko sa tabi niya at taimtim lang na pinanood siya habang namomroblema sa pagdrawing.

“Bakit ka nakangiti?” tanong niya nang hindi nilalayo ang tingin sa canvas.

“Wala naman”

Pinanood ko lang siya hanggang sa magstart na siya maghalo ng kulay at napapakamot pa sa ulo.

“Ang bilis pala matuyo nitong paint” sabi niya nang makita ang tuyong pea size ng paint na nilagay niya kanina pa siguro nang makarating siya rito.

“Uhuh” sabi ko lang at napailing lang siya at nagsimula na magpaint.

Sa kaniya lang ako nakatingin and I can’t stop myself from looking at his piercing eyes, pointed nose, and thin lips. He started biting his lower lip as his eyebrows knitted in a frown as well as scratching his cheeks unconsciously. I just noticed that he scratches his cheeks whenever he's confused.

Nilingon ko ang paint na nasa tabi ko at idinikit nang bahagya ang hinlalaki ko sa kulay berde na paint.

“Hala!” sabi ko at tumayo nang bigla kaya naman napatingin siya sa akin.

“May paint ka sa mukha” sabi ko at itinura ang mukha niya.

“Saan banda?” sabi niya at binaba ang paintbrush na hawak niya.

“Diyan oh” sabi ko habang turo parin ang mukha niya.

“Dito?” tanong niya habang turo ang pisngi niya.

“Hindi, doon” sabi ko at iba namang parte ng mukha niya ang tinuro.

“Dito?” tanong niyang muli habang tinuturo ang mata niya.

“Ako na nga” sabi ko at bahagyang lumapit sa kaniya.

“Pikit ka”

“Huh? Bakit?” tanong niya ulit.

“Pupunasan ko” sagot ko at pumikit naman siya.

Hinawakan ko ang baba niya para iharap sakin ang mukha niya. Hindi na ako nagpatagal pa at umarte na pinupunasan ang ilong niya pero nilalagyan ko lang talaga ito ng paint.

“Ayan, okay na” sabi ko at nginitian siya kaya naman dumilat na siya dahilan para magkatinginan kami. Mas malapit kong nakikita ngayon ang mukha niya at ang nakakatakot pero napakaganda niyang mata.

Nakaramdam ako ng saglit na pagtalon ng puso ko kaya naman agad kong inilayo ang mukha niya sa akin.

“Salamat” sabi niya at muli nang binalik sa canvas ang tingin niya.

It was the last time I am here. I didn’t end up seeing his artwork. Tinawagan na kasi ako ng asungot naming driver na si Manong Eduardo. I didn’t have any news if he joined that contest when he finished his artwork or not. And even if he did, there are no announcements if it was a win.

Whenever I remember that memory with Haunth. It gives me a nostalgic feeling. He showed an aura I never seen before… it makes me even more curious about him. For the past years, I have been adoring him, I still have little knowledge about him. All I know is that he’s the child of the owners of Bree Berkshire Inc.

“What do you think?” Ruth asked showing her painting. It was an ice cream, the one she ate earlier, the buttered pecan.

“Aww, that’s cute! Bakit ‘di mo pininta iyong ice cream ko?!”

“Paano ko ipipinta? Eh, tunaw na no’ng kinain ko eh” she said na ikinatawa namin pareho.

“Anyways, ang galing mo kanina ah”

“Talaga?”

“Oo, kung nakita mo lang mukha n’ong dalawa kanina” she said and try to mimic their faces. She opened her mouth wide, as well as her eyes, and try to exaggerate it even more by moving her nose bigger.

“You look stupid” I said as I was about to laugh.

“Well yeah, that’s what they look like earlier” we smiled at each other giggling.

“What did you paint? Lemme see” she said while moving her chair towards mine.

I stare at my painting. We both unconsciously opened our mouths as we look at my painting. I didn’t notice that this is what I painted.

“Oh, what-- who’s that?” she said with an amazed look on her face.

I shrug my shoulders as I take another look at my painting. It was a sunflower in a bed of roses. The sunflower was colored with nude colors instead of yellow. I thought I would paint Haunth that’s why I mixed colors to create a skin color to match his but I ended up painting a sunflower around the alluring beauty of rubescent roses.