Lethal Attachment

Chapter 41

#LethalAttachmentWP

Chapter 41
Five

The exhibit's interior was very aesthetic. The paintings weren't just designed plainly, but it was somehow ironic that it was all organized in a slightly messy way. There were bar tables distributed in the venue, and waiters were serving drinks and light foods to everyone. In the very middle, a medium round stage was set up.

Mayroong nakalagay na donation box sa gitna ng stage. May mga umaakyat upang maghulog ng libo-libong halaga. Naisip ko tuloy na baka ito ang paraan para makatulong ako kahit papaano. Mabuti na lang at mayroon akong dalang cash kahit papaano.

"Rojan..." Wala sa sarili kong kaswal na pagtawag kay Rojan, ngunit hindi ko na tinama ang sarili.

He turned to me with a slight shock plastered on his face but then, he smiled and placed his hand holding mine to my lower back.

"What is it?"

Tinuro ko ang donation box sa gitna ng stage. "Magdo-donate ako."

He looked at the donation box before he nodded as I was granted a permission to leave his side for a few seconds. He released me from his hold, and I walked straight to the stage.

Mabilis akong bumunot ng isang libo sa aking wallet at saka hinulog sa donation box. Nang lumingon ako pabalik ay kita kong nakatitig lang sakin si Rojan at hinihintay akong makalapit ulit sa kanya. Hindi na ako nag-aksaya pa ng oras at nagmadali na. Ayaw ko rin naman na mawala sa tabi niya lalo na sa gitna ng maraming estranghero.

Nang makalapit ako ay muli niyang hinawakan ang aking kamay. Nararamdaman kong mas naging kumportable na siya ngayon at mukhang hindi na nag-aalala sa kung ano man ang isipin ko sa kanyang paghawak sa aking kamay.

Rojan spotted a vacant bar table nearby. We immediately moved to occupy that table.

"They're also serving cupcakes and juices," sabi ni Rojan sa akin. "Gusto mo ba no'n?"

"Kahit juice na lang," sagot ko dahil hindi naman ako gutom.

"Okay..." he said and called a close waiter who immediately attended to us.

Dalawang baso ang kinuha ni Rojan. Iniabot niya sa akin ang isa na agad kong ininuman. Our wild entrance earlier got me a bit thirsty. Napangalahatian ko kaagad ang baso. Ibinaba ko muna ito at saka inilibot ang tingin sa exhibit upang magmasid.

Marami pang bakanteng bar tables dahil kaunti lang ang umiinom at kumakain. Mas abala sila sa pagtingin ng mga paintings ni Charity. I even saw some paintings which had tags saying that it was already sold. Halos kakasimula pa lang ng event pero maganda na kaagad ang takbo nito.

"Hindi ka ba mag-iikot para tingnan ang mga paintings?" tanong ko kay Rojan nang mapansing nakatayo lamang kami rito. "Balak mong bumili, 'di ba?"

"Charity already showed me her collection for this exhibit beforehand," he answered. "I already picked out and bought one."

Napakunot ang aking noo. Kung ganoon ay bakit nandito pa kami kung nakita na niya pala ang mga paintings at mayroon na siyang nabili?

"Anyway, do you like to roam around and see the paintings?" he suddenly asked. "I'll accompany you."

Lumabi ako at saka umiling. I know how to appreciate art, but I'm not a fan of it. Unlike the others, I could only grasp the superficial beauty of an art. Makita ko lang na maayos ang pagkakagawa rito at hindi magulo, maganda na para sa akin, while those who are appreciative of arts like to take consideration of its meaning. They would even make a story out of an abstract painting which, for me, didn't mean a thing. It's all just random shapes and colors in my eyes.