Seeking Serendipity

Kabanata 23

Kabanata 23

Artwork Commission

Hindi agad ako nakagalaw dahil sa biglaang ginawa niya. After he kissed me, he beams. Wala sa sariling napahawak ako sa aking labi. It's real. The soft lips of him made me vulnerable. But even if he stoled my first kiss, I didn't feel any regrets. Instead, I loved the feel that he gave me when the moment we kissed. Geez, stop it! Stop gawking about him Lauren!

Laurence barks a small laugh and because of that, all my senses came back. Masama ko naman siyang tiningnan.

"Is that your first kiss?" he asked with amusement.

Naiilang ko naman siyang tiningnan. "Shut up!"

He stopped but I still feel his diversion. "Parang…" he paused and then looked at me. "Lasang… Pineapple juice." sambit niya at tinitikman ang sariling labi.

Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya. He even tasted what I had drink earlier. I feel my face heated up again. "B-Bwesit ka!" singhal ko na siyang ikinatawa niya.

"Pakiss ulit, Aleng at baka maging strawberry yung lasa." saad niya habang tumatawa.

Mas naging masama ang tingin ko sa kaniya. "Pasalamat ka at naka-confine ka ngayon, kung hindi kanina pa kita sinasakal." pagalit kong tugon.

He just pouted and keeps on teasing me. Napa-iling nalang ako at itinuon ang atensyon sa ibang bagay.

***

My bared face was looking on the laptop, searching on how to help Laurence financially. I was looking for possible job that suits for my age. I am still a minor, 17. Kaya mahihirapan akong maghanap sa ngayon.

There's a link that caught my attention. It tackled about arts. I unconsciously click the given link. Maya-maya pa ay pumasok ito.

How much do ArtWorks employees make? PhilArts has salaries, wages, tips, bonuses, and hourly pay based upon employee reports and estimates.

Youth employment is central to our mission. ArtWorks understands how meaningful these jobs are to our Youth Apprentices, Teaching Staff and their families. We remain committed to providing jobs for young people, ages 14-21, and professional artists in 2020.

Minimum salary is $9
Maximum salary is $50

You want it? Sign up now!

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Email:
Password:

Namangha ang mga mata ko sa nabasa. Totoo ba ito? Is this not a scam? I scrolled down and got shocked when I read the positive feedbacks from the people who joined this kind of art commission. I got mesmerized while reading their comments in the comment section. So, totoo nga ito.

Ang sunod kong iginawa ay nag-sign up na. After several minutes elapsed, I got registered. I made a profile and received a message from the head of PhilArts. Agad ko itong binasa. It's all about the art comission's agreement.

Isinaad rin doon na kailangan komg sumali sa group nila sa social media at i-post ang ilan sa mga nagawa ko. Hindi naman ako nagdadalawang isip na gawin yun. 

Tumayo ako galing sa pagkakaupo at hinanap ang mga mata sa mga canvas. I took a pictures of my works and immediately posted to the PhilArts' group page. After an hour, my co-artists were reacting my post, they even comment. My post gained a lot of reacts. Nagbasa rin ako sa mga comments.

Nice works!

Wow! Keep bleeding.

It's really amazing! You must continue your passion! It fits you.

Ilan lang yan sa mga nabasa ko na comments. Napangiti naman ako dahil don. I like the air of these people. They support the aspiring painter like me. They encourage one another and because of that, It gives a light in the dark tunnel. Nagbibigay sila ng magandang kinabukasan sa kapwa nilang artists.

Someone emailed me, at agad ko itong binuksan. It's the head of PhilArts again.

Congratulations! You can start your job tomorrow at 8:00 A.M. Someone likes your works and he requested you to make an artwork. Goodluck!

Agad nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa nabasa. PhilArts also sent me a short biography about my first client. Napatalon naman ako sa tuwa. This kind of commission will not only gives a benefit to help Laurence's family, but also it will benefit my passion, big time! This commission can leads me to a correct pathway.

And so I did.

Two weeks passed, It became rough to me. Pinagsabay ko ang pagbibisita ni Laurence sa hospital at pagpipinta. Since the day I was started to joined the PhilArts, I received some clients. PhilArts is obliged to waged me at nakadepende iyon sa gawa ko.

Hindi naman ako nabigong maging magaling. Pinagbutihan ko ang pagpinta para makuha ang maximum na sahod. May nakapansin na rin sa akin. I even made a page for my artworks commission, at nang dahil don mas lalo akong nakilala. Hindi ko ito pinaalam ni Laurence dahil paniguradong kokontra lang siya.

Malaki-laki na rin ang naipon ko. I will give this for the end of this week. I straight my back dahil sumasakit na ito sa pagyuyuko habang nagpipinta. I stretched my body and rest for a while. Everytime that I'm into paint, my works were always dedicated to him, the person who gave colors in my life. I am always thinking that the colors must not fade away. Kaya hindi ko rin madama ang pagod.

***

Naglalakad ako ngayon papunta sa hospital. Today is Laurence's under treatment, kaya nagdala ako ng maraming prutas. I looked towards him. He seems very exhausted and weary. Everytime that I will visit him, hindi ko maiwasang masaktan.

I heard that his father sacrifice their plantation in Sorsogon para lang maging maayos ang operasyon ng anak niya. Narinig ko rin na itutuloy nila yung pagpunta ng Amerika para don magpatuloy sa pagpapagamot si Laurence. Everyday, everynight, and every moment I step towards him, my heart will breaks more. Wala pa namang exact date kung kailan sila aalis, pero hindi ko yun gusto. Ayaw kong umalis siya.

"Aleng," matamlay niyang sambit.

Pilit akong ngumiti. "Bakit?"

"Ang ganda mo." he mouthed and smiled.

I feel my face turned into red. "I know." I confidently said just to eased my awkwardness.

I must cherished every bits of seconds I could possibly spend with him. Kasi minsan pagkagising niya, hindi niya ako maalala. Minsan rin ay mag-iiba ang kaniyang ugali. Pero ngayon, bumalik ulit siya sa dati. That's why I don't want to waste and recoil this wonderful moment with him.