Fourth of October (Juntarsiego Series #1)

Chapter 10

I let the canvas stand in front of him. Nagulat siya sa nakita lalo pa't mukha niya iyon. He didn't expect this and I didn't warn him. This will serve as my gift for him, for the goodness he have done for me.

His finger went to his chin while looking at it. Mapanuring mga mata ang nakikita ko sa kanya katulad noong unang ipininta ko siya. The difference of this version is that I never called him to sit in front of me and to examine carefully the details of his face.

Saulo ko ang mukha niya. I've been staring at him sometimes the whole time without letting him notice it. O baka naman ay alam niya pero nagpapanggap na walang napapansin.

"Pasensya ka na, ah? 'Yan lang ang kaya kong ibigay sa'yo bilang pasasalamat. Kapag nagkatrabaho ako sa susunod, bigyan kita ng mas appreciative. Hindi mo gusto ang paintings pero 'yan lang ang kaya ng budget ko, eh," napapahiya kong sabi. Nakatitig pa rin ito roon.

It's up to him if he'll going to appreciate it or not. Ang sa akin lang ay kahit papaano ay makapagbigay ako sa kanya ng kaunti. Siya na ang gumawa ng lahat para maging scholar ako. He trusted my knowledge so much.

Ilang sandaling pagtitig doon ang ginawa niya bago dahan-dahang umupo sa kanyang kahoy na upuan at napainom sa kape. He's manly sitting and moving like he's in a meeting or something. Bumalik ang tingin niya sa akin pagkatapos no'n.

"I don't like paintings but for you, to let you know that I appreciate this more than anything, I will," he said deeply which left me in total awe. My brows almost reached each other for hearing that for the first time from him.

He appreciated my painting. He appreciated the only thing I am good at. Kahit hindi man siya ngumiti at magpakita ng kung anong bahid ng pagtuwa sa kanyang mukha ay nagpapasalamat ako. That is more than enough.

The way he said that was so stunning. Deep voice that is so calm to hear is now travelling my mind, letting me know that he got that perfect voice of a man that actually complimented me earlier.

Paano ba kasi matuwa si Jaeden? I'd like to see him smiling these days.

"You created this and I will leave a special room for your creation. You are improving, Diana. You deserve to be recognized," he told me once again that made me grin.

"Salamat. You can keep that as a gift from me. Sa susunod kapag naging magaling na ako, ipipinta kita ulit. I will paint the best version," saad ko habang hinuhuli itong ngumiti man lang pero hindi nangyari. He remained satisfied with what I have said so he nodded.

"You know my face so well. Nagagawa mong magpinta kahit hindi nakatitig sa akin," he added. Mas lalong lumawak ang ngisi ko.

I guess that is the advantage of staring at people sometimes. Sa pagtitig na iyon ay nagagawa mong masaulo ang ilang detalye sa kanila. In my case, since I memorized some details of him, I got the chance to paint it without looking at the inspiration.

Ako lang yata iyong marunong magpinta pero hindi marunong kapag hindi tinitignan iyong basehan sa pagpipinta. For now, all I can paint is the nature and Jaeden's face. One perfect things in this world.

"Hindi ka naman mahirap ipinta," pagsisinungaling ko. His eyes bore into me, raising his brow as if not believing of what I just said.

Siya yata iyong totoong depinisyon ng tall, dark and handsome. Sa pagtagal ng titig ko sa kanya, mas nalalaman mong ang gwapo pala nito. Lalong dumadagdag ang kagwapuhan sa bawat segundong nakadikit lang ang mata mo sa kanya.

"That is why you'll take something related to painting. Arts, is that it?" Tumango ako. I want to include my passion to the course I will going to take.