Deceret Series #2: Bleed for Love

Chapter 8

"Hawaiian nalang po, Sir," tila nahihiya pang sagot ni Lyle.

Tumango si Rigor at nag-order na. I pulled my phone out to make a phone call.

"O, anong balita?" sagot kaagad ni Shantel sa akin nang masagot ang tawag.

"Shantel, I have to ask a favor..."

"Ano yun?"

"Someone broke into Rigor's studio. All of his paintings are ruined and gone. The exhibit is in three days."

"Oh my God!"

"I'll have to stay here. Will you take care of Castian?"

"Of course, I will. Kaya niyo ba? Anong plano niyo?"

"I'm not sure. I'll just be here for him.."

She went silent for a second before sighing out loud. "And when are you gonna tell him, then?"

Nilingon ko si Rigor. Nakaluhod siya sa isang painting, pinupulot ang maliliit na bubog habang si Lyle ay tinutulungan naman siyang alisin ang dumi dito. He stared at it for a second before shaking his head. He gestures for Lyle to throw it away.

"I'll... tell him after the exhibit." I decided instead. I can't fuck him up with my child-bearing news in times like this. Gusto kong mag-focus muna siya, lalo na ngayong kailangan niyang ulitin ang mga gawa niya.

"Nagpaparaya ka na naman ulit para sa pangarap niya," Shantel comments.

"I know..."

"Alright, then. I'll sleep in your house for three days and look after Castian. Ako na din ang bahalang magbalita kay Kyros."

"Thank you, Shantel."

She wished me good luck before ending the call. Isiniksik ko sa bulsa ang cellphone at nilapitan ang dalawa. The pizzas have arrived. Rigor barely touched his food when he starts painting as much as he can. Lyle and I made sure that he was comfortable and cleaned up after him. Patingin-tingin din ako kung may kailangan pa ba siya.

He could easily make a call and inform Lily to reschedule the exhibit. Someone breaking into his studio and ruining his works is a valid excuse. But he did not do any of it. He's just focused on painting as much as he can.

I went inside the office and sighed in relief when I saw that everything is still intact. The burglar never made it inside. Rigor's fingerprints are needed in the security code for the doors to open. He asked me to pull out the paintings that were shipped from Baltimore and pick several of his works to be included on the exhibit. Yun nga ang pinagkaabalahan ko sa buong hapon.

Lyle ordered dinner for us. Labas na sa job description niya ang ginagawa niya pero wala naman siyang reklamo. By night, Rigor told us that his siblings are coming over to help tomorrow morning. Napalunok ako. Thyron will be here tomorrow, then.

"Pwede ka nang umuwi, Lyle, madilim na." Rigor told him after eating dinner.

"Ayos lang po, Sir. Baka may kailangan pa po kayo, dito na lang din ako."

"I'll need you tomorrow, so you should sleep." Binalingan niya ako. "Ihatid mo si Czarina pauwi."

"No, I'm staying here." I quickly said. Bago pa mag-protesta si Rigor ay inunahan ko na siya. "I still have to sort out the paintings, Rigor. The earlier I'm done, the better."

He stares at me for a few seconds before shaking his head in defeat. "Fine, fine. Lyle, uwi na."

Lyle looked at me, parang nanghihingi pa ng saklolo. Umiling ako nang ngumingiti sa kaniya. He really needs to sleep. Tomorrow, he'll be busy.