Our Sixty-Second Gap (Published/Preview)

16: "Interview"

"You'd probably hate me for saying this but I don't really care about my "talent fee,"" honest pero halata namang nahihiyang pag-amin ni Greco. "Being an illustrator is just a hobby for me and I don't really plan to make a living out of this."

Yeah, I'm starting to hate you now.

"You said you're older so you're probably in college now. What's your course?"

"I'm taking up Business Administration."

Ah, so drawing is really just a hobby for him.

Hindi niya masabing pareho sila ni Greco. Gusto niyang maging engineer pero hindi rin simpleng hobby lang ang tingin niya sa pag-do-drawing. He wanted to be a professional while still making a living out of illustrating in the future. Hindi niya masasabi kung kaya niyang pagsabayin ang mga iyon kapag adult na siya pero sa ngayon, ito ang mindset niya.

"So, it's not your goal to be a full-time artist?" pag-i-interrogate pa rin niya kay Greco. "Kaya hobby lang ang tingin mo sa pag-do-drawing. What do you plan to do as a career?"

"I'm not yet sure about that. Maybe take over my father's company someday?"

Company, huh?

"You..." Marahan niyang pinisil ang ilong niya. "Reek of privilege."

Natawa ito habang iiling-iling. "Ganyan din ang reaction ni Ruma. You twins are entertaining." Nang matapos na itong tumawa ay naging seryoso na ito. "Convinced ka na bang wala akong hidden agenda sa pagtulong kay Ruma?"

"Kind of," pag-amin niya. "Mukha namang bored rich kid ka lang talaga na hindi pa alam kung ano ang gustong gawin sa buhay."

Napangiti ito habang iiling-iling. "I can't deny that."

This guy is too... chill.

"You're not interested in my sister, are you?" deretsang tanong niya sa lalaki. "I don't want to deal with another Jasper."

"'Another Jasper?'"

"Nevermind," sabi niya, saka niya binago ang usapan. "Greco, I know you're older but let me give you an advice."

"Oh, sure. Go ahead."

"Ruma and I take creating webcomics seriously," seryosong pagsisimula ni Rabi. Iba man ang gusto niyang maging career, hindi pa rin 'yon nangangahulugan na hindi siya seryoso sa pag-do-drawing. Hangga't kaya niyang pagsabayin ang pag-aaral at paggawa ng comics, gagawin niya 'yon nang hindi napapabayaan ang isa. "I know I shouldn't say this to a person I just met but as a fellow illustrator, your attitude is pissing me off."

"Is it because I don't put a price tag on my talent?"

"Yeah," deretsang sagot niya. "I can tell that you came from a rich family. But who doesn't want or need more money? Hindi mo kasalanan kung ipinanganak kang mayaman kaya 'wag kang ma-guilty sa pagtanggap ng pera sa mga client mo dahil lang iniisip mo na hindi mo deserve ang pera nila kasi hobby mo lang ang pag-do-drawing. That's ridiculous."

Halatang nagulat si Greco sa mga sinabi niya. "You... get me, huh?"

"I can't decide if you're a fool or kind-hearted," iiling-iling na komento niya. "Hindi ko sinasabing kailangan mong maging greedy para lang ma-prove na seryoso ka sa pagiging illustrator. But you're also a Business major, aren't you? Dapat alam mo nang lahat ng service na pino-provide ng isang tao eh kailangan ng proper compensation. Plus, your parents' money isn't really yours. Kailangan mo ring kumita ng sarili mong pera."

Napakamot ito ng pisngi na parang napahiya. "Ah, I see your point."

"Hindi pa ko tapos," pagpapatuloy niya. "I don't care if you don't need extra money but the likes of you are the reason why some people don't take artists seriously. Iniisip na nga ng marami na hindi deserve ng mga artist na mabayaran dahil "hobby" lang daw natin ang pag-do-drawing. Na dapat daw eh makuntento na tayo sa "happiness" at "satisfaction" na nakukuha natin sa passion natin. 'Yong mindset mo, pinu-prove ang maling assumption nilang 'yon."