Reclaiming the Stars (Agustin Series #1)

Kabanata 12

Humanga naman ako sa Lola n'ya. Naulit din n'ya na minsan lang umuwi ng bahay pero hindi naman nagagalit si Lolo Joaquin. Hinahayaan daw nila kung saan s'ya masaya, as long as she's safe, of course.

"Do you know why I want to be an architect?" I asked him as I observed how the sky would struggle to fight the colors.

"Because I'm in love with the little things," I paused for a while then bravely faced him. "Specially your little things."

He equalled the ferocity of my intense stare.  I caught the sight of his lips forming a soft smile along with the setting of the sun.

It's early in the morning and I'm walking with Kael and Yñigo, going to the Agustins. Nawili na rin ang dalawa kay Sid kaya hindi nagpapaiwan sa bahay.

Naabutan kong nakatungo si Lorenzo at busy sa pagtitipa sa laptop n'ya.

"Morning," he greeted.

"Morning!" I greeted back with double the energy, feeling all giddy.

I proceeded working with the dollhouse. Malapit na iyong matapos dahil nakalagay na ang maliliit na gamit sa loob. Lorenzo followed the details that I changed.

Maya-maya pa ay nasimula akong maburyo. Sobrang busy kasi ni Lorenzo at halos hindi na ako pansinin.

"Hay!" I exaggerated a sigh but he still ignored me. He's back to being the silent one. Naghalungkat nalang ako ng mga folders at kung ano-anong makita ko sa library. Then I saw a huge sketchbook.

Medyo magabok iyon kaya marahan kong ipinagpag. I opened it on the table. The sheets are a bit yellow which made the vibe a little interesting.

Walang laman ang unang pahina kaya patuloy ko 'yong binuksan. The next pages are different art. Mayroong mga drawing ng landscapes, buildings, the sky, house designs and a lot more.

I noticed how he never uses coloring materials. The tints are all from pens and pencils but it looked majestic! I know he's an engineering student but I had no idea that he can drew this good.

"Ang galing mo palang mag-drawing," I complimented him.

"Those are highschool sketches," he calmly said.

"Can you draw portraits?" I eyed him curiously.

"Should I draw you?" mayabang n'yang sabi. I only scoffed at him. Ginawa nga n'ya ang sinabi n'ya. Tinigil n'ya ang pagtipa sa laptop at kumuha ng lapis.

Naglabas s'ya ng mga gamit and he immediately told me to smile for him so I did. Matagal n'ya akong tinitigan.

"Ano? Magtititigan nalang tayo?" I asked.

"Kaya kitang titigan magdamag."

He smirked as he studied my reaction.  I gasped at him. You're indeed full of surprises, Lorenzo. Hindi ko inaasahan na maririnig ko sa kanya ang mga ganong salita.

"Ang tagal naman. Ang sakit na ng panga ko," pagrereklamo ko sa kanya. I exercised my jaw as I grabbed a sheet of paper.

Patuloy pa rin s'ya sa pag-guhit kaya ginaya ko nalang s'ya. I haven't mastered portraits yet so I decided sketching a house.

My imagination went wild in an instant. Ideas continuously entered my mind and I had a hard time coping up. I drew a two-storey modern house but the outsides are painted with light colored wood pattern. Binura ko ang ilang bahagi at pinaltan ng mga bubog. I maximized the usage of glass.

When I wasn't contented, I added the floor plans of both floors. It isn't the accurate sizes but it's somehow bearable. I added trees and plants, inspired by this mansion, and viola!

Hindi ko naman napansin na kanina pa palang tapos si Lorenzo. He's been watching me draw all this time! Nakakahiya. Feel ko pa naman ang weird ng mukha ko kapag nagfofocus.

"Tapos mo na?" I asked him.

"Yeah..." he handed me the paper he used.

"Woah!" pabalik balik ang tingin ko kay Lorenzo at sa papel. Kuhang kuha n'ya ang mukha ko! Even the tiny freckles on my face is present. And have I talked about how out of the world his shadings are?

"Akin nalang 'to!" I said. He chuckled then grabbed the paper where I drew the house.

"Exchange gift.," he said. Lugi naman s'ya dahil mas maganda ang nakuha ko.

"Akin 'yan," he said when I reached out for another piece of paper. It's a sketch of me, again, but this time, it's my side profile. I'm seriously holding a pencil while my hair is falling everywhere. I look so real.

"Yung drawing o yung tao?" nakangising tanong ko sa kanya.

"Both," he winked at me before smiling. Grabeng ngiti naman 'yan, nakakatunaw.

Pauwi na kami dahil medyo madilim na at siguradong hinahanap na ni Lola Grasya si Yñigo. Hindi ulit sasabay si Papa pauwi. Since that incident with Kael, he'd been going home late at night. May mga pagkakataon pang hindi ko na s'ya naaabutan sa sobrang gabi ng uwi.

"Punta ka ulit bukas?" he initiated to bring us home but I declined. Kaya naman namin.

I nodded. "See you tomorrow."

What he did next, stunned me. He pulled me to him and leveled our faces.

"Ingat," He kissed my forehead.

He freaking kissed my forehead! He bit his lower lip when he saw my reaction. Halatang nagpipigil ng tawa. Pumaling naman s'ya sa likod at tiningnan si Kael at Yñigo na dala ang sisiw nila.

"Shh," he placed his index finger on his lips. Kinunsinti n'ya pa talaga ang mga bata.

Pag-uwi ay hindi agad ako nakatulog. I went out of the room and sat on the kitchen. Aside from still not getting over the fact that Lorenzo kissed my forehead, Papa's still not home.

Maghahating-gabi na yet there's still no sign of him. Umubob ako sa lamesa, hoping that he'll come home any minute. I was right! The door opened revealing Papa. Mukhang nagulat pa s'ya nang makita ang pwesto ko.

"Ginabi ka na naman, Pa," I told him and he sighed. He couldn't look at me directly.

"Doble kayod, nak. Baka kasi maulit ang nangyari kay Kael. Maganda na 'yong sigurado," I immediately went to him and gave him a tight hug.

"Wag kang masyadong magpagod, Pa. Baka mamaya sumunod ka na kay Mama lalo kaming kawawa ni Kael," I joked, partly true.

"Hindi ko iiwan ang maganda at pogi kong anak," nakangiting sabi n'ya. "Gagawin ko lahat para maging masaya kayo."

He also told me that Lolo Joaquin helped him to get a job from the Mayor. Nagpapagawa sila ng covered court and they needed more workers. It was Lolo Joaquin who suggested my father so I reminded myself to thank him as soon as I see him.

Saludo talaga ako sa pagmamahal ni Papa. He's willing to tire himself out just to give us what we need. Laking pasalamat ko dahil lumaki kami ni Kael nang hindi humihingi ng mga materyal na bagay. The least we could do for Papa is to study hard.

That night, I swore to the stars above that I'll get there someday. And when that day comes, I promise to give everything I have to Papa.