Whelving Warmth (LAS #1)

27

Whelving Warmth
Chapter 27

"I'm glad you're available, Sir"

"Of course! Hindi ko 'to palalagpasin, iho," hindi nakatakas sa mata ko kung paano tinapik ni daddy sa balikat si Theo. He smiled politely to my father.

Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin ko sa kanila.

What the fuck is happening here? Is there something wrong with my eyes? Is this a product of my imagination?

Or maybe I'm dreaming!

I tried to pinch my arm, "Ouch!"

It hurts! So, totoo 'to?

Daddy's and Theo's attention shifted to me because of what I did. Ngumuso ako habang hinihimas ang parteng kinurot ko. Napadiin ata! Ang sakit!

"Why are you hurting yourself, Sadie?" nag-aalalang tanong ni dad. He grabbed my arm. I glanced at Theo and he was looking at my arm too. He looked away when our eyes met.

Uhm, okay.

He excused himself when a staff from the gallery called him. Nanatili kami sa pwesto namin.

Tingin ako ng tingin kay daddy. I want to ask him about Theo but I'm still testing the waters. What happened to him after we talk about Theo last time was not a joke. I don't want it to happen again.

When I had the courage to talk, that's when my dad suddenly speak.

"Why, Sadie? You didn't expect me to be like that to him?" My mouth formed into circle. Ganon ba ko kahalata?

Paulit-ulit akong tumango. "How?" Tanging yun lang ang lumabas sa bibig ko.

He let out a short laugh, "Ask him."

Napasimangot tuloy ako. Bakit si Theo pa yung tatanungin ko? It seems like he's avoiding me a while ago! Si daddy lang yung kinausap niya. He didn't even greet me!

Tumingin ako kay Theo. He was towering the staffs in his dark blue two-piece suit partnered with a black dress shirt underneath. My heart flutter just by looking at him.

"Mr. Esquivel, the gallery's available for private viewing. You can now go in," he reported when he went back to us.

Theo led us the way but he stop before we enter the main hall. Nakasara pa ang pinto.

For some unknown reason, nervousness is crawling into me while looking at the door. Para bang may kung anong nag-iintay sa akin sa likod ng pinto.

"Atty. Acuesta," dad called him out in a deep voice. Ngayon ko lang napansin na mukhang kinakabahan din si Theo. He straighten his body. "Thank you, iho."

Theo let out a sigh of relief, making my father smile.

"It's nothing, sir," he said before opening the door.

I was blinded by the lights for a while. Pero ng makita ko na yung nasa loob...

Hindi ako makapaniwang napatingin kay Theo. He gave me a smile to cheer me up and mouthed 'Go'.

"Let's go inside, Sadie," yaya sakin ni Daddy.

My lips parted as I look around.

The gallery it's filled with paintings... my paintings! Kahit saan ako lumingon, gawa ko ang nakikita ko.

I.. I didn't expect to see these again.

My heart was beating so fast.

When I let go of my dream to become a painter, I buried all the dreams associated with it. Dumating pa nga sa punto na ayaw ko talagang makakita ng gawa ko. My works remind me of my broken dream. The dream that I wasn't able to fight for.