When The Waves Touch The Sky (Yutang Bulahan Series #4)

WTWTTS - 42

THE RIBBON CUTTING.

“When the waves touch the sky? Alin doon?”

“Teka, I have a picture no’n, e. Wait lang. Hanapin ko lang.”

I blew some soundless raspberries as they continue with their conversation. Manglibak na lang gani sila, naa pa sa akong atubangan.

Pinagpatuloy ko na lang ang pagpipinta imbes na makisali sa pinag-uusapan nila. Alam ko namang hindi rin nila ako pakikinggan kapag pinilit kong makipasok sa usapan nila na ako naman talaga ang topic. Minsan ang eng eng lang nitong mga kaibigan ko, ng mga taong nakapaligid sa akin.

Base sa naririnig kong usapan nila, ipinakita nga ni Aki ang picture ng painting kong When The Waves Touch The Sky. I vividly painted the waves of La Union na animo’y hinahalikan nito ang langit sa sobrang taas ng kaniyang alon. I painted exactly what I saw that day, nang makita kong parang hinawakan ng dulo ng alon ang malawak na kalangitan.

Evident pa rin ang darkness ng color sa painting na iyon but it was somehow depicted and interpreted by others na isang lively and happy scenario. They can feel the amazement of that little girl in the painting who saw the wave, according to some professional painters I met in the field.

Wala naman talagang meaning ang mga ipinipinta ko. Kumbaga, trip trip lang, wala lang talagang magawa sa buhay. Hinahayaan ko lang na diktahan ako ng puso ko sa kung anong maipipinta ko. The coordination of my hands and heart is quite amazing kasi nakakagawa sila ng mga bagay na hindi ko aakalaing maabot ng talentong mayroon ako.

“Oh, my God! All along pala talaga ay tungkol sa iisang lalaki ang paintings mo?”

“Hoy, hindi ah?” agad na depensa ko sa pinagsasabi nitong si Aki.

“Okay, hindi lahat, but some of it! At ang lala mo kasi kasal na ngayon ang taong naging inspirasyon mo for years.”

“Hindi nga sabi! I’ve already moved on. Kasalanan ko bang malikot lang ang isipan mo ngayon para i-associate sa isang tao ang lahat ng paintings ko?”

“Okay, okay, kalma. Naka-move on ka. I’ll take that. But is that really sure?”

Nakipagtitigan ako ng ilang segundo kay Aki bago nagbaling ng tingin kay Nicho na tahimik lang na nakikinig sa bangayan naming dalawa.

“O-oo naman. It’s pathetic to be stuck with someone who’s now married with someone else. I have a life of my own to attend to.”

Nakita ko ang paglingon ni Aki kay Nicho, maybe asking for confirmation to what I just said.

"Isaac Newton's first law of motion... a body at rest will remain at rest, and a body in motion will remain in motion unless it is acted upon by an external force. Ibig sabihin, kapag nasaktan ka at hinayaan mo ang sakit hanggang ngayon, you will forever remain at rest, never kang makaka-move on. Pero kapag hinayaan mong kalimutan ang lahat ng sakit, you chose to continue life as it is, you will be soon in motion on finding happiness on your own. Ang talino talaga nitong si Isaac Newton, ano?"

I winced nang marinig kung sino ang reference niya sa speech niya ngayon. Aki and her fanatic with philosophers and scientist.

"I am already in motion! Because the external force, which is my love for painting, set me in motion. I've moved on. Trust me," depensa ko.

They said they’re convinced with what I said but I know they aren’t because me myself isn’t convinced with what I said. Move on my ass.

In the next few weeks of my stay here in my hometown, I was occupied and busy with organizing the exhibit for the upcoming fiesta. Somehow, I am thankful for that. I am thankful that I am busy to fill my mind. Para wala na akong ibang maisip. Nakakatakot maging tulala rito sa hometown ko, lahat-lahat talaga naaalala ko. Nakakarindi. Nakakapang-down ng sarili.