Chapter Forty Nine
"Ang Lahat"
Eleven's father was a very intimidating man. Kahit na naka wheelchair pa siya o maputi ang buhok, he has an aura of authority and power.
Pero nang nagkamayan kami ay nginitian niya ako. He looked genuinely happy when he saw me and Eleven together.
"Athalia Rectazo, right?" Tanong ng dad niya.
"Yes, po."
"My son is nothing like me." Ngumiti ang kanyang dad at tumingin siya kay Eleven. "I lived my life so wicked, unfaithful, and unfair. My son helped me realize my mistakes. He's a kind young man. And very much a lover boy."
Natawa ako.
"I'm happy for the both of you." Aniya.
It felt weird. Kasi hindi pa naman kami official ni Eleven. At least, we haven't really talked about it kung official na ba kami o hindi.
Ngumiti na lamang ako at nagpasalamat.
"Did you really hate him so much back then?" Tanong ko kay Eleven habang naglalakad kami sa kanilang malawak na backyard, malayo sa party.
"You have no idea how much I hated that man." Umiling iling siya. "It was a war between us two."
"How did you guys make up?"
"We had to be civil with one another once I went back to New York three years ago. I had no choice because I'm taking over his company. It started out that way." Aniya. "When he got sick four months ago, that's when he suddenly started to talk to me about the things we used to never talk about. My mom..."
Tahimik akong nakinig lamang sa kanya.
"For years, even though I was in New York, I still kept searching for her. I never found her." Aniya. "Dad finally told me where she is and what happened to her."
"Ibig sabihin nahanap mo na siya?"
Tumango siya. "She passed away a long time ago."
Napaawang ang aking bibig.
"I'm sorry..."
Bumalot sa amin ang katahimikan.
"She's buried in Davao. Nandoon daw ang pamilya niya. Well... Pamilya ko rin."
"Did you go there yet?"
Umiling siya. "No... But I plan to go there someday."
"Kung gusto mo..." Sabi ko. "Samahan kita?"
Nilingon niya ako. "You would?"
Ngumiti ako. "Oo naman. Bakit hindi?"
He smiled. Para siyang batang sinabihan na pupunta kami sa Disneyland.
Huminto kami sa may bench at umupo kami doon. Hinawakan niya ang aking kamay.
"We can go before you leave for Africa." Aniya.
Tumango ako. "Sure."
"Damn." Our fingers interlocked. "You're so sexy."
Ngumiti siya sa akin. Natawa na lang ako.
It felt good to hold his hand.
It felt right to be with him.
***
"Ang saya nito!"
Natatawa ako habang nagpipinta kami ni Eleven.
Isang malaking 36x36 inches na canvas ang pinipintahan namin.
"You're doing great, Ath."
Nagpipinta kami ng aming version ng Starry Night ni Van Gogh. Iniba lang namin ang colors at ang ginawa naming reference para sa city ay ang manila.
Yun ang pinili kong gawin namin dahil yun lang naman ang pinaka kilala ko sa lahat ng pinapakita ni Eleven sa akin. We were gonna make something original, pero nahirapan kaming mag decide, well, more like ako ang nahirapang mag decide. Kaya nag suggest na lang si Eleven na pumili ako ng painting na gagawan namin ng version namin.
"Hindi naman ito night sky. Parang sunset ang nagawa natin." Sabi ko.
Pareho kaming may bahid ng paint sa aming katawan at damit. We were at his condo in his newly added art studio. I was wearing just panties and one of his black shirts na nagiging parang duster ko na rin. He was wearing a white sando and boxers.
"Let's call it "Shiny Sunset" then." Aniya.
"Sure ka okay lang ang parts na pinintahan ko? Eh ang galing galing mo eh."
"Hm." Nag-isip siya muna. "You missed something."
"Ha? Alin-"
He brushed some paint on my cheek. He laughed when he saw the look on my face.
"Eleven! Asungot ka talaga kahit kailan!" I stomped my feet. Pero natawa lang din ako. Gumanti ako sa kanya. We ended up chasing each other to paint each other's faces. Para kaming mga bata.
In the end, pareho kaming humiga sa sahig. Natapos na din namin ang aming painting.
"I'm gonna hang that painting on my room. It'll help me out a lot to not miss you too much." Aniya, nakatitig sa aming painting. Sabi niya mukhang impressionistic raw ang resulta ng painting namin. Maraming yellow, violet, red at brown ito. "Well, I'm still gonna miss you."
"You'll be fine." Bumangon ako at umupo ako sa tabi niya. I held his hand. Nagtama ang aming mga mata. "Mag focus ka lang sa pangako mo sa akin. That you'll follow your dreams to be a painter. Oh diba? CEO-slash-painter. Nasa iyo na ang lahat!" Tawa ko.
"I have yet to have you, though..." Aniya.
Nanatili akong nakatingin sa kanya at hindi ako nakapagsalita.
I'm leaving in a few weeks. Hindi pa rin kami official.
"We made a promise, Eleven." Sabi ko. "Alam mo na..."
"Okay... Okay... Come here." he chuckled. Hinigit niya ako palapit sa kanya. I laid on top of him.
Hinawakan niya ako sa aking pwet. Pinisil niya ito.
"Eleven..." Pumula ang aking pisngi.
"I'm gonna miss your ass."
"Baliw!" Hinampas ko siya. Natawa siya at umangat ang kanyang mga kamay sa aking bewang. He put his arms around me that way.
"I can't wait til you come back."
Tumango ako. I kissed him.
"Well, you better wait." I smirked.
"Damn." Aniya. "You got me wrapped around your finger, Athalia Hanani."