Prologue
"Juda, ako na tatapos nito. Umuwi kana."
"Sige, madam. Salamat." sagot niya at kinuha na ang bag niya.
Umalis na din siya pagkatapos niyang maglinis. Sinigurado ko muna na maayos ang mga paintings bago kinuha ang bag at umalis. Inayos ko ang damit ko bago nilibot ang paningin sa Gallery.
The whole Art Gallery was bright and it looked expensive. From the carpet to the paintings, everything was extravagant and elegant. The good thing is that I earned this. I earned all of this. I smiled before walking out of the Gallery.
"Bye, madam!" bati ng guard. Ngumiti naman ako.
"Bye, guard. Ikaw na bahala dito ah?"
Pumunta ako sa parking lot at hinanap ang sasakyan. Nilapag ko ang bag sa front seat at pinaandar na yung kotse. Hindi naman masyadong traffic dahil gabi na kaya mabilis akong nakauwi. Pinark ko muna ang kotse bago pumasok sa bahay. Walang tao kaya madilim ang buong bahay. Huminga ako ng malalim bago hinanap ang switch para sa ilaw. Umupo ako sa sofa at tinanggal ang heels ko. Pumasok na ako sa kwarto. I didn't bother eating dinner since I was not feeling hungry.
The next day, I woke up and fixed myself for work. I was wearing my black pencil skirt, white polo, and black blazer. I partnered it with black heels and white accessories. I applied light makeup and drove to work. When I arrived at the gallery, I saw Juda talking to a customer. I took my shades off and called her. She excused herself and went closer to me.
"Good morning, Juda. Any news?" tanong ko habang naglalakad patungo sa itaas ng Gallery.
"Good morning, madam. Okay naman po yung Gallery. May nag email po sa 'yo. You can check it out later."
"Sige, thank you. And oh! Coffee please."
"Sige, madam."
I turned on my laptop and went to my email. I read some of the important emails and I will let Juda answer the rest. What caught my interest is the email from Mr. Henry Caleb, a..close friend of mine.
Greetings, Ms. Valliamonte!
Mr. Henry Caleb cordially invites you to Marco Polo Hotel this October 1st, 8 PM as we celebrate our yearly exhibit. We request your artworks to be displayed in the said program. This exhibit is not just about expressing the beauty of art, but also to help our chosen charity. This exhibit can also benefit you in many ways. We look forward to seeing you at the event.
Tinakpan ko ang bibig ko sa kasiyahan. If my paintings will be displayed in this exhibit, for sure my works will be recognize since mga big time ang mga pupunta. And it is also for charity, so why not?
"Madam, coffee," biglang sumulpot si Juda na may dalang tasa.
"Thank you, Juda. May gagawin ka ba sa October 1?"
"Wala naman po."
"Good. I'll take you with me sa exhibit ni Mr. Caleb."
"Yes, madam."
I sipped my coffee and started thinking about what I'm gonna wear for the upcoming exhibit. I was thinking about a long sleeveless blue gown with a white fur coat around my arms and white heels.
'Yan talaga ang sinuot ko sa araw ng exhibit. Suot ko ay long sleeveless blue gown tapos white fur coat sa balikat. Sinuot ko rin ang white YSL heels ko at Tiffany & Co. necklace and earrings. Pinasoft curls ko yung buhok ko. I applied my make up and grabbed my purse.
Sinundo ko si Juda kanina at nagdrive na patungo sa hotel. Paglabas ko sa kotse ay nakita ko na ang mga guests na pumapasok sa hotel. Pumasok na kaagad ako sa venue at binigay ang invitation. Magarbo ang buong exhibit. Napakaganda ng chandeliers at furnitures. Nagkita ko rin ang mga paintings ko at paintings ng ibang artist na inimbita. Madaming tao nag uusap, halatang mayayaman.
"Miss Ferialleen!" nagulat ako nang may tumawag sa 'kin. Lumingon ako at nakita ko si Mr. Caleb, ang nag-imbita sa 'kin dito.
"Caleb," bati ko at hinalikan ang kanyang pisngi.
Caleb was looking handsome as always. He is wearing an all-black tuxedo and his hair was fixed.
"Looking gorgeous, Cassy! By the way, I saw your paintings and all I can say is excellent, excellent, excellent and excellent! A masterpiece!"
Yesterday, I picked the best 5 of my collections to be displayed here in the exhibit. Juda delivered them yesterday afternoon to Caleb's.
"Wow, that's flattering. You didn't display them here?" tumingin ako sa paligid.
"Oh yes, I didn't. It's in the back for the bidding later," kumindat siya. "Anyway, I gotta go. Toodles!"
Oh so may bidding pala. That's a great plan. I don't mind since it's for charity.
I drank wine while waiting for the bidding. The venue was already full of people. After 20 minutes of waiting, the bidding finally started. They let the small and cheap ones first before the big ones. I wasn't really paying attention. I was just clapping since I have enough paintings and I am a painter but I was really amazed by the works of the other painters. It's crazy how people are really willing to spend thousands of money on these paintings.
"Next is Nuestro Amor Agridulce by Miss Ferialleen Cassandra Valliamonte, a young, aspiring, and gorgeous painter."
"50,000!"
"70,000!"
"95,000!"
"120,000!"
I smiled as I heard people bid higher for my painting. The bids were crazy. It keeps on going up. Walang nagpapatalo.
"320,000!"
"400,000!"
"We have 400,00! And 3...2.."
"500,000!"
"Oh! We have 500,000 thousand! 3....2....1, Sold to the man in the blue tuxedo! Congratulations!" sabi ng MC.
The bidding continued and I was smiling the whole time. I like sharing my art with other people. A painting can speak a thousand words.
"Next is Parola Lavigan by Miss Ferialleen Cassandra Valliamonte. Anyone?"
"100,000!"
My smile faded when the host mentioned the name of the painting. I never...I never picked that.
Hinarap ko si Juda. "Juda, did I include this?"
"Yes, madam. Kasali po siya sa 5 paintings."
"Fuck..this was a mistake. Hindi ko na mababawi, right?" I panicked.
"250,000!" someone shouted.
"300,000!" I shouted.
The bids were getting higher and higher but I won't stop. I will get that painting. It has a special memory in my heart.
"500,000!" a man with a baritone voice shouted.
"650,000!"
"700,000!"
I gasped. "800,000!"
"900,000!" there goes that man again.
Bahala na! "1 million!"
"We have 1 million! And 3..."
"2 million!" the man shouted. Everybody was shocked. I cannot spend 2 million on that painting! This is too much!
"2 million! And 3....2...1, sold to the man in a blue tuxedo and black tie!"
I was so heartbroken about the bidding. I have 2 million pesos but I can't throw that away for a painting. Who the hell is that man?
For the rest of the exhibit, I wasn't happy anymore. Juda and I left the venue without saying goodbye because Caleb was busy talking to guests. While walking to the parking lot, I was ranting to Juda about the painting.
"I shouldn't have picked that painting! That was a mistake! Kasali 'yun sa personal collection ko! And who the heck was that man? 2 million pesos? Geez, ang mahal!"
Napatigil ako sa paglakad nang may bumangga sa 'kin at nahulog ang purse ko.
"Ano ba 'yan!" sigaw ko bago kinuha ang purse pero naunahan ako ng nakabangga sa 'kin.
"Here you go, miss," I looked at the man who gave me the purse.
My mouth gaped. It can't be, right? He's in London, not in the Philippines. But why is he here now? Am I fucking hallucinating? He is wearing a blue tuxedo and dark blue Italian shoes. He is the man earlier! The man who bought the Parola Lavigan! Pucha.
I think his features got more mature. His aura got darker. His eyes had no emotions. He was staring at me with a blank face like he doesn't know me. Like he didn't know me.
"Coal," I whispered. My voice cracked.
I don't know how to act. I don't know how to talk to him. I don't know what I should say to him. The feeling inside me was awoken like it never did in years. Only he can do that. Only Coxann Alrien.
"Mr. Caleb is looking for you at the venue," he informed me.
"Oh thank--"
"I guess hobby mo talaga mang-iwan ng walang paalam." he cut me off. He turned his back on me and went to his car after saying that, leaving me dumbfounded.
My jaw dropped.
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Thank you for reading this chapter! Please vote, comment, or share this story to your friends. Don't forget to smile and be happy today. Stay safe always!
Love, Ari