Nilapitan isa-isa ni Sapphire ang mga patron na dumalo sa one-man exhibit niya sa Pausinni Art Gallery sa New York. It was her third one-man exhibit within two years but she was still excited. Tuwing mag-e-exhibit siya ay nadagdagan ang pumupuntang mga tao. She was now one of the top artists in New York. Tinupad ni David ang pangakong pasisikatin siya nito.
Nilapitan niya ang kaibigang si Rayanne na titig na titig sa painting. Isa itong Filipina-Russian ballerina. “Hi, Ray!” aniya at hinalikan ito sa pisngi. “Did you like it?”
Inilapit nito ang hawak na flute ng champagne sa dibdib. “My, it is so depressing. Bakit ba kailangang maging nakaka-depress ang isang magandang art?”
She was pertaining to her painting named ‘WAITING’. It was an acrylic paint on canvas. Isang babae ang nakaupo sa tabi ng bintana habang nakatingin sa buwan at hawak ang isang rosas sa dibdib. As if she was waiting for her lost love to return.
“That’s what everybody told me. It means that most of us feel a certain longing in our hearts. We are waiting for something we lost.”
“You are right,” nakangiti nitong sang-ayon at tumingin kay David. “I don’t really lost him because he was never mine. But I am definitely waiting.”
Malapit sila ng binata sa isa’t isa kaya maraming nagseselos sa kanya. Pero di tulad ng ibang mga babae, di siya inaway ni Rayanne. Sa halip ay kinaibigan pa siya. Kaya naman botong-boto siya dito pagdating kay David.
David was a Filipino-Italian. He was a great art connoisseur like his grandfather who founded the gallery. Most of the artists in his gallery have Asian bloods. Ngunit priority nito ang mga Filipino. Aside from art, he was also popular with women.
“How long can you wait?”
“Hangga’t hindi niya sinasabi sa akin na layuan ko siya. I wonder, lahat na lang ng babae na lumapit sa kanya pinagbibigyan niya. Why not me?”
“You are too classy for his taste,” komento niya. And David always went for short time relationships and one night stands. Rayanne was definitely out of his league. Hindi lang niya sinasabi iyon sa kaibigan dahil ayaw niyang pababain nito ang sarili para kay David. She didn’t want to her friend being dumped in the end.
“Parang napakalungkot ma-in love,” usal nito habang nakatitig pa rin sa painting. “I could see my self in that girl. Bakit lagi kang may ganyang theme sa mga exhibit mo? Are you waiting for a lost love?”
Pinagtawanan niya ang tanong nito. “Stop being nosey.”
Walang nakakaalam tungkol sa nakaraan nila ni Arthur. Nang umalis siya sa Los Angeles at pumunta sa New York ay binura na niya ito sa buhay niya. Tulad ng paglimot nito sa kanya nang pumunta ito sa Sagada.
Kung may nagtatanong kung nagkanobyo siya noon ay ngiti lang ang isinasagot niya. Walang puwang sa kanya ang pag-ibig. Mas gusto niyang pagtuunan ng panahon ang trabaho niya. After all, iyon ang dahilan kung bakit wala na si Arthur sa kanya. She must make the most out of it.
“I would really love to buy this painting,” tukoy nito sa ‘Waiting’. “Pwede bang kasama si David kapag binili ko ito?”
“Sounds fine to me. Unfortunately, that painting is not for sale.”
“That’s not fair! How could you be so cruel, Sapphire? I want ‘Waiting’!” ungot nito sa kanya. “Please reconsider. I am your friend after all.”
“Sinabi mo sa akin na nade-depress ka sa painting na iyan. Bakit mo pa bibilhin? Saka marami nang nag-request na ibang mga patrons. Even the Philippine Ambassador wanted to triple the price but I blatantly refused. Pumili ka na lang ng iba. Mas masaya ang ibang painting na gawa ko.”
“No, thanks! I don’t really feel happy right now. Sana hindi mo na lang ipinakita ang nakaka-depress na painting na iyan kung di mo ipagbibili.”
“I want people to have paintings about happiness and love hanging on their walls. So that they could get the positive energy from it.” Bilang isang artist, gusto niyang sumaya ang mga tao. At handa siyang akuin ang lahat ng lungkot.
Iningusan siya nito. “Lalo lang akong na-depress sa sinabi mo.”
“I’ll treat you for dinner.” Lalo siyang inirapan nito. “David will treat us for dinner. How about that?”
Lumiwanag ang mukha nito. “I love that! I want to have him for dinner. I wonder why you are not attracted to him. My, he must be one of the most gorgeous men who ever walked on earth. Bakit immune ka sa kanya?”
“He is just a brother to me.” At kahit kailan naman ay hindi nagpakita ng interes sa kanya si David. Puro trabaho lang silang dalawa.
“Isn’t that Maggie?” tanong nito habang nakatingin sa entrance. “She was once a popular artist in this gallery but she decided to go to Paris instead.”
“You are close?” tanong niya.
“Medyo. Mabait kasi siya sa akin at hindi siya interesado kay David. Look, she has a gorgeous guy with her.”
She was taken aback she saw the gorgeous guy Rayanne was pertaining to. “Arthur,” mahina niyang usal. Nakadama siya ng pagkasabik na muli itong makita. But it was replaced by a tinge of hurt when she saw the woman in his arms. Sana ay namamalikmata lang siya. What is he doing in New York anyway?
Sinalubong ni David ang mga ito. Matapos magkumustahan ay iginiya nito ang dalawa papunta sa direksiyon nila. “Maggie and Arthur, meet Sapphire. She is one my best artists. And she made all the magnificent artistry around you.”
“Hello, darling!” Hinalikan siya ni Maggie sa pisngi. “So you are David’s new favorite. You are a sold out. I am jealous, really. I was never his favorite.”
“So you really made it big in New York, Sapphire,” pormal na sabi ni Arthur, his eyes piercing hers. He was more gorgeous than the last time she saw him. His skin was more toned. Halatang mas madalas ito sa arawan. He looked healthier. It must be the fresh air. O masaya na ito sa buhay nito ngayon?
“I can’t do it without David’s help,” aniya at binigyan ito ng sinanay niyang ngiti. Gusto niyang tuyain ang sarili. Matapos ang ilang taon niyang paghihintay, iyon ang una niyang nasabi dito. And it produced another scowl on his face.
“Hi, I’m Rayanne Noliedo!” pagpapakilala nito at naputol ang paglalaban ng tingin nila ni Arthur. She suddenly felt grateful to her.
“I’m Maggie and this is Arthur,” magiliw na sabi ni Maggie. “Are you also an artist like us?”
“I suddenly feel out of place,” sabi ni Rayanne.
“She’s a ballerina,” anang si David. “A very good one. You must see her dance. She has a show next week at the New York State Theater.”
“Hey, Arthur! Where did you meet Sapphire? In L.A.?” tanong ni Rayanne.
“Yes. But that was a long time ago,” sagot ni Arthur.
Long time ago? Ganoon na ba katagal ang dalawang taon? Kung magsalita ito ay parang kinalimutan na siya nito at ang pinagsamahan nila. As if she was just an old acquaintance. How could he say that? Samantalang walang araw na hindi niya ito inisip. He was a part of her artworks and life. Dahil bawat parte ng pagkatao niya na nasa mga paintings niya ay naroon din ito. May kinalaman ba ang babaeng kasama nito? Si Maggie? Ganoon lang ba kadali para dito na ipagpalit siya?
“Aren’t you going to treat us out, David?” lambing ni Maggie. “Matagal na panahon din ako sa Paris so I deserve a treat. So does Arthur.”
“Sure. I should treat old friends out,” nakangiting sabi ni David. “Hintayin lang ninyo ako hanggang matapos itong exhibit.”
“Sa ibang araw mo na lang ako ilibre, David,” maagap niyang sabi. “I want to take a rest. Ilang araw din akong walang tulog dahil sa exhibit na ito.”
Ayaw niyang makasama si Arthur. Para saan pa? Para lang masaktan? Baliw siya sa pag-ibig pero hindi niya hahayaan ang sarili na ma-torture habang kasama ito. Hindi iyon ang tamang panahon para magharap sila. Hindi sa gabi kung saan gusto niyang maging masaya kahit na sandali.
“But this is your night, baby. I reserved The Mews for you,” malambing na sabi ni David at hinawakan ang kamay niya. He called her ‘baby’ because he didn’t have any sibling. Kaya nakababatang kapatid ang turing nito sa kanya. Ngunit lalong dumilim ang anyo ni Arthur dahil doon.
“David’s right, Sapphire,” sabi ni Rayanne. “This is your night. Alam ko na may sariling mundo ang mga artist. But get out of your shell for a while. Just for this night, have fun! And The Mews is the best place in New York. Minsan lang manlilibre si David sa fine dining restaurant. Pagdating sa atin, kuripot iyan.”
“Hindi mo kailangang mahiya sa amin, okay?” sabi ni Maggie.
Nang tingnan niya si Arthur ay iniwas nito ang mga mata sa kanya. As if he didn’t care if she would come or not. Hindi niya kailangang magsentimyento. Nakaya siya nitong kalimutan. Then she could also pretend that he was just an ordinary acquaintance from her past.
INIWAN ni Sapphire ang nagkakasiyahang mga bisita at pumunta sa terrace ng restaurant. Mula sa taas ay kitang-kita ang New York Harbor. Despite of the city lights, the moon hovering over the sea was still the most beautiful sight. Kahit paano ay nabawasan ang lungkot na nararamdaman niya sa dibdib.
The party-dinner was for her but she was not able to enjoy it a bit. Isipin lang niya na nasa loob si Arthur kasama ang ibang babae ay parang kinakagat na nang libo-libong langgam ang puso niya. He ruined her night!
“Old habits never die, Sapphire. Hanggang ngayon tumatakas ka pa rin sa mga bisita kapag may mga parties.”
Napapitlag siya nang marinig ang boses ni Arthur at nilingon ito. Hawak nito ang dalawang flute ng champagne at lumapit sa kanya. “At hanggang ngayon, sinusundan mo pa rin ako,” sabi niya at kinuha ang kopita mula dito. “I thought you wanted to stay in Sagada, Arthur?”
“But it doesn’t mean I won’t leave it for a while. I won’t stay here for long. Dinalaw ko lang si Mama sa New Jersey.”
“At anong ginagawa mo dito sa New York?”
“Maggie is an old friend. I promised to contact her when I am in US. Kaya tinawagan ko siya. Nagkataong nasa Texas siya. And she asked me to fly to New York. So how does it feel to be David’s favorite? Like you are on top of the world?”
Magkasalubong ang kilay niya itong sinulyapan. “I am just an ordinary artist who had a successful exhibit. But I am just as good as my last exhibit. I have to work harder for the next one.”
“In the span of two years, you had gone this far. Thanks to David,” sarkastiko nitong sabi at itinaas ang flute.
“This is what I want after all.” Hindi siya pumayag na magkita ng kahinaan dito. Kung vulnerable ang isang tao, iyon ang mas gustong tuyain ni Arthur. “Sinabi sa akin ni Rohann na successful ka na rin sa pottery mo. Katatapos lang ng exhibit mo sa Manila kasama ang mga estudyante mo. How about your art gallery?”
“I am working on it,” kampante nitong sabi.
“Good for you,” aniya at bahagyang ngumiti.
But it didn’t really feel good. Seeing how great he looked, as if he was completely fulfilled and happy. While she suffered alone. Akala niya ay nalungkot ito nang mawala siya. Pero mas mukha pa nga itong naging masaya. Natagpuan na nito ang lahat ng kailangan nito at hindi na siya kasama sa mga pangarap nito.
“When will you visit Sagada?” tanong nito.
“Someday,” aniya at nagkibit-balikat. “Hindi pa ako makatakas ngayon dahil may exhibit ulit ako. David is a slave driver.”
Saka na kapag handa na siyang harapin ang lahat ng bagay na pinakawalan niya nang hindi sumama dito papuntang Pilipinas. Natupad na niya ang pangarap niya pero lalo naman itong lumayo sa kanya. Nag-iisa pa rin siya.
“He will give you a lot of consideration since you are his favorite.”
“Babalik na ako sa loob. David might be looking for me,” pag-iwas niya sa panunuya nito. Magtatalo lang sila kapag nangatwiran siya.
“How long will you stay with him, Sapphire?”
“As long as he believes in my talent. Hangga’t gusto pa niyang magtrabaho ako sa kanya at marami pang makaka-appreciate ng art works ko.”
“Even if he replace you with another favorite?”
Nakataas ang kilay niya itong tiningnan. “I really find this conversation annoying, Arthur. Gusto ko tuloy naisip na halip na solitude at fresh air ang makuha mo sa Sagada, you became cynical and sarcastic instead.”
“Ikaw ang nagbago, Sapphire. And I pity you. David will dump you like all the other girls who passed in his hands.” Iniisip nito na mababang klase siya ng babae na papatol kay David para manatiling artist sa art gallery nito. Damn him!
“I am not like any other girls, Arthur.”
“For David, girls are all the same. Time will come that he would discard you as well. Huwag mo nang hintayin na dumating ang panahong iyon.”
“I am his artist, not his paramour,” paglilinaw niya. “I am staying because of my talent. Iyon ang nakita ni David sa akin. At hindi ko ipinagpapalit ang katawan ko para lang maging sikat na artist. Shame on you, Arthur!”
Nagngingitngit niya itong iniwanan. Pagkatapos siya nitong iwan, ganoon pa ang iisipin nito sa kanya. Gusto niyang umiyak pero hindi niya iyon ipinakita. Baka lalong isipin ni Arthur na totoo ang paratang nito.
Ngayon ay panibagong sakit ang naramdaman niya. Mas masakit pa kaysa nang iwan siya nito. He branded her as a scarlet woman. To think na hindi siya tumingin sa ibang lalaki dahil ito ang mahal niya.
“You are stupid, Arthur! Stupid!”