Walang naging choice si Jackson, kaya sinunod niya na lamang ang inuutos ni Sir Mark. Hanga rin ako kay Jackson kahit na ayaw niya makasama si Laarni sa photoshoot pipilitin niya pa rin para hindi mawalan ng trabaho si sir Mark.
Sa pagsimula ng photoshoot, ramdam ko ang pag-ilang niya kay Laarni, pero pinipilit niya pa rin ngumiti sa kabila ng hindi nila pagkakaunawaan ni Laarni. Natapos na ang photoshoot ng may mga ilang pasulyap-sulyap na pagtitinginan at awkward na katahimikan sa pagitan nina Jackson at Laarni.
JACKSON’S POV
Matapos ang mahabang araw ng pag-shoot, naghihintay kami sa labas para magkaroon ng dinner party kasama si Laarni, dahil puno na ang van at susunduin naman si Laarni ng driver niya napansin ko naman na wala ng masakyan si Zaniyah.
"I'll give you a ride, Zaniyah," I offered.
She looked surprised. "Oh, hindi na, sir. It's okay."
I teased her, "Come on, Zaniyah. Puno na ‘yong van, sa laki ng katawan mo baka mas lalong sumikip."
So I took her bag, and we walked over to my car. "Let's go."
Once we were inside the car, I started to drive. I couldn't help but notice that Zaniyah was stealing glances at me. "Huwag mo akong tignan lang ng ganiyan, baka matunaw pa ako," I joked as I drove.
"Mataba na ba ako?" tanong niya
Napangiti naman ako sa tanong niya, habang nakatingin sa daan.
She responded, "Dapat kasi, si Ms. Laarni, nalang ‘yong niyaya mo."
I replied without hesitation, "Eh, ikaw gusto ko eh."
Her silence filled the car. "Uh, where are we going, by the way? It feels like we're on the wrong route," she finally asked.
"We're heading to Nexus Painting," I answered.
Zaniyah raised an eyebrow. "Nexus Painting? Bakit tayo pupunta do’n? May dinner party ka pa, baka pagalitan ka."
"Zaniyah, calm down, maaga pa," I said with a hint of mystery in my voice.
We continued to drive, the tension in the car slowly dissipating. Zaniyah's curiosity was piqued, but she decided to trust me. It was a chance for us to spend some time together outside of work, and I hoped it would strengthen our growing connection.
When we arrived at Nexus Painting, I parked the car. Zaniyah seemed a bit concerned: "Hindi ka ba nagwo-worried? Mamaya makita ka ng mga fans mo diyan?"
I handed her a face mask and said, "Here, use this." Then, I got out of the car, and she followed suit as we walked towards the entrance.
Once inside, we roamed around for a bit. "Hindi ba marunong kang magpaint?" I asked Zaniyah.
She nodded. "Ahm, yes. I used to do some painting in my free time."
"That's great. Let's try it," I suggested, leading her towards a section where guests could try their hand at painting. The room was filled with various art supplies, canvases, and easels.
Zaniyah seemed intrigued. "Hmm... Are you sure? I mean, what if I mess it up?"
I chuckled and said, "Zaniyah, there's no right or wrong in art. It's all about expression. Besides, it'll be fun. Trust me."
She finally agreed, and we each picked up a canvas and some paints. I noticed her hesitating for a moment before dipping her brush into the colors. It was endearing to see her cautious yet eager to give it a try.
We painted in silence for a while, letting our creativity flow onto the canvas. I painted abstract swirls and patterns, while Zaniyah chose to create a serene landscape with a beautiful sunset.
As we worked, I couldn't help but steal glances at her. Her focus and the way she blended colors intrigued me. It was another side of Zaniyah that I was discovering, and I found it incredibly appealing.
After some time, we both put our brushes down, admiring our finished pieces. Zaniyah's painting was breathtaking, capturing the warmth of a setting sun over a tranquil beach. Mine was more chaotic, a reflection of my emotions.
I looked at her artwork and said, "Zaniyah, your painting is amazing. You have a real talent."
She blushed at the compliment: "Thank you, sir. And your painting is unique, too. It has character."
We wrapped our paintings carefully, and the staff at Nexus Painting offered to ship them to our respective homes. It was a wonderful, unexpected experience that brought us closer together.
As we left the art studio, I couldn't help but feel that our connection had deepened. There was something about sharing a creative experience like this that brought out the best in both of us.
"Mahilig ka rin mag paint diba Jackson?" tanong ni Zaniyah
Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago magsalita, "Yes, I used to enjoy painting, pero noon ‘yon," I replied to Zaniyah as we walked back to the car. Memories of my past as an aspiring artist flooded my mind. It was a part of me that I had almost forgotten amidst my singing career.
Zaniyah seemed genuinely interested; her curiosity was piqued. "Why did you stop?"
I hesitated, unsure of how much I should reveal. But looking into her kind eyes, I decided to share a bit of my past. "Life happened, I guess. Pursuing a career in music took up most of my time and energy. I had to put painting on hold to focus on my singing."
Her face showed sympathy as she nodded, understanding the sacrifices one must make for a dream. "You must have missed it, though."
I chuckled softly and said, "Yeah, I did. Painting used to be my escape, a way to express things that words couldn't convey."
Zaniyah's eyes lit up with curiosity. "What kind of things did you paint?"
I shrugged, reminiscing about my earlier work. "Different things, really. Abstract pieces that represented my emotions at the time, landscapes from my travels, and even portraits of people who inspired me."
She seemed intrigued by the idea of using art as a means of emotional expression. "It sounds beautiful, sir."
"Please, call me Jackson when we're not working," I said with a smile, wanting to keep things friendly and informal between us.
"Okay, Jackson," she replied, returning the smile. "I'd love to see your paintings someday."
I hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether I should share this part of my past with her. Finally, I decided to open up a little more. "Maybe someday, I'll show them to you. It's been a while since I picked up a brush, but maybe this experience will inspire me to paint again."
Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "That would be amazing. You're incredibly talented, Jackson."
I appreciated her words more than she could know. It was nice to be seen for something other than my music career. "Thank you, Zaniyah. You're quite talented yourself, both as an assistant and as an artist."
Zaniyah followed me into the art gallery room, and I found myself drawn to a particular painting. It was a vibrant abstract piece, a riot of colors and shapes that seemed to dance across the canvas. I couldn't help but feel a connection to it.
"Favorite ko 'tong art na 'to," I remarked, my gaze fixed on the artwork. Memories of our first encounter flooded back. "Naalala mo ba, dito rin tayo nagkita?"
Zaniyah's eyes scanned the room before settling on the painting I was admiring. She nodded, a soft smile playing on her lips.
The dinner party venue was stunning, and as Zaniyah and I arrived, we were greeted by the beautiful surroundings. I noticed that Sir Mark, Ate Sab, and other staff members were already present. Laarni was there, too, which wasn't surprising given the photoshoot earlier. However, what caught me off guard was the presence of Felix.
Nagpalit ng kulay si Zaniyah nang makita niyang naroon si Felix. Mukhang nagkatinginan sila sa malayo, at nang magsalubong ang mga mata namin, naramdaman ko ang kakaibang tensyon sa pagitan namin. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko haharapin ang sitwasyon na ito.