>> • TOHRU • <<
Standing on the veranda during a humid afternoon never fails to sift the worries out of me. The sun never displayed its blinding rays and instead decided to wear its coat of clouds. An ideal weather for me. Holding a scribbled, worn-out sketchbook, I let my hands play along the lines until the inspiration never let go of my hands like a tied balloon on my finger.
"Kamusta ang school, 'nak?" bungad sa 'kin ni Papa at naupo sa silyang rattan ba nasa dulo, katabi ng mga halamang nasa paso.
"Ayos lang Pa. Ang sakit pala sa ulo mag-aral kung paano mag-manage ng business." wika ko at nagpatuloy sa pagguhit. I'm supposed to be drawing innovating designs for future purposes, but I ended up drawing a huge building.
Mula noong nangyari ang interview sa COSMOS Clothing two years ago, their sales blew up and doubled their income as other aspiring designers applied there in pursuit of achievement of their dreams. They never let the opportunity pass and used it as a stepping stone to aim for greater heights of popularity and influence.
Of course, they never forgot us. They once asked us, Astra's Sewing Club, to contribute in the designs for their upcoming clothing line in exchange of shares for their annual revenue. The design immediately got popular and batches are coming one after another.
It earned good reviews from critiques, but bad reviews from those who tried purchasing under scammers let it out on us. Bad reviews are inevitable, and other business competitors may take it to exploit the brand's weakness and to earn their credibility by improving the aspects of qualities that we lack. That's how business works. And that's how I learn from it to always something better than ever.
But I can't just keep on working behind the curtains. That's why I never used the income that I've earned from contributions that I made.
Soon, I'll make a name for myself. And the plans written at the back of my sketchbook are the framework for it.
"Tohru, puwede ba kitang makausap ng masinsinan?"
I can sense the seriousness in my father's tone even if I never turned to him, kaya't ibinaba ko ang sketchbook sa lamesa at hinintay ang kaniyang sasabihin.
The scent of nail polish being painted on my father's toenails is quite strong and provoking on my nerves. Some are easily drawn to it and become slaves under its scent but not me. Sa kabila noon, maganda naman ang black floral designs na sinusubukang iimprinta ni Papa sa kaniyang kuko, so that makes it a little more bearable.
Minsan lang siya umuwi dahil kadalasang dinadagsa ng mga suki ang parlor nila. May tinutuluyan siyang apartment na ilang dipa lamang ang layo roon para hindi na siya mahirapang mag-commute araw-araw.
Kung hindi dahil kina Bro at iba pa, hindi ko siguro siya nakakasama at nakakausap ngayon ng hindi nakakatakot sa kung anong posible niyang kahinatnan.
"Ano po 'yon?" tanong ko.
"Actually, noong isang linggo pa nangyari 'to..." tinakpan niya na ang nail polish at ibinalik ito sa dala-dala niyang kit.
"Pinapatawad ko na si Antony."
Nabitiwan ko ang hawak kong lapis. It took less than five seconds before it finally sinked in.
Napatayo ako sa kinauupuan ko, "Seryoso ka ba, Papa? Pagkatapos ng lahat ng ginawa niya sa 'yo?!"
Papa's taken aback with my reaction, "Kumalma ka muna, Tohru."
BINABASA MO ANG
Aurora Borealis
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