Milieu Euphony (In Act Series #2)

Phase 7

PHASE SEVEN

THE INTRUDER

The wails of the ivory were deafening. Their violent screams whenever ticked by nails irked my ears. The metals that clanged in the air disagreed with silence—it forced me to conceal my pleas.

Please be quiet.

But who would listen to a mum when he couldn't speak?

I had no position to fill, to begin with. That's why I don't deserve to be here, but why did I insist? Because the real question was this: bakit ba ako tinanggap dito?

They should've known better but to accept a wanderer like me. Weren't they aware that I'd only disrupt the balance in their art community? After all, people who had been living by following their passion deserved their position here, and I was not one of those—I will never be one of those.

That's why was it safe to claim that I—no matter how hard I'd try—would never earn a spot in this passionate place?

It was safe to come up with that idea—a plan that had always been in my mind but often left disregarded. But now that I had a chance to think about it, I did.

And I'd put the plan into place.

The mere thought of staying or stopping were all ridiculous acts, and I had no time to engage myself in it. It would only be a waste of time which would destroy what I had planned.

That's why I came here to expand my knowledge.

Because I am an art wanderer, and I'll continuously be. There was no reason for me to be ashamed of that—it was the only way to get my direction in check.

The Bernini's Hall was a smaller version of the Bernini's Haven which catered to a wider range of sculpting projects. Bernini's Hall was catered solely to those who were sculpting small slabs of marble while the Haven was for "lightweight" materials—clay, plaster, resin, and the likes.

Heavier materials that were often created full-scale, such as woodworking and bronze sculpting, had a separate outer studio. While projects that needed a large slab of marbles were recommended to be worked on in their personal studio.

Ideally, people who were not invested in sculpture shouldn't stay in a place as dusty as this. Aside from the fragments chipped off from small slabs of marble—the specks of dust that littered on the white floor and the noise that lingered in the area should be enough to put off anyone who dared to enter.

But I had been living out of courage that's why I had the strength to stay and adjust to the environment.

"Hi, kuku'nin mo ba 'tong pwesto?" The sight of a kind woman greeted me.

She had a welcoming face—bright eyes and a bright smile, which were a radical difference from my dull eyes and lips in a thin line. Her aura was warm, and she looked like someone who enjoyed what she was doing, while mine felt nothing—the walls that surrounded it refrained anyone from seeing what was on the other side.

Umatras ako at inikot ang tingin sa paligid.

There were a few workstations available at the Bernini's Hall, but they had bags on the table which meant that they were reserved. Most of the people were unbothered by it, probably too immersed with what they had been doing.

Umiling ako at kinuha na ang bag na nakapatong sa lamesa. Ibinigay ko na sa babae ang inokupa kong pwesto at tumayo.

Nagpasalamat siya at nag-ayos ng gamit. Tumango ako at umalis.