Vibrant

Prologue

The cold breeze of the night enveloped me as soon as I stepped out of my car. Diela, the event coordinator immidiately approached me wearing a fitted dress.

"A pleasant evening to you Ms. Ale." She greeted.

"Good evening Diela sorry for being late, I was stuck in the traffic due to a minimal accident."

"So did the guest already arrived?" I asked.

"Yes Ms. Ale most of them are already waiting for you, but we offer them some drinks and foods first to divert their attention somehow."

I sighed and follow Diela towards the front door. The chandelier came into my view while heading to the event area.

Once I enter the venue I sincerely apologized to my guest for being late when in fact I am the one who must host this event.

Talking about punctuality.

I entertained the guests along with the other event personnel, and utter my gratitude towards the guests for attending my art exhibit.

This art exhibit serves as a fundraising for the orphanage and to those people who suffered due to an eye illness. Most of the guests purchased my paintings, which is a really big help for the fundraising that I organized.

"You look stunning in that cocktail dress Ms. Ale." Mrs. Nafaro stated when I approached her.

"Thank you Mrs. Nafaro." I smiled.

"By the way, I adore this painting of yours." She raised her palm toward the painting in front of us.

"Well, I always adore all of your paintings." She added.

I laughed at her remarks and a smile crept on my face when I heard her compliment.

"I recently finished this last week, and I named it after a flower which is 'the lily of valley'." I explained to Mrs. Nafaro while my eyes darted at the painting that she complimented earlier.

It was a three woman wearing a white dress dancing near the valley.

In the end Mrs. Nafaro bought that painting and went to her husband.

"Excuse me Ms. Ale." Diela caught my attention.

"Yes?"

"Some of the Zoid magazine journalist are already here, and there are waiting for your interview." She informed.

"Oh right I almost forgot, good thing you remind me."

I was busy entertaining the guest and I almost forgot that I have an interview that is scheduled on the day of my art exhibit.

I smiled and greeted the journalists when I approach them.

"I'm Klenn Cardova the one who will feature you in our February issue of Zoid magazine, and it is a pleasure to meet you Ms. Ale." He introduced while extending his arm for a handshake.

"The pleasure is mine Mr. Klenn." I gladly accept his gesture.

"Oh please, just call me Klenn there is no need for formality in here." He stated.

"And this is my colleague Terry." He introduced to the person beside him.

I smiled and nodded my head as a sign of acknowledgement.

"Is it alright to you Ms. Ale if we interview you on the spot?" Klenn ask.

"Of course."

Klenn pulled out a notebook from his pocket, while Terry turned on his recorder.

"So Ms. Vasilisa.."

"Well you can call me Val, my name is too tiring to pronounce." I jokingly stated.

"Okay Ms. Val." He slightly laughed.

"So Ms. Val, being one of the most popular painter in our country, what is the secret behind your success?" Klenn questioned.

"Well it wasn't a short journey, there are many failures that I have encountered along my path before I gained the success that I desired."

I paused for a minute and continued.

"But truthfully speaking, there is no secret behind my success, I just do whatever I love because no matter how many failures that I've experienced, I just can't give up easily the things that I love to do, which is painting.."

"And I'm pretty sure, I am not the only one who thinks that way, so therefore if I can do it so can you." I added.

"I'm sorry, actually I am not that good at doing interviews." My lips crept into a thin smile.

"No, you're doing great Ms. Ale" Klenn tried to encourage.

"Ms. Val we didn't mean to offend you with this question, but is it true that you are have monochromacy?" Klenn hesitantly ask without a hint of insult.

"Yes, I am completely color blind." I replied with a smile to somehow convince them that I am not offended.

There is an evidence of surprisement in their faces, but they quickly recovered.

"So how did you manage to see the colors that you uses in your paintings Ms. Val?" Terry ask, while holding the recorder.

"Do you use some eye glasses that allows you to see the colors?" Terry added.

"Well I only used it occasionally, but when it comes to painting I don't." I answered truthfully.

"Your paintings seemed to be quite colorful and lively, then how did you paint them when you can't be able to see them?"

They looked confuse while waiting for my answer.

I can't help but to remember the words that he said because of their question.

"Well someone once said to me, you cannot be able to see the wind, unless you feel it."

"And it goes the same for colors, you don't have to see it in order to identify them, you just have to feel their meaning."

The exact words the he said awakened a memory that is painful to remember.

He was supposed to be my strength during those moments, but also became my kryptonite that made me weak.

A memory that must be left forgotten but somehow my mind keeps on rebelling because after all, he was the reason of what I have become.