Halfway Down There

Chapter 05

"Mag-iisang buwan ka palang here, 'no? I've been here for more than five years. Noong mas bata pa ako..."

"That explains kung bakit gumaling ka sa paggamit ng Italian language."

Binaba ni Euna ang kanina niya pa iniinom at tiningnan ako, kunot ang noo. "I'm not sure... Napaisip na rin ako if pa'no ko nga ba natutunan. I think it's more of Rosette's influence on me. You know, 'di ba, friends influence you."

I bit on my bread roll as I listened to her talk. I guess while I'm here, surrounded by them, the way I communicate will have its improvement, lalo nang nasa plano ko na ang pag-prolong ng stay ko rito sa Milan. Three weeks pa nga lang ang lumipas, I've already noticed how I'm slowly adapting to their accent. And I think I'm doing good!

Even when we mostly use the international language inside the campus, the majority of the people around us are still the authentic people of Italy.

"You speak well," I complimented Euna.

She chuckled. "Ikaw din naman, ha? For someone who's been here for the first time. Are you self-taught?"

"Yup," I smiled. "I worry about how I sound every time I talk. Nakakahiya kapag ignorante ka sa pag-pronounce correctly ng mga words."

"Mas mahirap ang French," aniya.

"The reason why you didn't pursue fashion in France?" I concluded with a sly grin.

"Oh my god, totoo!" Humalakhak siya. "Aside from my skepticism kung kakayanin ko ba roon. I tried to like, teach myself... but oh boy, it was fucking hard to pronounce anything. I feel like the Parisians would question me a lot."

I laughed hysterically because I also went through the same fuss. Naalala ko kasi noon, gusto kong mamangha sa akin sina Mommy at 'yung mga kaibigan ko. I spoke a few French words without thinking of how the words were actually supposed to be pronounced. Now that I thought of it, I can only hope I didn't sound stupid during those days!

Kahit noong pumunta kami sa Paris, sobrang lakas ng loob ko makipag-usap sa mga tao roon. Kuya would laugh at me, and even the waiter did, too!

Nagpatuloy pa ang usapan namin ni Euna sa loob ng Orsonero habang tinatapos ang aming reports and sketches. The cafe was silent but I was distracted by people coming inside the small cafe in such a small time gap. When someone goes out, someone goes in. I was also starting to feel lazy in adding more information to my report since I'd been wanting to tour around so badly if only it weren't for my classes.

I have many outfits ready and photoshoots planned! Some of the photos I take sometimes give me profit if viewers on the internet appreciate them as an NFT traded in a marketplace. Maybe if I keep doing it, I will be able to lend myself a hand while I stay in this city! Gusto kong magkaroon ng maraming galas para sa photographs.

I'm technically an adult now—a young adult—and I wouldn't want to keep relying on my parents' money. Sa tingin ko rin, it's my responsibility to provide myself a sublime future, not just theirs. I've never thought much about this topic, pero dahil mag-isa ako sa apartment, and almost everywhere I go, I feel like a true grown-up.

Thankfully, my parents did not gatekeep me despite the family business success. This is allowing me to grow independently. Being an adult may not be so bad after all, except for the fact we are given additional duties and are expected to act accordingly.

"Pupunta ba si Rosette?" kuryuso kong tanong kay Euna nang matantong kanina pa kami nakatambay. Akala ko, kaya hindi muna kami umaalis dahil naghihintay kami sa kanya.