Milieu Euphony (In Act Series #2)

Phase 23

PHASE TWENTY-THREE

INKING SOULS INTO WORDS

Michelangelo listened when I spoke, and it landed a mark on my journey.

When we talked about our family back at the mausoleum, I knew that I couldn't disregard our connection anymore. It was greater than the so-called mentorship that we had—if that could even be called a mentorship. Because it was more about accompaniment—about two people being with each other through their journey.

The mentorship was one-sided—the mentor would be the one talking while the mentee would be the one listening. Mentors had fixed paths, and they would open them to their mentees. Mentees usually adapt the skills of the mentor because it was the only path.

However, the accompaniment was two-way—both people would benefit and learn to see the differences through each other's eyes. It was a way to hone each other's diversity rather than being stuck in a path laid by the mentor.

Because in accompaniment, everyone was exploring.

"I didn't know that phalli could be that special," komento ko pagkatapos ng isang klase. It was one of the art histories classes, and the lecture was a bit different. Though, of course, for people who had been molding bodies into sculptures, it would be normal for them.

"'Di mo pa ba alam ang bagay na 'yon?" Michelangelo asked, his tone had a hint of mischief.

Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalalakad habang nasa tabi ko siya.

"I'm not interested to research about it."

"Noon 'yon."

Napatingin ako sa kan'ya.

Tinagpo niya ang tingin ko. "Magiging interesado ka na kasi pag-aaralan mo ngayon."

I get what he said.

"Sculpture-related things are really different from what I had known," pag-iiba ko ng usapan.

He chuckled and looked at me attentively. "Bakit? Ano ba pagkakaalam mo?"

I noticed that he was more open in conversing with me.

"It's very ironic. Small phalli are the ideal form, pero 'di ba dapat 'yung malalaki ang ideal form? Then there's this David sculpture that came from a low-grade block of marble that was rejected twice by sculptors, pero 'yon pa ang sumikat. It's very different from what I had envisioned."

Like the end of every journey.

Humalakhak siya. "That's a nice analysis, Lael. Masasabi kong..."

"Masasabi mong ano?"

"Na tama ang ginawa ko."

Kinunotan ko siya ng noo. "Ginawa mo?"

He pushed the door open for me. "Letting you in."

Tinitigan ko siya bago pumasok sa lecture room.

Naghanap ako ng sariling pwesto at inayos ang gamit pagkatapos. Hindi na ako nagulat pa nang tumabi siya sa 'kin.

"Michelangelo."

He gave me a knowing look. "Ang haba ng tawag mo sa 'kin."

"I'm comfortable with it."

Nanatili ang tingin niya sa 'kin.

"No attachments," deklara niya.

How did you know?