Milieu Euphony (In Act Series #2)

Phase 34

PHASE THIRTY-FOUR

A PLACE FOR THE EXILES

I had no place to stay—literally.

I was a graduating student. A few months more and I would be leaving the dormitories. I had a big allowance left but I was unsure if it would last until I found a job. I don't want to risk it anyway, so I tried to find any means to find a stable income.

But I don't want to venture into sculpting immediately. I want to approach it a little slower like how you'd sculpt... pottery.

So, in Ophelia's studio, there I was.

And with her scowl, I knew she hated that I was there. But she had no choice.

Ophelia Agostini's eyes were very unwelcoming when she saw that I entered her studio. She was sitting at one of the stools as she threw pottery on her pottery wheel.

The whirring sound stopped when I went near her.

Tumaas ang isang kilay niya nang tumigil ako sa tabi niya.

"What are you doing here?" Her tone was hostile just like how her ex-lover sounded.

I gathered the courage to remove the bitterness in my mouth, then I talked.

"I need a place to stay."

She looked offended because of my answer. Nag-iwas siya ng tingin at pinagpatuloy ang paghulma, ang tunog ay pumailanlang na naman sa paligid.

I took one of the stools and sat there, my legs crossed.

I was suddenly reminded of how I preferred pottery over sculptures—on how they were more pleasant to hear because the sounds they created weren't sharp.

But I knew that it was a front so I wouldn't venture into sculpting marbles. I kept on trying to find the faults in its crevices, no matter how small, so I wouldn't have any reason to stay.

I don't like staying—that's what I was before.

But I was past it.

Gusto ko nang manatili.

Gusto ko nang may matigilan.

Unti-unti ko nang pinakikinggan ang sarili ko kaya napunta ako sa desisyong 'yon. Kaya kahit na alam kong mahihirapan at maninibago ako rito, tinulak ko ang sariling magpatuloy. Katulad ng pagpapatuloy ko sa bulag na paglalakbay ko noon.

"Can you let me stay?"

Iritable niya akong tiningnan. "Wala ka bang pake sa 'kin o ano?" She sounded offended. "Gosh! You really have no remorse. We're not on good terms with each other. How dare you ask me things that close friends would do?"

I knew that the relationship that I formed before were all complicated, and Ophelia was still a part of that. I couldn't blame her because I was misled before, but I was still in the middle of learning about everything, so, it was a given that I could come out confusing.

Or maybe I was being apathetic about others who wanted to have their own path.

Whatever it was, I had to express what I really felt.

"I'm sorry," I said out of regret, the pain still in my chest.

It was the truth—I regretted my actions that revolved around my desperation in staying on my path. On how I pushed people away and on how I gave them an illusion that I don't need them.