Milieu Euphony (In Act Series #2)

Phase 35

PHASE THIRTY-FIVE

WITHOUT WAX

A week before graduation, they told me that my work got displayed at The Raison.

I didn't want to believe it, but it was there when I visited it.

My work had a place here, was what I immediately thought. Because I couldn't believe that someone like me had a work that was able to speak farther than my unspoken desires. That even I was like this, I was still given a chance to show them what I really felt.

That's why I didn't know what to feel because I was new to this. That's why I let out the emotions through a few batches of tears.

I remembered how I struggled with how to continue this activity because I couldn't make a small sculpture as a reflection of ourselves.

Ano ba ang dapat kong ihulma gamit ang luwad? Daanan? Taong naglalakbay? Taong may dalang mapa at may suot na travelling bag sa likod?

I was lost on who I really was, so I ended up sculpting what I was doing often—pretending to be deaf.

The Euphony of Lael
by Lael

It was a full-body sculpture of a naked woman who was twelve inches in height.

Her arms were crossed over her chest while her palm laid softly on her cheeks. Her hair was tied in a low ponytail with her hair tucked behind her ear to show her fingers that almost covered her ears. Her eyes were closed, and her face was molded in a peaceful and rested state.

The name that was written beneath it—Lael.

I remembered the first time I hesitated on what name I should put to show ownership. It was one of my sculpture classes where we were told to use our names as a signature to mark who we really were.

Should I put my whole name? My second name with my surname? Or just my second name which was commonly used to declare who I was?

In the end, I went with 'Lael' which was the best choice that I had taken.

I wanted to be known who I really was, I thought. And it worked.

Was it really true that the work you struggled with the most would show how determined you were? I knew that does not apply to everyone, but it made me happy to know that somehow, the misdirection that I had was worth it.

"Ang galing mo na."

I stiffened because of the voice that I used to hear.

Three months without talking to him, I was reminded of how I used to listen to Michelangelo's voice every day.

Because I couldn't ever forget how his raspy voice lingered in my ears. On how it sounded gentle as he told me things about sculptures that I didn't know about. On how he guided me about things that I should and shouldn't do.

And like how I recently got to feel my emotions deeply, my heartbeat became deeper. I don't know how that was possible, but I couldn't forget how its sound comforted my ears.

Nilingon ko siya.

"I had a good mentor," was my reply, a small smile on my lips.

He chuckled as he stood beside me, his eyes on the Euphony sculpture that I made. I expected him to reply, but he let it be with silence.