Tulip's Destiny

III - A Dream Come True

For the last couple of weeks, Raine spent her time arranging her landscapes and cooperating with the gallery's art curator. And the strange events she had left in Amsterdam might as well just be a part of Amsterdam. All those thoughts completely slid off her mind with these bundles of new thoughts coming in the last minutes before her big break.

"This is it!" Raine thought to herself checking in with the arrangements for tomorrow's biggest event of her life. "I feel... so fulfilled and nervous." She whispered, placing a hand on her chest.

"Ms. Lorraine?" A voice behind her greeted. "Yes? Oh Mr. Martinez!" Raine said, turning around excitedly. "I'm more than grateful for this opportunity. This, all this really means alot to me." She expressed shaking hands with the curator.

"It's our pleasure to have you here as well. I've actually been seeing your art around social media and I can say I'm more than thrilled when I heard we'll be working with you." He smiled, looking around the exhibit. "But pardon my frankness, I don't think that one over there fits the theme of Philippine Treasures." Martinez continued, walking towards a small portrait painting at the center.

"I see..." Raine gulped, she was smiling but it was visible in her eyes that she thinks otherwise. "It's a dedication, to the one person who pushed me to my limits and believed in me when everyone didn't, including myself..." Her voice broke out. "Very well then, I know he'll be more than happy when he sees a portrait of himself in the exhibit." He said formally then looked over at Raine again, now holding her tears back.

"I hope so, but he won't come." She smiled, biting her lower lip. "Why?" His voice resounded, making the realization even painful for her to face. "Because he's not here. He can't... I can't even tell him how much I'm grateful for him." She started, reminiscing over the first time she painted the portrait . "But that's all behind now! That portrait is actually my first painting way back since I was 15, so it means alot to me." Raine said, raising her voice, trying to conceal her emotions inside.

"It's incredibly touching. It'll make a great addition to these amazing pieces!" He replied in awe, gesturing his hands to the paintings behind him.

"We can't..." She whispered under her breath coming out of the establishment. "It's just not possible, but to think of it, me being here was another impossible either." Raine thought, looking back at the gallery door. "And anything is possible, right?" She smiled convincing herself . "Nah! Who am I kidding?Myself?" Raine bursted, laughing for a moment.

"Hey! Look who's in a good mood?!" Khalil waved, assisting Lara come out of the car. "Ohhhhh!!! Yesss girl!!!" Lara cheered, hugging Raine. "Gosh! Thanks for coming guys. My car's still at the Casa, but I think I can get it tomorrow before the exhibit." Raine expressed pulling away from the hug. "Don't sweat it." Khalil replied smiling. "Told you, you're going to get there soon! Now you're here!" Lara exclaimed, gesturing her hands up. "So how about we... celebrate?" Khalil smirked.

"I'll pass." She sighed deeply, looking exhausted. "Awww man!" Khalil said disappointedly. "Stop it Khali! Let's drive her home already, so she can rest for her big day tomorrow." Lara insisted, seriousness evident in her voice. "You two! Don't ghost me, I'll be waiting for you." Raine said, getting in the back seat.

The drive to her apartment should've only taken them no longer than thirty minutes if it wasn't during the "rush hour", a time where traffic is at its heaviest. Immediately from all the day's stress, Raine fell asleep right after she took a bath.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Raine sprung up her bed to the sound of her phone's alarm. She reached for her phone from the bedside table, half-awake, one eye still drooping from sleepiness. Immediately, she got up in a scurry reading the time, and seeing 15 missed calls.