I looked out the car window while it was raining outside. Ang laki ng pinagbago, tila may humahaplos sa puso ko habang pinagmamasdan ang mga dumadaang sasakyan.
Suddenly my cell phone rang so I immediately answered it.
"Julia, ano na? Nasaan kana?!"
"Malapit na ako, kalmahan mo." Napairap ako, masyadong atat itong si Pevy. Hindi naman agad mag-uumpisa ang event, hello! filipino time.
"Fine, marami nang tao rito ikaw nalang ang wala!" Filipino time, I'm always late.
Natawa ako sa sarili bago babaan ng tawag si Pev. Paniguradong nag-aalboroto na naman 'yon sa iritasyon.
Pagbaba ko ng kotse ay dumaretso ako likod ng Avenue para may time pa ako na mag-prepare. First time kong gagawin ito sa talang buhay ko. First time akong haharap sa maraming tao.
Paglabas ko ng cr agad kong nasalubong si Pev na salubong ang kilay at may hawak na mic.
"Bruha ka! Hindi ka na nagbago, palagi kang late!"
Napakamot ako sa aking ulo. "Pasensya na, okay? Traffic kaya!"
"Oh siya, itong mic mo!" Inabot niya ang mic sabay tapik sa balikat ko. "Huwag kang kakabahan ha? This is the first time you will face people as a famous artist! You won many times in other countries so now, it's your turn to win in your own country...because it's your dream. " I smiled and hugged her tightly.
"Gosh...I missed you, Pevy!" It's been a year since we last met personally, she was the outlet for my anger even though we were enemies before.
"Goodluck!" She said last before I walked out towards the stage. Tila nalula ako sa dami ng mga tao at halos mapuno ang pasilidad.
"Our famous artist who just returned from London is here!" I smiled awkwardly. Naupo ako sa sofa na nakahanda para sa akin. Nagsigawan ang mga tao at tinatawag rin ako.
"Thank you for allowing us to be with you today at the art exhibit event with our other artists, so how are you Ms. Fleur?"
"I'm...fine, it's been so long since my last visit to the Philippines."
"Yes! I heard—five or six years kang nawala?"
I smiled again. "Six"
"And you look so beautiful, sobra akong na-star-struck sayo, iba talaga ang alagang London." I chuckled to him. Medyo kumalma ang katawan ko at nawala ang kaba.
Marami siyang itinanong about my life as an artist na unang sumikat sa London.
"It was so unexpected that I was recognized there, it was not my plan to participate in art exhibits but someone pushed me to include my works then—boom! I was surprised by what happened next." I proudly answered.
"Wow...I wish everyone could show their skills too, anyway are you inspired by your creations? or who made you create a masterpiece?"
"My...family and friends, specially I was inspired by every new tomorrow that came because I was alive."
Ang hirap naring alalahanin ng lahat. Ang dami kong inspirasyon noon at parang sa isang pitik ay naglaho ang lahat. Sumuko ako, pero bumangon rin.
