Ghost in the Present

Epilogue

"Your next schedule will be tomorrow morning at 9, it's an interview with someone from the Philippines." My secretary informed me after our last meeting with a client.

"Alright." I gave her a smile before stretching my arms dahil napagod ako sa magkakasunod namin na meetings.

"Your schedule is really full-packed, Ma'am. Marami pang ibang artists na humahabol, pero mukhang next week mo pa sila mamimeet. Okay pa naman, makakahabol pa naman before the Met Gala."

Isinandal ko ang ulo ko sa upuan at bumuntong-hininga.

This is my new world and reality now.

Hectic schedules. Never-ending saga of creating designs.

But I am not complaining because it is my dream. Matagal ko na itong pangarap kung kaya't no'ng lumapit sa akin ang mga oportunidad ay hindi ko na 'yon hinayaang makawala pa.

I seized the moment and did my best, which is why I am here right now.

"That's good news, Issa. Let's have dinner somewhere good." I answered and we both chuckled dahil alam na naming hindi lang bastang dinner ang magaganap.

Being stuck in New York City for more than a year has made me embrace nightlife. Dahil na rin siguro sa paminsan-minsang pagkahomesick at pagod sa trabaho, ay kinailangan namin ng diversion o katuwaan para hindi kami malugmok.

Issa is also a Filipino and actually, Ry was the one who recommended her to me no'ng nagsisimula pa lamang ako sa industriya. And now, we're already together for like more than 2 years kung kaya't parang matalik na kaibigan na rin ang turingan namin. Sa katunayan ay para ko na rin siyang pamilya minsan.

I looked at the sky and smiled. It's been almost six years.

Sa loob ng 6 years ay nakauwi na ako ng tatlong beses sa Pilipinas. First was two years after I left, umuwi ako no'ng kinasal ang pinsan ko. The second time was a year after that, umuwi ako para asikasuhin ang ilang importanteng bagay. At pangatlo ay no'ng nakaraang taon, kung saan umuwi ako para magbakasyon.

I sighed. I've never seen him since then.

May communication naman kami kaya hindi ako totally nawawalan ng alam tungkol sa kanya. Pero hindi 'yon madalas, it's like we just message each other whenever there's a special occasion, katulad ng kapag birthday ko o birthday niya.

Ang huli ko ring balita ay sa isang malaking kompanya siya sa Dubai nagtatrabaho bilang engineer. Single pa naman daw noon, pero hindi na ako sure ngayon dahil halos mag-iisang taon na buhat no'ng huling beses na nagkaroon kami ng komunikasyon.

He must be very busy with his career. Pero pareho lang naman kami dahil gano'n din ako.

Years ago, when I was still studying at Paris School of Art, an artist discovered my design and she liked it. She then wore it at an awards show which caught the attention of some people.

I still can't believe whenever I think about it, dahil 'yon ang tila nagbukas ng pinto para sa mga oportunidad. A lot of artists, actors, and even high-profiled people, including some politicians, started contacting me after that event.

It was overwhelming na halos malula na ako sa schedule ko habang hindi pa rin nagsisink-in sa utak ko ang lahat.

After graduating, we moved to New York because of an offer, at doon ko na rin napagdesisyunan na bumase dahil malapit iyon sa mga nauna naming clients.

I was set to go home a year after that. Umuwi nga ako ngunit agad din akong bumalik dahil sa mga opportunities na naghihintay sa akin and also because I remembered his words.