Almost in Midway

Prologue

Prologue

Time check, 30 minutes before 10.

I sneeze when a dust came in to my nose.

I then looked at the new delivered boxes where I placed at the corner of this dusty little room. It's been a month since this room didn't had a clean up. I thought to myself wiping a little speck on my apron.

"Per favore, sbrigati li?! " As I heard someone shouted.

I immediately walk towards it. "What taking you so long?"

"Scusa. The boxes were kinda heavy, Signore." I apologize.

"Vedo, now go and help."

"Si."

Inayos ko ang aking sarili bago lumabas para batiin ang bagong dating na customers. Isang taon at kalahating buwan ng makarating ako rito sa Florence, Italy. Almost three months akong nag tra - trabaho dito sa shop at laking pasasalamat ko dahil pang-apat nato sa'king pinasukan. The last three jobs that I had were undeniably terrible for me. I'd experienced cleaning a lobster back, being a maid, bed-making on a inn, and now, a waitress.

Can you imagine having a degree on business and then ended up being like this. Right? Anong silbi ng pinag-aralan ko nang four years, tapos ganito?! But sabi nga nila nong college ako, the degree your choosing wouldn't be the one for your future. And I think their right.

"Vuoi un tovagliolo, aara?" Handing a napkin to a customer.

Back then, I never thought I'll be in another country working. My thoughts back then were just for travelling. Now looking at myself, being ironic. Funny, right? But still it's a privilege for me working on a wealthiest city in Europe. I'm still living one of my dreams, as the city of Florence, known for its artistic community with some amazing artist.

Oh, to be one of them. It's my dream since.

I smiled bitterly.

Kung hindi sana ako tanga. Hindi sana ganito ang buhay ko ngayon.

It's nearly 9 at night when my shift was over. Now I'm heading back to my rent house taking a 6 minutes walk from the railway station.

Habang nag-lalakad may nakita akong pavillion malapit sa seaside kaya't kinuha ko ang sketch pad sa'king bag. It was a small sketch pad with a small mechanical pen on side. Dadala ko ito palagi simula nang makarating ako dito sa Florence. Umupo muna ako sa bench tapat lang ng pavillion. Tinignan ko ang oras malayo pa bago mag alas dies. Napag desisyonan ko dito na muna ako.

The moon's beam was so bright that it reflects a light from the pavillion. It was a sightseeing view and together with the breeze coming from the sea. It was beautiful. Gusto ko na lang dito matulog.

For me, it's been an therapeutic moment when I do sketching or do drawing. It relieves me from everything. It makes me free to wander my thoughts when i started to draw some lines. Lahat ng frustrations at pagod ko binubuhos ko sa pag dra-draw. Kaya nga lang pagod din yong kamay mo after pero atleast may nagawa ka na matatawag na iyo galing. 'Di ba? O baka sa aking lang.

Maya't-maya pay bigla na lang tumunog ang aking cellphone.

I stopped myself from sketching.

Kinuha ko ito at kumunot ang aking noo nang makitang sunod-sunod ang pop up ng mga messages. Ano na naman kaya 'to?

Grade 10 - Pilot❤️ Batch 2015-2016

Good day, this your adviser in Grade 10 pilot. I would like to make an announcement since this upcoming May. We're helding your first ever Grand Réunion. Batch 2015-2016. Hoping on everyone to join especially this batch.
- Ma'am Balris