Chapter 1
Present Time
6:00 in the evening I was roaming around the City of Paris and exploring the view because my shift in a 24 hour restaurant is over. I am a sous-chef at Hotel Le Meurice in Paris, France.
I am staying in a small apartment called 25 Place Dauphine. It is expensive but somehow i can afford to stay here since I'm working in a Five-Star Hotel. I usually work to death to earn enough money and this is what I love to do.
After walking around to my content, I decided to come home to take some rest. These past few days were so exhausted and this would be the perfect time to relax. I would be taking my day-off for a week.
I took a cab, and it was a 12 minutes ride from my work place to my apartment.
''merci beaucoup, monsieur''
I checked my mailbox if there's a new letter, I saw an elegant enveloped that has my name engraved perfectly, I picked it up and suddenly my phone rang,
*rrrrringggg rrrrrrrrriiiiing rrrriiiing*
Lindsay's calling. It was my cousin who's also living here.
"What is it Lindsay?"
"Alexandriiiiiite! Natanggap mo ba yung Invitation sa isang Painting exhibit?''
''Ah yes may natanggap ako pero hindi ko pa siya natitignan. I just got home from work.'' I headed to the door to unlock my apartment and toss my things at the couch.
''check it out and tell me if you are free that day so that we can go together'' I heard screaming and loud music at her back ground, I guess my cousin (is having a wild loud night at the bar alone-again) is at the bar again enjoying the company of herself.
''wait? Are you at the bar again? Don't dare to lie because obviously you are... Let me open this letter first''
***opens letter***
The Louvre Museum
We're inviting you for the Annual Painting Exhibit on Wednesday, October 5, 2016 at 6'oclock in the evening.
75001 Paris, France
"Cousy what? Have you read the letter already?, yes I'm at Le Bonnie and Clyde, wanna come and have some chills?"
"Thanks for the invite Linds but I'll pass this time, I have to go to work early tomorrow. For the exhibit, I don't think I can make it, I have to attend a meeting with some clients that day."
''Aw okay Alexandrite, don't pressure yourself at work you should enjoy and relax sometimes. I heard that the main exhibit in that event is made by a Filipino painter. I bet you'll like it so please try to come. I saw some of his paintings and I must say it's the best"
"I'll try to clear my schedule that day and I'll tell you as soon as possible."
"Ok call you before the event. Love you!"
"Yeah sure, see you."
I ended the call and took a quick shower so I could sleep early because tomorrow is a new busy day for me.
**Day of the Exhibit**
This is the day of the said Event, and here I am currently choosing what to wear. Yes, I was able to clear my schedule for this day and I remembered that I haven't told my cousin about me being able to attend the exhibit.
Kinuha ko yung phone ko sa desk table ko and dialled my cousins number.
**PICKS UP**
''Morning have you made up your mind?''
''Yes since I was able to clear my schedule for today, I'm going to the exhibit''
''Yay! Finally! So see you!''
''Alright. See you''
**hangs up**
I started getting ready. I have picked my outfit and put a little bit of colour to my face for me not to look pale. I grabbed my phone and some things I needed and put it in my pouch. I look at the mirror one last time to see if I look presentable enough.
- - - - -
**Louvre Museum**
I got off the cab and I was stunned to see the place so elegant. So much guests, reporters and cameraman are scattered around to witness the said event. I bet the painter of this exhibit is really well-known and the best painter in the industry for him to be acknowledge like this.
As I walk to the entrance and let the guards see the invitation I got, they greeted me in French and let me enter the place. While I was scanning the whole place, I saw my cousin talking to some bachelor businessmen. She turn around and saw me, she waved her hand so that I can notice and I didn't think twice to walk towards her.
"Alexandrite, rencontrez Monsieur Ivan Del Rio. Il est un chef célèbre dans le pays." (Meet Mr. Ivan Del Rio, He is a famous chef in the country.)
"Il me fait plaisir de vous rencontrer Monsieur. Je suis Alexandrite Randall." (I am pleased to meet you Mr. I am Alexandrite Randall)
"It is my pleasure to meet a gorgeous woman here in this exhibit. I guess my decision to come here is right."
I fake a smile at Mr. Del Rio. The way he compliments me ay para bang sanay na sanay nang manguto ng mga babae. I excused myself, of course in a good way for Mr. del rio not to get offended.
Nagsimula na akong maglibot libot at mag-tingin tingin ng mga ibat ibang paintings. The rumours were true, he is a talented painter. His paintings amazed me because it seems like it has full of stories behind them. It gives detailed pictures of what I think happened to the painter himself. Did he suffer from his past experiences before?
People started arriving in groups and the main event will soon start minutes from now. I patiently wait for the main event to start.
''Bonsoir à vous tous Mademoiselle et Monsieur, Bienvenue à l'exposition annuelle de peinture par Monsieur C." (Good Evening to all of you ladies and gentlemen, Welcome to the annual painting exhibition by Mr. C)
The event is about to begin, all the people's attention is on the Man in the stage who I think is the MC for this night.
"Here behind me, as you can see are the paintings that represents different feelings of the painter." As I looked at the paintings, flashbacks had flooded my mind, different scenarios, different places, same person that I remember the most.
