Epilogue
It was the day of my exhibit and my birthday. Everyone's too busy setting everything in place while ako naman, kinakabahan. This is my third time to have an exhibit and I don't mind giving out lessons or demos but there's just something today that is making me nervous.
"Dude, you should get ready. The gates will be open in an hour and you have to give your speech." paalala ni Gino. "Plus, I have to take a few videos of you."
"What for?"
"Para mapost sa fb and to advertise your craft dude. Malay mo magviral ka." aniya.
"Fine. Sige na punta muna ako sa kotse. I'll just get something." tumango siya saka na ako tinapik sa likod.
I went outside but didn't really go to my car. Wala naman akong kukunin. I just want to breathe and relax before the event starts. I lit up a cigarette and started smoking.
"Dude, tama na yosi. Tara na sa loob." anyaya nina RJ at Pol. Tumango na ako and put my cigarette off saka na sumunod sa kanila.
"You ready?" tanong ni Cal. Tumango ako and went to the front kung saan naghihintay ang mga guests.
"Good morning. First of all, I would just like to thank everyone for coming today. It means a lot to me that you are all here to see all the artworks that I have done for the past years. And also, to see the art of our featured artist Mr. Nikolaj Islanov. He was actually the guy who taught me how to creat sand arts and art using pyrotechnic. Thank you everyone. You have all made my birthday a special one. I do hope you enjoy your tour around the exhibit and for the kids who are interested to learn about basic art techniques, we have our ates and kuyas from the UP College of Fine Arts to teach you everything you want to learn about art. Thank you and enjoy." I finished off and they all gave me a round of applause. Cal handed me the scissors and I cut the ribbon away to officially open the venue.
Buong araw ay abala ako as I talked to some interested and important people. I toured them around the area as I explained each painting they see.
"Mr. Magalona, what was your inspiration for this particular painting?" tanong ni Mrs. Hizon. I looked at the painting she was pertaining to and smiled sadly. It was mom. Yung first painting ko sa kanya in college, inulit ko siya for this exhibit.
"This? This is actually a painting I did when I was in college. It was a requirement to paint someone who inspires us to wake up everyday and honestly at first, I never really thought of any reason. I just did this to get a good grade. But as I started the painting years back, I started thinking that she really does inspire me to wake up and greet each day as if there was nothing to worry about. My mom made me strong. She inspired me to be fearless and to just smile despite the circumstances. So out of all the paintings here, this one will always be my favorite."
"That's very nice, Mr. Magalona."
After we went through every painting in the exhibit ay hinayaan ko na sila to enjoy their visit. Ako naman ay lumabas muna to breathe some fresh air. I was about to light a cigarette when someone spoke.
"You told me you'll stop smoking." aniya. Paglingon ko ay nakita ko si Sally. Napangiti ako saka tinapon ang yosi at lumapit sa kanya to hug her.
"Kanina ka pa hinihintay. Late ka!" sabi ko. Natawa lang siya saka pinakita ang cake na dala.
"Well, nagpagawa pa kasi ako ng cake mo. Nagrequest ka kasi diba?" natawa ako saka siya inakbayan at pumasok na kami sa loob.
"Nakakapangsisi tuloy na tinigil ko panliligaw ko sayo."
"Sira! Bakit ka naman magsisisi eh may pamilya ka na. Nako Elmo tigilan mo ko." sabi niya.
"Sally!" bati nina Maqui at Maine sabay beso sa kanya.
"Yan na ba yung cake? Amin na ilalagay ko muna sa likod." an Maqui saka kinuha ang cake.
"Uy akala ko kasama mo?" tanong naman ni Maine.
"Yeah. Naghanap lang ng parking." sagot naman niya.
"Si Marlo andito?" tanong ko. Sakto ay narinig ko na ang boses nito na tinatawag ako.
"Elmo my man!" ani Marlo. Lumingon ako sa kanya at napatakbo saka nagpakarga. Marlo is Sally's boyfriend. They met last year sa isang teacher's conference and since then ay di na mapaghiwalay. And Marlo and I have been close since Sally introduced him to me. Ako nga din ang tumulong sa kanya na mapaamo ang papa ni Sally.
"Dude namiss kita!!!" sabi ko. Tawa naman siya nang tawa habang yakap ako.
"Gago ang bigat mo!" aniya. Natawa na din ako saka bumaba sa pagkakarga sa kanya. "Ano? Ayos ba tong exhibit mo? Sabi sayo dapat ginawa mo kong model eh. Papatok to!"
"Dude wag." sabi ko. Naghagalpakan lang kaming dalawa sa pagtawa. "Hoy mag-enjoy lang kayo diyan ha. May food tsaka drinks diyan. Basta alam niyo na ni Sally yan. Malalaki na kayo."
"Oo na. Sige na. Mamaya na lang dude ha? Congrats sa exhibit!"
"Salamat pare." sabi ko saka na siya tinapik sa likod.
Tapos na ang event and halos lahat ng guests ay umuwi na. Ang natira na lang ay ang buong barkada to clear up the place.
"Uy bukas ha?" paalala ni Cal sa lahat.
"Oo. 2nd day natin tomorrow. Kailangan magready. Mukhang madaming aattend na maglelessons eh." sabi naman ni Gino.
"Uy, dude uwi na kami." paalam ni RJ.
"Sige ingat kayo ha?" sabi ko sa kanila. Bumeso na ko kay Maine at nagfist bump naman kami ni RJ. Sunod na nagpaalam sina Sally at Marlo, sunod si Pol, tapos si Cal. Gino's still putting away his camera equipments while Maq waits for him. Lumapit ako kay Maqui at agad siyang tumingin at ngumiti. "Maq..."
"Hm?"
"Di ba sila dadating?" tanong ko.
"They're still in Cebu, Moe. I think di na sila makakaabot." sabi niya. Napasinghap na lang ako saka na lang tumango. "Ano? Di ka pa sasabay samen umuwi?"
"Maya na siguro ako. May aayusin pa ko eh." sabi ko. Tumango siya and kissed me on the cheek. Ginulo naman ni Gino ang buhok ko saka na sila umalis na dalawa.
Naiwan na kong mag-isa sa exhibit. Ang tanging naiiwan na lang na ilaw ay ang mga ilaw na nakatutok sa paintings ko. I stared at everything and couldn't help but be emotional. Andito lahat ng pinaghirapan ko. Dugo't pawis ko.
"Sana lang andito kayo to celebrate this day with me..." sabi ko.
"Pwede ba naman naming palagpasin yun?" nagulat ako when I heard a familiar voice. Paglingon ko ay nakita ko silang nakatayo, cake in hand and smiles on their faces.
"Happy Birthday, daddy." my Gabe finally said. Tuluyan na kong umiyak and the two of them approached me and hugged me.
"I love you guys so much." sabi ko.
"We love you too, Moe. We always will." Julie said.
