"It is very important to look at the bright side and how can you show the beauty even in the most simplest stroke of a black paint. Everything has a meaning, ikaw na nakikinig you also have it."
Her hands is shaking. She was so nervous and hearing the loud applause on her, that gave her chills. She's so overwhelmed with everyone recognizing her, loving her works and inspires them. Never in her life she imagined all of this. After 3 years of being anonymous, pinangalanan na siya. They joked her and called her ANAnymous. She loved it.
From now on she will stop thinking she's dreaming lalong lalo na ngayon na nagsisimula ng mamanhid ang paa niya, labi niya na pagod na sa pagngiti but don't get her wrong ilang oras narin siyang walang tigil sa pakikipag-usap sa mga bisita, artists, everyone. Yes, nakakapagod but everything is worth it. This is her ultimate dream.
"I'm really excited for your future works, alam kong matagal pa but I'm really looking forward for the exhibit. You already know where my eyes gonna go..." She's hearing this repeatedly and she will never get tired hearing it.
"Thank you so much!"
Everyone greeted her, that gallery she works for and where she sell her masterpiece felt the victory. She's their lucky charm.
Everything has a meaning, this ecstatic night, smiles on everyone's face, the victory.
She's happy leading the road watching the dark sky. She's searching for a stars but only the moon is present. Sabi nila 'pag wala ka daw makitang bituin sa langit, uulan daw.
She once told someone about the myth and asked, "Sino ba talaga may pasimuno ng ulan, yung langit o yung buwan?" Tinanong niya 'to but that question made her look like a total weird. That someone became two, three, four but no one gave her a serious answer. They just laughed at her and left her with a word "WEIRDO!". It's funny that sometimes this is her way para wala ng kumausap sa kanya, her way para malaman niya kung sino talaga willing magsayang ng oras kasama siya. It's very effective.
She doesn't hurt by it. She accepted it because it's true.
That question never erase on her mind and actually she has personal answer to it. And to be clear, astronomically her answer is wrong. Come on! She's weird diba.
She always think, MOON is HER, SHE'S THE MOON, when it's the only one present in the sky. It's way too long to understand but her story explains it.
"Ma'am andito na po tayo." She thanked Manong Lito and went inside their house.
Felt odd, sobrang tahimik. Wala siyang makita kahit isang kasambahay sa paligid. She search for them everywhere until she reach the pool area.
Lights turned on, everyone is here. Napakaraming tao, there's catering and backdrop with her name "WELCOME HOME AND CONGRATS ANNA!" She's surprised.
Her Mom hugged her.
"Sabi niyo may operation kayo?..." Surprised to see her mother.
"I'm sorry darling I lied. I am so proud of you!" She brushed a kiss on her cheeks.
"Ma sabi ko naman sa inyo, hindi niyo na kailangan..."
"Why not? and besides hindi naman ako napagod i-manage to kasi tumulong ang kapatid mo."
"Zach?" She's more surprised knowing this.
"Sino pa ba, come on greet everyone enjoy your party!"
Its a double party for her and she's really tired. Katulad ng kanina, sinimula niya muling makisalamuha sa lahat ng bisita. Her mom's friends, their very few relatives and Zach....And then she caught him looking at her.
"Okay kalang ba talaga, bakit sobrang lalim naman niyan. Come on! Spill it."
"I'm just tired." Zach's sip his wine. He's known to be very good at talking, negotiating, in terms of interacting with other people but the truth is he hates it, ayaw niya ng maraming tao, he's not rude but reunion is not his favorite. For him it is just simply bragging about status of living.
"Don't tell me that you're in it." His friend, Leo watched Anna who's happy chatting with his Mom's friends, relatives, staffs and mates. Zach sighed.
"Are you really gonna do it? kasi kung hindi mo kaya, I am very much willing." Said Leo with his playful smile.
"but kidding aside, it was just a crazy suggestion from Kat. Waste of time for sure and if you gone out of luck your Mom might be disappointed. Alam kong ayaw mong mangyari yun." He became serious.
"I just have this feeling that there's really wrong about her. It's like she was hypnotized by this girl. True Anna was gone, accepted it and moved on. I can't understand why would she replaced her by some stranger na hindi ko alam kung san nila napulot.
Yung gulat ko nung gabing sabihin sakin ni Mom na may kapatid ako ulit hindi parin nawawala. She was in America for a long time and this year ko lang nalaman ang existence niya..."
"Bakit hindi mo kinausap si Tita about that?" Tinungga nito ang natitira pa nyang wine sa kanyang baso and recalled.
"I saw her pain and how devastated she was when Anna left, she suffered bigtime! She was so protective and that became a problem. You're the only one who knew our history bro."He watch his Mom...
"When that girl came, mom became lively. Lahat bumalik sa dati seems no tragedy happened. I know she's weak kaya napakadali niyang mapaniwala sa mga bagay na makakapagdivert ng lungkot niya. She's a doctor but she can't treat herself." Leo saw Anna making her way through them, he then once again warned Zach of what possible he's gonna do.
Leo shook his head when Zach stood up and flashes his smile. From that, Leo knew he's in with his crazy plan.
"This is Leo." Zach formally introduced Leo. Anna felt so happy.
"Salamat sa pagpunta." Offered to shake hands. Eyes talked. Leo excused himself and joined their other friends.
"Are you enjoying?" Anna still overwhelmed how Zach is treating her now. He often smile.
"You don't have to do this but I have to thank you..." Zach doesn't know what is she thanking.
"Mom told me na tinulungan mo siya para i-organized itong surpise welcome party for me. I'm sorry for causing you a lot of works, pero sinabi ko naman sa kanila na hindi naman na kailangan, but sill...." Because Mom asked me to. I had no choice. Zach faked his smile again.
"No worries, everything's good. You just have to enjoy yourself." She smiled back.
"Thank you."
This is definitely her very long night but happiest. Grateful sa mga nangyayari at sa lahat ng mga mabubuting taong nakapaligid sa kanya but still sa dami ng kanyang napagdaan at kung gaano siya kadunong sa buhay meron at meron parin siyang nasasablayan.
BINABASA MO ANG
ANNA (R18+)
Mystery / Thriller"Some secrets refuse to stay buried." Anna, who is residing in the US, was finally convinced by her art agency to fly back to the Philippines to receive the proper recognition and a bigger opportunity as an artist. This was also the best way to prov...
