“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Marupok International Airport. Local time is 9:15 a.m. and the temperature is 33 degrees celsius.
For your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your seat belt fastened until the Captain turns off the Fasten Seat Belt sign. This will indicate that we have parked at the gate and that it is safe for you to move about.
Please check around your seat for any personal belongings you may have brought on board with you and please use caution when opening the overhead bins, as heavy articles may have shifted around during the flight.
If you require deplaning assistance, please remain in your seat until all other passengers have deplaned. One of our crew members will then be pleased to assist you.
On behalf of Fly All the Time Airlines and the entire crew, I’d like to thank you for joining us on this trip and we are looking forward to seeing you on board again in the near future. Have a nice day!”
Umupo ako nang maayos nang marinig ang final announcement ng flight attendant. Finally, nasa Pinas na ako ulit.
I can’t wait to see Dove.
Ako ang isa sa mga na-unang bumaba ng eroplano at daig ko pa ang natatae dahil sa pagmamadali ko.
Hindi muna ako uuwi sa Laguna kasi wala naman daw doon si Dove. Sabi ni Kara, nasa art gallery niya raw sa BGC.
Tuwang-tuwa ako nang mabalitaan ko kay Kara na may sarili nang art gallery si Dove. Pangarap niya kasi ‘yun, e. Dati kasi, since wala pa siyang art gallery, sa museums muna siya unang nagtrabaho after her graduation. At least daw doon, puro paintings and other forms of art. I told her that I am willing to fund her own art gallery but she refused. She then told me that she wants to achieve her dreams because she worked hard for it.
After almost four years of dreaming of achieving her own art gallery, finally, she’s now owning one. I am beyond happy for her.
I rented a taxi and told the driver the address of the art gallery. Sa BGC nga raw iyon.
“Grabe, Kuya, ang init pa rin dito sa Pinas.” Pinaypayan ko ang sarili ko habang tinatapat sa akin ang aircon ng taxi.
“Sadya ho, Sir. Lalo pa nga hong umiinit,” sagot ng driver sa akin.
“E, yung pangulo natin? Si Dugong pa rin ba yung pangulo? Tagal ko na kasing hindi umuuwi rito at wala rin akong balita.”
“Oho, Sir. Si Dugong pa rin po.” Tumatangong sagot ni Kuya Driver.
“Kaya siguro lalong umiinit sa Pilipinas kasi nakaka-init talaga ng ulo yung presidente.”
Hindi naman ako nagbibiro pero tinawanan ako ni Kuya Driver. Luh. Nagkibit balikat na lang ako at hinayaan na si Kuya.
Isang oras ang naging byahe at nakarating na kami sa art gallery.
“Bayad po, Kuya. Inyo na ho yung sukli, pang tanghalian niyo po.” Sabay abot ko ng bayad kay Kuya Driver.
“Sir, malaki ho yung sobra. Kasya pa po hanggang panghapunan namin ng pamilya ko.”
“Ibili niyo rin po sila. Pasalubungan niyo po pag-uwi niyo.” Ngumiti ako kay Kuya Driver.
“Naku, Sir, maraming salamat po.” Nakangiting sagot ni Kuya.
“Walang anuman po, una na po ako. Ingat po kayo.” Paalam ko sa driver bago tuluyang lumabas ng taxi.
Pagkababa ko ay nasa tapat na agad ako ng building kung saan nakarent ang art gallery ni Dove.
I smiled upon seeing Dove’s art gallery.
Dove’s Haven, it said on the sign. Bagay na bagay sa pangalan niya. At ang pagpipinta naman talaga ang haven niya simula pa noon. Ang galing.
Isang maliit na bag lang ang dala ko dahil hindi ko naman planong magtagal ng stay dito. Babalik din ako agad sa America.
I went home just to make sure that my wife is doing good, and hopefully, moving on with her life.
I fixed my hair a bit and checked my face on the mirror. Salamin kasi ang ding-ding ng art gallery kaya nakikita ko ang sarili ko mula sa labas.
Nang ma-satisfy ako sa itsura ko at nasiguro kong gwapo ako, tsaka ako naglakas ng loob na pumasok sa loob.
I opened the sliding door and slowly walked inside.
Maraming tao sa loob. Tama sila, sikat na nga talaga si Dove. Lalo akong natutuwa.
Nothing is more fulfilling than people recognizing you and your works because that's where you're good at. I am so proud of my wife.
Malaki ang art gallery, nasasakop nito ang buong first floor ng building. All white paint ang walls tapos wooden ang interior at ang mga furniture. May ilang mga halaman din kaya sobrang refreshing sa paningin.
The whole place is so light and fresh. Talagang matutuwa kang mag-stay bukod sa naggagandahang art works na nakasabit sa mga ding-ding.
I noticed that Dove loves making contemporary art works. Ang kadalasang subject niya ay babae. Maybe up until now, she’s still an advocate of women empowerment.
I looked around the sea of people and even amidst all of the other fishes around, my eyes still darted at my dove.
My Dove, looking so stunning in her highwaisted jeans and white longsleeves polo, is talking to her audiences while presenting an art work.
Her then short hair grew longer. Her hair reaches above her waist now. Bagay din sa kanya ang mahabang buhok. Maganda pa rin. At lalo pa yatang gumaganda.
Her skin got fairer and she got taller, too. Or maybe it’s because of her high heels? I don’t know. I’m not really sure.
I started walking so I can get a chance to see her clearer. Dahan-dahan pa akong lumakad hanggang sa napahinto ako dahil nakita ko nang maayos ang kanyang art work.
She’s presenting an art work, with a soldier as her subject. Nakatindig ang sundalo at may hawak itong baril sa kaliwang kamay, habang ang hawak naman sa kanan ay isang kulay puting kalapati. Nakapwesto iyon sa tapat mismo ng puso nung sundalo.
Ang ganda ng pagkakapinta. Pulidong pulido. Tugma ang bawat kulay. Kaya siguro pinepresent niya ito sa mga audience niya, dahil maraming interesado rito.
Napatitig ako sa mukha nung sundalo at kahit ayaw ko man na maging assuming, mag-a-assume na ako.
Kamukha ko yung sundalo sa painting.
Lalapit na sana ako nang tuluyan sa kanya para maka-usap ko siya pero naudlot ulit dahil may nagsalita.
“Ms. Dove? Do you personally know the soldier in your painting?” isang dalaga ang nagtanong.
Dove smiled sweetly at the girl before slowly nodding her head.
“Yes. I know him.”
Kita ang gulat sa mga mukha ng audiences. Some even gasped.
“Talaga po? Wow! Ang swerte niyo po! Ang gwapo po nung sundalo sa painting niyo, ih!” masayang sambit nung dalaga.
Dove chuckled a bit before answering.
“Oo, tama ka. Maswerte nga ako.” Ngumiti ulit si Dove nang matamis.
“Kasi asawa ko yung nasa painting,” dagdag niyang halos magpahimatay sa akin.
BINABASA MO ANG
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