ZANIYAH’S POINT OF VIEW:
As I bustled around the kitchen, busy preparing for Alex and Athena's visit to my apartment, my phone suddenly rang. I walked over to the table and picked up the phone, noticing that it was an unknown number. Despite that, I answered the call, thinking it could be work-related. "Hello?" I greeted.
"Oh, hello, is this Zaniyah Madrigal?" a voice on the other end inquired, sounding like a man.
"Yes, that's me. Who's this?" I responded.
"Hi, Ms. Zaniyah. This is Jelo from Nexus Painting. We're inviting you to our upcoming exhibit next Saturday, if you're available. Punta ka nalang ka nalang dito."
The mention of an exhibit caught my attention. It was unexpected yet intriguing. Nexus Painting was a well-known gallery, and the idea of attending an art exhibit was quite appealing. Still, I couldn't help but feel a tad surprised by the invitation. "Oh, hi! Thank you for reaching out. An art exhibit sounds wonderful. I'll need to check my schedule, but I appreciate the invitation."
Jelo's voice was friendly as he continued, "Of course, take your time. We would be thrilled to have you there. If you decide to come, just let us know so we can make the necessary arrangements."
"Absolutely, I'll make sure to get back to you soon. Thanks again for considering me," I replied, a mixture of curiosity and excitement growing within me.
As I ended the call, I couldn't help but feel a sense of intrigue about the upcoming event. Attending an art exhibit at Nexus Painting was an unexpected opportunity that piqued my interest. It was a chance to immerse myself in the world of art, perhaps even gaining new perspectives and inspirations that could feed my own creativity. With a smile, I returned to my cooking, the thought of the exhibit adding an extra layer of excitement to the plans for the week ahead.
After a few hours of preparation, Alex and Athena finally arrived at my apartment. I greeted them with a warm smile and a sense of excitement. It had been a while since we had all gotten together like this, and I was looking forward to catching up and sharing some quality time.
"Hey, Zaniyah!" Alex greeted me with a friendly hug as I opened the door. Athena followed suit, and we all exchanged cheerful hellos.
"Welcome, guys! It's so good to see you both," I said, my voice filled with genuine happiness. "Come on in. I've got some food ready, and we can just chill and have a great time."
As we settled into the living room, the atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable. It was as if time hadn't passed since our last hangout, and we fell into conversation effortlessly. We talked about work, personal experiences, and the latest happenings in our lives.
"So, Zaniyah, any updates on that art exhibit you mentioned?" Athena asked with a mischievous grin, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.
I chuckled, realizing that Athena had an uncanny ability to catch even the smallest hints of excitement. "Actually, yes! I got a call from Nexus Painting today. They invited me to an exhibit next Saturday."
Both Alex and Athena leaned in, clearly intrigued. "Wow, that's awesome! An art exhibit sounds like a fun adventure," Alex commented.
"Yeah, it's a bit unexpected, but I'm definitely considering it. It might be a great opportunity to see some amazing artwork and get inspired," I said, my enthusiasm evident in my voice.
As we chatted, we dug into the delicious food I had prepared. The conversation flowed effortlessly, a testament to the strong bond of friendship that connected us. We shared stories, jokes, and even a few nostalgic memories from our college days.
"Remember that time we pulled an all-nighter to finish that project? It felt like we were zombies by the end of it," Athena reminisced, laughter filling the room.
"Oh, how could I forget? We practically survived on caffeine and determination," I replied with a grin.
The afternoon passed in a blur of laughter, good food, and heartfelt conversations. It was these moments that reminded me of the importance of friends who knew you inside out, who supported you no matter what, and who brought joy to your life.
"Oh, by the way, speaking of art exhibits, usap usapan na may pinupuntahan din si Jackson na art exhibition di nga lang sinasabi kong saan, baka nga raw pagkaguluhan siya." ani ni Alex
"Oh, nakita ko ‘yan sa twitter pero, diba sabi mo sa akin Zaniyah na nakita mo siya sa Nexus Painting?" tanong sa akin ni Athena
Napainom naman ako ng tubig at napaiwas ng tingin sakanila. "Really, Zaniyah? Bakit hindi ko alam ‘to ha?" pagtatampo ni Alex
I took a sip of water, my cheeks slightly flushing as I realized that the topic of Jackson had somehow made its way into our conversation. Alex's words brought back memories of the encounter at the art gallery, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension.
"A-ano ka ba Alex, biglaan lang din ‘yon. That time kasi tumawag sa akin si Athena kaya ‘yon nakwento ko na."
"So, may balak ka palang itago sa amin ha?" pagtatampo rin ni Athena
I chuckled, feeling slightly teased by their reactions. "Hindi naman talaga. Hindi ko rin akalain na magiging ganito ka-interesting ang nangyari. And besides, it's not really a big deal."
Alex smirked, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "Come on, Zaniyah, don't hold out on us. You ran into a celebrity at an art gallery. That's definitely worth sharing."