PABLO
Nandito kami sa office ng 1Z. Justin's presenting the shortlisted applicants for the audio-visual editor position. We're still a small team — kakasimula pa lang ng 1Z, and everything we do now is foundational. Kaya bawat decision, kahit maliit, pinagtutulungan namin. I like it that way. I'd rather work with a small group of people who are talented and passionate, than lead a big team with no direction.
"I like this one... and that one too... oh, and this one!" sabay turo ni Stell, obviously just trying to mess with Justin.
"Isa lang ang kailangan natin, Stell. Isa!" Justin snapped, half-seriousna halatang napipikon na. Sa totoo lang, kahit ilang taon na kami magkakasama, bunso pa rin ang asta ni Jah. Totoo naman, siya talaga ang pinakabata sa amin. At kami ang mga kuyang mapang asar.
Josh threw an arm around Justin's shoulder habang si Ken, walang pakialam, humilata sa sofa kakatawa.
"Inaasar mo na naman si baby Jah, no?" pang-aasar ni Josh, kaya tinuluyan siya ni Justin — siniko niya sa tagiliran.
"Lumayo ka nga sakin!" Tulak ni Justin kay Josh na gusto syang halikan sa pisngi.
This group... wala talagang matinong usapan pag sabay-sabay. Pamilya nga, pero riot din minsan.
"Ikaw na nga pumili, Pablo," Justin grumbled at me, mukhang napikon na.
"Hindi ba ikaw ang Creative Director? This is your call," sagot ko, diretso.
"Come on! CEO ka naman, diba? One look lang, pili ka na," sabay sigaw niya.
Ken laughed, sinabayan ng palo sa likod ni Justin. "Naiinis na si bossing Pablo o."
"Sus, ikaw din Ken, gusto mo ikaw yung pumili dito?" sabay ngisi ni Justin.
"Ako? Anong kinalaman ko? Leader natin si Pablo, siya na 'yan!" sabay lapit ni Ken kay Stell.
"Oo nga naman, Pau! Ikaw na pumili para may ambag ka rin, 'noh," dagdag ni Stell habang inaayos yung laptop screen sa harap ko.
Tinawag pa akong leader pero utusan pala ako sa huli.
"Wow ha. Ako pa talaga 'yung inutusang pumili. Nice teamwork talaga kayo," I said dryly, pero tinanggap ko na rin. I took the mouse and started browsing through the sample images and edits.
While the other four continued messing around, something on the screen caught my eye — a still image. Used paintbrushes, messy and raw. The background was in monochrome — a woman staring at a blank white canvas. Empty. Broken pieces scattered around. But only the paintbrushes were in color.
"This one," I said quietly, but firmly.
Tahimik bigla. They all turned to me.
Justin leaned in beside me. Tumango siya. "Same. That one caught my attention, too. Look, may explanation pa sa baba," sabay turo niya.
The rest of the guys came closer, reading the caption with me:
> "Life is like an empty canvas; it depends on us how we draw and color our lives. Sometimes, we're excited to make strokes from different areas but then we regret how we've done it. Wishing it was better, wishing we had done better. Then comes regret and longing. But through all of this, we tend to capture what looks beautiful to us, then we hide those things that are broken in us, shattered, and painful. We focus on the colors that the paintbrushes can add, but forget that those pains, struggles, brokenness, and shattered dreams are what make our life meaningful. Don't hide it, but instead, carry it with you—because that's what has strengthened you.
> – Color Me, Love."
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