Dandelions in the Wind

31

Maaliwalas ang loob ng board room, nakahawi sa gitna ang kurtina na tumatakip sa bintanang salamin at malayang nakapasok ang sikat ng araw. Makikita sa labas ang nagtataasang gusali, makapal na ulap at ilang pagliparan ng mga ibon sa bughaw na langit.

"Would you like me to close the curtain, Dionne?" malumanay na tanong ni Tracy nang lumapit sa kinauupuan nito. Bahagiyang nasinagan ng araw ang balikat ni Dionne. Umiling na lang siya at ngumiti kay Tracy. "It's fine. Thank you." Nakayukong tugon ni Dionne.

Kasama rin sa board meeting sina Rachel Castro, isa sa curator at si Luis Beltran, ang executive finance ng museum.

Napahawak si Dionne sa noo nang naramdaman ang pagpintig ng kaniyang sentido. Halos kulang ang kaniyang tulog sa dami na gumugulo sa isip, hindi pa nakatulong ang natanggap na text mula kay Marcus. Iniwasan na muna ni Dionne na makipagkita kay Charlotte hangga't magulo pa ang kaniyang isipan. Napasandal sa kinauupuan si Dionne habang naghihintay sa pagdating ni Miranda. May natitira pang limang minuto bago magsimula ang board meeting.

Bumukas ang pinto, pumasok na rin si Miranda at agad siyang umupo sa dulo ng mesa. "Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for gathering for today's board meeting. Let's begin by discussing the upcoming museum party. Dionne, could you please update us on the preparations?" panimulang pahayag ni Miranda.

Agad napatuwid ng upo si Dionne. "Certainly. We've been working diligently on organizing the party to ensure it's a memorable event for all attendees." Marahan inusog ni Dionne ang folder sa dako ni Miranda. "As part of our plans, we're considering introducing a painting exhibit featuring local artists. This would add a unique touch to the event and highlight the rich creativity within our community. Additionally, we're exploring the relevance of street art and its impact on contemporary art culture."

Napatango si Miranda habang tinitingnan ang laman ng folder. "That sounds like a fantastic addition to the party. Have we reached out to any specific street artists or considered including street art in the exhibit?" tanong nito, mataman din pinagmasdan ang isang polaroid picture ng isang art exhibit.

"Yes, we've begun discussions with several notable street artists in our area, such as Antonio Laurel and Leah Dominguez. Their work has played a significant role in shaping modern art movements, and we believe it would bring an edgy and urban flair to the exhibit." Wika ni Dionne, inabot din niya ang pictures ng binanggit na artists.

"Including street art would also broaden our museum's appeal and attract a younger demographic, enhancing our community engagement efforts," pag-sang ayon ni Rachel.

Napatango rin si Luis Beltran sa narinig. "Agreed. Street art adds a dynamic and contemporary element to our event, reflecting the evolving landscape of the art world."

Tumikhim si Miranda at ngumiti. "Very well, let's ensure we showcase a diverse range of artistic expressions, including traditional and street art forms, to provide a comprehensive experience for our guests." Maayos niyang inilapag ang hawak na folder at tiningnan ang iba pang nakalista sa papel. "Before we conclude, I have an important announcement," dagdag na pahayag ni Miranda, napatingin sa kaniya ang mga kasama sa board meeting. "We have a new investor joining the board members, Charlotte Del Pierro. Miss Del Pierro has made a significant investment in the museum and now holds one of the shares, demonstrating her commitment to our institution's success," pagbabalita ni Miranda.

Saglit natigilan si Dionne sa narinig, hindi maiwasan mapakunot ang noo. "Uhm, Miss Del Pierro is one of the big investors?" nagtatakang tanong niya.

Tumango si Miranda. "Yes," walang anumang tugon nito. Saglit muna nag-usap sina Rachel, Luis at si Miranda at nanatili pa rin naguguluhan si Dionne sa nalaman kaya pinili na lang na manahimik habang nakayuko.