frockstar

“I don’t wanna go back working in the cubicle and contribute to someone else’s vision.”

Jillian Lewis
Designer/Illustrator for Ralph Lauren
Project Runway 4 Finalist

John and I haven’t seen each other for a month. I dropped by the school, brought food and we spent the rest of the afternoon just catching up. I was surprised to see him so tanned — “Nice, I love it…I see we’re going for the refugee look.” He me gave a sharp eye and condemned me to go hell. His slightly toasted sun burnt complexion was a result of his first surfing lessons in La Union. He wants me to tag along next time. I was kinda apprehensive because my ex was a surfer and he frequents that area and this was the ex I avoid like a plague that once I had to hide below a bookshelf in a bookstore. He said I need not worry because the waves around this season is perfect for beginners. Right. It was the same thing he told me when we played badminton in Meralco Ave., that people who played there were non-professionals. Non-professionals meaning they were just training to be one.

John was an oracle and he told me - “You looked stressed , and I mean not physically — you’re emotionally stressed”. Told him not to worry as June is almost near. Both of us were busy struggling with our own life complications for the past couple of weeks . His visit to La Union turned out be great and me visiting him gave me a little boost that I needed that day.

John’s aura and life perspectives have been so different these days. He was so just damn positive. The sun, sand, sea and surf had this overwhelming effect on him. We chatted about business, about how everyone starts small and how he made the right decision to stay here in Manila instead of working overseas. We talked about visiting places this year, going back to La Union, hopefully French-Embassy-willing Paris and if Paris doesn’t work out, Australia.

This is the big difference when your talking to single or gay friends versus married friends. Married friends talk about life insurance, educational plans and brands of diapers. When I talk to my single or gay friends, it’s always about traveling, investments, shopping and other random fabulousness.

I also met Jen, one of John’s students. Jen has a small business making customized denim jeans. About a year ago she was also in the same predicament as I am. She just knew in her heart that she was ready to go establish her own business and staying in a confined cubicle was driving her mad each day. She quit her sales job at a top telecoms company and decided to go full time in her business endeavors. It was the one of the best decisions she made in her life. She still encounters business problems every now and then but that’s part of this whole new ball game. Talking to Jen and comparing parallel notes as designers, as business women and quitting a secure job to pursue a calling, was more than enough encouragement and validation that I know I am doing the right thing.