What a beautiful day to start a new novel.
"Aeliana, are you going to hang out with us tonight?"
The moment she was about to open her mouth I already knew that she's going to say this.
"No, plano ko na gumawa ng bagong novel ngayon. I already have the idea on how to start it."
She's Adrianna, My older sister. Unlike me, she likes going to parties and stuffs that I do not find interesting at all.
"Fine, magkulong ka buong araw sa kwarto mo."
Then after that, narinig ko na ang malakas na kalabog ng pinto. Why does she have to ask me to go out every time when she already knew na ayaw ko ng mga ganoong bagay?
My phone beeped after I sat down.
New notification
Andrie hernandez: Masyadong cliché 'yong story. Nakakatamad na basahin.
Shiela Mae: Trying hard masyado.
Lorde Vien: It sucks.
I sighed.
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I don't know why do I even bother creating stories kung palaging ganito lang naman ang natatanggap ko. I just don't want to give up my dream. This is the only thing that makes me happy.
Those harsh words were my motivation to make my writing skills better.
I am Aeliana and I don't give up that easily. Wala sa diksyonaryo ko ang salitang 'pagsuko'
It was a rainy morning-
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Noong araw na 'yon ay umuulan-
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Sumasabay sa ihip ng hangin ang paggalaw ng aking buhok-
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Tsk bakit ba ngayon pa ako tinamaan ng writer's block? Lahat ng sinusulat ko parang hindi naman nagbibigay ng sense. Ang tamlay, walang buhay.
Nagugutom na 'ko.
Balak ko sanang tawagin si Adrianna to ask for food. Then suddenly, I remembered na umalis na siya kanina. Lumabas ako sa kwarto ko at bumaba sa kusina pero wala naman akong makitang pwedeng makain.
I decided to go to the convenience store instead.
Napagdesisyunan ko na dito nalang kumain sa loob ng convenience store dahil nagugutom na talaga ako. And after some time, I felt someone sat beside me.
"Mahirap talaga ang magkaroon ng kasintahan ano?"
Confused, I look at the person sitting next to me. She was looking at the glass wall habang umiiling. Sinundan ko ang tinitignan niya at nakita ang lalaki at babaeng mukhang nag-aaway. Pinagtitinginan narin sila ng mga tao sa paligid.
"Kaya ayaw ko magkaroon ng boyfriend, takot ako sa break-up."
Hindi ko tuloy mapigilan ang matawa.
Tinignan ko siya at mukhang hindi siya nakikipagbiruan sa'kin. Sa tantya ko ay nasa 40-50 years old na siya. She's wearing a pj's paired with a hoodie.
"P-pasensya na po."
"Huwag kang mag-alala, hindi naman ako galit. Ganito lang talaga lagi ang mukha ko."
I bit my lip and suppressed my laughter.
"I'm Aeliana po, ikaw po?"
I tried to get rid of the awkwardness between us.
"Marienne Rhain."
Marienne Rhain? It sounds familiar. Parang nabasa ko rin somewhere.
"Sounds familiar?"
I was taken aback. Did she read my mind?
"I'm a writer."
I was aghast when I finally remembered who she is.
"The Lady Bug!" I shouted.
Naagaw ko tuloy ang pansin ng mga taong nasa loob rin ng convenience store.
How can I not be shocked? She's a famous writer in the Philippines. She writes Romantic novels, Mystery novels, Science fiction, and so on. I really admire her writing technique. Kaya niyang magsulat ng iba't-ibang genre ng story at hindi cliché ang mga pangyayari.
"I'm one of the poeple who admire yor works po!" I excitedly said.
"Drop the formalities, I'm not used to those."
"I'm so glad to meet you. Hindi ko inaasahan na sa ganitong lugar pa tayo magkikita."
I can't hide my happiness right now.
"Uhm do you mind if I ask kung bakit niyo nasabi kanina na takot kayo sa break-up?"
Natatakot akong magtanong dahil parang kahit anong oras ay tatayo siya at iiwan ako dahil nakukulitan siya sa'kin. Hindi ko pa naman masabi kung galit ba siya o natutuwa dahil hindi naman nagbabago ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya.
"Can I trust you with my secret?"
She sipped into her coffee after asking me. Mabilis naman akong tumango.
"No'ng high school ako, Halos lahat ng kaklase kong babae may boyfriend."
She took a deep breath then slowly let it out.
"That time, walang nanliligaw sa'kin. No one dares to pursue me because maybe, I'm not pretty enough and I don't pass the standard of those boys."
"Anong ginawa mo?"
Why does it feel so wrong not to address her with 'po'
"I told them I have a boyfriend."
"Pero-"
"Pero wala talaga."
She looks sad.
"I created fake scenarios just to keep up with my classmates. But neither of them is real. The so-called-boyfriend doesn't even exist."
"Nalaman ba nila na gawa-gawa mo lang 'yon?"
"Of course, wala naman sikretong hindi nabubunyag."
"Oh, edi anong nangyari?"
I'm really curious as to what happened next.
"That's for you to find out."
"But I really want to know what happened next."
"Sasabihin ko kapag nagkita tayo ulit."
Frustrated, I crossed my arms.
I looked at the glass wall and stares at the people passing by. Naalala ko tuloy 'yong kwentong sinusulat ko. Kahit wala naman akong naiisip pang umpisa ng storya ko, sinabi ko kay Adrianna na mayroon na para lang makatakas sakanya.
Then I remembered Miss Marianne's story.
Suddenly, a light bulb pops out of nowhere.
"Miss Marianne, Thank you!"
I grabbed her hands aggressively at mukha naman siyang nagulat.
"Thank you sa pagbibigay sa'kin ng idea."
She looks confused.
"Idea?"
Tumango ako at nagmamadaling tumayo. Nakalimutan ko narin na nagugutom ako.
Bago ako tuluyang makalayo ay sinulyapan ko si Miss Marianne at nginitian. She just gave me a thumbs up and started to sip on her coffee again.