11/23

Hashtag 06

"Guys," sabi na lang niya pagkatapos uminom ng tubig. "Change topic."

"Hmm, bakit?" A knowing smile on July's lips. "Touchy subject ba?"

My gustong malaman si July. Jhing can feel it. She's a writer after all. Writing and reading body language is an expertise of hers.

And nope.

July won't have any answers or confirmation.

Wala naman kasing iko-confirm!

Jhing returned the smile. "Baka kasi nangudngod na 'yung tao sa lupa dahil pinag-uusapan siya."

"Okay lang 'yan! Aalagaan ko naman siya—"

"Ay, buntis ka ate," natatawang sabi ni July at hinawakan ang tiyan ng buntis nilang kasamahan. "Teenager lang ang peg? Isusumbong talaga kita sa asawa mo."

"Nag-appreciate lang ng God's work, eh."

It was a pain that Miko's presence was near her – but a torture that even without him, he still managed to get into Jhing's circle of life.

Paksyet.

The day became slower than usual, inip na inip si Jhing, she wanted to go home already. Tempted siyang buksan ang novella manuscript niya, but too afraid of re-reading it again. The struggle was real.

Her day ended with a thank you from an author that received her 'tip' for the day.

The story is great but the chapter endings were a little stiff. May kulang talaga. Write boom factors sa last part ng chapters. A cliff hanger, o bitin feel. Lagyan ng revelation, a question, or an answer.

Cliffhanger is cruel yet an entertaining way to get your readers think about your story too much, they'll be damned not to read the next chapter ASAP.

This is just a suggestion, you're still free to change or keep whatever you think might work for your own story.

She was hoping, sana ganoon din sa totoong buhay. Wala kasing ka-spice spice ang buhay niya. Sobrang stiff. May kulang.

Sa sumunod na araw, Miko was present.

It was uncomfortable, lalo na't nagtataka siya kung bakit parang pa-bata nang pa-bata ang itsura nito. Was it because of his simple black shirt, khaki shorts and boat shoes get up? Or something else?

But who cares?!

As she walked towards her cubicle, naging interesting ang phone niya – lalo na't nag-text ang Nanay niya. 'Nak, hiya c bunso manghingi. Meron kba dyn konti? Kelngn ng 1k pra sa subj nya. Pacenxa na.'

Pagkaupo sa pwesto, she replied, 'syempre naman, Nay. Papadala ako by break time o mamaya bago umuwi.'

A 'salamat daw sabi ni bunso, kumain ka nang maayos para di magkasakit, ha?' reply was enough for Jhing to smile. Pagkababa ng phone sa mesa, napangiwi siya nang tumama ang daliri sa mainit na mug ng kape.

A hot coffee on her table?

She called July, asked her if it was hers. July laughed at her. "Nasa mesa mo kaya 'yan. Alangan sa akin? Sa'yo yan."

Tumawa si Jhing. "Thank you sa kape."

Tinitigan siya ni July, then nodded unsurely as response.

Habang iniinom ang kape, she received another email from MJ Crux. No Facebook? No problem! May work email naman na kahit may makabasang iba, keri lang!