As The Moon Fades (Scenery Series #4)

Prologue

DISCLAIMER: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual person, living or dead or actual events is purely coincidental.

Expect typographical, grammatical, informal words, and (-, r/d, dialogue) errors in this story. I will edit those once I finish writing the whole story.

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"I believe in the profession of journalism."

We spoke in unison while raising our right hand, stating the Journalist's Creed.

I looked at every journalists na magco-compete for National Schools Press Conference this year. In-invite ako as a judge-given my background as Network Director of the Number 1 Multimedia News Organization in the Philippines.

Up until the last part of the creed, I remained firm.

"I believe that the public journal is a public trust, that all connected with it are, to the full measure of their responsibility, trustees for the public, that acceptance of a lesser service than the public service is betrayal of this trust."

"I believe that clear thinking and clear statement, accuracy and fairness are fundamental to good journalism."

It took long bago kami matapos. I smiled and looked around the gymnasium. Sobrang daming tao at nage-echo ang mga boses nila, sabay ang mga malalaking ngiti sa mukha nila.

After the opening ceremony, I took a stroll around the university we were in. Maraming stalls and booths para sa souvenirs.

"Jenna, ano 'yon?" I asked my assistant dahil natigilan kami sa mga army na nasa gate.

"Ah, nagbabantay po sila sa lahat ng billleting school, may killer kasi na nagbabanta ng buhay ng mga journalist. Katakot!"

"Really?" napakunot ang noo ko. "Hindi ba magiging madali 'yon para sa killer dahil maraming tao rito?"

"Hindi naman po siguro," aniya at napatingin sa paligid. "Ah basta po, magiging maayos ang NSPC!" she cheered.

Well, yeah. NSPC is something na dapat talagang sulitin! I remember when I competed for the first time, sobrang kinabahan ako no'n but in the end, it was all worth it.

Nasa Cebu City kami, the same place where I won as Champion in my first ever NSPC experience. Back then, I was an Editorial Writer in the English Category.

"Pa picture po ako!"

Napangiti ako kaagad nang may lumapit na mga teenagers sa akin. Nakakatuwa sila! They had necklaces, tote bags, and badges about journalism.

"Ma'am Heidi, pa-sign po ako!"

"Okay, tama na," Jenna blocked. "Hinay-hinay lang, guys..." she calmly stayed.

"No, it's okay," mahina kong sambit at napatango naman siya. "Hi!" I waved at a girl na mukhang mahiyain.

She fixed her glasses and stared at me with a big smile. "Hello po! Idol po kita!"

My heart felt warmed dahil marami pa ang nag-approach sa akin. I didn't imagine that the literature I used to hate would be the only thing that could describe me as a person!