The Green-Eyed Writer

18-Good News

Ganito ba pakiramdam ng pagiging "peymus"?

All the reads, votes, and follows on my Wattpad account and stories, plus the never-ending friend requests on Facebook and Twitter followers, all the numbers shooting up and showing that I am getting recognized, it's surreal. Nakaka-shock pa rin, but in a good way. Araw-araw kong tinitignan ang notifications, at nakakapanibago para sa akin na sunod-sunod ang reads at votes.

By end of July, naka 1 million reads na ang My Love From The Past. Yes, one million. Akala ko matatagalan ako before reaching that point, but thanks sa efforts ng Wattpaders Corner na fanpage, mabilis na nagkaroon ng reads ang unang story na ginawa ko, pati ang sequel nito.

Ito na nga siguro ang big break na hinihintay ko.

But I didn't let it get in the way of my studies and real-life interactions. Mas pinagtuunan ko pa rin ng pansin ang thesis namin nila Eri at Trixie. Kausap ko pa rin si Nine sa messenger, and I even met her the other day.

"Oy, huwag mo ako kakalimutan, Miss Peymus," biro niya. Kasalukuyan kaming tumitingin ng mga cute na notebooks sa isang stationery shop.

"Hindi ah, basta friend pa rin kita," I assured her.

"Do you need an admin for your page? Baka pwede ako," alok niya.

"Kaya ko ito, thank you," wika ko.

"Siya nga pala, intern na ako sa isang digital company, as graphics designer. Mukhang maganda evaluation ko," she smiled.

"Congrats!" I hugged her.

"Sa Makati iyon. I think they have plans to get me after graduation. So di na problem paghahanap ng work," Nine smiled wryly.

May nakita akong malaking notebook na may watercolor drawing ng bunny sa harap. I scanned the insides, and blank pages ito. Kinuha ko ito at naglakad papunta sa cashier.

"Hoy, you don't have to do that!" Protesta ni Nine as she followed me to the cashier.

I handed her the purchased notebook wrapped in brown paper. "Gift ko sa iyo. I just want to thank you."

"Nag-abala ka pa," Nine smiled na halatang pigil pa. "I was eyeing this notebook last week pa."

"Lagyan mo ng laman ah. And I know you love bunny anything."

Nine squeezed me with a hug. "I'm a happy bunny!" She stated in a tiny voice.

---

Friday nights meant Facebook and Twitter time for Wattpad-related things. I did an "Ask Me Anything" sa Twitter under the hashtag #AskVennyG.

The never-ending questions flooded me.

"Ms. A, anong course mo?"

"Ano favorite food niyo?"

"What's your inspiration for writing My Love From The Past?"

It went this way hanggang ala-una ng madaling araw. I decided to call it a night, and stopped answering questions.

I fell asleep on my bed feeling tired but contented.

For a month, ganito ang takbo ng routine ko. Schoolwork on Monday to Thursdays, then Wattpad-related work on Friday nights. Kapag weekends ay rest or meeting up with my thesis mates.

When the first week of September came, it was time for our thesis defense.

Kabado kaming tatlo nila Eri and Trixie.

"Girls, kaya natin ito." The three of us were in a huddle. We were holding hands and praying bago pumasok sa sa audio-visual room.

"Lord, tulungan niyo po kami," Eri whispered.

"Kahit dos lang, okay na," Trixie added.

"Amen!" We all said out loud.

We straightened out and prepared to enter the AVR. Kakatapos lang ng defense ng naunang grupo. When they passed by us, I realized it was Nessie.

We stared blankly at each other as soon as it happened. Behind her, a guy and girl groupmate followed.

Oddly enough, I did not feel any wrath towards her. Ayoko nang isipin ang nangyari dati.

"Next group!" The thesis adviser shouted.

I took a deep breath and marched bravely in front, with Trixie and Eri beside me.

---

"Venny, best thesis tayo!"

Tumatakbo papalapit sa amin si Trixie, her face looking bright. I was with Eri sa school garden having merienda.

"Weh?" Tanong ni Eri na hindi makapaniwala.

"Punta tayo sa bulletin board, dali!" Pag-aaya ni Trixie.

We hurriedly followed her. Trixie walked up in front and pointed the title "Best in Thesis Defense." Under it were names together with our thesis topic.

"Oh my gosh!" Eri screamed. "Best in thesis kami!"

Nagtatalon kami sa galak. The people surrounding us also gave their greetings.

"Galing nila Venny!" Bati sa amin.

"Thank you, it was a group effort!" I told them.

"Tulong-tulong kami!" Trixie exclaimed.

"Yeah!" Eri agreed.

"Celebrate na tayo! Let's eat!" Trixie announced.

After some greetings, napatingin ulit ako sa bulletin board bago umalis.

We got the highest grade sa thesis. And underneath our names, was the group with the second highest grade.

It was Nessie's group.

I smiled a little as I thought of her. I hope she's doing well.

---

Pagkatapos ng celebration sa aming thesis, internship naman ang aming bagong problema. Akala ko mahihirapan ako, pero inalok ako ng aking tita na mag-intern sa kanilang company. Mabilis lang ang naging proseso. By last week of September, ay naka-one week na ako sa company.

Dahil sa pagiging busy at pagod sa kakabyahe ay di ko na rin tinitignan ang notifications ko sa Wattpad. So one Saturday night, I decided to view it.

1.2M reads at 55K votes na ang My Love From The Past. The sequel, My Forever Love, had 200K reads and 12K votes.

Nice. I'm so proud of myself.

I checked my dummy account on Facebook and Twitter, and left a message saying hello to my readers.

Biglang may nag-pm sa akin sa Messenger. It was a new message, and I have to approve it.

The message said:

"Good evening, this is Rhea Carola from Star Writers Publishing. We saw your story and thought it was interesting. Do you want it published? We'll wait for your response, thank you."