Author's Note (Published under Cloak Pop Fiction)

Kabanata 21

Warning: This chapter contains bullying. This may be uncomfortable for some readers so please, be advised. Prioritize one's state of mind all the time. Thank you.

THE event changed once again and he was now inside a house.

A house he knew.

Ito ang bahay na pinuntahan niya upang hanapin si Noa at nasa loob siya ng kuwarto ngayon kung saan nahanap niya ang sulat nito.

"My Noa?" He slowly walked toward the woman in the wheelchair. Nakatunganga ito sa kawalan.

Lumuhod siya sa harapan nito at sinubukang hawakan ang kamay ng babae.

"Be strong, my wordy Noa." He kissed the back of her hand before standing up and looking around the room.

Wala pang kahit anong nakakabit sa pader ng kuwarto. Ang mga gamit ng babae ay nasa isang maleta pa lang na nakapatong sa kama. Mukhang kakalipat lang ni Noa at wala itong planong galawin o bigyang buhay man lang ang kuwarto nitong walang kulay.

Naupo siya sa kama at pinagmasdan ang kaisa-isang bagay na nakapatong sa lamesa. Isang calendar.

August 21, 2015

Muling nagdilim ang paligid niya. Pagmulat niya, nakaupo pa rin siya sa kama, nasa loob ng kuwarto ni Noa na ngayo'y nakaupo na isang upuan. Nag-iba ang kulay sa damit nito subalit hindi pa rin nagbago ang ekspresyon ng mukha ng babae.

Wala pa ring buhay.

He looked at the calendar on the table which was now surrounded by other things. Mayroon ng notebook na nakapatong at mga papel.

August 21, 2016

The event changed again with him not changing his position. But the beauty of the room and his Noa were gradually changing. Every time the place switched off, he was greeted by the progress of her Noa. Her expression became less and less similar to death.

On August 21, 2018, she started to live again.

The room became colorful as the shades of life reflected Noa's emotions. Kinabit nito ang mga litrato kasama ang asawa. Ang walang buhay na kuwarto ay naging maaliwalas dahil sa bago nitong pinta na kulay asul.

The dark clouded emotions were now gone as well. He couldn't find any traces of it anymore.

Adamas couldn't help but slide a smile while looking at her author who was busy jotting words in her notebook. Patalon siyang bumaba sa kama at patakbong lumapit sa kaniyang manunulat.

"My wordy Noa! You are finally back!" Niyakap niya ito at kahit lumusot lang ang kaniyang katawan, hindi na niya ito pinansin. "You did great, my brave Noa! This character of yours is more than proud."

Hindi mawala-wala ang ngiti niya habang pinagmamasdan ang mukha ng kaniyang manunulat. She was the best piece he preferred looking at. Her teary, angry, longing and smiling face were all his favorites. Even though sometimes it pained him, he was willing to strike himself with misery if it meant seeing her author.

"Are you writing?" Sinilip niya ang sinulat ito. Nagningning ang kaniyang mga mata nang makita kung ano ang nakasulat.

It was the Odds of Tribes' concept map.

Kita niya roon ang plotline at main theme ng kuwento. Sa ibaba nakasulat ang arcs, setting at pangalan ng mga karakter.

Napahiyaw siya nang makita ang kaniyang pangalan. "Oh, my wordy Noa, you are now writing me!"

Caressing his own cheeks, he ran and threw himself on the bed. Hindi niya mapigilan ang saya sa tuwing iniisip pa lang niyang sinusulat na siya ng kaniyang manunulat. She wasn't only writing him, but she was also thinking of him!