Plagiarism Is Not A Crime

PINAC 7

A desire to fame

Is not a passion,

And it will never be.

A Soldier's Cry...

Kinuha ko ang libro ni Elvis sa shelf. And I felt shit. Is this how karma works?

I'm done with this whole book. Kinakabahan ako para sa sarili ko. What if I lose this career? I can't... Si Papa paano?

Nanggagalaiti kong hinagis sa trashbin ang librong 'yon. We have the same introduction, pati plot, at conflict, pero hindi ang ending. The soldiers went home safely on my book, pero iba ang ginawa ni Elvis, he made those three soldiers die. We may have both plots, but we have different decisions.

Napalingon ako nang pumasok si Tita Victoria sa opisina ko. She looked mad and pissed, kinda want to cry but remained calm. She's not my Tita, but I prefer it to call her than formal.

"Are you mad to Maddy's brother?" Napansin n'ya sigurong hawak ko ang libro kanina.

Bumuntong hininga ako at pinaupo s'ya. Umiling ako, "The public shouldn't know this, Tita." Hindi ako mapakali sa kinatatayuan at napapasabunot sa sarili. "My plot wasn't from myself."

Ngumisi s'ya. "Don't worry, I'll make sure his downfall."

Wait, what? Magsasalita na sana ako nang lumabas na s'ya at iniwan akong mag-isa.

I don't even know if I can see him suffer, I was the first one who knows how he wanted to be a writer. That desire... hindi ko makakalimutan kung paano nagningning ang mata n'ya nang sabihin n'yang magiging sikat s'yang manunulat balang araw.

My phone rang and I automatically answered.

I spoked. "Maddy."

"Aeious, t-tungkol kay Elvis, we're so sorry about that. I know, I know you are the original one that made our company boom, and I'm so sorry. As his sister, hindi na 'to mauulit, promise!"

"It's fine." Pinilit kong magsalita ng hindi nauutal. This is literally a karma, Aeious. You fucking piece of shit.

"Ang kulit naman kasi ng kapatid ko, eh... Hindi s'ya nagpaalam sa'kin about sa release ng libro n'ya. And as your c-colleague, nirerespeto ko ang librong ginawa mo. Alam naming you're too great in this field, and hindi ko sinasadyang hayaan si Elvis," she explained with an emotional tone.

I cleared my throat. "I said it's fine, you shouldn't be sorry for me." I must be the one who should say sorry to your brother...

"O-okay," her mood alleviated that made me smile a bit. She really got this heavenly personality, and it makes me soft. "S-shall we go on another dinner... again?" she almost whispered, I bet she's shy.

Lumapit ako sa glass wall at pinagmasdan ang mga nasa ibaba.

"Oka—" I paused as soon as I saw Solace going out from a grocery store. Marami s'yang dalang pinamili at masayang naglalakad.

Oh, maybe tonight is her paycheck. I smiled as I saw her jamming with the music on the stores. Nahulog pa ang pinamili n'ya at agad 'yong sinimot na parang walang nangyari. Psh, tanga talaga.

"Hey, Aeious?"

Hindi ko namalayang nailayo ko na ang phone sa taenga ko. Agad kong kinausap si Maddy. "I'm sorry, I received an email from a client, next time, I assure you a dinner." Agad ko s'yang binabaan at umalis ng opisina.

I followed Solace into her house. Nanatili lang akong nakadungaw sa bintana nila at nakitang nakikipag-usap sa isang batang lalaki. Maybe it is her brother... Nakapamulsa ako habang pinagmamasdan sila. Solace looks matured, and she seems caring as a sister.

No wonder she did everything to work on us, to fed her family. Yet why the heck she went home from Baguio in our first day? She never told me the real reason, and it made me confused if I made her overworked.

But she...

She is the key to our success if I fall behind. Her manuscript is brilliant. Alam kong s'ya ang sasalo sa Prime once everything in my career wrecked.

I suddenly remembered that I have to finish editing her book first. Umalis na ako at dumiretso sa bahay.