You, Me, and Her

Verse 10: Damn Good Friends

"I can't do it."

"You can't do it or you won't do it?"

It was another fine morning in Trend Wise magazine yet Halwyn was still stuck with the dilemma of being Gwen. Why did he even allow Aidan to see Gwen again? Maybe Maxen and Steffan were right, he could've just pretended that he didn't know Gwen. But there was something about that day when he asked that brought back so many memories of childhood where he often found himself, unable to refuse Aidan.

Eurig gave him a knowing look and a sigh of resignation. "Stop sulking already. By the way, I have tickets for the upcoming cricket match. Come with me?"

Halwyn blew an air out of his mouth. "Fine, I'll go. But the budget is a little tight this month because I have a loan due. I can share two stales of jumbo dogs and a couple of beers."

"Hey, your sister is here..." Cadi called their attention and saw Siana Yale gliding across the room followed closely by her secretary. She passed by to the desk where Halwyn and the rest were. "Staff meeting in 30 minutes."

"Geez, I just arrived..." Maxen whose hair was disheveled, carrying a coffee with him groaned once Sia was out of earshot.

"Are you late again?" Halwyn asked.

"No," Max eyed him. "Yes...maybe?"

"Are you done with your article, Hal?" Steff turned to him and handed Max some of the paperwork for review.

"It's only an interview."

"That's not really my question."

"I was writing something else..."

Eurig who was checking the latest pieces and choosing which one would fit the models was curious. "Is this about that issue regarding illegal immigrants?"

"You knew?"

"I read it, sort of. When I passed by your office, you left your computer on," Eurig quickly explained.

Hal's face brightens. "So, what do you think?"

"It's really good, moving. But it's never going to appear in our magazine, you know your sister doesn't like those kinds of articles."

"Jesus...I worked so hard in college and here I am stuck in doing interviews with celebrities. I want to write about things that matter."

"Like what?" Max said.

"Like...politics, environment, foreign affairs, the LGBTQIA community?"

Eurig scoffed, "Yes, but Trend Wise magazine never ventured on those kinds of topics and you won't leave Trend Wise magazine because of us."

The others turned to look at him as well and suddenly Hal felt guilty. "Sorry."

"What are you sorry for?" Eurig added, "We told you so many times to follow your dreams. You know what your problem is?"

"Leaving you guys and my sister?"

"No, not only that. You have so many fears and concerns and it's holding you back from moving forward. You get so used to the people around you, your sister being there with you at work...I mean, quitting your job means letting go of something familiar and entering into the unknown," Eurig looked at him this time. "Sometimes, you have to take a risk, Hal."

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Starting out early at the music studio, Aidan and the rest of the members of the X-Holic band were recording new material but for some reason, they couldn't get the beat right and Aidan was not in the mood to continue. Frustrated, he went to the audio mixing room, put on a headset, and began listening to a song. He also brought a guitar with him and started plucking the strings, hoping that somehow, he could find inspiration.