The Most Hated Character

iv

The roles became a reality

04

»» Daphne ««
»» Seravina ««
»» Cedric ««

Hindi gumaan ang pakiramdam ko sa sinabi ni Kade. Bagkus ay mas dumbole pa ang kaba ko. 

Magkaharap kami ng upuan, nakabukas ang bintana dahilan kung bakit mas ramdam ko ang lamig. Sitting straight, eyes on the man in front of me.

"Tell me. . . what happened?" I casually asked.

Kade took a deep breath, I readied myself.

"Can you see the system, Sera?"

Napaangat ang dalawang kilay ko sa tanong niya, hindi ito inaasahan. "A-Ah, yes. Other than the start of the chapter, yes, I could still see the tabs and notifs."

Tumang-tango sa sagot ko si Kade. "It's all the same for us, then."

"Then, the chapter wouldn't have started yet, right?" kunot noong ani ko.

"Yes."

"Then why-"

"That's the problem," pagsingit niya sa 'kin. Tinapatan niya ang tingin ko, pabigat nang pabigat ang tensyon. "We think that something happened in the system . . . because of the glitch that we saw."

"The author is no longer writing the chapters, but the story is continuing. . . it might be because of the ghostwriting."

Napaamba ako sa upuan. "But that's impossible! When there's an error with the author's side, the system restarts!" giit ko.

I'm stating based on our experience. The chapters couldn't write on their own!

Kade gritted his teeth. "That's what we know . . . but this is new," mariin niyang sagot.

"Then if the chapters are writing on their own, why aren't we included? Why are we still moving on our own decisions—why are we not acting based on our roles?" sunod-sunod kong tanong.

I was answered by silence. That's when I knew that I wouldn't understand, or accept his answer.

I can see him clenching his fist, thinking of a way to explain it to me without sounding absurd.

"This is our conclusion . . . based on what happened and based on what we're witnessing in the palace." Napalunok nang malalim si Kade, seryoso akong tinignan. "All of the characters, extras, and supporting, except the main and secondary characters . . ."

"Became their roles in reality."

A thin and high-pitched sound followed Kade's voice. A pin drop could be heard in the room. I stared at him for seconds, I could see his mouth moving but couldn't hear the words.

They became . . . their roles in reality? What does he mean by that? I suddenly remember what just happened. Their images popped into my mind. How the knights looked at me, how Sir Bastian see me now.

Do you mean . . . those wasn't an act? Those are . . . their true feelings?

I guess that Kade noticed that I wasn't responding. Either that or he saw how pale as a ghost I am. He stopped talking, and looked at me worriedly. 

"Sera . . ." I heard his voice this time, but I still couldn't respond.

Napalunok ako nang malalim. It took all of my courage to talk. "So . . .  we're not acting anymore . . ."

As if it was hard to answer, Kade bit his lower lip as he nodded. "All we know is that the author is not writing the chapters anymore, no one is controlling us. Everyone is doing their role for real, we are the ones writing the story now."

For the second time, hearing his answer broke something inside of me. But unlike the first time, I grasped this one—bitterly. 

As if it wasn't just hours ago, I was contented with this life and setup. I enjoyed acting and doing my role well, as the most hated character. As if I wasn't just mentioning that we're getting close to the climax and the story will end soon.

Now . . . it's far from over. Knowing that the author couldn't continue the story like how it was planned.

"It's hard to move now. Cedric suddenly has to do his duties as the prince, Daphne as a priestess, and the others as well. Even I." Masinsin niya 'kong tinignan. "Unlike before, we're not actors who work together, Sera. Everything is real now."

Kahit hindi pa niya tinutuloy, may hula na 'ko sa susunod niyang sasabihin.

"Everyone . . . sees you as the woman who wants the prince and will do everything just to get rid of the priestess."

Nag-igting ang bagang ko, sumara ang kamao. I'm not just the hated character of the readers now . . . but the characters of the novel as well.

"The queen, unlike the plot, is moving now. We don't know what she's capable of."

Hindi ako nakasagot sa sinabi ni Kade. We do know who the main antagonist of the story is, and how the plot will go.

But no one ever met the queen yet, Cedric's stepmother. Even I, who will be her pawn in the future still haven't met her. Actually, I'm just about to. After the incident in the last chapter, I was supposed to meet her and ask for her help. She, who's been controlling the behind-the-scenes, took it as an advantage and used me.

I was excited to meet her . . . but I wouldn't be able to know her, now she's taking her role into reality.

"I could only go outside for now, since I'm a trusted knight and with connections, of course." Kade sat forward, shortening our distance. "We don't want you to worry, Sera. And we don't want to harm you. We've decided to lay low and to observe for now."

Without breaking eye contact, he genuinely said, "We can't meet for now. On the third, it will be his majesty's birthday celebration." He leaned forward, with a serious expression.

"Let's meet in the space by then, and let's talk about how to fix this system glitch."

╭ ─┉─ • ─┉─ ╮

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