After getting home, I freshened up and plopped down on my bed. My thoughts were jumbled and in a state of flux because of how unexpected things had turned up. When Ate Via first started the story, I brushed it off as nothing unusual because she does that, it's not the first time she used her friends as her muse, and there was no harm in it.
In fact, I thought it was quite amazing of her to weave a unique story out from something so... ordinary.
Plus, 'di rin naman big deal kasi it wouldn't have a significant effect in my life.
'Di pala significant, my ass. Famous last words because look at where that had gotten me now?
With Zylo closely reading the story, Rhys occasionally poking fun at me because of it, and both guys finding the whole thing genuinely entertaining.
As if that wasn't enough, the last nail in the coffin was that they both expressed wanting to go the book signing. Together. With me.
To see Ate Via and her readers.
They think it would be a nice experience while I just wanted the whole thing to be done and over with. 'Di naman sa wala akong support for the story—I have, don't get me wrong—ayoko lang nang ganito, na may unwanted attention suddenly sa 'kin because of things outside of my control.
Ate Via was ecstatic when Shane told her via our group chat, though. I didn't want to be a party pooper so nag-request na lang ako na kung ipakilala man kami sa readers niya, that she would keep Rhys' part in the story a secret. Why?
Kasi ayokong mabigyan ng ibang kulay ang friendship namin. I see him more than I see Zylo. I wasn't willing to answer questions about us everytime makikita kami together and I didn't want the story to hang over our heads everytime we'd hang out. Ayokong ma-conscious o i-overthink how I should act around him dahil lang may fictional romance ang counterparts namin.
Kay Zylo kasi, the teasings were already expected. And nasasanay na rin ako. Plus he's a public figure so it made more sense.
With Rhys, mas uncomfortable ako because he's my friend and he's the real muse for August from the start.
Thankfully, Ate Via respected my request. We had a short discussion on how we'd deal with the future chapters moving forward din para 'di na rin ako maging uneasy and uncomfortable sa attention na binibigay sa 'kin ng readers niya.
She said she'd be putting disclaimers and remind everyone to respect our privacy
That was good enough with me.
Sa story naman, she was already going rogue anyway so I didn't need to worry kung mami-misunderstood ba nina Rhys and Zylo what's real between me and Chynna. I trust all of us to be mature about it so I didn't bother dwelling on it.
That convo with Ate untangled the knots of unease in my head and I breathed a sigh of relief now that clear boundaries had been drawn this time. Good that we were all on the same page.
In the middle of doing my nightly ritual, my phone lit up. It was a text from Rhys.
Rhys:
Hey! Look what I saw. Martina took this.My brows furrowed when a stolen photo of me smiling at Zylo followed his message. Taken 'yon from the back when we were busy taking selfies of us kanina.
Rhys:
You sure there's nothing here, Cap? 😏Me:
So nosy naman.Rhys:
Hahaha. Can't help it. You look cute together.
Anyway, thanks for joining us. And for connecting me with your friend.
I'm reviewing the photos now. Everything looks great.
BINABASA MO ANG
te quiero (novel)
Novela Juvenilin which a skeptic girl meets a freespirited boy which later on becomes the basis for the hit story, ciao bitch!