What is Love? (Sinta Series #2)

27

"And with that, your debut novel is finished and up for publication. Congratulations, Ms. Cali Isobelle Santiago." 

Skye stood up to take my hand for a handshake, at pabiro pang kinumpleto ang pangalan ko.

After many months of working for it, natapos ko na sa wakas ang first novel ko! It's something new, because I've only written and published poetry collections ever since I entered in the industry. 

Ngayon lang ako maglalabas ng novel!

Maraming competition, mahirap makipagsabayan — pero para sa pangarap, kinakaya ko. I almost gave up so many times. I've always felt like I don't even have what it takes to succeed in this field... that I'm not even a good writer, but whenever I think about how much I love writing, how freeing it is for me, and how it calms my whole being — I stand back up and just continue writing.

Hindi ko siya mabitawan. Hindi ko kayang huminto. Kahit nakakatakot at nakakapagod minsan, dahil ito ang pangrap ko, ginagawa ko ito ng buong puso.

Kung sa isda, keep swimming...

sa akin, keep writing.

Hahaha! 

Natawa ako sa sarili kong naisip. Baliw na ata ako.

 Tumayo rin ako at kinamayan si Skye. 

I don't even know what to say. Parang gusto ko na lang maiyak at maglumpasay sa sahig!

I worked on that novel for years!

Ever since I left for Dubai, actually.

Marami na akong ideas and notes about how I wanted the story to flow. Ginagawa ko iyon habang nagsusulat at nagpa-publish ako ng mga poetry collections ko.

Minsan, nagsusulat ako ng isang scene, isang chapter, or some of the conversations I wanted to put in the book and save them sa notes ko. 

Then, I dedicated almost a year or two para ma-compile lahat at masulat na mismo ang libro. hanggang sa patuloy ko itong sinulat at matapos.

"Thank you, Skye... Congrats sa atin..." sagot ko sa kanya. My eyes were already watering, I was so happy!

"It's all you, love. I know how hard you've worked for this... I'm just happy to be able to help you, all of you... to reach and achieve your dreams..." he pulled me in for a hug after he said that and whispered, "I'm so proud of you, Cali... of all of you."

Tuluyan nang tumulo ang luha ko pagtapos niyang sabihin 'yon. 

I did good.

I did well.

I hugged him back and answered, "Thank you for helping us always, Skye."

He let go of me at umupo na ulit kaming dalawa. Siya, sa swiveling chair niya at ako, sa tapat niya. Nasa office niya kasi kami ngayon.

"I will buy the first copy, agad-agad! Sobrang ganda, Cali! Naiyak ako!" sabi niya pa ulit. "Ano bang inspiration mo nung sinulat mo 'to? Hilig mo na nga manakit sa poetry collections mo, pati ba naman sa novel, magpapaiyak ka?!"

Natawa ako doon. 

What was my inspiration in writing that?

Marami. 

Sobrang dami.

"Wala, imagination, I guess?" pag-iiwas ko sa tanong.

"As if! O siya, may meeting pa ako with Apollo via Zoom para sa charity events nila, so, I gotta go. Okay? Punta lang ako sa small meeting room." tumayo na siya ulit at naglakad palabas ng kwarto.