Behind Every Pages

PROLOGUE

Lestari

"The end." I sighed before closing the book.

Nasayang yung luha ko kanina. It turns out they will end up together after all. I chuckled as I wiped away my tears with a tissue, not because something sad happened to the characters in the book again, but because it's over and happy ending naman ito.

Agad kong binuksan ang cellphone ko para mag comment sa profile ng author ng story na natapos ko. It seems like it has become a hobby of mine that once I finish reading, I will comment on the authors and thank them for their beautiful story. Worth the money kumbaga.

Dear Ezonme,

Hi again Mr. Author. I wanted to express again my deep gratitude to you for the beautiful story you have created. Your stories have been an inspiration for me, sobrang thankful ako kasi ang dami ko talagang natutunan, Author. Reading your story has taken me on a roller coaster of emotions. Mababaliw ata ako, Author. Iyak tawa ang nangyayari sa'kin but I appreciate how your characters have changed my perspective in such a profound way. I sincerely hope that our paths will cross one day, and I will have the opportunity to meet you in person and get to know you na rin hehe.

Sincerely,
Your secret number one fan.

Natawa ako dahil doon. Hindi naman ako secret dahil main account ko naman ang ginagamit ko kapag magsusulat ng pasasalamat sa mga author ng stories na binabasa ko.

I've been reading for half a day, maybe that's the reason why I can hear my stomach growling because I haven't eaten yet. I decided to stand up and leave my room sakto naman dahil dumaan ang pinakamabait naming katulong kaya hindi ko na kailangan pang bumaba. I don't want to see my annoying brother.

"Ate Florence, psst!" lumingon siya sa akin.

"Lestari, bakit ngayon ka lang?"

"Nagbasa po, puwede po padalhan na lang ako ng pagkain dito, please," ngumuso pa ako sa kaniya. Bumuntong-hininga siya bago tumango. Yey!

Bumalik na ako sa pagbabasa ulit dahil sinimulan ko na ang istorya ng isa pang author na magaling din.

May kumatok sa kwarto ko matapos ang ilang minuto at alam kong iyon na ang pagkain ko. Nang buksan ko ang pinto ay napangiti pa ako dahil this time, butler ko na ang naghatid nito. My Kuya Alistair the great bridge.

"Good Evening, Miss Lestari. Ito na po ang pagkain ninyo." ang formal naman, ganap na ganap? Hindi siya ngumingiti kaya alam kong may problema ito sa akin. Teka? Good Evening? Ibig sabihin?

"Gabi na? Akala ko tanghali pa lang! Wait, how many hours have I been reading? Sorry, Kuya Alistair, maganda kasi talaga yung libro. Si Ezonme ba naman ang author eh. He's my favorite." napapahiyang tumawa ako pero hindi talaga siya natutuwa. Umatras na ako para makapasok siya sa kuwarto ko. Napanguso tuloy ako, yari nanaman ako.

Kuya Alistair has been my butler since I was a baby. I think he was in his twenties back then, and now he's in his forties. He's like a father to me because, you see, I'm not allowed to leave this house. Ang rason? Hindi ko alam sa tatay kong magaling. It's a huge house, pero wala eh, pag bawal, bawal. So Kuya Alistair is always the one who goes to book signings for me. That is why I never really get to meet my favorite authors in person. Pero si Kuya Alistair, kilala pa nila siya.

One time nga nai-kuwento niya na papalapit pa lang daw siya sa isang author ay tinawag na ito na akala mo raw magkumpare sila. I do feel envious at times, but Kuya Alistair never falls short in introducing me to them. He really makes an effort kapag nakakausap niya ang mga ito ay nagbibigay pa siya ng papel para sulatan nila ako. So, somehow, I'm okay because I've been greeted naman, and sometimes there are even video greetings.