How am I so into you? (RICCI RIVERO)

Chapter IV: I can't feel my legs

R I C C I

We just had dinner then I went straight to bed. I turned the lights off already together with my eyes.

Di ako makatulog. Pagod na pagod ako pero di ako makatulog. Ganito kasi ako eh, dapat pahinga muna bago tulog. Unti-unti ko nang hindi nararamdaman yung legs ko sa sobrang pagod.

Para antukin, I decided to check on my phone nalang. I grabbed it from my bedside table. I checked on twitter and received an amazing amount of recognition from my followers. Grabe, how could they be this supportive knowing that I'm just 'this'?

@l0vericci6 tweeted:
"Congratulations, Green Archers!!! Matutunaw na si ateng reporter Ricci 😂"

@ricciba3k6 tweeted:
"Nakakaselos naman yung tingin ni Cci kay ate girl :<"

Daig ko pa nagkape sa gising nung makita ko yung sandamakmak na tweets about sa interview kanina. Nagulo ko buhok ko sa kahihiyan. Sobrang obvious ko ba kanina?
Ang daming lumabas na mga video clips nung interview. Pinanood ko ang mga ito kahit paulit-ulit baka sakaling umayos ako sa replay. Mayroon ding mga GIFs nung paglingon ko at kitang kita na tinignan ko sya from head to toe   and licking my lips.

Sobrang nakakahiya. It isn't what I really was thinking pero grabe yung mga sinasabi nila. Minamanyak ko daw yung reporter. It isn't my fault she caught my eye. And it isn't hers too.
Pero paano nalang kung naoffend sya?

I messaged Kuya Prince through iMessage about it. He knows what to do.

"Kuya, nakita mo yung vid clips sa interview kanina?" Sabi ko na medyo tensed.

"Oo, gago ka ah ahahahah. Sino ba yun?" Reply nya.

"Hindi ko nga kilala kuya eh. Kaya nga chinat kita. Baka mamaya maoffend sya di naman yun yung nasa isip ko eh" sabi ko at binuksan na ang laptop ko para mas makita ang tweets about it. Baka mamaya nakita na nung reporter. I should be sorry.

"Ay akala ko kilala mo? Search mo nalang sa Diem Mirror. Andun yun. Magsorry ka lagot ka kay Dad hahahah" sabi nya at napakamot naman ako ng ulo ko.

I went through the tweets baka may nagmention na sa kanya. Although it's quite a lot, tyinaga ko kaysa naman pagisipan ako ng masama.

Isang oras na akong naghahanap pero wala parin kaya dumiretso na ko sa site ng Diem Mirror. Sigurado akong nandun sya lalo na at public speaker. Ngayon ko lang sya nakita pero parang matagal na sya sa Diem Mirror kasi sya lang at cameraman nya ang andun na
nakita ko. Yung iba kasi may mga crew pa na may hawak ng script.

I searched for her sa junior section but she wasn't there. She wasn't anywhere— pero yung cameraman nya nandun. Damn it, who's this girl?
@RicciRivero06 tweeted:
"IS2G, this won't be the last time"

________________________________________________

Z A U N E A
" That Ricci guy was drooling on you, he almost dripped pero dinilaan nya hahhaha" pangangantyaw nya while on our way back to the office na kinagulat ko.
" Anong drooling Kuya, pagod lang yun.." sabi ko at inirapan sya ng pabiro.
"Anong pagod, Zaunea? Pagod lumingon kaya the entire interview his eyes were locked on you? I was there kaya!" Panggagatong naman ni Lauren.
"Baliw talaga kayo. Di naman sya ganu'n kagwapo" pero daks. I had to leave it that way. Sobrang overwhelmed ko pa baka mamaya sabihin SSSS ( Sarap na Sarap Sa Sarili) ako.

As we arrived at the office, kakaunti nalang ang tao since it's past midnight na. I rushed to see if Sir Paco was still there pero inuna kong kunin ang gamit ko na iniwan since I knew na I will be running from one place to another kanina, iniwan ko yung iba kong gamit dito para hindi ako mahirapan. I saw a yellow note sticking on my work papers.
"Congrats, Zaunea. We'll celebrate tomorrow. :) -Sir Paco"

I booked an uber ride since it was easier than hailing a taxi na may gold pulp bits ata ang gasolina kung maningil.

I hopped inside and finally half rested. I remembered na di pa pala ako nagtetext sa bahay since we left the office kaninang morning. Baka nagaalala na sila sa bahay so I messaged Mama na I was on my way home.

I am still badly confused why Sir Paco is congratulating me. Bakit kaya? Is it about my book? I'm currently in the process of signing contracts in promoting my book kasi. Lowkey lang naman pero sobrang laking achievement para sakin. It's to be published soon enough and my family still doesn't know. They know I am writing, nothing's knew about that but they didn't know I'm really crossing bridges now.

I tried to look at my emails, baka may balita ang Diem kaya ako cinocongratulate ni Sir. May pa-celebrate pa sya ha. Eh hindi naman kami nagcecelebrate pag nakakatapos ako ng assignment. Tamang sobre at pay-slip lang.

Well, mayro'on ngang email ang Diem Mirror, it was from Mrs. Urdaneta the real boss. With the logo and the heading, it's really for me. Just me. Before kasi she would email us for team projects only or company announcements.

"SUBJECT: Commendation

Congratulations on your biggest break Ms. Rodriguez! You have officially broken a record for the Diem Mirror. Thank you so much for your noticeable hard work topped with charm like a cherry on top of talent and dedication. You are truly an early honor to the Diem Mirror. May you continue bringing the best that you can offer to this company and in this field. May God bless us all.

Yours truly,
Mrs. Urdaneta
Diem Mirror, CEO "

Sakto namang prumeno ang driver ko na kinauntog ko sa head rest ng passenger seat. I had to reread it again baka maiba ngayong nauntog na ako.

What did I just read? On second note, Zaunea, what did you do?

I searched for any updates they might be congratulating me for. If it's about my book, they aren't the publishing house I chose. I didn't want to owe everything to them.

⚠️ Votes and comments would greatly help me 💞

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