No Credits

Chapter 4: Credits

A few days passed ever since I edited Lizzy's story. Apparently, I wasted two days and three nights to finish all my projects before the "Deadly Deadline Week". Thankfully, hard work and effort were all paid off since I was able to submit all of them on time and successfully. At first, I thought I might not make it since, I was pretty busy online. Then again, I was pretty grateful now, I have nothing to do this week. To me, the "Deadly Deadline Week" is more of a "Relaxing Relaxation Week" since, next week is our exams. I guess, I should also need to study.

It was Friday afternoon, I just returned from school. Putting my bag and suitcase aside, I dressed myself up into something comfortable. After doing so, I went straight to my room and turned on my laptop. I simply checked my Facebook news feed and checked for some updates. 

I learned some news about the up-coming anime this year and the new seasons. But actually, I was waiting for any updates regarding the English-subbed movie of an anime that I was into. Then again, I was actually kinda happy myself when, I found out that one of favorite animes is gonna have a season 2. I can't wait, actually. In my excitement, I shared the link and tweeted about it on my Twitter account. And then, there was nothing to do anymore. 

I sighed as I stared at the screen for a while. Then, I thought that I should check my account in JoulesJournal. Upon checking my notifications, I noticed that I have a new follower under the username, CynicallyCile24. When I checked her profile, I was shocked.

It seemed that she liked a story entitled, Forever. The cover was different, I would say but, what surprised me was that the author of the said story was Lizzy herself. Just to make things sure, I checked the story. I was, then, surprised when it was, indeed, the same story. It had the exact same chapters that I edited. I was confused and surprised but instead, I simply smirked to myself.

"My, my. What a surprise," I said to myself. I just couldn't believe that she changed the cover that easily without letting me know about it. But, that is her story so, there was no need for her to inform me about it. 

Then again, she did promise that she will give me credit on the cover and the chapter, which she failed to do so. Instead, she changed the cover on her own and, she never told anyone that I helped her out. 

In the end, it was none of my business. I knew I had nothing to do with it. Still, this was the first time an author didn't give any credit to me. I was deeply saddened about that fact.

With a half-opened mouth, I was speechless. I started to feel irritated for some reason. I should really accept it. I knew that my help was useless to her. I shouldn't have helped her in the first place. I regretted it so much. So badly.

Just as I was feeling sad about it, the song, On My Own by Ashes Remain began to play. After the intro, the first verse and chorus played as I sat still and listened to the song:

There's gotta be another way out,
I've been stuck in a cage with my doubt
I've tried forever getting out on my own.

But, every time I do this my way,
I get caught in the lies of the enemy
I lay my troubles down, I'm ready for you now

Bring me out!
Come and find me in the dark now.
Everyday by myself, I'm breaking down.
I don't wanna fight alone anymore.

Bring me out!
From the prison of my own pride
My God, I need a hope, I can't deny
In the end, I'm realizing I was never meant to fight on my own.

Somehow, the message was true. I was never meant to fight alone. In this case, Lizzy was never meant to "fight" on her own. Thus, she should have gave me credits but, she didn't. Somehow, in the deep of my heart, I regretted the fact that I befriended someone like her.

I trusted her so much and I believed in her promise. I was literally expecting that I would be given credit to what I've done. To what I've written for her. I even wasted my precious time just for her story. Just so that her story would gain fame. And once that story got the fame it deserves, it would be famous and it would get published in the future. And who will receive the credit? Lizzy and only her. 

I guess this is what it feels like being a co-writer of someone's story. You can never receive any credits at all because only the main writer would actually receive that. I felt my chest tightened as I started to become completely disappointed to myself. I then began to think about my decisions from before. When I decided to help out Lizzy in writing her story. I did almost all the work in the story, yet it seems that she claims that she did everything. Even the cover, even the writing the chapters. Basically, all the things that I've done for that story. For her.

I've already helped her. I even wasted my study time just to continue her story. But in the end, I received nothing in return.

I turned off my laptop and went to sleep. I hate myself. I truly do.

Maybe helping Lizzy was really such a bad idea. Maybe I shouldn't have done something as stupid as that. Maybe I should have thought up of my decisions even more. Maybe I should have just gone studying and focusing more on school work and ignore her messages to me.

I am such an idiot. A big freaking idiot.