From Mavis, With Hate

Bonus Chapter

From: Mavis Policarpio

To: Rush Dela Vega

Subject: Level 1 of Growth

Hey, Rush. Wait, nag-a-apply pa rin ba 'yon sa'kin? Or dapat 'Sir Rush' na ulit ang tawag ko sa'yo? Anyways, ang dami kong naisip this past month. A month without any communication with you. Just to let you know (in case you're interested), I'm slowly getting by. I miss you terribly but I have to endure.

I'm doing well with my classes. Ni-let go ko na 'yong part-time ko sa coffee shop kasi mas beneficial sa'kin 'yong part-time ko sa budget hotel. Tapos na rin akong mag-research for my feasibility study and final thesis. Sana magawa ko siya ng maayos. Sana approved din sa inyo (sa board) after. Wish me luck!

BTW, mag-post ka naman ng picture mo sa Facebook. Please! Give me something to ease this ache of missing you. How do you get by missing me?

From Mavis, With Love

***DO NOT REPLY TO THIS E-MAIL***

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[Draft]

From: Rush Dela Vega

To: Mavis Policarpio

Subject: RE: Level 1 of Growth

Hello, Mavis. First of all, I told you to stop asking me stupid questions. You can call me anything you want as long as you're mine. I know how much you're missing me. Because that's how terrible I'm feeling too. I wish you could stop saying that though. Dahil hindi ko alam kung gaano ako katagal makakapagpigil na pumunta d'yan sa'yo.

I trust that you can do anything you want, Mavis. As long as you put your mind into it. You're one of the most intelligent and hard-working people I know. You don't need luck. You can do it.

I don't know how to take a fucking selfie but, I'm so afraid to do and say this, I'll ask Axe.

How do I go by missing you? Loving you. Making sure you're okay and your family too. Making sure that no one's touching you or getting near you. Making sure that you're still in love with me. I love you.

Rush Dela Vega

CEO, Dela Vega Corporation

P.S. I met with your aunts and told them about my intentions. I've been crashing your family's Sunday lunches with your sisters and father's blessing. Your aunts wouldn't even talk to me. Oh, yeah. They wouldn't even acknowledge my presence. But it's fine. I'm sure they'll fall for me too.

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From: Mavis Policarpio

To: Rush Dela Vega

Subject: Level 2 of Growth

Hey. I'm still calling you 'Rush', by the way. How have you been doing? Well, I know you've been doing well. Sabi ng "spy" ko. Ha! Siyempre, kailangang may spy ako sa'yo. Not because I don't trust you but because I need pictures of you. Kaya sobrang thankful ako kay Sir Axe dahil siya lang ang pinaka-fearless pagdating sa'yo. Nagse-send siya sa'kin ng pictures mo. Still. I don't know what it says about me but, I had your first selfie printed and I've put it at the back of my phone case—na clear, by the way. Pang-inspire lang every time na nahihirapan na ako sa classes ko or sa thesis or sa pagka-miss sa'yo.