Rhyne's Heartbeat (SUAREZ SERIES I)

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Two years ago, Agori's book was published by August Publishing House. And as I expected, it became our fastest bestseller. Sa katunayan ay nalampasan pa ng sales niyon ang pinakamataas na sales ng mga libro ni Dinn.

Dinn was our writer of the year for five consecutive years, pero nang i-release namin ang libro ni Agori, sa kanya agad ang korona. Too bad, she never tried to release another book again. "Caffeinated Love" was indeed her first and last manuscript.

At kahit dalawang taon na ang dumaan simula nang ilabas ang libro niya, hanggang ngayon ay patok pa rin iyon at madalas na sold out sa bawat reprint kaya patuloy pa rin ang APH sa pag-produce at pag-release ng kopya.

Until one day, an executive producer in the film industry suddenly contacted APH and said that they wanted to collaborate with the publishing house to make a movie version of the book. And after weeks of countless meetings, Agori finally agreed.

At ngayon nga ay nasa meeting kaming lahat ulit dito sa conference room. The director and the scriptwriter were here, as were the main cast, our editorial board, and the APH president.

Agori wasn't here because she wanted to maintain her faceless status as a songwriter. The one who brought the official contract with her signature... was Jed.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit pa ako nagulat na nandito siya ngayon. Nawala man nang ilang taon dahil sa enlistment niya, siya pa rin ang opisyal na songwriter ng kumpanya. And because this was Agori's book, fans had been expecting another collaboration from the two after so many years.

Buong durasyon ng meeting, kunot-noong nakinig si Jed at nagsasalita lamang kapag may itinatanong si Agori na naka-loud speaker. Wala man dito pero kasali pa rin sa meeting.

Napabuntong hininga ako habang ipinapaliwanag niya sa kausap ang tungkol sa gustong mangyari ng direktor.

So after all these years, they maintained their communication?

Kumunot ang noo ko sa naisip. I thought Agori said she was already married to the love of her life?

Nang matanto ang iniisip ay dagli kong sinaway ang sarili. Hindi ko dapat kalimutan ang ginawa ko kay Jed kaya wala akong karapatang makaramdam ng selos. They denied the rumors about them years ago. Both of them were professionals in their own fields of expertise, at alam kong hindi ko sila dapat pinag-iisipan nang ganito. It was irrational and immature.

"What do you think, Miss Sandoval?"

Huh?

Napalingon ako agad sa tabi ko nang marinig ang seryosong boses ni Liam. Bahagyang kumibot ang kanyang kilay nang mahalata niyang tulala ako.

'Tangina. I can't believe I spaced out during a meeting! And to think that this was my first project since being appointed as the editor-in-chief. I needed to pull myself together and focus. I couldn't afford to mess this up. Wait—What was he saying again?

Napatikhim ako nang alisin ni Liam ang tingin sa akin.

Ibinaling niya iyon sa direktor ng gagawing pelikula. "She was the editor of Miss Agori's book almost three years ago. She is now our EIC."

Tumingin siya ulit sa akin. "They suggested filming the movie here in Metro Manila."

"O hindi kaya'y sa mga karatig-bayan lang para hindi mahirap para sa mga artistang gaganap. Orazon is in the bottom part of the Philippines. Alam niyo naman kung gaano kadelikado sa Mindanao lalo na't nasa dulo pa iyon."

Kumunot ang noo ko. Kung ganoon din lang, bakit pa gagawin itong movie? What was the point?

Napatikhim ako ulit nang mapansin ang titig ni Jed. "I'm sorry, but this is Miss Agori's only book, so if we're going to make it into a movie, let's make everything according to what she has written. Orazon may be at the bottom part of Mindanao, but it isn't scary at all. Masyado lang exaggerated ang media. Why don't we take this chance to promote the place? Orazon is a very beautiful town."