“How can you get someone to understand you? How can you understand someone better?”
Chapter 9
the Lie, the Another Lie, and the Somehow Truth
the Lie
G
ABRIEL’S eyes went wide upon hearing Ria’s sudden confession. He also made her say the same words again making sure he didn’t heard anything wrong.
“Why is it so hard for us to communicate? Just take whatever I say as it is!”
“I mean… Are you saying my first ever project was a stolen one? Damn I’m doomed.”
Gabriel scrunched down in his chair, gulping the entire cup of warm coffee. Ria chuckled on the sight.
“What’s funny?”
“I mean. You look distraught as if seeing the whole world in front of you crumble.”
“I don’t know if it’s because you’re a writer but you are exaggerating. Nothing’s crumbling.”
“Right, right! Okay I’m sorry.” Ria held her hands up in a “I surrender!” position, though she still can’t pocket her smile in front of his crumpled face.
“You’re not doing this to held me accountable or anything like that, right? Rejecting your book will be a big loss for me but I’m poor.”
“What are you saying?” Ria’s smile turned into a wide grin. Gabriel grunted some more upon seeing Ria’s amused face.
“Tell me honestly. How was the manuscript? From what I remember it was a total trash.”
Scratching his head to help his self relax, Gabriel answered. “If it was a trash, then it was something still recyclable. The manuscript was a headache but I can see why it wasn’t rejected.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s so raw. The emotions it had are so raw it’s almost equivalent to a first love. The author perhaps, fell in love for the first time?”
Ria’s face straighten. Her smile melted and her eyes went pierced on Gabriel. “You really think so?”
Gabriel nodded.
“You think I really loved him?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but let me talk again about the manuscript.” he continued. “That’s what I thought at first, but after talking to you, the author I now know. It went like that because, you just don’t know love. The love was force, you were pretending. That’s why it became superficial.”
“You sure have many to say. But forget I said that. What I’m trying to ask from you is…” Ria took a deep breath first before continuing. “Help me switch genres. I don’t want to give up on writing.”
-----
GABRIEL immediately went back to the office after his talk with Ria. While Ria on the other hand ordered another cup of coffee and stayed---or that’s what only he thought.
“Why are you here?”
Gabriel went straight to Sandra’s office, his senior editor to talk about what he just heard from R.S Moon but he didn’t even had the chance as Ria came in storming. “I know you’re going to do this. I came here to stop you or I might as well…” she looked at Sandra that’s now confuse with what’s happening. “Tell her the truth myself.”
“What truth?” Sandra asked. The two coworkers eyes followed Ria as she sat on the nearest chair to her.
“Christian S’ book. That was mine.”
Almost in an instant Sandra exclaimed. “He stole it?!”
“No. But more like I gave it to him.”
“That’s not what you said to me.” Gabriel whispered almost to himself but Sandra still heard it.
“Can you please explain, Ria Santa-Ana?”
“That’s why I’m here. And I feel bad keeping you in the dark too.”
Sandra calmed herself as she prepare herself to listen. “Now talk.”
-----
the Another Lie
“I really want us to date for real.”
Laisa’s eyes went to James Ford from the script she’s holding. They are currently preparing for the script reading and they have about 5 minutes before it starts.
“For what? Publicity? I think we have enough.”
“Look. I really like you. As a woman.”
Her gaze became more focused to him. “Explain that to me.”
“What?”
“What do you mean by you like me as a woman? You know I have this man I like but I was never a woman to him.”
“Is that you saying you don’t like me back? You could just say the exact words.”
Laisa did not answer. James shrugged and gave out the explanation Laisa asked for.
“I want more than just to hold you and touch you and kiss you. I want to be with you in the future.”
Thinking, Laisa murmured. “Future? That’s vague.”
“Sure. But isn’t life vague too?”
The conversation ended as the script reading starts.
-----
“SAY, do you want me to like you back?” Laisa waited for the room to be deserted before speaking. James who’s eyes wide with the sudden question nodded multiple times.
“Of course! I would be thrilled.”
“Then would you like to sleep with me?”
“Yes. I-I will.”
She stood up and tapped James’ shoulders. “Thank you for saying that.”
Laisa started stepping out of the room. Jaw dropped James shouted at her back.
“What the fuck?”
-----
the Somehow Truth
RIA organized her thoughts first before speaking. She don’t know why she have to tell this to someone she just met (namely Gabriel Alejandro) but what she couldn’t understand more is how she’s very willing to tell him everything. Gabriel is someone one should not keep secrets from--- at least for her.
“I want to kill someone. Those urge to kill made me write thrillers but now… I don’t get the urge anymore. I hate that I’m starting to forgive people.”
“Ria…”
Sandra reached for her shoulders. Ria squeezed it.
“I wrote that book with hopes of falling in love. Maybe I’m being like this because I want to be loved now. Of course that is not necessarily true. But Chris, maybe he really loved me just like what he says. That’s book was my compensation.”
Ria faced Gabriel. “That’s why I asked you to be my editor, Mr. Alejandro. I don’t how this may sound to you but I need your help. This is not just about me switching genres. But for me to really forgive.”
YOU ARE READING
Love, Pour on Me
RomanceA story of 3 different individuals in their late-20's and their views on love. Gabriel Alejandro is a first-year fiction novel editor. Though he is an attractive man, he is single and is only interested in fictional novels and how to pay his overdue...
