(RAW / UNEDITED : COMPLETED)
Being a well-known writer is what they are born for, yet there are dark secrets that hinder something. As Aelia Rosenheim makes her name in the writing industry, Charlotte Millers starts to meet her tragic downfall as s...
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A E L I A
[ Year: 2021 ]
"Pahiram ng newspaper!"
I almost hit Charlotte using the newspaper I am holding the moment she suddenly barged into my table— taking a pile of newspapers in front of me. Nakakagulat naman siya! Hindi ba siya marunong mag-excuse?
"Ang sakit naman nito sa ulo, sino ba kasi talaga ang nagnakaw dito?" Reklamo ni Gael habang nagbabasa ng diyaryong hawak niya. By examining his looks, he looks like someone who will suddenly pass out because of stress and frustration! Ganoon din itsura ni Charlotte na busy ngayon kaka-scan ng mga diyaryong kinuha niya mula sa akin.
It's been a week since our training started and all I can say is that they really gave us a 'hell' week. Grabe! These so-called executives of the club is pushing us to our limits. Daig pa nila ang mga teachers kung magbigay ng tasks, napakarami! Mabuti nalang hindi naaapektuhan ang academic performance ko dahil dito... Sana.
Super strict ng mga executives when it comes to training. Minsan nga, pakiramdam ko sinasadya nilang pahirapan kami; lalo na ako. Kenzo kept on giving me tasks without any clear explanations that's why nangangapa ako nang sobra't maraming beses nang napagalitan. Minsan pa nga nilalait nila ang gawa ko, mga unprofessional.
I'm just fighting the urge to quit. Ayokong malamangan ako ni Charlotte dahil lang dito kaya nagtitiis ako kahit na naiinis ako sa mga ginagawa nila sa akin. Naaapakan ang ego ko!
"Miss Rosenheim! Ano na nagawa mo?"
Speaking of the devil...
I slowly turned my head towards Kenzo who is now standing beside me, crossing his arms while waiting for me to hand my work.
"Let me see," He said as he stretched his arms— getting my paper. Nervousness suddenly climbed into my whole system the moment he read my paper. Sino ba namang hindi kakabahan kay Kenzo na mukhan nangangain ng buhay everytime he's focusing on his duties and responsibilities.
And I admit, I hate it about him.
"Feature ba ito?" He suddenly asked while reading my paper. Umiling naman ako sa kaniya bilang tugon dahilan para tumaas ang kilay nito.
"Hindi ito Feature Article?" Tanong nanaman niya sa akin. The room suddenly went silent and I can feel everyone's eyes on us. Ito nanaman tayo.
"E-editorial," I said, clearing things up. Tumango naman siya dahil doon. I glanced at Gael when I heard him chuckled. Great, pinakukulo nanaman ng lalaking ito ang dugo ko.
"Rewrite this again, lessen your opinions. Natatabunan nito yung facts and main point ng editorial mo. Also, change some of the words that you used; hindi bumabagay sa mood and tone ng article mo," he said and then tapped my paper on the desk. I just nodded as a response then sighed. I read my article once again, maayos naman pagkakasulat ko ah?
I was about to get a new piece of paper when suddenly, my eyes landed on Charlotte who is now smiling at Kenzo. Binabasa ngayon ni Kenzo ang article niya.
Instead of revising my article, I decided to listen to their conversation. For sure, Kenzo's remarks towards Charlotte's work will be worse than mine. There's no way that she's better than me—
"Now this is an Editorial Article! Great job, Miss Millers. You're really born to be a writer."
My eyes squinted after hearing what he had just said. Did he just... Praised her? No way.
Hindi na ako nakinig pa sa pinag-usapan nila. Lalo lang akong naiirita.
There's no way Charlotte's work is better than mine. I won first place during the essay contest noon, how come she's now better than me?
Since the day we started training for the upcoming journalism contest, it's my first time hearing Kenzo praising someone; and of all people, bakit si Charlotte pa?!
Mababaw na kung mababaw pero I was born and raised to be a star that's why I must be competitive in all aspects. Hearing someone saying na they're better than me makes me want to vomit. Literally.
I took a glance at my cousin who is now done talking to our Editor In Chief. She's reading something on the newspaper, mukhang may bagong article na gagawin. Is she really that good in writing? I doubt. Baka sinuwerte lang siya ngayon. She can't even form a simple sentence back when we were little.
"Instead of glaring at your cousin, mag-focus ka na lang sa ginagawa mo, Aelia."
My thoughts got interrupted when Gael moved his chair towards me— blocking Charlotte off from my sight. Ano nanaman ba problema nito't pinakikialaman nanaman ako?
Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at itinuon ang atensiyon sa pinapagawa sa akin ni Kenzo. I'll make sure that there will be no flaws the moment he read my article again para wala na siyang masabi pang kung ano.
Maybe... Someday he'll realize that I am also a great writer; greater than Charlotte.
~*~
"How's school, my baby?" Mom asked while serving rice on my plate. It's already 7:00 pm and I just came home from school. Saktong pagdating ko ng bahay, dinner na ang sumalubong sa akin. Mabuti na lang at naiintindihan nina mom at dad ang sitwasyon ko ngayon.
Katatapos pa lang kasi halos ng training namin. Maxine even told us kanina na starting tomorrow, mas puspusang training pa ang gagawin namin wherein buong class hours, excused kami. Malapit na raw kasi ang DSPC that's why there's no more room for us to chill anymore.
"You look exhausted, Aelia," My dad said while looking at me, concerned. I just gave him a weak smile before munching the food on my plate.
"Okay ka lang ba, anak?" Mom asked me again.
"Yes, mom. Pagod lang po ako sa school," I honestly answer. Tumango naman sila dahil doon.
"Kumusta naman ang pagiging campus journalist mo?" Dad casually asked while his eyes are glued on his plate. Nagkatinginan naman kami ni mommy dahil sa biglaang tanong niya.
I took a deep breath and was about to answer when he suddenly asked again.
"How's your training? Are you still the best among the rest?"
Shoot.
His question made me feel edgy as if its an electrical current hitting my spine.
"I heard that Charlotte is also part of that club, anak. How is she?" Dugtong bigla ni mommy sa tanong ni daddy kanina. Lalo tuloy akong hindi nakakibo.
'Great job, Miss Millers. You're really born to be a writer.'
Kenzo's voice instantly echoed in my mind making me more uncomfortable. Should I tell my parents about what happened earlier?
"Oh? My sister's daughter is also part of that club? Why? Are they competing with my Aelia?" Dad suddenly exclaimed, which made me realize the answer to my question. I'll keep everything that happened earlier to myself, baka biglang magwala si daddy sa oras na malaman niya iyon.
"No, darling. That child is just a fan of writing based on what her mom told me kanina when I saw her at the grocery store. Pampalipas oras lang daw ng bata kaya sinusuportahan nila. Don't jump into conclusions, okay? Kaya kayo hindi nagkakasundo ng kapatid mo eh," mom calmly said and then chuckled which made my dad roll his eyes at her.
"Aelia, never let that cousin of yours be a hindrance in being the top student of your school. Are we clear?" Dad said as he met my gaze.
"Ano ka ba Alejandro, pabayaan mo na lang ang mga bata. Besides, don't pressure our Aelia. Hindi mo naman na siya kailangang sabihin niyan, our baby always paves her way," my mother scolded him with a soft tone. I can't help but to smile at them, they do trust me.
Seeing my parent's confidence and actions made me realize something.
Charlotte may be good at writing yet I am good at everything.
"Mom, Dad, don't worry. Charlotte is incapable of stealing the spotlight from me. I swear."
