11/23

Hashtag 11

#DoorSlightlyOpen

"A door ajar is attempting comfort not to be in control."

-x-

Comfortability is what people wants and Jhing Blanco wasn't an exemption. Most people seek comfort to the ones who they think they'll be with for the long run. As for Jhing, the comfort is within herself.

Once she steps out of her zone, nothing will be in her control.

Bilang writer, she owns everything she writes; from setting, to characters, and the background stories to the climax until resolution. She breaks characters, let them fall – she weave the plot, and words and feelings.

A misconception of romance writers though, a lot expect them to know everything about the feeling.

News flash! They don't.

Especially to someone named Jhing, who's too comfortable of her own zone, that when someone tries to break and step inside – she started panicking.

She couldn't control Miko, or anyone around her life, could she?

Lalo na nang galing sa Caliraya that Monday, kahit nananakit ang kasu-kasuan, ay nag-ayaan pa ang book team at ilang writers kumain.

Jhing's protest of "hindi ako pwede, uuwi na po ako gabi na, sorry," was not heard by any of them.

They casually talked while eating as if there were no body aches they could feel.

"Jhing!" Her name being called is a thing, "Miko" and to be called with his name is another.

"Bakit Miss Zue!" Miko smiled.

Their topic from Caliraya experience went to Novella Project. Kinamusta ang project that ended up with Jhing saying, "sige po, iisipin ko na kung ano mga illustrations," trying to not look at him. But he was, of course, staring at her.

She couldn't control his eyes, so she controls hers instead.

For comfortability's sake.

Though, the taxi they went on para ihatid sa kanya-kanyang lugar ay isa sa pinaka awkward ride na nasakyan ni Jhing. Pinagsiksikan ng anim na tao ang sarili sa taxi. Miss Vams beside the driver, while Jhing sat on the left side. Katabi niya si July, then Yayo tapos si Miko. Fall was lying on their lap, ito lang kasi ang way para magkasya.

Good thing the taxi driver didn't complain.

"Dapat doon ka sa likod ng taxi, Hulog." Miko laughed. "Laki mong sagabal dito sa loob."

"Ikaw 'tong lalaki dapat ikaw 'tong humihiga, eh."

"Matangkad ako," pagmamalaki pa ni Miko.

"Eh di putulin natin 'yung legs mo!"

"Hala." Hinawakan ni Miko ang braso ni Yayo. Jhing wanted to ask Yayo's son in her tummy if he's okay with her Mom's giggling like a teen. "Ate Yayo oh, bully si Hulog."

Dahil nakasandal ang ulo ni Fall sa bag ni Jhing, she saw Fall's smile as she said, "Jhing oh. Ang gulo ni Miko."

Pinanliitan niya ng mata ang kaibigan. Fall laughed.

The awkwardness didn't lessen nang tatlo na lang sila nila Fall at Miko sa loob ng taxi, Fall in between them. She's thankful for Fall's stories and quirkiness, dahil ito ang distraction niya sa idea na nasa iisang taxi lang sila ni Miko.

For the last stop, Jhing thought Miko will be with Fall, considering they both have the same way. Nagulat siya nang bumalik sa loob si Miko, and she saw Fall's knowing smile, as she said, "ingat kayo, ha!"