Chapter 2 (2/2)
“How is it?” July asked.
Jhing shook her head. “I’m blanking out ah.”
Before going back to her station, July whispered, “Real life experience” which stayed on Jhing’s mind as days pa.s.sed.
Before going to bed, Jhing will unconsciously stare at the box. She struggles to stop herself from picking it up and… inflict more bleeding st.i.tches on her heart.
Instead of writing, she always finds herself crying every night without knowing the reason why. Maybe frustration. Maybe disappointment. Maybe… she just hated herself, and the box and that guy and again, herself.
Jhing’s face screamed ‘I cried last night and it was not a pretty sight’ every next morning, which almost all her co-workers saw but didn’t bother to ask why… not until July saw the puffy, red eyes, and nose and blus.h.i.+ng cheeks.
“Makeup, beaten up, or heartbroken?”
Instead of answering, Jhing focused on her screen. She couldn’t count how many times she has read the ma.n.u.script that’s giving her headaches right now.
We tried to escape from the mansion while holding hands running through the hallway that was really quiet I was worried because her mother might hear us and erase the blush that appeared on my cheeks because of how he tightly holds my fingers my heart is also beating so loud when he look at me and saw me smiling so I scolded him “what’s your problem” he looks at our hands and quickly released it he looked really cute being shy and blus.h.i.+ng kyaaaaa!!!!
“What the h.e.l.l!” Jhing screamed as she ma.s.sages her forehead, “Where’s the period? I feel like being murdered whenever I read this.”
“Chill, girl.”
“How can I chill if I publish this sentence that seems to never end?”
“That’s why you’re here to edit.”
Jhing rolled her eyes. “I should just re-write it.”
July shooked her head while smiling, “Been there, done that. Not going to do it again.”
As a reply, Jhing grunted.
This was her dream! She knew her life was dedicated into words, sentences and emotions in between, that’s why even though Jhing doesn’t have a diploma in writing or language, she instantly grabbed the opportunity that appeared before her.
Writing stories, learning, and editing while earning cash?
A win-win situation.
But reading ma.n.u.scripts over and over again, trying to correct mistakes after mistakes, a few authors getting b.u.t.thurt with the comments, was a lot harder than she thought it was. She felt her blood boiling in anger.
Especially to those authors who seem to want to steal their editor’s breaths because they don’t use any periods or commas in their sentences. It’s not even funny. It’s just making her life difficult ah!
Jhing understands: the first draft will be a jejemon. But how can the author let her suffer like this? They leave it as a mess and quickly sends it to her because they’re so excited for their stories to get published.
Who cares about the editing process?
Jhing rants while she’s editing. She admits that the story has potential, it only needs polis.h.i.+ng.
A very thorough and deep polis.h.i.+ng.
Jhing went home exhausted and a problem, still in her head: Novella Project. Deadline.
To ease her mind, she started writing comments on Wattpad notifications. The genuine comments make her smile, it’s her favorite. Some posted ‘cliffhanger,’ ‘update!’ and ‘author why is it taking you so long to post the new chapter so frustrating why are you like this.’
She wanted to reply:
WOW. Try to write and work, can you do it? I need to work. I need to bring food to the table. You don’t know how frustrating to delete everything I’ve written because it’s not enough. Updates. Novella, and that box. That guy! And me! What’s MY problem? I feel really childish right now!
Of course, she ended up deleting the whole thing.
You should not pay them any attention, Jhing, it’s not worth it.
And deadline!
Jhing starts concentrating on the words her characters are whispering in her ears. She needed to choose! She only has a few days left! But which voice will she listen to? Which stories will she introduced? What kind of event will be hard for her to throw in the trash bin?
Real life experience?
Can Facebook chat be considered ‘real life’?
Jhing hid the box when her brain screamed ‘It’s a trap! Hide!’ but as she held it again, memories came rus.h.i.+ng.
It’s really a trap. But can she hide from it forever?
She looks at the white book on her hands taunting her.
In the end, Jhing finally gave in.
She regretted it instantly because the first page already made her break into a cold sweat.
The t.i.tle was handwritten: It Started with Seenzoned.
Below the t.i.tle, there was a drawing of two marshmallow-like cuties. The girl is holding the sign ‘The Writer’ while the boy has ‘The Stranger.’
She skimmed the pages to avoid emotional damage. Her eyes are almost closing to stop herself from looking at the drawings, scenarios and conversations.
The skimming stopped at the page before the last one which made Jhing’s tears started falling… continuously.
It was their last talk, her last favor.
Her wrong move.
On that page, the two characters were on their computer as their backs face each other.
Let’s stop chatting for a while.
Why?
Are you angry?
No!
Editing is really hard… I need to focus on my work first?
At 365th day, I’ll come back at 23:11.
Do you want me to help you?
Why 365?
That’s still a long way to go ah…
Just because. Do you trust me?
Jhing…
After 43 days, we’ll talk again.
Trust me.
Another page flipped. At the center of this page, the guy is holding a paper.
‘HAPPY FIRST YEAR OF SEENZONING!’
And on the last page was the same guy cartoon but he wasn’t holding the paper anymore… he dropped it on the floor.
And instead of the goofy and smiling face, this one– it’s just staring.
Back at Jhing.
With an empty feeling.
The others were ill.u.s.trated, but this particular drawing was hand drawn via pen.
There was also something written at the very corner. It was so small that Jhing almost missed it.
The words were written messily… and the ink was smudged.
I trusted you…
Whether it was tears that smudged the ink, or other stuff– Jhing’s hoping, praying, and thinking that it was hers and not that guy’s.
Jhing closed her eyes and breathed.
To get away from pain, she writes stories. This serves as a diversion and relaxation. Jhing did it in the past, she can do it again to move on. That’s why to forget the memories she wants to throw away…
Jhing wrote everything and shared it to the world.
So at exactly 23:11, she started writing her novella– about a girl writer, a weird stranger, and how everything started with a seenzoned.
She’s hoping that after writing this, she’ll be able to move on.
Not until the next day came where it seemed like a zombie entered the building.
Jhing stayed up so late at night. She also cried as she wrote so it’s not a surprise for her to turn into a monster. With bloodshot eyes, she walks towards the elevator and noticed the doors slowly shutting.
This monster quickly chased it….. only to stop halfway and decided not to go inside.
Jhing stared at the closed door, hoping– hoping it was only her imagination.
She spent the midnight writing about her, him, and their 23:11’s.
It’s just a hangover.
Her mind’s just playing with her when she saw his familiar face, right?
Riiiight?
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