1 The News (1/2)

It is a cold chilly night. The papers pile up everywhere, and I am here editing a news article about the murder of a famed politician. For two years, I have been working and striving for the best. I am determined to do whatever I can to change my life. As I type the article on my computer, I heard a ring from my phone. I can barely keep my face up. I have worked all night, and the caffeine does not help me get to my senses. I read the contact and it is only my friend, Emma.

I answered the call and all I can hear are silent cries that are trying to be suppressed. I cannot help but wonder what made her upset. She always had a fragile heart.

”Emma, what happened?” I manage to say when I felt the pain that Emma is going through when I heard her cry.

She is my dear friend Emma. She had always been there in my life whenever we need each other. It pains me whenever I hear her silent cries.

”Rose, I don't know what to do. My father betrothed me to get married to a guy I do not love. He says it is the best decision that would keep me safe. I . . . cannot bear it. It was meant to . . . sell me like a bride to some son of a CEO! How could he? Why did he never even care about what I would feel?”

I cannot find the proper words to say to her. This is not the medieval ages. How could he betroth his child for business reasons? This is not the period of history where parents marry off their children for those reasons. Even so, I find it hard to think about her situation. I cannot get her out of an arranged marriage. She will have to do that on her own.

Being a daughter of a business magnate is not an easy life. She has everything at her disposal. How could her father be so cruel to her? She has the rights to decide for herself. After all, she will inherit his company soon. She is the heir to her father's company, RSC. It stands for the name of her father – Raphael S. Concepcion.

”Worry not. Everything will be alright. Have you talked with your father about how you disagree with the arranged marriage?”

I cannot be certain about things turning out well. I am an ordinary person. Even if I try to do something to help her, her father would disagree with me. He is obsessed with all his fortunes. Now, he went too far by arranging her daughter to be married for business reasons. She may not say it, but I can see through what she means. Sometimes, I wonder how their personalities differ. Emma does not care that I am a girl from an impoverished family, while her father keeps me away from her. He discriminates my social status. For years of being her friend, I never said a word against her father. I know my words will distraught her once it came out of my mouth. He is her father after all.

She cannot stop releasing all of those tears. I sense that there is a larger reason for her sadness at the moment. She was always too mysterious. Her heart is a box filled with mysteries that only she has the key to it. Eloisa and I never managed to open it. We, her friends, are always in the dark when it came to her feelings. She hid it too well. I know it.

Suddenly, her sobs died down. It was as if a wind came over to stop her cries. But all of a sudden, she had to ask me a question. ”Rose, how would you feel if your loved one left you? I mean, it is not the case, but I just want to know. If your father told your beloved that he should stay away from you, how would you feel? I am just curious.”

After she said that, I put a lot thought about what she said. It is as if she is trying to send me a message about it. She is an ambiguous person that is why her words can mean more than one. What is she trying to say?

”I do not know the answer for that. I am sorry. Why did you ask?”

To be honest, I have not enough time to love. I was always so determined to help my family, but now that I reached my goal, I cannot help but feel lonely. Eventually, I will have to marry soon. How can I marry when I have not even tasted love?

”It only came to me. Anyway, thank you for listening. I hope I did not disturb you while you are on your overtime. I think all I have to do is face the engagement. Thank you, Rose.”

She managed to collect herself. She stopped crying about her engagement. I was relieved when she finally managed to smile. I cannot stand whenever she cries. It is not that I hate people when they cry, but it is not often that you hear or see Emma cry. She is always a happy-go-lucky person, but a silent one though. I am suspicious about how Emma is always acting. She harbors many secrets. I may know her on the outside, but I do not know the inside.

”Alright, you are welcome,” I say before I hang up.

I went back to work. My eyes are straining. I cannot help but feel that water is already building up and my eyes are beginning to drop. I just need to finish one last paragraph. When I managed to finish it, I felt a sense of joy. I can finally go home.

I rode the bus home. There were only a few people on board because it is already 10 pm. I sat on the window seat so I can lean on it and sleep. Just when I can finally take a rest, I received another call. This time it is from Eloisa. Oh no, what has she done now? Do I have to bail her out again? I answered the call hesitantly fearing about what kind of trouble she has gotten herself into this time.

”Rose!”