Chapter 10 (1/2)

¹Hulog- The Filipino word for ”Fall”

²Kuya- Ate is Older Sister while Kuya is Older Brother

Both can be used towards people who are not your actual family,

it can also be used towards older people as a sign of respect

TheirOwnTorture

“Everything will be painful for someone who is cruel to oneself”

-x-

Jhing envisioned things differently

She was too sure that when destiny will try to play with their lives, the sine his after that e to breathe the same air as hers

And she was too sure once she pushed harder, he will back away

That hat she wanted

She was scared as fuck when he didn’t even budge

As if there was no past, no heartbreak, or even blocking of accounts

She was expecting bitterness! Anger! Questions of whys and hows! Even the sound of his voice, too dark and angry, was in her head every night before she sleeps- playing over and over again - as he should point out every single thing she had done to him He needed an explanation from her, and a reasonable one on his part

But he didn’t ask

No anger

Not even bitterness

Evenabout what happened, nada

Negative hat she envisioned Miko to be

If someone left her without any reason like what she did to hi will hate and burn that person into the pits of hell… But, duh She forgot that everyone has different personalities Sas, different reactions

Miko and Jhing are really different from each other

It see when I saw you in the washroohed and followed, 'I'nant, am I!?'

Fall was so drunk that night, her appearance was Miko’s cue to get out of the scene and go home

Miko was absent the next few days

But every night, before going to sleep, Miko’s serious yet s's mind She can still feel hoiped her cheeks with a handkerchief She could still remember him, her reaction to him and her heartbeat as he said, ‘I stay’

The line was too familiar to her heart; she was so sure Miko kneas from hers

When Miko showed up in the office and s just stared at nothing as she tries to stop her traitor heart fro too fast

Walls up Poker face Think like nothing happened And go with the flow

Like how she always planned from the start

“I'll pass,” Jhing answered when asked, rather, when July said soetaway, and Caliraya “I'”

“What?”

“Less headcount, less expense” She sat in her cubicle and started editing the manuscripts, but July turned her around to face her

July’s so to”

“Huh?”

A triu You’re our writer, and an editor, too”

Her thoughts about being a writer and an editor for being a in situation? Jhing is starting to regret it

“Is that true? Mac-Mac is visiting our home and asks for me?” I asked Jamaica, my sister

“Uh, hahahaha [Describe the laugh Not just type hahaha]-err—oo, ate [1 Ate] That's why you should come back here in the Philippines often It seeland with aunt [Aunt] Bee… [3 Add actions!] Almost 13 years have passed since we last met, [I was 4 and you were 9 I'ue=””>, ate [Ate] Henna”

1 Capitalize a title/codename when directed called to a person Ate Bro Papa Aunt The Emotional Guy

2 Put action in between a chunk of dialogue for no one in a daily convo say long paragraphs continuously as if memorized

“This is why I'ht? I want to spend the ti It's been years since I've spoken our dialect ah! ”Uy let's use the elevator, Mai!” I pulled her and entered the elevator

[Character facts can ue realistic

Henna should say “lift” (English term) instead of “elevator” (American)

Note: If necessary, use slang words (but not too much)

Dialogues shouldconversation), reveal character personality/backstory (important only!) and provide (not redundant / too obvious) information]

We slept after watching , oke up, Mac-Mac came and visited us

[Actually, the whole scene can be shortened for it didn’t move the plot forward Can be deleted too

Note: Don’t let characters sound the same If someone curses damn it, let the other curse shi+t, bloody hell, or fuckshi+t Or give good reason why they talk the same (ex: because they talk to each other too much every day that's why they share the same expressions)]

I was shocked when I found out the reason why Mac-Mac kept visiting our ho He just wanted to see Mai-Mai and bring hi at his house Welcome back to me, said the both of them and their son

Wow That was one hell of a turn of events

As for Jhing’s turn of event in hell, it was the tea Her apartment, even lonely, was much more comfortable than a crowded area, thank you very much

And the last but not the least of her concerns was…

…Miko

But there wasn’t any other choice, were they?

Jhing basically dragged herself to join the Caliraya escapade The writers, together with the book department, were on the same bus Other departments are on the other buses

Fortunately for Jhing, she was sitting beside Fall

Unfortunately, Fall and Miko have a close relationshi+p so the latter sat on Fall's other side while Facio followed Miko to sit on his side Just one turn of Jhing's head, she will surely see him Even if she sets her eyes on the s, she can still see his reflection

“Wow, Hulog¹, you're bloo today”

Very unfortunately for Jhing, she can clearly hear the voice of Miko despite the noise inside the bus

“I'ive you my Lays so leave me alone”

“Awtsu” Miko laughed as he reached for the junk food in Fall's bag “How about the Ruffles then, come on!”

The journey to Laguna was a et some sleep with earphones and music on, the noise of authors and book teanam Style

Few hours after, the second they got out of the bus, Jhing almost shouted, “Amen!” and jump with joy She wanted to ju that they still need to ride a boat to reach Caliraya premise

“Help us here ah!!” Fall cursed when Miko playfully pulled her back the moment she stepped on the boat

When Jhing saw Miko look at her, she didn't say anything as she quickly stepped on the boat and directly went inside She ignored Fall’s questioning eyes

At the assee at the Duplex, but she ith Fall and was forced to come and join the activities

“Jhing!”

Aahhh!

She hated it when people call her Because they were in the roup picture, all attention was focused on hers, including his

“Co five phones “Or else you'll be the one taking the picture!”

Good idea!

But Fall didn't let her so Jhing went back to her position and tried to s al a baby or herself

Then she heard Miko laugh

Did he just laugh at her? What the

After the nerve-wracking sky bicycle experience, Jhing enjoyed every place they went even though it was tiring and aard Playing earth ball - writers vs book teaee ju

The adults become kids for the day

Until they decided to do wall cli to force her but this tiive in Her knees felt numb because of the sky bicycle

Fall finally gave up after few minutes She then climbed the ith Facio Failed to clasp a rock, she shouted, “I'm tired, Kuya²! Can you just please pull me up to the top!?”

Miko was the one who pulled the rope suspending Fall in the air He fooled around so Fall kept shrieking at the top of her lungs “fuck you! fuck you, Miko! Shet! Help!”

A few curses after an unsteady rope, Fall finally reached the top with the help of Miko “Yes! I finished cli! But still, fuck you, Miko!”

A set of laughter

On the other hand, Miko was breathing heavily as he sat near Jhing The silence and their arm’s inch distance felt aard, so in the end, she stood up and went to the corner with her legs wiggling

Miko stood up and went after her

What the heck