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SERYOSO ang mga mukha ni Jaffnah at ni Zefarino habang naroon sila sa writing room. Ito ang unang beses ni Jaffnah na makapasok rito dahil noon ay nasilip niya lang ang kwarto habang abala sa pagsusulat si Zefarino.

The room is not that wide but it also has shelves on the sides while there's a part across the room where there's a window and a built-in couch beside it.

Sa kaliwang gilid mula sa pinto ay naroon ang antique na table at trono ng nag-iisang manunulat. Sa ibabaw ay nakapatong ang itim na makinilya. Iyon ang ginagamit ni Zefarino sa pagtipa ng kaniyang mga obra.

Sa gitna naman ng kwarto ay naroon ang maliit na table at ang couches kung saan ngayon nakaupo si Jaffnah.

"Tell me, what did you see, Miss Lereve?"

It was five in the morning, at daig pa nila ang mga nagbabalita sa umaga sa sobrang aga nilang mag-usap. Nawala na nga sa isip nila ang magsipilyo o anomang orasyon tuwing umaga.

"It was the same dream you had that night when you killed me... you got out of the car to go to where I am and you stabbed me multiple times to death."

"And then? Ang mga nakikita ko lang ba ang nakikita mo?"

Umiling si Jaffnah. "No, Sir. While you're dreaming, I can stroll around. Actually, hindi ikaw ang masyado kong pinanood kagabi kung hindi ang paligid. Pamilyar talaga sa akin ang lugar kung saan naganap ang banggaan," paliwanag ng dalaga.

"It is the same for me. What else did you see around?"

"May hotel na malapit sa pinangyarihan ng banggaan. I can draw that hotel. Hindi ko kasi masyadong ma-explain ang itsura pero natatandaan ko siya."

"Here." Iniabot ni Zefarino ang leather notebook niya at ang mamahaling ballpen. "Sketch it."

Huminga nang malalim si Jaffnah tsaka sinimulang iguhit ang hotel na nakita niya sa panaginip. "There's an egg in the middle and may mga stick sa paligid."

Zef chuckled a little which made Jaffnah stare at him. "Tinatawanan mo ba ang drawing ko?"

Umiling si Zefarino. "No, not your drawing but how you described it."

"Well, I am not a writer so I am not good at explaining things. Here. Done." Ipinakita ni Jaffnah ang sketch niya kay Zefarino.

"That is the City of Dreams, but I have never been into that place, Miss Lereve, as far as I remember. How about you?"

"I think I am, but I am not sure. I just feel like I have been into that place, pero hindi ko maalala kung personally ko ba napuntahan o dahil lang nakita ko siya sa panaginip mo."

"Maybe you will know once you visit the place. What else did you see in my dream?"

Sumeryoso ang timpla ng mukha ni Jaffnah. "The plate number?"

Umawang ang bibig ni Zefarino. "Woah, that was a great move."

Kinuhang muli ni Jaffnah ang leather notebook na pag-aari ni Zefarino tsaka nag-drawing. "AMF 4699. May monumento ni Dr. Jose Rizal sa gitna. Sa ibaba, may nakalagay na matatag na republika. All capital letters," paliwanag ni Jaff habang gumuguhit.

"Hmm... I think that is not the latest design now from what I observed last time I went outside. How about the other one?"

Umiling si Jaffnah. "There's no plate number in your car. Ang plate number na nabanggit ko ay ang plate number kung saan ako naroon, Sir."

Zefarino heaved a deep sigh. "I see. At least now, we have an idea where it happened. Good job, Miss Lereve. Is there anything else you saw?"

Magsasalita pa sana si Jaffnah nang magbukas ang pinto sa writing room. Sir Mon and Pit was there. "Good morning, lovelies! Mukhang seryoso ang pinag-uusapan ninyo, ah," pagbati ng mga ito.

"Ahh... pinag-uusapan lang po namin 'yong—"

Naputol ang sasabihin ni Jaffnah nang sumabat si Zefarino. "We were discussing about the webtoon." Kinuha ni Zefarino ang leather notebook at ang ballpen niya mula sa dalaga. "Now that you're here, dala niyo na ba ang mga gamit ni Miss Lereve?"

"Yes, naroon sa labas. Iaakyat na lang namin sa kabilang kwarto katabi ng kwarto niya."

"Dito na lang."

Napalingon si Jaffnah kay Zefarino.

"I want to see if she's really working."

"H-ha? A-ayokong may nanonood kapag nagdo-draw ako."

"Oh, really?" mapaglaro nitong tanong. Naalala naman ni Jaffnah ang pagguhit niya kanina sa harapan ng manunulat. Now, she knows he's not convinced by what she said. Napakamot na lang siya sa kaniyang ulo.

"Then, we'll install them here," wika ni Mon habang namamangha sa mga tinginan ni Zef at Jaffnah. "But before we do that, I have a bad news for you."

Kumunot ang noo ni Jaffnah.

"What is it?"

Umupo si Sir Mon at Pit sa couch. "Your rival announced that he'll make a webtoon soon."

"R-rival?" singit na tanong ni Jaffnah na nasapawan ang sasabihin sana ni Zefarino.

"May rival si Zef sa pagsusulat. Iyon ay si Arion Lamusca," paliwanag naman ni Pit. "Do you know him?"

"Oh, yeah."

Zefarino's forehead creased. "You know him, but not me?"

Jaffnah nods. "I once read his work. I like his writing style and also the fact that his mystery books have a hint of romance."

The greatest author scoffed in disbelief. "Romance, my ass," he cursed that made Jaff gaped in shock. It is the very first time she heard him blurt out a bad word. And she can admit, it was kinda hot.

Sir Mon cleared his throat to gain their attention again. Para naman kasing may sariling mundo ang dalawa. "The thing is, we are not yet to announce Zefarino's webtoon but the rival already moved first. Lalabas si Zefarino pa ang nanggagaya. Mainit pa naman ang diskusyon sa kanilang dalawa kung sino ang pinakamagaling."

"I am not competing. He can do what he wants as I do what I want," saad naman ni Zefarino.

"And I know that, Zef, but your public image is going to be destroyed. Paano kung malaman pa nila ang totoong dahilan ng retirement mo? Kaya nga ginagawan natin ng paraan so you can be back on track."

"A writer's block is normal for a writer," may diing sabi ng manunulat.

"But it might end your career. I am clearly having anxieties because that is what I see based on your actions, Zefarino. The way you announce your retirement as soon as you get those repetitive dreams. You were frustrated. This is the very first time you are not writing for so long."

"I am trying."

Mabigat man ang tensyon sa gitna ng pag-uusap nila, hindi mapigilang maging concern ni Jaffnah sa kaniyang mga naririnig. She kept on glancing to the famous author as if she wanted to comfort him or tell him that everything's gonna be fine but she knows her place. She doesn't want to butt in her thoughts, but one thing is for sure, she promised to herself that she'll help him the way he had helped her for her younger brother.

"I know you are, that's why I am telling you this news. This is not to pressure you, Zefarino, but for you to be aware. Your rival is doing everything to outshine you. He'll probably take this opportunity to be the number one."

"I am not threatened as long as Miss Lereve is here."

Jaffnah's heart skipped a beat. Napalingon siyang muli kay Zefarino at kitang-kita niya ang seryoso nitong mukha. She should not feel something or give it a meaning. Siguro'y nasabi lang iyon ng manunulat dahil nasaksihan nito ang pambihira niyang kakayahan. Idagdag pa na kaya niyang gumuhit.

Napatingin din sa kaniya si Sir Mon at Pit. "Right, because she's a great artist. I see. So, Miss Fleurdevuille, prepare yourself, we got a lot of things to do starting today."

"Naiintindihan ko po."

Tumulong na rin si Jaffnah kay Sir Mon at Pit sa pag-aayos ng working station niya sa isang gilid ng writing room. Kumikislap ang mga mata niya habang pinagmamasdan ang malaking drawing tablet at monitor. Naroon din ang isang hilera ng pen na gagamitin niya. Walang mapagsidlan ang galak na lumalaganap sa kaniyang puso.

"Nagustuhan mo ba?" tanong ni Pit. Silang dalawa na lamang ang natira sa kwarto pagka't lumabas sandali si Sir Mon kasama si Zefarino.

"Oo! Sobrang ganda, Sir Pit! Naluluha nga ako, eh. Pinipigilan ko lang kasi baka tawanan mo ako."

Natawa naman si Pit. "Para kang bata. Well, bata ka pa naman talaga. Mabuti at nagustuhan mo ang binili namin ni Mon para sa 'yo. Maaasahan ba namin na gagawin mo nang magaling ang trabaho mo?"

"Oo naman, Sir Pit! Maraming salamat talaga! Nakikita ko pa lang, gusto ko nang gamitin. Excited na akong mag-drawing!"

"Halata nga."

Kapag talaga sa pagguhit ay bumibilis ang tibok ng puso ni Jaffnah. Ito talaga ang pangarap niyang gawin sa buong buhay niya. Kahit nga hindi siya bayaran ay gagawin niya ito nang walang karekla-reklamo. Bonus na nga lang na kikita siya sa bagay na libangan niya lang noon.

"Sige, maiwan na kita. Nand'yan naman ang manual, pero mukhang hindi mo naman 'yon kailangan, but just in case."

"Opo, Sir Pit. Thank you so much po!"

Lumabas na si Pit sa writing room kaya naman malaya nang kinutingting ni Jaffnah ang drawing tablet na ibinigay para sa kaniya. She turned it on and she couldn't believe how fast and efficient everything for her. Halos magmukha nga siyang baliw dahil sa pagluha at pagngiti nang magkasabay.

She warmed up herself and sketched some scenarios on the tablet. She familiarized everything before she decided to go to the library and get that first book she wasn't able to read last night. She enjoyed herself while doing her things without knowing that Zefarino was outside observing her from afar.

While sipping his tea, he uttered words he didn't wish for her to hear. "I'm sorry for killing you."

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