The favorite characters

02

»» Daphne ««
»» Seravina ««
»» Cedric ««

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"What the hell are you doing, Seravina?!" Cedric gripped Seravina's arm, eyes full of anger. Jaw clenched, forehead furrowed. "Didn't I tell you to never touch her?!"

He pushed her with force, making the crying lady hit the ground. Despite Cedric cursing in front of her, Seravina's eyes were locked on the woman giving her a sad look, full of empathy. Daphne, also on the ground because of Seravina, still chose to be compassionate and care for her.

It's all your fault. Is what Seravina's thinking. But in Daphne's mind, she's hurt to see the woman who she thought of as a friend get hurt like this. She blamed herself for being the priestess, she wanted her old life back, as Seravina's friend.

If she weren't the priestess, she wouldn't have to meet Cedric. They wouldn't have fallen in love.

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Cedric helped me get up. "I-I'm sorry, ate. Did I push you too hard?" he genuinely asked. 

Nakangiti akong umiling. "Don't worry, it didn't hurt." Nang makatayo ako, may tumapik kaagad sa kamay ni Cedric sa 'kin at siya ang humawak ng kamay ko.

Daphne's forehead furrowed. "Be careful, Ced! You're hurting sis Sera!" Suway niya.

I awkwardly chuckled hoping to lighten up the mood, seeing that Cedric was about to blow up any moment to Daphne. Baka mag-away na naman sila. "I'm okay, I'm okay."

"Hmp, let's go sis Sera." Inirapan ni Daphne si Cedric at marahan akong hinila kasama sa paglalakad niya.

"B-But I'll read the comments first-"

Daphne looked back at me, pouting. "No. You won't. Let this chapter pass. Join us first, okay?" Pag-aya niya sa 'kin. "Kade said he has suggestions for the next chapter, you know, how to make it more dramatic." Muli siyang naglakad habang hila-hila ako. "Let's hear him out first."

I didn't answer. Hinayaan ko na lang siyang hilahin ako at marahang napangiti. I know she's worried about me, especially in this chapter. She knows that the readers are satisfied seeing my character's condition, and she's preventing me from reading their comments.

No matter how many times I tell her—them, that it doesn't bother me, they wouldn't listen. Really, these kids . . .

We went to one of the hidden, not-so-hidden, rooms in the palace. It's huge enough to be a gathering room, but with how big the palace is, no one uses it except us. We called it the setting space, or just simply the space:  where the main and secondary characters hang out.

Hindi nakuntento si Daphne sa ingay ng pagbukas ng malaking pinto, sinabayan niya pa 'to. "What's up, boogers!" she's full of energy as she opened the door.

We were greeted by a high-ceiling room, filled with books. The moonlight is peaking in the arched tall windows that serve as our light with the huge golden candle chandelier and fireplace in the middle of the room. Columns supporting each section of the books, paintings on vacant walls.

A red, gold, wine interior, the color of the palace. Despite having chairs instead of beds, with tables as its furniture, it still feels like home.

As soon as we stepped forward, the person closest to the room who was looking at her reflection in the mirror close to the door noticed us. She's brushing her long brunette hair, wearing a white polo with embroideries and dark red pants with boots. Her eyebrows rose, brown eyes twinkled when our eyes met. Her tab reflected in the mirror.

Another secondary character that the people love . . . 

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Aeryn Edmund
Secondary Character
✧ 36, 984 charisma
⋆ 29,587 favors

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Daphne's loyal friend who sided with her and protected her from anyone. Her number-one defender.

Her twinkling eyes that met mine immediately darkened the moment it went on the person next to me.

Is what the readers think she is . . .

Napangiwi si Aeryn. "Kairita, nakakasira ng gabi."

The energetic Daphne's mood turned sour, she winced seeing her best friend as well. "Bungad na bungad, nakakainit kaagad ng ulo."

"HUH?"

"HUH?"

Halos magkapalit na sila ng mukha dahil sa pagkalapit ng mga mukha nila, dinidiin nila ang noo nila sa isa't isa.

These two reminds me of Daphne and Cedric, like Aeryn is Cedric's female version, no wonder, they are cousins. I don't understand why the characters who love Daphne and her friends in the novel are the opposite in reality. They hate each other's guts.

"Just kiss already," walang ganang kumento ni Cedric nang daanan sila para pumasok.

Mas lalong nainis si Daphne sa narinig. "Shut up, Ced!"

Aeryn took that chance to get closer to me, circling her hand on my arm. "Huhu, sis Sera, that cloud ball is teasing me!" She faked a cry, teasing Daphne.

"Get away from her you nest ball!" pagbawi niya. 

"What did you say?!"

"Ugly and deaf, perfect combo!"

I couldn't react to them, either I'm too tired or I knew that nothing would happen. I kinda miss the quiet life I had, seconds ago. I stood there with a bland smile, slightly closed eyes.

"Mag-away kayo sa labas, 'wag sa bungad. You two are bothering Seravina." Napamulat ako nang makarinig ng malalim na boses. The moment the two girl shut up, I knew it was him. And of course . . . the cold aura he has.

His cold gaze is on the two who stopped fighting. He then fixed his monocle before looking back at me. For some reason, when I look at him, he always has a lukewarm expression. His intimidating face is making him hard to approach as well. But when we face each other, his face always softens. Like it does now. His push-back black hair is opposite to his friend's, making him less stand out, perfect for his role. He always wears dark clothing too.

It's making me softly smile. Another reader's favorite, Cedric's faithful friend in the novel.

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Kade Alexander
Secondary Character
✧ 63, 985 charisma
⋆ 60, 047 favors

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Napatikhim si Kade. "Good eve, Sera. You did well on the latest chapter," he said, fist still covering his mouth.

Parang hindi nagtatalo ilang segundo lang ang nakalipas, dito nagkakasundo ang dalawa. "Psh, pa-good shot," nakasimangot na bulong ni Daphne kay Aeryn na pinaparinig sa 'min. Tumango-tango ang kausap niya. "Para-paraan eh."

Muling bumalik ang masamang tingin ni Kade sa kanila, but this time, he's blushing. "Shut up!"

His reaction made me chuckle. He's always shy, on my view, and the kids love teasing him. Hindi ko lang alam kung bakit ang bilis niyang mamula. Kahit kaedad ko siya, mahilig siyang asarin ng mga kasama namin. Well, he's also too formal with me.

"Thanks, Kade," I said with a smile, walking past him. I could still see the two girls teasing him at the corner of my eye making me chuckle more.

As I went towards a vacant sofa, I saw the last person here. Parang walang-walang enerhiya at lantang gulay, nakasandal siya sa upuan at nakalaglag ang ulo sa sandalan. Nakalantad din ang magkabila niyang kamay na may itim na gloves, mga paang nakabukaka. Nakabukas ang unang dalawang butones ng asul niyang polo.

He's almost like furniture because he's not moving. Unlike his energetic character in the novel as Daphne's second love interest.

"Oh my, are you okay, Wren?"

Umangat ang ulo niya, kaunting natabunan ang mga mata ng kaniyang medyo mahabang itim na buhok. Pero sumisilip ang tsokolate niyang mga mata.

The heartthrob.

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Wren Bayne
Second Lead
✧ 64,078 charisma
⋆ 54, 427 favors

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His forehead furrowed, making him look like he was angry. That gives the people the wrong impression of him. As soon as our eyes met, his eyes circled. From an angry dog to a puppy.

"Wahhh! Ate Sera!" He went towards me and almost hugged me when Cedric who walked between us casually pushed his face which he didn't mind. Instead of hugging me, he hugged my legs.

"I'm bored! Kailan ba kami lalabas sa susunod na chapter?" aniya.

Walang gana siyang dinaanan ng iba na umupo sa mga bakanteng upuan, tila sanay na sa ginagawa ni Wren.

He dramatically looked up at me. "My fans miss me already!"

"Delusional," parinig ni Aeryn na nasa iba ang tingin.

"Crazy," Cedric added, who's now holding a book.

"Don't worry, we're getting closer to the climax. I bet you'll show up soon," pagpapagaan ko ng loob niya.

Despite not knowing what will happen in the next chapter, we all know the plot of the story already. Who is the main antagonist, and how it will end. The novel is like a series, and we are the artists who play the roles.

We don't really know the theory behind it, but as far as I can remember, since I was a kid, I—we could already see the system. Our whole life is the story. And when it ends . . . I actually don't know what will happen. I guess, we will live our own lives?

Lumiwanag na ang mukha ni Wren. "Right? Right? I will have the spotlight again!"

I could feel Daphne rolling her eyes. "Why are there no dead characters in the plot? He would be perfect for the drama," she mumbled.

I awkwardly laugh at her, Wren still hugging my legs.

"D-Don't be like that. How about-"

I stopped when we all saw a notification. It caught us off guard. 

»» Author logging in . . . ««

Napaangat ang dalawang kilay ko. Again?

Prenteng nakaupo si Aeryn, nakakrus ang binti. "Woah, the author's going to update again? Three chapters in a row? That's new."

Nagpatuloy si Cedric sa pagbabasa, hindi pinapansin ang umiilaw na tab sa harapan niya. "Baka gusto na niya tapusin kaagad," walang gana niyang kumento.

»» Author logging in . . . ««

»» Author logging in . . . ««

»» Login error . . . ««

Umangat na ang tingin ni Cedric, napabitaw sa pagkakayakap sa paa ko si Wren. 

Huh? Error?

»» Author logging in . . . ««

»» Login error . . . ««

"W-What's happening?" Napaayos ng upo si Daphne. Even Kade's eyes are focused on the notification.

»» Login error . . . ««

»» Login error . . . ««

»» Login error . . . ««

"P-Perhaps, it's the internet?" Wren tried to brush it off, but his voice says otherwise. He's nervous, everyone is. This hasn't happened before. The error happens, but usually after the second time, it's fixed.

I could feel my heartbeat getting faster, my silver eyes were reflecting the blue light. Biglang bumigat ang pakiramdam ko.

»» Author logging in . . . ««

»» Login error . . . ««

"Check to troubleshoot!" mabilis na ani Cedric. Kaagad na ginawa 'yon ni Kade.

»» Story plot . . . ««
»» Chapters . . . ««
»» Troubleshoot . . . ««
»» Notifications . . . ««

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ERROR̸

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The tabs started glitching, that's when it all sunk in that this was serious. Hindi ako makagalaw sa pwesto ko, nakatutok ang tingin sa umiilaw na tab na paulit-ulit na nag-e-error.

Kade clicked his tongue. "Shit."

»» Login error . . . ««

»» Login error . . . ««

»» Login error . . . ««

»» Login error . . . ««

»» Login error . . . ««

»» Author can't log in . . . ««

»» Ghostwriting activated . . . ««

╭ ─┉─ • ─┉─ ╮

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Seravina regretting her life decisions:

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