"Oh, really? I didn't expect that someone would also read this. All my classmates and friends know nothing about this story."
Canley tapped the right side of the ground as if he was inviting her to sit beside him.
"Why?" she wondered.
She was not planning to have a long chat with him.
"Come here," he held her left hand and pulled her down gently.
She sat on his right side without leaning on the tree.
He was having fun while telling the story, and she couldn't get into his monologue. He even showed hand gestures and sound effects so she could feel his storytelling about the book.
"Right? What a letdown that the story has ended that way. I hope the author will add something more to it," he commented.
He seemed disappointed.
"Why?"
"The author must be fond of a cliffhanger. It was a bad ending for me. No, actually, it's the worst ending I've ever read!"
Heavien didn't know if it was supposed to be a compliment or a total insult to her. She had no clue how to react or comment. He just mentioned it was a great comic book, yet he considered it to have the worst ending he had ever read. Where should she place herself then?
This was the first criticism from a reader that she'd taken face-to-face. It was good to hear one of her readers' impressions personally. He even expressed his opinion about the book with dissatisfaction on his face.
So, this was what Canley thinks about the comic.
"I wish for at least one last chapter of it to give me closure." He even demanded one last chapter of it.
She thought it ended pretty well.
What closure does he need?
"I already know what the author will add if she adds," she responded.
In her peripheral vision, he stared at her. "What will it be?"
She watched what was in front of her, where the students were walking, running, and eating. She could feel the cool wind on her arms, blowing her hair.
"Even if the two are not together, they will learn to live through each other's memories. They can avoid the destiny written for them, but they cannot escape it. If they try to get away from what is set for them, they are only hurting themselves. They shall receive what path has been prepared for them because they know there's a good ending awaiting.
For some, it might be a bad ending, but there's a reason why the author chose it to be like that. Not every story should turn out to be what the readers expect it to be. If the author always favors the readers, then where's the thrill behind it? We tend not to always have an ideal ending. And that brings excitement to life because it can be unpredictable."
Canley was silent, and she could see in her peripheral vision that he was staring at her seriously. She turned to her left, and he just kept staring blankly at her.
What's his deal?
Did he get her point? Or did she explain it implicitly? It must be too deep for him to get the gist of it. Anyway, she hoped he got it so that she wouldn't have to explain herself anymore.
"Hey," she poked him on his shoulder.
"Oh, my bad!" He scratched his head. He finally came to his senses. "You are?" he squinted his eyes, waiting for an answer.
"Heavien," she simply answered.
"I thought so!" He pointed at his left index finger in the air.
She got startled at his reaction. "W-Why?"
"You're the author of this! No wonder you look alike." He pointed out the book he was holding. "Why didn't you tell me?!"
Canley opened the book to the last page of it, where her face was printed. There were a few details written about her and about the comic book she had drawn and written. Was she obliged to tell him that she was the author of the book he simultaneously bragged and nagged about? It just happened that they had the same face as that girl printed on the book.
Okay, she couldn't make a joke out of it. That was indeed her, but she had no definite memories of the story from the book, so she was not yet confident of claiming it hers.
"Hahaha!" She couldn't hold it in, so she laughed at him.
She noticed that he suddenly fell silent. Maybe he was now ashamed of the things he told her. She didn't mind his previous rude actions. As a matter of fact, he is amusing.
Okay, enough of this. As a form of her apology because she woke him up from his deep sleep, she gave him an autograph. That marked two consecutive autographs for today's record.
Heavien glanced at her wristwatch. It took longer than expected.
"I have to leave," she told him.
She forgot that she still needed to pee, and the three of them were waiting for her for lunch. They must be mad at her right now.
She stood up and patted her skirt because of the dirt from sitting on the ground.
"Where are you going?"
"At the canteen. My friends have been waiting for me."
She was about to run when he took her left hand.
He stood up and smiled. "Pleased to meet you, Author."
He called her Author, just like the name of the hologram in the story. He let go of her hand. She smiled at him, too, then nodded. She ran fast.
"Miss Author!"
She stopped running for a moment and looked back.
"Mm?" She raised her eyebrows.
"Let's meet again and talk about the sequel to your book. I can be your editor, so I should be the first to read the sequel, okay?" She smirked at what he uttered. "Canley Sablo, grade 11, from class ICT-D. I always spend my lunch time here. Make sure to hit me up!"
"Looking forward to your volunteering!"
Canley waved at her, and so did she.
She continued running. She paused running for a bit and caught her knee while catching her breath.
For a moment, she grasped the fresh air and took time to wander her eyes to the beautiful view of the school. She could clearly see the school's garden from where she was standing. That was the place where it all started and ended.
The moment she talked to Canley, it was as if the two of them were longtime friends.
She smiled at the last part of what he said. She was being shaken by her thoughts.
Sequel? Hmmm...
I will leave it to your imagination.
Heavien started running again while embracing the next chapter of her life.
THE END
Character Names Pronunciation
Leonthan Hortaia: Lyon-than Hor-ta-ya
Heavien Cyre Luvitos: Hee-vyen Sayr Lu-vi-tos
Brenille Artheo: Bre-nil Ar-the-yo
Rochevel Javinendo: Rosh-vel Ha-vi-nen-do
Rochedan Javinendo: Rosh-dan Ha-vi-nen-do
Myriana Quevas: Mir-ya-na Kwe-vas
Alexus Pavett: A-lek-sus Pa-vet
Shaunrey Hortaia: Shon-rey Hor-ta-ya
Jecko Noman: Je-ko No-man
Yriel Evirez: Ee-ri-yel Eh-vi-rez
Seyah Miaje: Se-yah Mi-ya-he
Trake Lo Vega: Treyk Lo Ve-ga
Nadine Tarris: Na-din Ta-ris
Karson Lu: Kar-son Lu
Canley Sablo: Kan-lee Sab-lo