"Hala, may bagong update si Miss Poisson!"

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Trixie was blabbing about that new rising author again. There's nothing wrong with it except when she keeps butchering the author's name.

"It's pwa-sa, Trixie, pwa-sa. Hindi poyson. Why are you even calling them 'Miss' when they didn't even disclose their gender."

She rolled her eyes first. The nerve?

"Arte nito. Mas maalam ka? Ikaw ba si poyson?"

Halos umawang ang bibig ko sa babaeng ito. I should've just stayed silent. Seeing her face is enough for my blood to boil.

First thing first, oo mas maalam ko. Pangalawa, that said author happens to be me.

Yes.

I am poisson.

And no one has to know.

"Shoo! Trixie stop swiping!"

Well, maybe one knows.

Inasar ni Vaeda si Trixie hanggang sa nainis ito at lumayo.

Vaeda gave me a smug look. "Oh, come on Belladonna. Stop being mean to your fans."

I frowned at her and pretended to be vomiting. Vaeda and I weren't friends to begin with. Ang sama ko naman kung sasabihin ko na naging close lang kami noong nalaman niya na ako si poisson. Truth hurts though.

Kainis. No one has to know yet she was being too pesky and annoying. Long story short, she found out my identity.

My phone suddenly pinged. Napangiwi ako nang mabasa ang pangalan. Who on earth changed it?

--

[happy twerking crackhead plotterhead]

RedHorse: Kung may RedHorse may BlueHorse ba?

TheMortalSol: Kung ang pambansang isda ay bangus what if kami talaga ni silvanus? Boom panes!

Silvanus: Yuck!

Bhi3: Ouch, mhie. Yakiss daw.

abo: abo sent a picture.

abo: hoi wag kslimutan meet uo mamsaya! be sober Red!

RedHorse: mas lasing ka pa nga magtype kesa saken.

Sanguine: Saan nga ang loc, mhie?

Vetle: Neko-chan Manga Café, vhie

--

I laughed at their silliness. Cute naman nila. I don't usually reply in group chats nor interact with other people that much but knowing that these people hold the same interest as me, they always have a place in my heart.

My work, unexpectedly, was a hit for queer readers, just like me. I didn't disclose my identity though. I prefer to serve my audiences a perfectly baked bread without knowing who the baker is.

I was in awe when Abo reached out to me. I saw a bunch of authors at X who engaged with their readers and teased them about an upcoming collab, little did I know, that I was also part of it. Seryoso ba sila? I felt so honored.

"Uy, ano 'yan?"

I scoffed when Vaeda tried peeking at my screen. My sour expression took her aback. She knows I hate it when people evade my privacy yet she still keeps bugging me. One thing, I also hate those types of people that do not know what's personal space.

Diyan nagsimula eh. I was at the library while typing for the next update. Unfortunately, she sat right next to me and while I was drowned by my words she was already peeking ay my screen. Mind you, naka-low brightness pa iyon.

"Sorry, Belle."

As you should.

Pathetic.

I only remained looking annoyed while she looked uneasy in her seat. I should probably get going.

"Muntik ko na makalimutan. Para sa 'yo pala to."

She doesn't know when to stop, does she? I sighed and stared at the small box she placed at my desk. "This is for you. Thanks for the consistent update even with our tight schedule!"

I looked at it unbelievably. Shit, Vaeda sure knows how to keep putting surprises every time. I felt a wave of guilt around me but I refused to look weak. Dahil sa isang gift lang? I mean, aren't gifts common with friends?

"It reminded me so much of you."

A Belladonna keychain. A poisonous flower, just like my name and how I formed my pseudonym.

I'm at a loss of words. Even if how cruel I am and keep pushing Vaeda away, she still values me as her friend. She still sees me that way. Her interaction didn't change— honestly, she didn't take any advantage of me after knowing that I was possion.

I stood up. "Nag-abala ka pa."

"Ah teka—"

I walked hurriedly and held my phone.

--

To Vaeda:

Red Bean Tree Portrait [Book Two] by poisson.

--

I didn't bother checking her reply as soon as I sent the message. My schedule for posting the full update is still next month yet I also want to treat her. My editor was asking for a second book and it's currently on the process of publishing. After this, I'll try to be nicer to Vaeda.

--

[happy twerking crack head plotterhead]

RedHorse: GUYS HELP!!!!

RedHorse: MAY SAKSAKAN DITΤΟ!!!

Fiorifae: What?!

abo: okeish k INg ba mamsh?

Vetle: Call 911

--

What the heck?! Red? I ran as fast as I could palabas sa campus namin. I have to cross the oval which is way much wider than our three buildings that are joined together. Gabi na pero marami pang estudyante sa campus. Just as I hailed a cab, I saw Red's message.

RedHorse: sends pic

RedHorse: SAKSAKAN NG GANDA

Silvanus: Tangina.

--

I gritted my teeth. Literal na tangina. May tama ka, Silvanus. I only sighed. Still, what matters is she's fine.

"Saan po ma'am?"

"Sa Neko-chan Manga Café, Kuya."

I looked at myself at the rearview mirror. Fuck. Ang haggard ko na tingnan. My bangs was out of place already. Nagpa-hime cut pa kasi, ayan tuloy, it's quite hard taming the maintenance of this hair. I did a quick retouch and fixed myself in a span of seconds. Oh wait, I touched my pin with the colors of pink, yellow, and cyan on my I.D lanyard. Kung pwede lang na ipa-tattoo ko sa noo ko na hindi ako straight.

Oh well.

"Ah, ma'am, bibili lang po ba kayo ng kape?"

I looked at the driver weirdly. "Opo pero baka matagalan pa ako."

"Baka kailangan niyo po ng driver pa-uwi. Hihintayin ko nalang kayo rito."

I declined his request. Good thing he obliged and didn't bother me anymore. That was kind of weird and random. Better be safe than sorry.

As soon as I stepped inside, the bells chimed and the freshly brewed aroma of the coffee hit me like a drug. May napansin akong kumpulan ng grupo sa isang table pero hindi ko sila pinansin at umunang nag-order ng kape.

"Hello! What can I get for you today?"

This is my first time in this Cafe, since recommendation ito ni Vetle, I'm sure this place is pretty good.

"Hot americano, please."

As I was about to scan for the payment, the barista gave me a boyish grin while holding a marker with the white cup. "Name?" He anticipated for my reply and pretended to write something on the mug.

Brother, eugh. Cringe. I paid immediately and left him with his corny tactics.

Papalapit na ako sa table namin nang mahagip ko ang isang babae na naka-wolf cut ang buhok. Haircut ng mga halata. It was Red, tilting her head. Anong kalokohan na naman ang iniisip nito. I mentally did a head count and it looks like isa nalang ang wala pa rito. I hope they didn't wait for too long.

"Looking good, Red." I smiled at Red as she squinted her eyes.

She grinned at me. "Likewise, you look ravishing."

We both laughed at each other. Tumpak. Naka-inom nga ang pulang kabayo namin.

Umupo ako sa tabi ni Sanguine. Tahimik lang ito habang nagtitipa sa kanyang phone. Dang, her perm looks so good!

"Sipag naman," kumento ko.

She looked at me and playfully scrunched her nose. "Anong kabaklaan na naman iyang sinusulat mo?" asar ko.

Ngumisi siya at inayos ang kanyang salamin. "Gusto mo malaman? Special chapter lang. Ihahabol ko sa next batch. This is the part where the knight and—"

I covered my ears. "No spoilers!"

Si Priya or 'Sanguine' ang pinaka-close ko sa lahat. We knew each other back then. I reckon she published a book called the Fate of the Vessel's Soul. Ayokong ma-spoil! Noon, kating-kati na akong basahin ito kaso palaging bitin. First ten chapters lang ang nabasa ko and I stopped and promised that I'll binge the whole thing once it's done. And it's already done.

Another clownish moments with me again. Because her book is rotting in my shelf. Reading slump has been killing me for the past months. Fine! Babasahin ko ito mamaya, I got curious about that knight she's talking about.

"Kaninong kape to?!"

Biglang may sumigaw at naglapag ng kape sa lamesa namin. He faked a cry while fanning himself using his hands. "Ouchie, my fingers. Ang init!"

It was Div, or known as Bhi3. His sense of fashion screams 'pride month' every day. Nakatutuwang tingnan ang pink niyang buhok na may highlights pa. He's literally the human version of rainbows and unicorns.

"And that's why you're supposed to hold the handle and the saucer, not grabbing the whole thing directly, duh," Missy said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Her flaming red butterfly haircut matches her facade. Pinagmasdan ko ito pero hindi naman mukhang galit. I bet her height is around my chest. So cute, just like her pen name, BOOMXD.

"Saka ba't ikaw ang nagdala niyan? Waiter ang peg?" Rue butted in.

Would you look at that, it's the infamous Rue de Guzman. I've read an article article about their family and I can describe it in three words. Corrupt. Politics. Dangerous. May big time pala kaming kasama rito.

"Ih, cute kasi nung Barista ta's sabi niya—"

Everyone groaned and Div could only whine and justify his actions.

I couldn't help but chuckle and raise my hand. "My coffee. Thank you, Div," I muttered flatly.

He raised his brows at me. "Teka, ikaw si poyson no?"

Halos mabuga ni Silvanus ang kanyang ininom. Binato naman ito ni Red ng tissue dahil may tumalsik talaga. "Sorry," he apologized.

Napahalakhak naman si Abo at may pahampas-hampas pa sa lamesa.

"Umayos ka, Div!" aniya.

Div remained confused. "Huh? What's funny? Author ng Red Bean Tree Portrait, that's Poyson. Bet ko nga 'yon. 'Di ba si, Poyson?!"

Halos umusok na ang ilong ko nang paulit-ulit niya pa itong sinasambit.

"Oh, sige, ipagsigawan mo pa," mataray kong ani.

Ang kaninang tahimik pa na si Majesticity ay napatawa. Damn, parang may background coquette music sa bawat galaw niya. "Oh my god, Div!" she exclaimed.

Vetle shook her head while wiping the formed tears due to laughing. "Okay, that's a good one."

"Div, it's pronounced as pwa-sa. Sige ka, kakainin ka ng buhay ni Belladona," Genesis said.

"Sorry, mamsh. Peace be with you." Bumungisngis ito habang naka-peace sign.

I rolled my eyes. Whatever.

"What did I miss? Sorry for being late."

We all turned our heads at the person who arrived late. Nandito na si Hart o kilalang TheMortalSol. My girl crush. She was holding a coffee and that made my eyes sparkle.

About time.

Now that she's here we're back on track again.

--

Paubos na ang kape ko at saka ko lang napansin na manamis-namis ito. I made sure to request with no sugar. It reeks a cherry-like scent. Teka, hindi ba ako pinagtripan ni Red at nilagyan niya ng alak ito? Napagtripan tuloy si Queency kanina.

Either way, I finished my drink and sighed.

"And that's all," Abo ended the discussion.

He's amazing. He gives off as the leader type. He also has a sense of authority. Matangkad ako pero nang tumayo na kaming lahat ay mukhang may ipinaglihi ng kapre sa 'min. Kidding aside. Bago umalis, nagpasalamat muna ako sa kanya.

"No problem, Belle. Don't mention it."

"By the way, nice top."

"Me? Thank you—" He stopped upon realizing as we both cackled like witches.

We all bid good bye with each other. Pumunta muna ako C.R bago umalis. My head suddenly throbbed and I felt like throwing up. Tangina, sobrang dami kong pendings sa klase, puyat pa sa updates, at kape ang kakampi. Eto na ba ang kapalit? Kumakatok na ba sila sa sintido ko?

I went on my way outside and spotted a familiar car across the road. Weird. My suspicions were confirmed when I saw the plate number and it was the same cab that I rode earlier. What the fuck?! Did he seriously wait?

I shivered and as it ran down into my spine. Hindi ako nagpahalata at naglakad sa ibang direksyon. The streets are still busy and so are the people kaya hindi ako masyadong kinabahan.

As I was about to grab my phone, I felt my hands sweating. My heart was pounding as if I was high. Fuck, palpitation! My vision began to get blurry but I snapped myself out of it. I just need to—

"Miss!"

"Huwag!"

Why is everyone shouting...

I pinched myself to keep myself awake but my whole vision is still blurry and the path I crossed had white lines on the road. I clutched my chest while feeling pixilated. What in the world is happening?

Huh... What's that...

People are shouting. Red strobes of lights are everywhere. Blinding brightness with the loud screech noises of a car.

I could only stare at the void and see the end.

--

Something woke me up...

I opened my eyes...

To see a knight on top of me.

What the fuck?!

The moment our eyes met, she looked bewildered as well.

"Excuse me?!"

Bumalikwas ako ng bangon habang humihingal. Teka, why does my voice sound so irritatingly small?

"Princess Wisteria, let me explain..."

She was not just on top of me. She was staring at me intensely. I would be thinking of that one thing if it weren't only her long sword she's holding.

Wait... Princess Wisteria?

"Princess —"

Before she could utter a word, I screamed at the top of my lungs.

--

BlueDisorder

note:

yay, finals week is finally done, pero busy pa ems sa school org. comment down your thoughts about the pilot chapter! xoxo

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