Chapter 5

​As expected, a lot of articles about Kevin and Alice were published on the portal and they secured the top spots. I couldn’t protect her because they might get suspicious of me if I kept on disapproving anything about her.
 
mugiwara: looks like Gisel got easily overthrown lol
kingtrex: relationship issues will always get the top spot
cafemocha: hahaha for real! pero iba rin ang batch na ‘to ha, laging sila ang may issues
moonlight: eh paano dalawang royalty couple na ang nasa batch nila
moonlight: this one’s new since hindi campus princess ‘yung girl
mugiwara: but she’s really pretty, I mean, she looks prettier than some campus princess
moonlight: hoy mugi ano yan! May crush ka ba sa kanya? Hahahaha
mugiwara: gago wala
mugiwara: porque sinabi lang na maganda, crush agad?
cafemocha: oo, feeling namin ganun kang klase ng tao eh
mugiwara: wow baka pag nakita mo ako magbago pananaw mo
cafemocha: yikes no thanks
 
I was just silently following their conversation and decided not to say anything. However, I got curious when I saw an unfamiliar word.
 
“Pananaw?” I mumbled as I flipped through the pages of the dictionary to find the word. “Ah, so it means perspective.”
 
These past few days, the library had become my sanctuary. I hated it in high school because all the honor students were always there to study and research. Even now, Steff and Jess would stay here for their study sessions but I realized it wasn’t just because of the silence and ambiance but the fact that students mind their own businesses without caring about what’s happening around them.
 
I started writing on the notebook I bought yesterday. The Filipino words I learned were written with their English translation, meaning and sample sentence.
 
My focus instantly dissipated when my phone vibrated and a notification from Kingdom Nook popped up.
 
iamroyalty sent you a message!
 
I had to read the notification again in case my eyes were playing tricks with me. Wait, did he really send a message to me?
 
Still doubtful, I clicked the unread message and almost choked in shock.
 
Hi, Miss notaroyalty. I hope you won’t mind but I just want to say that the Filipino sentence you wrote in the seventh chapter has the wrong tense. I’m sorry if this message offended you. I just sincerely want to help you improve :)
 
I thought he was just joking when he said he was reading one of my stories but here he was, pointing out a mistake in a specific chapter.
 
With my quivering hands, I carefully replied to his message.
 
No worries, I’m not offended. Thank you for pointing that out. Appreciated! :)
 
I immediately checked the chapter and saw the sentence he pointed out but I didn’t know what to replace.
 
“Teeny-weeny, where are you going?” he asked.
“Anong pakialam mo?” I retorted. “Huwag mo nga akong susunod!”
 
Was it susunod? Should I replace it with something? What would be the correct word? Ugh.
 
As if on cue, a message from him arrived.
 
Haha thank goodness. Oh, you should replace susunod with sundan.
 
Oh. So that was the correct term.
 
After editing the sentence, I republished the chapter and thanked him for the help.
 
‘Maraming salamat!’ I typed and a few seconds later, he replied with ‘walang anuman.’
 
I started typing for another chapter but I got conscious with my Filipino words. The story he was reading was actually based from Jess and Patrick. Their dynamic and chemistry when they were still getting into each other’s nerves were cute so I got inspired and wrote a story about them.
 
It felt like one dictionary wasn’t enough so I pulled two more references from the shelf. However, I immediately cleared my table and took the books when I saw Jess and Steff entering the library. If they saw me here, they might learn about my secrets. Without getting into their line of sight, I left the library and went to the garden where Alice was waiting. I was just a few meters away from her when I saw a girl approaching her and I realized it was Kevin’s younger sister.
 
“Ah, it’s Kevin’s . . . nakakabatang kapatid. Was that the appropriate term?” I asked while looking at Alice.
“It’s nakababatang kapatid,” she corrected.
“Oohh. Close enough,” I mumbled as I put the pile of books on the table.
 
Karla, Kevin’s sister gave me a timid smile. It felt so awkward because I knew her secret.
 
Last time, when I was on my way to my class, I saw her and Jon walking side by side. They weren’t interacting but it was obvious that there was something between them. When they met my eyes, they part ways all of a sudden, which made it more evident and suspicious. It was a miracle that nobody noticed their subtle gestures around each other, which meant there would also be no articles about them. Oh well, the writers seemed to be more focused on Alice and Kevin’s story anyway.
 
“Anong meron?” Alice asked and I kept the books out of her view.
“Pimiliya,” (It’s a secret,) I answered. “Anyway, have you seen this?” I asked while showing her an article to divert the topic.
“Why does he look cool in that? Eww,” Karla commented.
“Right? While Alice looks like a panicking fish,” I teased.
“Oh. Now that you mention it . . .”
 
It was actually the photo that was taken by those girls who were chasing Gisel last time. I pulled my phone back as both of them searched with their own devices. Karla and I continued teasing Alice but I halted when our group chat popped up.
 
moonlight: oh my god, nakita nyo ba yung pa-blind item ni lissawrites?
cafemocha: meron? Omg siya yung nagblind item kina Jessica at Patrick di ba?
cafemocha: for sure kakagatin yan ng mga tao
moonlight: yup! May first year campus princess daw na nakita with a second year
mugiwara: hindi campus prince?
moonlight: oo haha
kingtrex: hmm interesting
moonlight: approve ba natin?
cafemocha: hoy shin, wag ka ngang puro seen haha
Based on the description, I’m pretty sure the article was pertaining to Karla and Jon. They would get suspicious if I would be the only one to disapprove it. Well, it’s just a blind item. People would be able to easily guess them. I hope so.
 
yeoshin: yeah, it’s interesting
mugiwara: naks unanimous decision
moonlight: yay! sige i-approve ko na ha
 
“Sino—”
“Sorry, I need to go. See you later,” I said, cutting Alice off. It felt like she would see through me if I stayed here while looking worried.
 
I walked away while carrying the books I borrowed and when I peeked at their direction, Karla was already waving her goodbye.
 
I’m sorry, I mouthed as I watched her walk with her head down. The guilt was already rising up my throat and I felt bad for her.
 
Heaving a sigh, I continued walking while reading the conversation in the admin group chat and I realized I shouldn’t have done that. My whole body almost stumbled when I bumped into someone and my phone fell to the ground.
 
“Sorry!”
“No, sorry.”
 
He was wearing eyeglasses but it got crooked because of the collision. The guy’s phone was also on the ground and I immediately picked it up. He did the same to mine since it was nearer to him but I almost gasped when I accidentally peeked at his screen.
 
It was a notification from the portal’s admin group chat.
 
We stared at each other for a few seconds, and realized we were both in that group, but we couldn’t do or say anything because it was just so sudden. The realization turned into embarrassment and terror which made me ran away after I grabbed my phone back. I ran without looking back, afraid that another secret of mine would be revealed.
 
I was gasping for breath as I plopped on the grass and leaned against the building wall but my heart started racing again when a personal chat appeared on my screen.
 
kingtrex: that was you, right?
 
Can I quit now?

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