CHAPTER TWO

TSA returned home feeling full and sleepy. With a sigh, she closed the door and bent to pick up her draft notebook from the floor. She sat on the couch and opened her laptop. She checked her notifications on the writing site. She was writing when Dustin called this morning.

I can’t believe I finished the book in just one sitting! As usual, it’s light, feel-good… beautiful! Congratulations, Miss Author! Can’t wait to read your other works!

Beautiful story!

Miss Author, do his friends have their own stories, too? I want to read it!

Tsa smiled as she scrolled down to read the rest of the comments.

Just because there were ungrateful readers just like the ladies she met this morning didn’t mean she had overlooked the readers who shared good thoughts about her works. Tsa believed the number of this kind of readers was higher than the toxic ones. It’s just that most of them remained to read and support her in silence.

If she wasn’t writing, she would spend hours replying to their comments. Readers who looked up to her and considered an honour to get a reply from her either makes her awkward or overwhelmed. She did not want to be treated like a celebrity. A simple appreciation was enough for her. If they buy her books, better.

Tsa spotted her book under the table. She reached to pick it up and wiped the specks of dust on the cover. It was her first book under her dream publishing company. Sometimes, when she would lose motivation in finishing her novels, she would look at her previously published books to remind herself how far she had come.

Will I even go further?

Looking back, she never thought her dream would come true. When she was a teenager, she had written a lot of stories on her notebooks. And she could still remember how it felt when she received her first rejection from the editor a few years later. She doubted herself and thought she did not have the talent at all. She could have stopped from that and move on, but she realized writing was a part of her. That getting a lot of rejections was better than not writing at all.

Whenever her novel comes out, she would feel ecstatic, like it always feels like the first time. She wished she had more published books, though. Back then, she thought it was enough for her to see her novels on the shelves of every bookstore finally. But publishing wasn’t a fairytale. It’s not enough that books are being printed. They should sell, too. And that there are two reasons why books disappear from the bookshelves. It’s either they’re sold out or pulled out. No writer would want the latter.

While writing is passion, publishing is business. They don’t always get along.

“Alright,” Tsa muttered after a while. She took off her shoes and put the laptop on her lap. “Let’s get writing!”

“I HEARD that your classmate Charlene is getting married to a man she met in a dating app.”

“Ma, did you call me just to tell me that?” Tsa uttered in disbelief. She was about to leave her house when her mother called.

“Of course. I suggest you use dating apps, too. If you marry a foreigner, maybe you’ll have a better life. Then you can give me grandchildren with blue and green eyes.”

“Ma…” Tsa caught her forehead and scowled. If only her mother knew that she had already tried every dating apps existed! “I told you I’d get married when I’m thirty-five. And I will write hard to provide myself with a better life. I don’t need a man to give me that. When I’m rich, I’m going to buy any man I want. Okay?”

“Are you really just friends with Dustin?”

“Ma, please give up. Dustin sees me as a man,” she said in a bland tone.

“I just don’t want you to grow old alone, you know.”

“Growing old is a privilege, Ma, so I don’t mind. And I still have to go to work.”

“Why so? Aren’t you supposed to be writing?”

“Words don’t come out that easily these days. Besides, I can only work when it’s almost deadline. For now, I’ll work part-time to remain productive. Bye, I love you!” Tsa put her phone inside her shoulder bag and went to her scooter.

TSA SAUNTERED to the counter with quick steps. Dustin will scold her if she’s late. But she was surprised to find a small, petite girl, as tall as her, preparing orders instead of her boss-friend.

“Good morning, Miss Tsa,” the barista greeted. “I’m almost done, don’t worry,” she said, smiling.

“Are you new here?”

“Ah, yeah.” She stood straight. “My name is Jo. I’m a part-time barista, and today is my first day. Boss Dustin told me he’d be late because something came up. He asked me to substitute for him.”

“Ah.” Tsa nodded. “He must have described me, so you recognized me easily.”

“Not really. I was here yesterday morning to pass my resume. And I heard everything you said to the girls on that table.” Jo pointed the table behind her with her lips. “You’re so cool.”

“Hehe.” Tsa laughed awkwardly.

“Boss mentioned that you’re a writer. I’m a writer, too. I thought we share the same sentiments. I’m sorry if I’m too casual.”

“How old are you?”

“I’m twenty-nine years old.”

“You look… twenty-eight.”

Jo chuckled in amusement.

“You’re a couple of years older than me so we can talk casually.” Tsa smiled.

“Oh, I’m glad that we’re friends already. Ah, yes, the orders!”

Jo put the orders inside the eco-bag while Tsa waited.

“I supposed you don’t write full-time, too,” she remarked.

Jo threw her a glance and smiled.

“It’s hard being a full-time writer here, right? I previously worked in a department store, but I resigned because I could not write anymore. Also, my co-employees are competitive and toxic. I’m glad I came here. I think I’m going to love working with you all.”

“You should say that while Dustin’s around,” Tsa joked.

Jo laughed. She put the eco-bag on the counter and handed her the list.

“There you go, Tsa.”

“Thanks, Jo.” Tsa put the list inside the bag.

“See you later!”

Tsa smiled and waved before turning her back.