[Music Recommendation: "Sunny Mornings" by Peter B. Helland (instrumental only)-available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in a loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter ~
[Please note: We're back to Senara's POV]
"Haaaaaaaaaaahhh…"
That was a big yawn. It seemed that yesterday really tired me out. But I still woke up early as usual even if my appointment today wouldn't be until the afternoon. Oh well, I could just try to do a bit more writing or maybe do some uninteresting homework?
Since I'm a Libra, I accepted the fact that I was an indecisive person. Whenever it came down to choices, I sucked at them. So at times like this, I laid it all down to chances.
Taking a coin from my purse, I spun it on the table. If it laid down on the heads, I'd do my writing, if it laid down on the tails, I'd go with homework. It wasn't much of an important decision anyway. I was just being picky and trying to drag on doing my homework.
As if destiny was telling me not to be lazy with studies, the coin laid down on tails. Ugh. How great. I guess I really shouldn't be lazy. How I hope the homework was about writing something, or reading something but no—they were all from minor subjects. Only one professor from my major gave us a book to read and study through and was kind enough to give us enough time to read for a month. Such a kind professor.
Oh well, like what Hora used to tell me…
"You do know those assignments won't just finish by themselves, right?"
'Yes, Hora. They definitely won't. I better get on to it then.'
Feeling extremely unmotivated, I forced myself to finish them with my free morning time. I kept on drifting in and out of thoughts and asked myself why I wanted to study again after spending the last fourteen years of my old life just working nonstop. I forgot being a student meant to study subjects you may or may not like. Even if the other subjects wouldn't really be of much help once you get to work.
'Okay. Stop sulking, Senara! Whether you like it or not, you will have to do this one way or another. So better yet, do it now. NOW!'
I told the maids I'd be busy with my homework and just asked them for coffee and some bread to be sent to my room. Not even a few minutes passed and they were back with the things I ordered. The Ma Residence's servants were all so professional and worked really fast. I better make sure to commend them and maybe they'd get a raise.
Scribble… Scribble… Scribble…
Ugh. I just wanted this to end soon. Having that as my motivation, I continued my homework no matter how much I detested it. I started with my least favourite one and ended with my most liked subject. I had always been like that, wanting to get over the bad ones first before the good ones. I wasn't even sure why. Maybe because I wanted a happy ending instead of a tragedy? Ha-ha-ha! Whatever the reason was, I managed to finish all of them. It took me until lunch time though.
I quickly bathed and prepared myself before heading out to the dining area for lunch. Hora and Kaiden might be worrying about me since I skipped breakfast. Once I reached the place, I made sure to give them my biggest and happiest smile.
Hm? Wait a minute. Did I just see that correctly?
I blinked my eyes a couple of times. For a moment there, I thought I imagined Hora and Kaiden having this… dark aura around them. They were smiling though… smiling suspiciously? Yeah. Like hooligans plotting something. Hmm… No way. I must be imagining things after doing that dreadful homework. Right. There's no way my angelic friend Hora, and the sweet and kind Kaiden would be like that.
Settling on that fact, I waved my hands and greeted them again.
"Good morning, Hora, Kaiden!"
"Sena! Good morning! Oh, wait. It's lunch time. So shouldn't it be afternoon?"
"Oh, right. Ha-ha-ha! Good afternoon!"
"Good afternoon," Kaiden politely bowed and smiled.
'Ahhh… just his smile alone was enough to wash away all that suffering earlier. Such a healing smile… Sena, wake up! It's too early to be simping today! But it's already lunch time! Besides, is there even a time to simp and not to simp? He-he-he.'
Hora tugged my sides and chuckled at me. I probably looked so ridiculous again, showing my simping mode on my face. Oh my goodness. I hope I didn't look that stupid.
"You seem to be in a good mood," Kaiden chuckled.
Oh no. He saw it—the stupid face I always made when I simp over him. Did I drool? I sure hope I didn't.
"Ahh, yes! I'll be meeting with the screenwriter today for the movie adaptation. I'm so excited to meet her and learn lots of things!"
"Ah, I see. So that's today. If you want, I can accompany you."
My eyes widened at his suggestion.
'Kaiden with me? THE Kaiden Ma? Okay, let's take a few steps back. Is that even alright? He's basically the heir of Red Dragon Holdings—including Red Dragon Films!'
It was then that I realized… Kaiden was the one who submitted my story…
And he was the heir of Red Dragon Holdings…
Did I even… get in because of my talent for writing?
Sting.
Suddenly, my heart began to throb. It was true though. There was a huge possibility of that being the case. What if… what if the only reason they accepted that first manuscript I submitted was because… Kaiden was the one who submitted it?
"Hm? Senara, what's wrong?" Kaiden asked, with a worried expression.
"I, ah—I just remembered something," I tried to smile it off. But deep inside, I started doubting myself.
Why not? It was my first time writing—with no backgrounds, or experiences, or any lessons about writing at all. Even if I lived 30 years of my life before, I never considered trying to write stories. How could I possibly be some genius who could just do it all? That's just… impossible! And to think I even got an award for it!
Did I even… deserve that award?
Now, I wasn't so sure anymore.