IX

***

"WHAT do you think, Felice, Infinity? Is this good for me?" Angelica asked them if the red gown she was holding would look good on her. It has a simple design, but Infinity thinks that it would be a perfect match for Angelica’s complexion.

"It suits you, Angelica. All the gowns you wear are good for you. Your complexion suited every color," Felice answered.

"Oh no! It is the same with you. The gowns you fit look good on you too. I also like your complexion. You look like Ms. Venus Raj!”

"She's my peg for the awards night! Let's go back to the gown that looks like what she wore during her Ms. Universe competition! I think that is the one I would wear! I feel like I am the queen of the Universe!” Both of the girls laugh at their silliness.

Infinity just watched silently from one side.

She's not out of place or third wheel to the two. She just prefers to be quiet on one side. Her companions know this. Sometimes she laughs or answers when they ask for her opinion.

"How about you, Infinity? Have you chosen any gowns to wear for the awards night?"

"N-Nothing yet."

Disappointment can be seen on the faces of the two.

"Do you really...don't want to attend the awards night?" Angelica asked her, looking a bit sad.

"I-It's not like that."

"Why don't you seem excited? Or I think you are now thinking of an excuse not to go to the awards night,” Felice said.

The two have different personalities. One is fierce, while the other one is angelic...like her name.

“N-No! I just can't choose.” Obviously, the two didn't buy her excuse.

After 3 hours of walking and non-stop fitting. The two have already bought what they will wear for the awards night. While Infinity herself still doesn't pick anything.

"You know, let's eat first. Let's recharge our energy, so we can choose a dress for Infinity. Because I will not allow this friend of ours to go home without any dress to wear," Felice suggested.

"Yes! Let's do that!" Angelica agreed to her.

She frowned when they said they would not allow her to go home without a dress to wear. While eating, they talked about their work.

"I prefer my genre now, but I have a little problem. I'm having a bit of a hard time writing right now. I don’t know. Maybe because I don't have any experience yet? But I enjoyed writing erotica.” Felice groaned at them while chewing on her burger.

“Why don't you read erotic novels? You know, you will not copy others’ work. You will just get some ideas,” Angelica suggested.

"I've already tried it! I was a little disappointed with some of the books I read. Some of them are boring. It lacks passion, it lacks depth! And love! I don’t know what to do! But I don’t want to change my genre!" Felice is frustrated.

"Talk to Tatay June, or even Louise. They can help you.” She suggested.

"I have already talked to them! Louise is about to give up on me because I'm so stubborn. Tatay June is very figurative. I don't know what he wants me to do to get the proper idea to write such explicit scenes."

"And then why not find some inspiration?” Infinity suggested.

“Right! Find inspiration. It's like what Lyra does!" Angelica once again suggested.

Infinity almost spits out the juice she is drinking when she hears what Angelica suggests. Felice was also stunned.

"Ahmm... Angelica. I'll just remind you of Felice's genre, huh. Erotic. How would she find a research subject on such a topic? And how will she do the research? Will she join the session?” Infinity asked innocently.

Angelica is embarrassed, but her embarrassment makes them laugh. Their laugh was echoing throughout the entire restaurant and the customers were already looking at them.

"By the way, that sounds absurd!" Felice replied after recovering from laughing.

It was as if an angel passed by them when the three of them suddenly became silent.

"You know, I just want to be honest with you two." Felice broke the silence. "Honestly, as bad as it is, I'm jealous of Lyra."

She immediately snapped her eyes at Felice. Angelica did the same.

"Why?" Angelica asked her.

"Because..." Felice was fidgeting as if looking for the right words to complete and explain what she felt. "Because she's lucky? Look.” She mixed her posture, making sure that she looked serious because she was serious about what she would say.

“She's now married to Sir Jhezz and they both have children. It's like her life was pulled from her own manuscript. What we thought we were just writing happened to her.”

They were silent for a moment.

"That's why sometimes...sometimes I think that maybe the reason why she can create beautiful stories is that her life is wonderful. She is in a nice disposition."

She didn't know how to react to what Felice said.

She has been with Lyra and Louise since the beginning. The three of them became the pillars of The Journal when it was just starting. So they know each other's story and how they got to where they are now.

"Do you still remember what Lyra said the day after the blind item issue between her and Sir Jhezz came out?”

“The moment when she is just starting her project with Sir Jhezz?" Angelica asked.

Infinity just nodded at Angelica to confirm that she was right.

"Yes, we still remember. Why?”

She looked at the two.

"I can't remember the exact words, but she said: what we are writing is far different from our reality. We are here as an instrument to create stories that can entertain and, hopefully, our readers can also learn something from them. But the truth is, our reality is far different from what we are creating.”

It was obvious from the faces of the two that they remembered what Lyra had said before.

"I've been with Lyra and Louise for a long time. The three of us were the first writers and editors of The Journal when it was just starting. We know each other's personal stories very well. That's why I'm telling you, Felice, Angelica. Lyra's life may be like a story from a novel now. But behind her joy were buckets of tears. All of us have different stories behind our laptops and notebooks. Don't be jealous, Felice. Whatever your dream, you will achieve it. After all, everything can possibly be obtained with hard work and perseverance.”

The two fell silent because of what he said.

"S-Sorry, Infinity. I know... I know I'm new to writing. I've only been at The Journal for a year. I don’t mean to make it like Lyra’s life is easy. I’m sorry.”

"I'm not scolding you because that's how you feel. We have different opinions and it’s okay. I just want you to understand that we have different lives to live. The Lord has different ways of giving us surprises that could help us to write more or to help us to achieve our dreams.”

Angelica suddenly laughed, which surprised them both.

"S-Sorry, Infinity. I don't want to sound disrespectful, but the reason why I laughed is that I never imagined you'd be like this."

She frowned.

"Like this?"

"Yeah! Like this. Talkative? I thought you were the type of person who doesn't like to talk and give opinions. I know you are an introvert. Now I know why Louise praises you and your work. Because once you speak, every word you say has a meaning. No nonsense.” She said, and Felice agreed with her.

She laughed with them while saying:

“There are too many opinions in the world. It was already too noisy. It would be too much of a mess if I added more. Sometimes, all we need to do is work in silence and be silent. I am like this because I hope that way I can obtain the peace I am praying for.”