Today is the day I will meet Ms. Dahlia. I don’t personally know her, but we have a common friend who introduced us. I was surprised when I received a message from her yesterday. She said she wanted to talk to me about something very important but also instructed me not to inform anyone about our meeting, including our common friend.
She provided me with an address of a coffee shop where we will meet, and here I am, five minutes early as she instructed. Kaitlyn’s Coffee Corner… it’s already four twenty-five in the afternoon, and we are supposed to meet in five minutes.
As expected, she arrived precisely at four-thirty, just as she had mentioned. One point for punctuality.
We exchanged greetings and she insisted that I sit down while she called a staff member. She ordered coffee and a blueberry cheesecake. That happens to be my favorite, so I didn’t complain. We continued exchanging pleasantries until our order arrived.
“May gusto ka bang sabihin sa akin?” tanong ko sa kanya.
Bahagyang namula ang makinis na pisngi ni Ms. Dahlia. Tila bigla itong nahiya.
“It’s okay,” I said. Wala naman kasi akong ibang dahilan na maisip para kailanganin niya ako pero ano ba meron ako na wala sa common friend namin?
“Do you need me because I am a writer? Do you need me to write something for you?” I asked straightforwardly.
She forced a smile and called a staff member. She ordered coffee and a blueberry cheesecake. That’s my favorite, so I didn’t complain. We exchanged more pleasantries until our order arrived.
Pilit ang naging ngiti niya. Lumagok muna ng kape at saka itinulak ang platito ng cheesecake sa akin. “You eat first,” aniya.
So, I did. Pagkatapos ng tatlong subo ng cheesecake ay muli akong bumaling sa kanya.
“I understand if you are not comfortable about the matter. But I would just like to add that you can completely trust me.”
“Of course,” she said smiling. Napansin kong may biloy siya sa pisngi. Isang karakter na nakakainggit sa kanya.
“So?” I prompted.
“I’m a very secretive person, Matti,” she said mentioning my nickname. “This thing that I am going to tell you…this is a very personal matter.”
“Okay…” marahan kong sabi habang hinihintay ang isusunod niyang sasabihin.
“I want to share my life story with you, for others to know, without them recognizing me.”
“Hmmm… sounds interesting.”
“I know. And maybe you’re puzzled as to why I would like to share my story with everyone.”
“Actually, yes. Do you happen to be…Are you… I mean…”
“Nope, I’m not—if you’re thinking that I am dying or anything. No way! I’m perfectly healthy, thank God!”
I breathed a sigh of relief. Well, it’s common for people who want me to write their stories to have illnesses. And perhaps, writing their stories was one of the things they wanted to do before they die.
“Do you intend to publish your story in print?” tanong ko ulit.
Tila nag-isip naman siyang saglit bago tumugon. “Are print publications still in? As far as I know, mobile apps are more popular, so it’s okay with me if print comes later.”
“Well, there are still many people who enjoy collecting books, so there are still buyers out there.”
She suddenly apologized for what she said. “No offense meant, Matti. I read an article about many bookstores closing down, and most of them were big bookstores that were already around when I was a child. So I thought books are already outdated.”
Ngumiti lang ako at sinabing walang problema sa akin ang sinabi niya.
“So how shall we start? What do you exactly want me to do and what resources do we need to have in order to start with your project?”
“That’s the thing, Matti. I don’t want it to be a personal project. I will share my story with you, and you will make it your own. You can even tell your readers that it is a work of fiction, or anything you want. I just don’t want to be involved with it afterwards.”
“I’m not following.”
Ms. Dahlia smiled and took a large envelope from her bag. She handed it to me.
“I’ve already started jotting down some points. You can read them and ask me any questions later.”
“So we’re not discussing the details here?” taka kong tanong.
She winced before smiling again. “I can’t do that, Matti. It’s too embarrassing. There’s a recorder inside the envelope. I bought it specifically for this occasion. You can burn it or keep it afterward, it’s all up to you.”
“Wait, so you mean I’ll be taking these resources home and I’ll be writing about this, but you don’t want to be mentioned or involved in your own story?”
“That’s right. You can present it as fiction or anything you or your publisher want. I just want my story to get published.”
“But… why? At least answer this question, please,” pakiusap ko habang ang mga mata kong litong-lito ay nakatunghay sa kanya.
“I don’t want to seek the help of a psychiatrist, Matti. I don’t want to tell the world about my life while being behind the keyboard. I want someone else to do it for me, but tell me where it will be published, and I’ll read it for comments. Can you do it for me?”
“Bur of course—”
“Let’s discuss about payment, then—”
“No, please,” I said. Tila nasorpresa naman siya sa sinabi ko. “Let’s talk about that later. Gusto ko munang aralin kung kaya kong gawin ang hinihiling mo. I just wish I could and I hope that I am the right person for this task.”
“You are, my dear. You are. I’ve read some of your stories, and I like the way you write. But please, do not mention my real identity in case someone asks.”
“Alright then. I’ll see you again, Ms. Dahlia.”
“Thank you, and I’m so excited to read your first entry.”
“Me, too.” Ngumiti ako sa kanya at nalunod ako sa ekspresyong nasa mga mata ni Ms. Dahlia. She really is a very mysterious woman and I can’t wait to go home and see the things inside the envelope.
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2 Responses
You caught my curiousity ms. Dahlia
Well wala pang ganap chika niyo lang sa pagkikita so next chap na tsaka ko magsasabi sa kung ano ang nais mabasa ni dahlia sa comment hahahaha