The Cure to My Scar

D-day

"Sissy. He knows me by my pen name." I said nonchalantly, still couldn't get over from shock.

"Then we must do something." Nini insisted.

"There's nothing we can do about it. All we have to do is trust him. He's right. He has been keeping it to himself this past few years so I think he is trustworthy."

Nini stopped for a moment and think about it. In the end, she agrees about the logic I'm saying to her. All we have to do is trust him.

"Is there anything he wants from you in exchange for keeping your secret until the signing event?" Nini queried while looking at me intently.

I jolted my head facing her and I nodded in response. Nini looked at me eagerly as she gulps from nervousness about what the man wants from me.

"A book of my novel with my autograph."

It took a few more seconds before it sinks into Nini's head and she laughed so hard like a mad person after hearing that. And as I look at her laughing so hard, I couldn't help but laugh with her as well. We were overthinking all this time when all he wants is an autograph.

"Are you sure about that?" Nini asking me once again to verify that it's all he wants. And I just nodded slowly as a response.

"He said he was my fan since the day he read my crumpled papers of drafts when I was writing that novel back then."

And when I hear him say that, my heart feels so delighted to know that even back then there are people who were always supportive of me. During those times when I thought things were hopeless, some people believe in me when I don't believe myself at all. First, it's Nini, and now, it's Mr. Barista.

It just made me realized that at times that you wanna give up, some people keep holding on for something you think is not worth believing.

"I just hope he could convince his boss about the event."

=======

After a week, Nini finally received a message that the boss is willing to spare some time so they could talk about renting the café for a day. She's been there for almost an hour or two. I wonder how things are going. I hope it's in our favor.

While having my cup of coffee in the living room, somebody rings the doorbell. So I run immediately towards the door, hoping that it's Nini since I am not expecting any visitors today.

And as soon as I open the door, Nini is showing a box of my favorite donut. It's a sign that it was a good deal.

I gave her a glass of juice while she opens the box of donuts as we sit face to face on the couch.

"So how was it?" I queried excitedly, can't wait to hear the good news.

"What do you wanna hear first, the good news or the bad news?" Nini asked.

"Let's go for the good one. My ears are wide open to listen." I responded while crossing my fingers, hoping that it was a good closed deal.

"As you can see, it's a yes. The owner agreed to it. But for one condition."

"What?" I just nodded while looking at her, excited and expecting what she will say.

"Alright. So the sad part is there's only a limit of fans that we could accommodate." My brows automatically furrowed as soon as I heard the word limit.

"So, he only allowed 50 persons." She added.

"Wait, what?? 50?!? But the café can accommodate more than that!?" I exclaimed as I feel frustrated with the owner's condition.

"I mean, that would be unfair for the fans if we only accommodate that less," I complained.

"But here's the good side of it, Chloe. The management agreed with it. They say that it will be a good strategy to raise the ticket fee for the book signing event and the value of your name will skyrocket even more." Nini talking like a businesswoman.

But as a writer, I don't want this to happen. Sucking too much money from my readers' pockets is way too much. I just feel so disappointed with how things work just because of what I want.

"Chloe, hello?! Still with me?" Nini waved her hand right in front of my eyes as I was spacing out after listening to her.

"H-ha? Y-yeah." That leaves me speechless.

If I won't agree with that, I have to move to another venue. But I promised myself that if things would work well, I want my first ever book signing event in that café. It means a lot to me. I can't give it up that easily.

"But if you don't want to, we can change the venue to a wider place. Just let me know. Because we have to meet the schedule as per this year's working calendar." Nini explained.

I'm having half-mind thought. I don't know what to choose.

"Can't we raise it at least into 100?" I'm acting cute in front of Nini, trying my best to bargain with the number of fans we can accommodate and fulfilling my dream as well.

She exhaled a loud breath because she knew I'll never stop convincing her until she say yes. But after a few more seconds of acting cute to persuade her, she finally gave up and told me that she'll give it a try once more.

I smiled brightly at her but she just stared at me blankly, annoyed yet helpless because she knew how persistent I am.

=======

Finally, the D-day has come. Everything's settled and fortunately, the owner agreed with the one hundred persons to accommodate. I wonder what did Nini say that changes his mind.

"Are you ready?" Nini looked at me but her eyes tell me that she's more excited than me.

I nodded enthusiastically and fixed my hair and clothes as I prepare to ride off the car.

I lined up to the queue at the cashier to grab some coffee before the events start. I still have an hour but the people start to gather in the café earlier than I expected. I guess they are sharing the same excitement with today's meet and greet.

While on the line, the girls in front of me murmuring about something. I wonder what could it be. I gradually lend my ears towards them so I could get some hint with what they are talking about.

"Isn't he so handsome?" The girl in front of me said while her two other girls who seem to be her friend giggles.

I tried to stand on tiptoes to see who are they talking about but I can't see who's handsome they are about so I just ignored it.

"One Iced Vanilla Latte, please," I ordered without looking at the cashier while looking for my wallet.

"For a moment, please. Let me----" I couldn't finish what I'm about to say when the bottle of my medicine suddenly roll out of my bag and fell on the other side of the counter.

Why can't I live a day without being so clumsy?! And of all things that could drop out of my bag is the bottle that could easily expose my deepest secret. What should I do now?!

I immediately left some bills on the counter and didn't wait for the change. I walked hurriedly away from the counter as if nothing happened.

I can feel the sweat all over my face as I feel nervous. Nini noticed that something has been bothering me so she walk towards me and offered some tissue.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Nini queried worriedly.

"I lost my medicine," I whispered and her eyes wide open from shock.

"What?! Where???" She screamed silently as she panics with me. Now, we're both anxious about what happened. I need that more than anything else, especially in today's event.

"Somewhere in the counter. I'm not sure if the cashier saw it." I replied anxiously.

I don't wanna ask for it myself because, in just a few minutes, my identity will be exposed. Revealing that I own such medicine will not do good to me at all. It may not ruin my career but it will lead to the exposure of my darkest days. And I'm not prepared for it.

"Let me get it, instead. For now, focus on the event and I'll get it before the program ends." Nini explained reassuringly. And I just nodded in response as I fully trusts her words.

Today's event is exclusively for the fans who bought the ticket and there are no media aside from the publishing company's team for the documentation in the said event. I just don't easily feel comfortable with showing myself with the media. I just want to have a meet and greet event for my fans.

"Let's all welcome, Sissy~"

Hearing my name being called by the Host made me feel so nervous. It's been a long time since I stand before a lot of audiences. But for the sake of my fans, I'll do the best I can.

I slowly walk towards the center stage while holding the mic with my two hands. I hold it tightly while looking at the facial expression of the fans in front of me, wondering if they are pleased or not that I am the person behind that best-selling novel.

I cleared my throat and took a deep breath as I am trying to overcome this nervousness all over my body.

"Hi, everyone... It is so nice to finally meet you all. My name is... Sissy."