Romance Is The Key

THE WRITER NEEDS HELP

FORD'S POV

This is probably the best sleep I've ever had in my entire life. I saw my mom and my siblings eating breakfast as I woke up. This is the chance that me and my siblings will be eating together again. The last time we all ate together was I think 5 years ago. I was the youngest, but I became the breadwinner of the family, and I was the one who gave them the chance to study.

"Good morning, Ford!" my mom greeted me while my four siblings were busy with their cellphones and feeding their children. They didn't even greet me when I came home. It's like nothing. I felt like I’m invisible.

"You cooked a lot, mom?" When I sat down, they all stood up. The only one left was Kulit, my nephew who was called by my mother to leave but preferred to stay at the dining table with us. This child is really sweet according to mom.

"I'm going to apologize on behalf of them. Maybe they're just ashamed to show up." she said.

"Mom, is it my fault that I'm the one who worked hard for the five of us? I'm the only one who dreamt high so that we could get out of poverty. Maybe they can't accept the fact that the money they're spending all comes out of my pocket."

"Ford, that's enough." Mom said while putting food on my plate. Despite my anger towards my siblings, I didn’t utter another word anymore. Ever since I was rejected, my view towards people changed. I don't want to. I don't want to be hurt again and I want to prove something.

Outside our house under the tree, I heard the four of them talking about me. What I heard was not good.

I know I became arrogant. I didn’t have a choice because this is the only way to save myself from getting hurt once again. We now have a good life but they’re saying that they would still choose the younger version of me than the arrogant boy right now who only thinks about money and himself. Maybe they don’t know that the money they use to feed themselves comes from my own pockets. I told mom to never speak about this to them. All they know is that I stopped helping them, and mother’s business provides them money.

Thinking about the problem makes my head hurt. So, I decided to shrug it off, got dressed, and went to the coffee shop. It was quiet there, and the coffee was delicious. Maybe I can think of what I will write next there.

As I was about to enter the coffee shop, I saw its owner entering the coffee shop as well. “Good morning, sir! You came back!” she joyfully greeted me.

I ignored her, but she was so persistent in bothering me.

"Hey! Are you okay?" Fine. Since she’s making my head hurt, I should just notice her.

"Ah. It's you. Hi!" I greeted her as if I had just seen her.

"We're so sorry about yesterday sir. I'm hoping it's okay if we can be friends."

"Hmmm." this is all I answered because I went straight to the table to open the laptop because last night, I fell asleep and forgot to open social media.

At the other table I could hear the screams of the young people. Yes, I heard their noise. "Excuse me, can you lower your voice?"

"Hey, tone down your voice." The boy said.

"Sorry sir!"

I was even more irritated because they were like bees chattering non-stop. Maybe I'll keep thinking that I'm the one they're talking about. I noticed the book on their table, three of them were mine so I tried to come over to gossip about my book.

"Are you also reading Write Her's book?"

"Of course, Sir! Everyone seems to know him, especially teenagers like us. What's your favorite book?" the girl with thick glasses and short hair asked me.

"Guys! Do you already know the big news?" that voice of the shop owner. She approached us and spoke.

"Write Her will release a romance novel!"

"What?"

"Wait, wait, oh my-"

I even joined the clapping and shouting before I realized that I was the Write Her they were talking about. I was going to write a romance, what? Romance? What the heck!

"You're a fan too!?" the owner asked while pushing me. I just answered "Not really."

Because of that big news, I also went in to see where the news came from. Damn you Johan! He was the one who announced the new book. Johan is really fast when it comes to money.

I just scratched my head and called Johan but he didn't answer. Even Hannah couldn’t be reached either, meaning to say they were all hiding from me. I tried to calm down but I couldn’t. The owner noticed this and she approached me.

"It's okay if you also can't believe the news. We're surprised as well. That's okay." while patting my back, she was turning around when I suddenly asked.

"What did you like about that author's work?" I asked.

"Hmmm. How can I explain this one? Maybe he's making readers feel like they're in the story? Something like that. But overall, he's a very versatile writer. Every birthday, I'd always pray to meet him even if I know that time will never happen.

"Really? He has a great influence on people, then. What if you see him on your birthday?" I asked her.

"What? Are you kidding? Don't tell me you've seen him because I'll really laugh at you for telling such a joke!" At least she doesn't really believe it because they haven't seen me yet, they don't even have a picture of strands of my hair.

"What if you really meet him? Wanna bet?" I asked her.

"You're so funny. If I can meet him, your coffee will be free every day,” while laughing out loud.

"Okay. I actually know him."

"Really?" After that, I wore my earphones and tried to drown her voice, but to no luck, she kept on creating noise.

I’m not interested in talking to fans. She was the first fan I talked to, actually. I also rarely reply to comments. And if there are other questions regarding my work, there are staff who can handle those.

Back to my problem! I am now thinking about how I can solve the problem Johan created. Yes, it's the other way around. It's the CEO who makes the scandal and his writer fixes it. Dammit. I called James, my co -author and our main writer on romance. He’s just one of the few writers I’ve talked to.

"Hello?"

"Oh, stupid why did you call?" this man!

"Wow! I'm better than you."

"Your women are already looking for you here. You left so many women. It's a shame that you didn't even say goodbye. How can we chill? Johan set you up to write romance."

"That's it. That's why I called you because I know you can help me."

"How?"

"Do you have an extra romance novel?" I asked.

"Ha ha what am I, your ghostwriter?" he laughed.

"Yes, don't worry because I'm going to introduce you to a very gorgeous woman!" I am now looking at the owner of the cafe while smiling like a dog at her. She is the one I am referring to that I will introduce.

"Stupid! The ones you introduced to me, they're all married. By the way, I have a lot of romance novel drafts but I can't give you the others because we know how popular you are, and they will notice the difference in our writing."

"Anyway, it's only in this part that your point is correct."

"Stupid!" You fool!

"I have a deal. Okay, this is my last offer to you."

"Okay fine, are you at your rest house now?"

"Yes, just chilling. Help me to write a romance novel?"

"Look, it's like you haven't written any romance novels and became addicted to it before."

"I have a feeling I'll have a hard time writing this again."

"You know that's easy. Don't be a womanizer anymore. Love truly, then maybe you could get the inspiration you're looking for."