LOVING YOU FROM AFAR

AUTUMN'S POV

“Oh my gosh! What happened to you, Autumn?” Lily greeted me with those words when I entered our dining area. “Did you not fall asleep again last night?” she asked. She looked like she saw a ghost in a broad daylight.

“Good morning too, Lily,” I sarcastically replied. Then a soft yawn left my mouth. I continued walking towards the refrigerator to get a glass of water.

“My ghad, Autumn! Look at yourself in the mirror. Your eyebags are big and dark,” Lily commented while pointing at me using the spoon. “Your eyebags are bigger than those who work at a night shift call center,” she added.

“Our food might get burnt,” I replied, not minding her morning lecture to me. “I just have to finish some chapters last night for the pubhouse,” I explained.

“Then you will still come to the office today, right?” Oh my gosh, Autumn! If I do not personally know you and just saw the way you work hard, I might think that you already have a family of seven members,” Lily remarked after she turned off the stove. Thank goodness, I am starving already!

“Lily, I know how worried you are for my sake, but trust me, I am so fine. You know that I am saving money, right?” I tried to console her while I was getting two plates for us.

“Yes, I know that you are a breadwinner but you cannot help your parents financially if you are hospitalized,” she said while putting our food on the table.

After getting the plates, I went back to the dining table and handed Lily the plates before sitting down. “Chill! I know my body very well. I know if I can or cannot, tomorrow is Saturday so I can get some sleep,” I replied while getting some fried rice.

Lily sighed in disbelief upon hearing me. “I don’t know about how hard-headed you are,” she commented so I chuckled. “By the way, there was a package delivered here earlier from Amadeus. I will not ask you anymore what is inside because I’m sure that it is some sort of The Blazing Star merchandise,” she said, then started eating,

“Really? “The shipping is so fast.” I excitedly said and was about to stand when I felt the sharp eyes of Lily. “But I will open it later when I go home from work,” I awkwardly added and sat down again.

“Haist! If I did not love you, I would stop you from being a fangirl. You already spent so much being one,” she said.

I chuckled, “it is a relief that you love me,” I jokingly remarked. “But on a serious note, the very reason why I work besides the fact that I am supporting my family is I want to buy the things I need and want.”

“You mean ‘want’ is the official merchandise of The Blazing Star, right?” Lily asked. “You know, I do not have any complaints about you spending money on that, but, my gosh Autumn, our apartment is indirectly colonized by them. Even in what direction I look, I can see their marks,” she cutely complained which made me laugh even more.

“That is okay since I am the one spending on it,” I convinced her. “Besides, just let me be. You know that those kinds of things give me joy after a long day of work, right?” I said and made a cute face at her.

“Whatever!” Lily replied and rolled her eyes. “I just can’t understand you. You kept on choosing to binge-watch their videos especially their leader rather than having a social life.”

“Who? Archie? My love? Of course, he is my rest,” I cannot help but giggle after what I said.

Lily immediately hit me with the ladle. “Girl! I don't disagree with you falling in love with someone, but I hope you can reach him,” she said.

I smiled at her. “I am perfectly fine with the idea that he cannot personally reciprocate the love and support I am giving to him. I am already satisfied with the happiness and inspiration he is giving me.”

“Yeah, whatever,” she sarcastically replied. “Let us just finish eating our breakfast or else we will be late to our work,” Lily said as she continued eating her food.

***

It was almost nine in the morning when I arrived at Chasing Dreams Talent Agency where I am currently working as a freelancer manager who is available to serve new artists or famous ones.

“Oh, thank goodness, you are now here, Autumn.” Sasha, one of my officemates, greeted me that way. “Do you know what is the latest?” she asked,

“Wait for a while, Sasha. I don’t even put my bag down,” I laughingly said and pointed to my bag that was still on my shoulder.

“Oops, I’m sorry,” she said. “I am just so excited to tell you what I heard,” Sasha added. 

I put down my bag and then sat down on my working chair before I faced her again. “You have to make sure that it is good news.” I jokingly threatened her but my attention was on the book she was holding. I could not help but secretly smile when I realized that the book she was holding was one of the books I’d written.

“Well, The Blazing Star will conduct their concert here in the Philippines three months from now,” she happily said.

I stood up and my eyes widened upon hearing what she said. “Really? Is that final?” I asked one question after another.

“Oh, I am sorry,” I shyly apologized because some of my workmates looked in our direction. It seemed like my voice was so loud.

“You looked so excited,” Sasha chuckled, which made me jokingly roll my eyes at her.

“So, what now? Is that true?” I asked again to confirm what she said.

“Absolutely, girl,” Sasha assured me. “Maybe you were so focused on writing a book, that is why you don’t know about it. The announcement about the concert was made by Dream with Me Entertainment last night,” she added.

I nodded. “When will pre-selling tickets start?” I asked.

“In three days,” Sasha replied. “I felt like the stars were now aligned with us since today was our payday, the perfect time for buying a ticket. I canceled my vacation in Boracay since I wanted to come to the concert.

“It is a piece of great news since I have my savings. So, make sure that you will get me a ticket,” I reminded her.

“Of course, girl. I know that you love them as much as I love them so I got you,” she said. “Will it be a VIP ticket?” Sasha asked and I nodded.

"Okay guys, listen up! We have a client."

Our attention shifted to Mr. Gutierrez because of what he announced. Sasha tapped my shoulder and non-verbally said that she would go back to her cubicle. I simply nodded so she left. Afterwards, I seriously listened to Mr. Gutierrez’s explanation but my mind could not help but fly away because of the upcoming concert of The Blazing Star.

***

“Oh? What happened? Why are you staring blankly?” Lily asked which made me back to my senses.

“Oh… you arrived,” I sadly remarked. I stood up and approached our refrigerator to grab some water for her.

“Why did you seem surprised? It is already ten in the evening,” she stated after looking at her wristwatch. “Did you cook dinner already?” Lily asked.

“Not yet…I'm sorry…” I said and handed her the glass of water.

Lily drank it first then proceeded on going in my direction and started checking my neck. “Are you okay? Do you feel sick?” she asked me.

“Not at all,” I simply replied.

“Then what is your problem?” Lily asked and sat down on the sofa. I immediately followed her and sat down beside her.

“The Blazing Star will have a concert here in the Philippines,” I said which made Lily frown even more.

“Oh? Then why did you seem unhappy about it?” she asked. “I thought you already saved some money so if ever they will conduct a concert here, you will come, right?”

“My mother called me earlier. Our house was hardly damaged because of the previous typhoon so I have to send some money for the renovation,” I sadly informed her.

She was shocked because of what she heard. “How are they? Are they all right?” she asked.

I nodded in response to her. “Yes, they were alright, but our house as well as our landfill was completely destroyed. That is why I have to send them the money I save.”

Lily reached my hand and held it tight. “How much is the cost of the ticket? I can lend you some money,” she volunteered.

I shook my head. “Don’t mind it…” I said and gave her a sad smile. “ I know that you are also short since you have to pay your younger brother’s tuition this month.”

I stood up which made Lily let go of my hand. “May you please cook our dinner instead? I am not feeling well,” I said.

“Of course,” she replied. “Take some rest and I will just call you once I am done cooking our dinner,” Lily added.

I only nodded in response since I did not have the energy to speak more words. Then, I turned my back to her and went straight to my room. After I entered my room, the very first thing that greeted me was Archie’s face in the poster which made me smile bitterly,

“It seemed like this is not yet the right time for me to see you,” I whispered with tears starting to fall on my cheeks.

TO BE CONTINUED!

AUTUMN’S POV

I am so down while walking into the entrance of the agency I am working with. I had no energy at all when I arrived at my workstation. I could not accept that the money I had saved for many months so that I could afford to buy a ticket to a concert had disappeared in an instant. Of course, I wasn’t regretting that I gave the money I saved to my parents but I just feel sad that the dream I wanted to fulfill so bad, to meet Archie, will still not happen. I felt like I am running out of time and chance to see them face to face.

“Oh, why did you look so down? Your face seemed like the world is ending,” Sasha remarked when she noticed that my hand was on my chin while my elbow was pressed on my table. I just disregarded her comment and breathed deeply.

“By the way, I am able to enter the pre-order site of the ticket selling for The Blazing Star’s concert. What seat number do you want?” she excitedly asked.

I smiled at her even though my eyes we