Callea tightened her grip on Deive. People were buzzing around her and giving admiring looks in her direction. They don't know it was her. They thought she was just a cosplayer. The stage area was jampacked. There were hundreds of them inside the audience area and many were in line outside the perimeter. She was directed backstage where the host told her the flow of the event and what she would do.
Mattheu greeted them and asked if she wanted to eat but she only asked for water. She was nervous and they were about to start in fifteen minutes. All she needed was to say "hi" and "thank you" once the host called her. She would answer a few questions from the audience then the book signing would begin.
Then the host started to introduce her. "Let's call our artist of the hour - Xylara!"
The room boomed with cheers from her readers. She didn't expect that kind of reception from them. This was it. Her first book signing. The light on the stage was blinding. She couldn't see the audience's faces. She was apprehensive. What if they didn't like her? What if she did something wrong?
"They love you. It is time to share you with the world," Deive whispered and led her to the center of the stage.
Deive stepped back and she had no choice but to face the audience. She was trembling and held the mic tightly. She kept her veil in check. They were the people she shared her heart with. They accepted her for her talent and not for her looks. They love the product of her eccentricities.
"H-Hi!"
The whole center went into an uproar. "We love you, Xylara."
"Thank you for coming here..." She forgot about her hesitation and words of gratitude flowed from her lips. It seemed natural. They were readers who loved her and knew her inner heart.
She felt lighter when she was taken to a table for the book signing. Deive stood beside her. Even if she was not wearing a costume, she was still nervous. She had to interact with her fans now.
A man with a tattooed mask and was wearing the Raja Makisig costume was the first one who asked for her signature. "Your name?" she asked and opened the book, her pen poised below the title of her book.
"Tomasino Lopez, Sr. You can dedicate it as Grandpa Tomasino."
She shrieked when he removed his mask. It was her grandfather and he was in character. She gave him a hug. "What you are doing here, Grandpa?"
"Deive told us to be here or he would whisk you away and marry you without us. SO, all of us are here."
Then she saw a band of pirates on the side of the stage. Her cousins were there in their warriors of Raja Makisig Regalia, Grandpa Jorje who was wearing a pirate head costume, and Deive's friends as his minions. But Deive's friends were too gorgeous to be villains. A story was forming in her head. She wanted them for her next series. And she nearly cried when she saw Marina who had Luna in her arms. No, she didn't need a costume. She was a heroine in her book. And she didn't look scared. She was loved, too, the way people loved her in her book.
It was a solid force. These are the people who loved her and supported her. It was overwhelming.
Luna jumped out of Marina's arms and ran to the stage. Then she climbed to the table before she settled near her. "Calliope's Luna is also here. The cast is complete," squealed the audience in front who was waiting for their turn for book signing and took pictures of her cat.
She signed her book and happiness burst in her heart. This was her day. And no one can take that happiness away from her.
THE chat and questions from Callea's readers were unlimited. Her hand hurt from signing and she was parched from talking to them but she didn't mind. She didn't even feel hungry until her stomach growled and Deive had to remind her to eat and drink at least. She realized that she missed talking to different people. Their energy rubbed off her. It was contagious. She felt like they know each other for a long, long time thru her stories.
Even Marina enjoyed the event. Nobody minded if she was a hunchback. Fans were excited to take a picture with her. She had many friends and others offered to create a social media account for her since she didn't have one. There was even a Facebook page dedicated for her. When they found out that the character was based on her and she was not a cosplayer, they were even envious of her that Marina found weird. But her friend had that newly found confidence.
"Thank you for coming, Callea," Mattheu said and kissed her cheek.
They were waiting for dinner at a restaurant in mall of Asia. The function room was reserved for them. It was a long, tiring day but it was worth it.
"No, Sir. I should be the one thankful. This cosplay idea is brilliant."
"You are not mad?"
"At first because this is not something that I asked for. I came here on false pretense and I was trapped. But later on, I can't say no. I was on a costume so is everyone. These readers didn't only buy my books and appreciate my talent. They are passionate about my stories that they even play as my characters just to please me. I... I don't know how to give back that love."
She felt natural in her costume. She didn't feel uncomfortable talking to people without thinking that they would hurt her or judge her for being different. All she heard were praises. And she was glad that nobody asked what she looked like. They respected her privacy. They were more interested in what story she would write next and what costume she would come up with. Because of cosplay, her anonymity was protected.
"This is not my idea. It's Deive's."
"Deive thought about this?" She looked for Deive who was talking to her cousin, Lee. When he felt her eyes on him, he waved at her then proceeded to talk to her cousin. "I... didn't expect that."
"Well, he told me that the book signing would do wonders for you but you need to keep your identity hidden. That's the only way to convince you and it worked." He tapped her shoulder. "You are finally coming out of your shell and that is good. I think he is good for you. And you look inspired. I heard wedding is in order."
"Will I get you as a secondary sponsor?" she teased her boss. "Pair you up with a hot mummy maybe?"
His face scrunched. "Never mind, Callea. I will just attend the wedding. J-Just don't make it a cosplay okay? No mummies or anything bloody please."
She laughed and walked towards Deive after he talked to her cousin. He was surprised when she kissed his lips. "Thank you."
"What for?" he asked innocently.
"Well, Sir Mattheu told me that the cosplay was your idea. You also organized it. He said that you even want to finance the event if you could because you want everything to be perfect. Now I know why you were gone these past few days."
He pulled her body against his. She felt tired but she could feel her whole being buzzing in his warmth "I want everything to be perfect for you. Are you happy?"
She nodded."Yes. I have new friends now. I miss meeting new people and having new friends."
"Callea, you deserve to be a part of this world. You don't have to stay in the darkness. There are people out there who appreciate your talent. Sure, there are judgmental people out there. But there are people like you who want to embrace their uniqueness. Maybe they were bullied or judged as well. They need to connect with people who understand them. You need people who understand you. A lot of people love you so you don't have to be afraid to take a risk."
She remembered the readers she talked to. Their smile was real. They may be cosplaying but the camaraderie and the love couldn't be easily faked. Even Marina was not afraid to show her real identity. She helped her to be accepted but she was afraid herself. "Looking at them makes me want to be a normal person. I want to walk into the light and be comfortable with my own skin."
"Do you really want to?"
She slowly nodded. "I want to but I am scared. I know it won't be easy."
He kissed the tip of her nose. "No one is rushing you. Do it on your own pace. Even a cocoon cannot be rushed to be a beautiful butterfly. I will be here to wait until you are ready to fly."
"Then be patient with me, Deive." She knew that nothing was impossible whe they were together.