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1. What are your jobs at The Reading Room?

Mia: I’m a translator.

Ella: I used to be a proofreader. Pero nang ma-promote si Mikki ako na ang pumalit sa puwesto niya. So I’m currently the managing editor for several imprints.

Valerie: I just opened a bookstore and I am often hired by Blaire whenever she’ll conduct an event.

Blaire: I am the editor-in-chief.

2. What was the usual happening inside your workplace?

Mia: I am often confused with Roarke’s girlfriend.

Ella: Madalas akong napapadpad sa ibang department at mga event.

Valerie: I am busy handling writers who often visit my newly opened bookstore.

Blaire: I am busy. Period.

3. How long have you known each other?

Mia: Baguhang empleyado lang ako at hindi ko pa talaga sila nakikilala. 

Ella: Ako matagal ng empleyado pero hindi ko pa rin talaga sila nakakausap nang matagal.

Valerie: I just met all of them in the same year.

Blaire: Ang matagal ko ng katrabaho ay si Ella. Tapos sumunod kong na-hire si Mia. Then, si Valerie.

4. How can each of you identify yourself as a booklover, bookworm, bookseller, and bookmaker?

Mia: I am called a booklover because I love buying books. I love staring at them. I love smelling them. And I can’t stop myself from buying them.

Ella: I’m a bookworm because I love books because of its contents. Pero minsan lang ako bumili ng mga libro. Minsan may mga libro kong nahihiram o kaya nababasa lang sa library... tapos kapag tapos ko ng basahin ayos lang kahit hindi ko na iyon bilhin. Nakakabili lang rin ako ng mga libro kapag may sale.

Valerie: I hoard books. Kaya minsan hindi ko na alam kung ilan talaga ang mga libro ko sa bahay. Hanggang sa maisip ko mas magandang ibenta ko ang mga libro ko at mapakinabangan iyon ng iba. And that made me a bookseller.

Blaire: My father owns a publishing company. But I only became a bookmaker when I decided to create an imprint and ask our writers to create stories that could passed my evaluation.

5. Is it hard to work with the geeks and the nerds?

Mia: Hindi naman. Okay naman silang katrabaho kahit bihira ko lang rin silang makausap at makita.

Ella: I often get shy with them. Pero habang tumatagal nakakausap ko na rin sila nang hindi ako nahihiya.

Valerie: I get along with them instantly. Siguro dahil na rin naipakilala na sila (the geeks) sa akin ng pinsan kong si Wren. The nerds, on the other hand, are quite like me. Pare-pareho kasi kaming adik sa mga libro.

Blaire: Tingin ko mas nahirapan silang katrabaho ko kaysa ako ang nahirapan na makatrabaho sila. Most of them would say I’m strict or bossy. And I appreciate their honesty.

1. What can you say about Blaire?

Ken: (kunot-noo) Bakit ganito agad ang tanong sa amin?

Gio: (nakangiti) Oo nga... parang masyadong personal...

Dex: (kaswal) I don’t mind. Magkaibigan naman kami eh.

Rad: (seryoso) What was exactly the answer you wanted to hear?

2. Define her as your boss, as your colleague, as a friend... or more than a friend.

Ken: Technically, she’s my boss. Pero hindi iyon permanente. Napilitan lang akong sundin ang gusto niya dahil humingi ako ng pabor sa kanya. Minsan lang kaming magkita kaya halos hindi ko masabi na boss ko siya. 

Gio: I can’t really say anything more than most people basically know... except... well... I dated her... (sumulyap kay Rad) so I guess that makes me more than a colleague but less than a friend.

Dex: Matagal ko na siyang kakilala. And I know most people won’t easily believe me but she’s a caring friend.

Rad: I used to be her ex-boyfriend. Now, I’m aiming for a promotion... I’d like to be her husband.

3. What was your impression of her?

Ken: Seriously? This interview is about her?

Gio: I think it’s to make Rad jealous.

Dex: Oh... so that’s what this is all about.

Rad: (tumingin sa tatlo na nakatingin rin sa kanya) Shut up.

4. Do you think she’s someone you’ll eventually... love?

Ken: I never thought of her that way.

Gio: I tried. But I failed.

Dex: We thought about having a relationship before. Pero sabay kaming naging abala sa ibang bagay. Pero kung sakali... (pasimpleng tumingin kay Rad).

Rad: (masama ang tingin kay Dex) Kung sakaling naging kayo hindi rin kayo magtatagal.

5. Why do you think she should end up with Conrad?

Ken: Because they love each other? Wait... let me recall Blaire’s reaction every time she sees him... (pause). Ahm... no... I don’t think it’s a case of having a thin line between love and hate.

Gio: He needed to learn to control his emotions. But hey... he’s been waiting for so long so I can’t blame him if he got jealous over us. Tingin ko bagay silang dalawa dahil... teka... wala kong maisip... basta ang alam ko lang hindi ko lalapitan si Blaire para hindi lalapitan ni Rad si Ella.

Dex: (nagulat) Is that why he also tried to flirt with Val? Gusto niya lang tayong gantihan?

Rad: (nginitian ang tatlo) It’s called social equality.