The Kiss that Sparked it All

Regina was baffled-it was her first time reporting for the social news team, and it was nothing like interviewing the glittering stars she was used to. The stories here were gritty, rooted in the everyday struggles of common folk, sometimes heartbreakingly so. But this was where her heart lay; engaging with real people, real stories.

She was convinced that if this man’s family had been wrongfully evicted by a ruthless developer, she would fight tooth and nail to get their story out there.

While her more experienced colleagues were off canvassing the area, Regina crouched down in front of the man, notepad and pen at the ready.

“Hi, I’m Regina, a rookie reporter. I’d like to hear about what’s happened to you. Would you be open to an interview?” she asked gently.

The man glanced at her, and it was only then that Regina noticed tears streaking through the grime on his face, carving clear paths down his cheeks.

“You,” he spat, his voice laced with disdain as he expectorated onto the ground before him, making Regina recoil in shock. “Scram! You reporters are no better than those heartless developers. Get outta my sight!”

He was unyielding, his harsh words sending Regina stumbling back, speechless. His tears had left her utterly at a loss for words.

She knew that if he continued with this uncooperative stance, his story would just be a fleeting blip in the never-ending stream of internet noise.

The man’s resistance only deepened Regina’s sense of the gravity of the situation. Without wasting another moment, she rushed back to her office to report the severity of the case to her editor, determined to return and try speaking with the man again.

But her smug, seasoned colleague was quick to discourage her.

“What’s the point of you going back? So many reporters have tried and failed to gain his trust. What makes you think you can? Because you’re a woman with a pretty face?” he sneered..

Regina’s fists clenched. His words weren’t just an insult to her but to every female reporter out there. She wasn’t going to stand for sexism, not in her profession, not ever.

She might lack experience, but she certainly didn’t lack determination-and she had already proven her mettle with the Dahlia story that she’d scooped.

“If you haven’t finished your piece, I suggest you either get back to it or hit the streets for a change. Don’t end up using someone else’s hard work,” Regina retorted, her tone icy.

The other colleagues didn’t dare make a peep. They too were tired of this man’s antics-always hoarding their work, playing the veteran card.

In front of the boss, he’d swagger, claiming their painstakingly gathered interviews as his own. What kind of reporter did that?

But despite their private grievances, they kept quiet. Apart from the man’s seniority, his family connections were well-known. They disliked him, sure, but they loved journalism more.Têxt belongs to NôvelDrama.Org.