Chapter 4: Prince

I caught her stealing a glance at me and I couldn't help but smile inwardly. Diosa. Her name suits her.

When I went back to the library yesterday I was so surprised to find her letter. Pasaway kasi si Duke, my seventeen-year old brother, at pinilit pa akong i-edit yung love letter niya while I was busy doing my research. Palpak pa yung sign pen niya nagtatae. Bwisit na bwisit tuloy ako at pati yung t-shirt ko namantsahan. I didn't realize na kumalat na yung ink kasi nagmamadali ako at magsisimula na yung next subject ko and my classroom is located at NIGS. Sa kakamadali pati yung draft ni Duke naiwan ko pa sa loob nung libro at na-realize ko lang na nawawala nung pauwi na ako at ti-next niya ako na wag ko daw kalimutan yung letter niya. I had to run back to the Main Lib just to retrieve the letter. 

Buti na lang at ka-org mate ko si Chris yung student assistant at mabilis kong nakuha ulit yung libro pero laking gulat ko ng mabasa ko yung message ni Library Girl. Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ako o maiinis pero sobrang na-curious ako sa isang babaeng halatang nagagalit pero at the same time ay ginawan pa ako ng favor.

"Chris, kilala mo ba sinong huling humiram nito?"

"Um, pa-out na ako eh. Andun sa likod yung records, bakit?" Tanong niya.

"May love letter sa akin eh," nakangisi kong sagot, "Ano bang itsura niya?"

"Cute. Naka-glasses. Maliit lang pero sobrang kinis." Nakatawa si mokong.

"Type mo?"

"Oo naman. Ngiti pa lang ulam na. Gusto ko nga hingin yung number kanina."

That got me more interested, "Pwede bang mag-iwan ako ng message sa kanya?"

"Ha? Baka naman di na bumalik yun."

"Kahit na, just try okay?"

Kinabukasan maaga akong dumaan ng library para iwan kay Chris yung sulat. Nung bumalik ako ng lunch break sinabi niyang nakuha na raw ni Library Girl yung letter ko. Sa sobrang excited ko ay naikwento ko pa sa org mates ko yung nangyari. They bid me goodluck at panahon na raw na mag-move-on ako.

All day long I was anticipating our meeting. She sounds so feisty in her letter pero may sense of humor. Nakakatuwa. Kaso pagdating ko sa Lib Steps naalala kong di ko pa pala nakuha yung pangalan niya kay Chris. Pumasok ako sa loob pero tapos na daw yung shift niya at nakauwi na. I leaned back on the pillars and watched the people coming and going for a while until I saw a petite girl walk into view. She was wearing a simple white shirt, jeans and rubber shoes. She wasn't cute at all... She was gorgeous. Her long hair cascaded down her back with each movement. Walang hint ng make-up but she had a rosy-white glow to her skin. Umupo siya sa steps and fiddled with her phone. I noticed na lahat nung mga tao eh napansin rin siya and I decided to make my move bago pa ako maunahan ng ibang kausapin siya.

I stood behind her for awhile unsure of what to say when she looked up to me.

"Hi Ms. Library Girl" I heard myself say.

She just stared at me for a full minute and I began to panic. Shit, baka hindi siya yun!

"Sorry, akala ko ikaw yung i-me-meet ko" I started to back away from her.

"Prince?" Damn. Why does my name sound so freakin' good coming out of those lips?

"Yes?"

 "Sorry, yes I'm Library Girl. Actually my name's Aya." she smiled at me and gave me her hand. Right then and there, I felt like grabbing the opportunity and brought her up. She looks so small. I think she could barely reach my shoulder. 

"I'm so glad, akala ko I made a mistake," I couldn't help but grin at her. Shit lang ang ganda!

"It's nice to meet you Aya." She averted her gaze and blushed. I want to smack my forehead. I frantically searched for something to say para mawala yung awkwardness ng moment.

"Are you hungry?" I asked her.

"Hindi pa masyado," Shit, sana tanggapin niya yung offer ko. 

"Kain tayo, then I'll lend you my book." I didn't wait for her to answer.

"Sorry ha, about the book. It wasn't intentional on my part to deface it. Nakakahiya sa'yo". I felt like I really needed to apologize.

"Hindi ka dapat sa akin mag-sorry. You need to replace that book." Oh man. Burned. Pero I saw the shock register on her face with what she unintentionally said. I couldn't help but laugh. Ang feisty naman nito!

"Sorry, you must see your facial expression! Ang epic!" she blushed and the color spread to her cheeks all the way to her neck. Damn. Ang kinis talaga niya, parang di naarawan. 

I held her hand and brought her to the food stalls where I ordered food for us. She looked so uncomfortable that I knew I needed to say something to lighten the mood. 

"Here you go,basta wag mo na ako singilin ng airfare for Davao ha". I pushed my book towards her.  

 "Sorry, I wasn't serious about that. Nainis lang talaga ako yesterday" she laughed, accepting the book. Finally. Ang sarap pakinggan ng boses niya. 

"No, its okay and my brother is super thankful to you. Sinagot na siya nung nililigawan niya kanina" I winked at her. 

"Ha?" her eyes widened.

"Ang kulit kasi nung kumag na yun, mangliligaw lang hindi pa marunong. Tapos yung ballpen niya epic fail."

"Buti naman nakatul--"

"Hey Prince, bro!" I looked up and saw Adam, one of my org mates waving at me. 

"Asan na yung Library Girl mo?" he asked with a laugh and I cursed softly kasi panira ng moment, "Pakilala mo naman ako."

"Kuya Adam?" I heard her say and we both turned to face Aya.

"Diosa? What are you doing here?" I heard Adam say and I looked at him. Magkakilala sila? I saw him ruffle her hair affectionately. 

"Wait, magkakilala kayo?"

"Yeah this is my little half-sister Ayanna Diosa" Adam said proudly.

Ah, shit. Kapatid pala ni Adam. 

Adam sat beside her, "Anong ginagawa mo dito Diosa? Are you done with your classes?"

"Yup!" she nodded and hugged his arm. I felt a momentary pang of jealousy. Darn, sana ganyan din siya ka-comfortable sa'kin.

"Kuya, stop calling me Diosa," she pouted, "Ang weird!"

Adam laughed, "Ano ka ba baby girl, eh ikaw ang Diyosa namin eh."

"Eww... ang pangit!"

Adam turned to me, "O 'kala ko i-me-meet mo yung 'Library Girl'?"

"Oo nga." I muttered and turned my gaze to Aya. She bit her lower lip and hid her face behind Adam's shoulder. Naka-nang sobrang sweet naman nito sa kuya niya!

"You mean, our Diosa is 'Library Girl'?" he asked incredelously. Emphasis on the word OUR.

Oh man. Talk about coincidences.

"Bro, usap muna tayo" he stood up and I had no choice but to follow. We walked a few ways out of earshot.

"Let me just get this out in the open ha," he started, "do you like my sister?"

"Bro, wala pa kaming ten minutes na magkakilala" I held my hands up, "So I don't know yet. But she's a very pretty girl and I'll admit na I'm hooked."

Adam nodded his head, "Yes, very pretty and she's also very vulnerable. Aya's not like other girls okay?"

"Chill Bro. I only have good intentions towards your sister."

"Basta nagkakaintindihan tayo. She's the youngest in our family and just remember that she has seven older brothers na huhunting sa'yo pag pinaiyak mo siya" Oh man. Nakakatakot pala 'tong si Adam. Wait seven?

"'Kala ko dalawa lang kayo ni Kuya Aidan?"

"Half-brothers. Aya has five other brothers aside from me and Aidan kaya wag magkakamali ang sinumang lalaki diyan na saktan siya."

-end Chapter 4-

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