Aurora Borealis

Chapter 15 - Aero

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"Gagawa pa kaming research ng mga ka-group ko, doon ka muna sa may Archives kung gusto mo." saad ni West nang makarating kami sa library.

"Papalayasin tayo ng librarian doon kapag hindi natin sinunod yung pakisuyo niya." sagot ko.

Nakisuyo sa'min ang librarian na bantayan kahit isang araw man lang ang library dahil sa may importanteng meeting daw sila sa faculty. Hindi naman kami makatanggi dahil sa iyon na lamang ang magagawa namin habang hinahayaan niya kaming tumambay sa may Archives' Section.

Isa pa, break time naman at walang gaanong gagawin, maliban kay West na kanina pa ipinipilit na mayroon silang research na kailangang gawain for this quarter.

"It's not like we're houseless— wait, houseless or homeless? Ano ba dapat?"

"Parehong tama. Pati ikaw, may tama." sagot ko. "Puwede ka namang magmulti-tasking. Magbantay ka ng library habang gumagawa ng research."

"Yup, or puwede ring magbantay ng research habang gumagawa ng library."

I shrugged at the nonsense he's spouting. The conversation's not progressing at all. "Are you going to help or not?"

"Susubukan ko. Pero sa totoo lang, kaya mo nang gawain 'yon kahit mag-isa ka. You're already accustomed at staring people. If I stare at them, they'll call me a creep."

"Yes, as if you're not one heck of a creep right now." wika ko at inabot ang doorknob. Marami-raming grupo rin ng estudyante ang nag-o-occupy ng mga lamesa nang maabutan namin sila.

"I just remembered, hindi lang pala tayong dalawa ang na-assign na magbantay ng library ngayong araw." sambit niya.

"There's another one?"

"Yup, though I don't have the slightest idea kung sino. Basta sinabi lang ng librarian kanina na may makakasama raw tayo." dagdag niya.

Agad naman akong sumuot sa kabilang side ng lamesa ng librarian. Dali-dali namang pumunta si West sa mga kagroup niya. Mamaya ko na lang siya isusumbong.

Good thing I brought my new stack of mangas that I just bought last week. I sniffed it up and heaved a sigh of satisfaction. They still smell good as new.

My attention got into diversion when the wind chimes hanging by the doorway produced a loud but harmonious cling-clang sound.

"Sorry, I'm late." lumapit sa mesang kinaroroonan ko ang isang lalaki at humikab. It looks like he's just woken up from a deep slumber, given the bedhead that he has. His uniform were full of creases as if he never even bothered ironing them.

He looks.. really tardy. Moreover, he looks blankly at space as if he's absent-minded.

He sluggishly offered his hand upon introducing himself, "I'm Aero."

"Uh, okay. Are you the one whom the librarian told us that will assist us in librarykeeping?" ang naitanong ko na lamang at saka tinanggap ang kaniyang kamay.

"Yes.." he answered in a lethargical manner.

Lumipat na rin siya sa kabilang side ng lamesa at naupo nang may isang metro ang distansya sa akin. Walang anu-ano'y bigla na lamang siyang dumukmo. It's like he's a walking zombie.

Hindi ko na lamang siya pinansin at itinuon na lamang ang aking oras sa pagbabasa ng manga habang abala ang ibang estudyante roon sa ibang lamesa.

It's been days when Wendy posted an apology video. She's looking fine than ever. She haven't uploaded a new content yet after that one since she's still hesitating whether she'll continue vlogging or not.