Lead Me To You

Kabanata XII

An Ordinary Princess

Monica

I was a spoiled child since I was young. My Papa would read me a book of fairytales or children's books before going to sleep. And I love hearing his voice while reading. He always puts characters in each story and he also changed his voice to suit the narrative.

I just hope that those books are still in my father's library. How about his chamber? Sino ang gumagamit nayun?

Lumabas ako ng kwarto at nadatnan ko agad si Carter an nakabantay sa aking pinto.

"Are you really going to stand there every day for almost 24 hours?" I got slightly annoyed.

"I'm just doing my job," he simply answered back.

"But at least you should sit down. They should give you a chair or someone should switch post to you so you can rest." I said.

"I'm fine, signorina. Do you need something?" He changes the subject.

"It's nothing. I just need to go to the library." Pagturo ko sa katabing kwarto ni Francis.

"Tell me what you need and I'll get it for you," pagalok naman ni Carter.

"Carter, may mga paa ako. Hindi naman kalayuan ang aking lalakarin para makarating ako roon. It's a library, nothing's gonna happen on me there." I said sarcastically.

Seriously, sobrang higpit ng security sa bahay na ito. Halos lahat ng galaw mo ay may nanonood at nakabantay. May mga nakaabang kung sakaling may panganib na dumating sayo. Sa loon ng bahay na ito? May magtatanka pa ba sa buhay ko?

Hinayaan na naman ako ni Carter na magpunta sa library ng ako lamang magisa. Pagpasok ko roon ay natigilan ako sa may pintuan. Nag-iba na ang ayos ng silid na ito. Ngunit sa palagay ko ay ang mga bilang ng librong narito ay katulad lamang noon. Maaaring may nadagdag. They told me that this is Francis' office. Kaya pala may nakabukas na laptop sa gitnang lamesa at ilang folder sa gilid nito.

This place is neat and smells nice.

Hmm... what should I read today?

Romance? Documentary? History? Educational? There are so many options!

The shelves are two feet taller than me that's why it has a ladder attached to it. And even at the highest shelves are filled with books. I am curious about the books on the top shelves and there is this one book that catches my attention there. I climbed the ladder at the very top and scanned my eyes with the books. Same genres but a lot of choices.

I noticed the familiar book just by the corner and immediately reached for it. As soon as I touched the book, good old memories were flashed in my mind. My father used to read this story to me when I cannot sleep. And I used to snuck in his library just to get this book and read it all over again. I didn't get tired of it and I even memorized the whole words of this story.

I hugged the book and placed that near my chest. I looked down and never realized how high I climbed. I trembled a little so I hold the ladder tightly.

"What was I thinking?" I asked myself.

Dahan-dahan naman akong bumababa sa hagdanan nang hindi tumitingin sa baba. Sa tuwing makikita ko ang layo ng sahig sa aking kinatatayuan ngayon ay nanginginig na agad ako.

"Oh Lord, help me..." I chanted.

Halos ipikit ko na ang aking mga mata dahil dumagdag sa aking kaba ang paggalaw ng hagdan habang bumababa ako.

Konting hakbang na lamang at mararamdaman na ang aking mga paa ang sahig. Konting tiis na lamang.

"I wonder what book you got," said Francis when I finally reached the ground.