Pursuing My Nemesis

Sixteen

Chapter 16

HOW DID I forget that Aniel and I shares the same hobby? And unfortunately, Eleves' Bookshop was our favorite place. Dito kami unang nagkakilala noon. At gaya ng ginawa niyang pagtulong sa akin ngayon, ganoon din ang ginawa niya noong kinailangan ko ulit ng tulong niya.

"Do you need help?" A stranger beside me asked when he saw me trying to reach a certain title on the shelf.

Humarap ako sa kanya. He was a tall guy. Preferably five inches taller than me. Nakasuot siya ng puting polo shirt na may red and blue lining sa collar at manggas. Naka-khaki shorts lang siya at Converse shoes. His black hair was neatly slicked back. Naaamoy ko rin ang kanyang pabango.

Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti.

Very college guy naman ang dating ng lalaking 'to.

"What book are you trying to reach?" he asked and then glanced up to see the books.

I cleared my throat and pointed at the book above us. "Pride and Prejudice."

I saw his lips curled into a small smile before reaching the book. Nang makuha niya iyon ay agad din naman niyang inabot sa akin.

"Thank you," sabi ko sabay lapit ng libro sa dibdib ko.

"You like reading classics?" he asked me. Medyo nagulat pa ako kasi akala ko ay aalis na siya.

"Uhm, hindi naman. Mas mahilig ako sa contemporary romance and young adult fictions. Gusto ko lang subukan 'to since sobrang timeless ng title and author," sabi ko. I bit my lower lip. Ang dami ko yatang nasabi. Yes or no question lang naman ang tinanong niya.

"You should read it. It's great. Timeless, as what you've said," he replied.

"Nabasa mo na ba 'to?"

"Yes."

"Maganda ba? Maiintindihan ko naman siguro kahit malalim 'yong mga words na ginamit, noh?"

He flashed a boyish smile. My cheeks burned and I blush instantly. God! I can't believe I can be this attracted to a guy na makikita ko lang sa bookshop!

"It's not that complicated. You will have fun reading it. Trust me."

Napangiti ako at saka tumango. He smiled back at me gently before picking up himself a book. It's another classic from the same author. I can say that he likes the classic ones.

"See you around," he said and showed me the book that hi picked.

"Are you... perhaps a college student?" tanong ko dahil kanina pa ako naiintriga sa kanya.

The guy nodded. "Freshman."

"Parehas pala tayo! Sa St. Michael ka rin ba?" I asked and he nodded again. "Wow! Ano'ng program mo?"

"Architecture. How about you?"

"Interior Design. Nasa iisang college lang pala tayo."

"Yeah..." he said, smiling. "What's your name?"

"Nemmie. Ikaw?"

Nagulat ako nang i-abot niya sa akin ang palad niya. "Nathaniel. It's nice meeting you, Nemmie."

Tinanggap ko ang kamay niya at marahang inalog iyon. And just like what I have read in the books, I felt a small amount of electricity charged swiftly from his hand to mine. Kinilig ako nang bahagya nang maramdaman iyon. It was my first time experiencing it. Akala ko ay sa libro lang nangyayari ang bagay na 'yon. Totoo pala talagang nararamdaman mo iyon kapag naka-contact ka sa crush mo.