AURORA/DULCINEA(METROPOLIS HEIRS IV: ZAI DEL FUEGO)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: VIA AND DULCINEA

"thank you po for lending me books, Miss Dulcinea!" wikang pasasalamat ng estudyante sa kanya. "ang bait nyo talaga. the best kayo!"

"you're welcome, hija." tugon nya dito. "study well, okay? and go straight home."

"thank you po ulit!" anang estudyante sabay kaway sa kanya. lumabas ito dala ang mga pinahiram nyang mga libro, kasama ng iba pang mga mag-aaral na laging dito sa library nya piniling magbasa o di kaya'y gumawa ng mga school projects.

She just smiled and sit back on her chair, stretching her legs from standing all day, sorting the books in their shelves. may mga assistants naman syang gumagawa nito ngunit mas gusto nyang sya mismo ang gagawa. it keeps her busy and that's exactly what she wants.

"Ate, ngayon nga pala darating ang mga additional book orders natin, for replenish stocks sa inventory." wika pa ni Rielle sa kanya. dala nito ang office tablet ng library. "ako na po ang titingin sa mga bagong dating na libro, Ate."

"sure, Yel. Salamat." aniya. "wait, wala ka bang pasok today? baka ma-late ka nyan."

"ah, sa hapon pa yun Ate. isang subject lang yun, yung sa dissertation ko lang. kaya ko na po yun, don't worry." tugon nito. Dulcinea nodded and Rielle go out to wait for the delivery van to arrive.

"ay, wait Ate. nag-lunch ka na po ba?" kapagkuwa'y tanong nito bago ito tuloyang lumabas ng pinto.

"naku, hindi pa nga pala. I forgot about lunch, I was busy earlier." she said, glancing at the wall clock. It's quarter to 3 o'clock. " eh kayo, have you eaten already? kung hindi pa, sabay na tayo."

"tapos na po, Ate. naku, hindi po kayo dapat nagpapalipas ng gutom." anito na nilapag sa mesa ang hawak nitong tablet. "just wait here, Ate. I'll buy you lunch outside."

"it's okay, Yel. sa bahay---"

"nope, I insist po. hintay lang po kayo dito." wika nito. "ah, oo nga pala. ano pong gusto nyong kainin,Ate?"

Dulcinea wanted to cry but she held back her tears. Arielle is a great blessing to her when life was all dark and wasted. isa ito sa mga hindi sya tinalikuran at iniwan nung mga panahong hindi nya na kilala kahit ang sarili nya. She was near the edge, too close to giving up. but this young lady never left her side, until now.

"Ate Dulcinea?"

she snap back from her sudden reverie and smiled immediately at Rielle. ayaw nyang mahalata nito ang kahungkagang nararamdaman nya.

"uhm, a-ano... siomai, rice at iced tea lang, Yel." tugon nya. "yun lang, medyo marami naman akong nakain nung breakfast kaya busog pa ako."

Arielle look at her for a while, as if assessing that whether she's lying or not.

"you sure you're okay, Ate?" tanong nito sa kanya. "as in sure na sure?"

"oo nga, ayos lang ako. Ikaw talaga." biro nya pa dito. "I'm really fine, Yel. promise. kaya sige na, bumili ka na dun at baka dumating na ang delivery truck. pakisabi sa tindera na damihan nya ang chili flakes sa siomai, ha?"

"sure, Ate." tugon nito at lumabas na ng library, papunta sa kalapit na food park.

muli syang naupo sa swivel chair nya at pinagmasdan ang iba pang mga tao sa loob ng library nya. and she can't help but feel proud at the establishment she founded, five years ago. this wonderful place became her source of newfound strength and the reason she stayed sane after the things she has been through. recovering from coma nearly cost her life and mental health altogether. she was lost, alone and has nowhere to go. If not for the people who never gave up on her, she would've been a goner. marahil ay tuloyan na talaga nyang sinukuan ang buhay, kung wala sila sa tabi nya.