Behind Every Pages

Chapter Two:

Lestari

Siniguro kong maaga akong magigising para wala nang masabi si Daddy. Lumabas ako ng kuwarto para sumabay na rin mag almusal.

"I'm glad you're listening, because if not, you won't be able to enter your library anymore." I didn't react to his threat. Luther just grinned in front of me. I continued eating and stayed silent. Papansin talaga siya  oh. Ngingisi pa eh.

With the number of books I have since I was a child, I really asked my father to build my own library. Luther doesn't have a liking for books, so only my books and some of Daddy's books are there.

After eating, I went straight to my library. Daddy's rules haven't changed, so I stayed in this big house, still not allowed to go out, maliban na lang kung sa simbahan at sa school. Kahit nga sa mga lugar na 'yon ay bantay sarado ako. Ang dahilan? Hindi ko talaga alam.

I just agree to everything my father wants, as long as my wishes are also followed. I walked to a shelf where it's organized for two authors and their books. That's how my library looks, the shelf is organized based on the authors so I won't have a hard time. Most of them are signed books, especially when the authors are local, minsan lang ako magkaroon ng napirmahang libro kapag international ang author dahi si Daddy lang ang nauutusan ko. He used to agree back then but maybe ngayon hindi na.

Si Kuya Alistair talaga ang the great bridge ko dahil siya lang ang way ko para mapa-booksigned ang mga libro ko. Noong bata ako ay wala naman akong alam sa mga ganon kaya basta lang ang bili ko ng libro. Pero nang matutunan ko na importante rin iyon at talagang mas nakakagana bilang reader, nagkaroon tuloy ng dagdag trabaho si Kuya Alistair. Pero sabi niya, lahat gagawin niya para sa akin dahil parang anak na niya ako at tatay naman na rin ang turing ko sa kaniya, mga magulang, sa kanilang dalawa ni Ate Florence, ang mayor doma ng bahay namin. Silang dalawa lang ang sumusuporta sa hilig ko.

Nang marating ko ang shelf para kay Ezonme, hindi pa ito puno dahil apat pa lang ang libro niya. Pero marami pa siyang stories online na hindi pa nagagawang libro. Napansin kong hindi pala iyon apat dahil tatlo lang. Nag-panic ako nang makitang nawawala ang binasa ko lamang na libro kahapon. Hinanap ko yon sa itaas na shelf kung saan ibang author at libro ang naroon kaso wala rin.

"No! It can't be," I was about to leave when I saw Kuya Alistair smiling as he watched me.

"Thank god, Kuya Alistair you're here. Have you seen my book? The one I asked to be signed today? Kuya, it's missing. I don't know where to find it. M-maybe Daddy burned it because he was mad at me yesterday. Hala, hindi puwede," I felt like crying.

"Kumalma ka, Lesty. Napirmahan na yung libro mo, ito oh," nilahad niya yung libro na may ngiti sa labi. Agad akong napatayo at tiningnan iyon.

I quickly opened the front page and was surprised to see that it was indeed signed. There was also a small note tucked inside. I immediately unfolded it and my eyes widened at what I read.

Hello Ms. Lesty

Thank you for supporting my book. I hope you can come to my next book launch. Thank you again, to you and Kuya Alistair. He really is a nice guy. He told me a lot about you. Be a good girl so you can come with him next time. Hope to see you soon, Lesty.

Ezonme

His handwriting is so beautiful! Even better than mine! And did he just call me by my nickname?! My nickname sounds cute when he use it! Ah! I think I might be going crazy.

I felt like I was going to faint. I heard Kuya Alistair's soft laughter. Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked at him and I immediately jumped to hug him.

"Thank you! You have no idea how happy you made me, Kuya Alistair. Thank you so much!"

"Syempre naman, matitiis ba naman kita," kumalas na ako sa yakap namin at pinunasan ang luha ko. Humigpit ang yakap ko sa libro at sa maliit na papel.

"W-what did you talk about? Is he looking for me? How did he know you? Did he ask why i wasn't there?" I asked one question after another. Kuya Alistair chuckled at me. Nag pa-panic na talaga ako sa tuwa.

"Sabi kong kumalma ka. Noong lumapit na kasi ako sa kaniya, natuwa pa siya na sa edad ko raw eh nagbabasa ako ng romance. Na-offend ako." natawa kami pareho.

"Tapos po?"

"Syempre tinanggi ko at sinabing hindi akin 'yang libro at sa alaga ko 'yan." napangiti naman ako sa sinabi niya. He never treated me like her boss' daughter, pero nirerespeto niya pa rin ako at tinuturing na anak.

"And then?" hindi ako mapakali.

"Tinanong niya kung anong pangalan ng alaga ko para raw makapagpasalamat siya. Nagtataka pa nga dahil bakit daw ako ang pinapunta mo kung ikaw naman ang fan niya, sabi ko bawal kang lumabas."

"A-ano pong sabi niya?" naalala niya kaya ako? Alam niya kayang ako yung kagabing nag-message sa kaniya?

"Wala eh, natahimik siya,"

"Po?"

"Oo natahimik siya at ngumiti rin naman. Kinamusta ka niya sa akin kaya ayon, napakwento ako," natatawang sagot niya.

"What did you tell him po?"

"Kung gaano ka kakulit. Natawa siya. Sinabi kong kaya hindi ka makalabas dahil makulit ka."

"Kuya!" namula ata ang pisngi ko dahil doon. Bakit niya ako binubunyag at sa paborito ko pa talagang author ha!

"Nakita kong nagsulat siya sa isang papel at iyan ata 'yang hawak mo, 'yon lang naman. Nagpasalamat lang siya sa akin at sana raw magkita na kayo soon."

I fell silent. I wanted to scream out of sheer joy. My favorite author is starting to notice me! He even wants to see me!

I'm ready! I'm determined to be an angel na. I'll even wash the dishes, kahit yung hugas na, huhugasan ko ulit. Just please, payagan lang ako. If given permission, I'll only go to the book signing and then go straight home at the exact time, no delays. Just please, Daddy, if you can hear me, allow me!

Wait for me, Mr. Author.