It's been a month since she started learning Braille. For once since the incident, she had something to look forward to every day. It was not the mere fact that she absolutely loved learning, but mostly, it was because she enjoyed hanging out with Moshu and Leya. They have become her favorite people, and she knew then and there, it was love at first sight. Oh the many ironies of the world, right?
Leya and her love of literature provided a much-needed distraction. She could talk on and on about her favorite books and authors, and there wasn't a single minute where she treated Dei as if she was a disease. She talked to her like a normal person would. No pity party, no letting up--and she absolutely loved that about her.
Leya said one time during breaks from Braille, "I think Moshu has a crush on you. If he were human, he'd probably propose to you tomorrow."
The pooch did seem to have a certain bias when it came to Dei. He'd be standing by the door everyday waiting for her to arrive. He'd give her his favorite chew toy so they could play fetch. He allowed her to rub his tummy, and he did all these for her, and only her.
Moshu, true to his name, had been the best companion. He seemed to know how to take care of her as if he could read her mind. He knew when to cheer her up, or when to walk her around, she needed no cane, Moshu was enough. She couldn't quite figure out why, of all people, Moshu chose her as his human. But if the dog could talk, he'd have said
"It's because you need me the most."
For all that, she was grateful. Although she still didn't enjoy being forced into socially awkward situations such as her mom taking her to every ophthalmologist she could think of, or Paolo trying to convince her to accept the writing gig in Bhutan. She understood that they had good intentions, but she never liked being told what to do. With Leya and Moshu, she was simply herself. She wasn't going blind, she wasn't limited, she was a scholar.
Cross legged, she sat in the corner of the room, Moshu on her feet, reading her latest project "Persuasion" by Jane Austen, when the door chimed to welcome a stranger.
"Hi, good morning po. Nandito po ba si Leya?"
She looked up to greet the man whose voice she has never heard before. At this point, she's already well acquainted herself with the voices of the regulars. She tried to see beyond the haze, even squinting as she did, but all she saw was his outline. A figure of a man who seemed to be very well built from head to toe. Skin was as fair as snow. So much so that he shined brighter than his white v-neck shirt.
"Yeah. Probably just somewhere around the area."
She shrugged him off almost instantly and went back to her reading. Dei still hasn't quite warmed up yet to people other than Leya and Moshu. She'd have reacted the same way towards anyone. But something was different this time.
"Uhm. Okay. Salamat po."
There was something really encouraging about the sound of his voice. It was a happy tenor, and she was certain he was one of those people. Optimistic through all struggles in life, something that was her complete opposite. She failed to understand how this interested her at all. It's been awhile since she bothered attending to other people.
The man turned around, and as he did, Dei caught a whiff of his scent. Damn. It was as if his perspiration was made of a saccharine, virile, perfume and she found it quite irresistible. She had to turn away before he could notice but still, she listened to him as he took his steps further-- reading the same passage over and over again.
"He's a clumsy walker." she thought to herself. She could tell by the sound of his footsteps that he drags his feet when he strides and she automatically assumed he's probably fallen way too many times.
Then out of nowhere, the sound of Leya's laughter and screaming erupted from the other side of the room.
"OH MY Richard. Ang tagal mo ng di nadaan dito ah. How have you been dear?"
"Hi Miss Leya. Okay naman po. Kayo po?"
"Eto getting by naman. How's your dad?"
"He's doing great naman po. He's adjusted quite well naman. So thank goodness for that."
"Yes, absolutely. Oh wait, may papakilala ako sayo."
"Po? Sino po?"
"Basta bago kong student. Si Nicomaine Dei. She's quite the character. Uhm, fair warning though, wag mong personalin mga sasabihin nya or the way she acts. Parang si Moshu yun eh."
She laughed at her very own description.
"Wait, Nicomaine Dei Mendoza?"
"Oh yes. How do you know her?"
"Paborito ko po kasi yung mga sinusulat nya sa Mabuhay. She's quite the photographer too."
"Ah yeah that's right. Small world ano? Tara hali ka pakilala kita."
All smiles, Richard and Leya walked towards where Dei was sitting. He couldn't believe he was about to meet the girl who wrote about his dreams so beautifully. He couldn't believe he simply walked passed her without knowing. But as he caught another glimpse of her looking at the corner, feeling the indents of a book that was all but white pages from afar, a lump on his chest formed as he realized what it meant to be one of Leya's students. It dawned on him that the reason why he hasn't read anything from her was because of this, she had become visually impaired.
"Dei, how are you finding Austen?"
"Ooooh. I feel for Captain Wentworth, although I want to strangle him at the same time, you know? Poor Anne! Porket tumanda na sya, he just ignores her like that?"
"Well, he had all the right to, don't you think? Paminsan-minsan naman guy naman ang gumanti."
"Point taken."
"Pabebe kasi si Anne, ayan, buti nga sa kanya."
"Leya, do you have any idea how mean you are?"
"Sure I do, dearie. That's why you love me, right?"
"Whatever."
"Nga pala I want you to meet one of my favorite students, RJ. Rj, Nicomaine Dei."
He held out his hand for her to shake but awkwardly drew back quickly realizing how stupid that must have looked.
"I can still see you move you know."
"Oh sorry. Hi, RJ po. Nice to meet you."
"Really? Why is that?"
"I'm a huge fan of your writing po kasi and..."
"Aaah, my writing. Thanks for reminding me."
She spat, hating the slap in her face that comment had brought.
"Uhm I'm sorry."
"Sure you are. Leya, I should go."
"Oh maaga pa ah."
"Not feeling too well 'cus of your insensitive friend here."
Dei stood up and so did Moshu who was always quick to respond to her actions. She didn't enjoy being reminded of the things she couldn't do anymore. If it wasn't for Leya, she probably would have been a little less kind.
"Well that was awkward." Leya exclaimed.
"It was my fault. Dapat di ko pinaalala."
"Naw. Ganon lang talaga yun. She hasn't come to terms with things yet. She'll get by just fine."
"Ganda nya pala no?"
"Ehem. Fanboy na fanboy dating mo ah? Oh yung bibig mo mapasukan ng langaw."
"Eeh Miss Leya naman." he said as he scratched the hair on the back of his head.
"Cute mo parin talaga Tisoy."
"Di naman po. Pero matanong ko lang, anong nang yari sa kanya?"
"I'll tell you over coffee. Shall we?"
"Sige po."
