The Ring of Cercle

CHAPTER 1 (part 1)

I have worshipped woman as the living embodiment of the spirit of service and sacrifice.

                                                                                                                                                     Mahatma Gandhi 

Thirty years ago..

He adjusted his tie. Kanina pa niya tinitiis ang pawis sa noo niya. But he had to find the book. He has been scrutinizing the books piled in the book shelves. 

"damn..."he hissed. hinubad niya ang coat niya. Nasa university library siya, hinahanap ang librong may impormasyon sa assignment niya. Kanina pa siya nakatayo. at sumasakit na ang mga paa niya. He sought help from library assisstants but no one dared to help him. 

the price of being a Rossetti..............

He sighed. He tried to pull his tie but he accidentally  pulled his dog collar instead. 

It happened in seconds. The ring dropped on the floor and rolled down. 

For a moment he thought he was out of breath.

Lagot na!

The ring rolled down meters away. Muntik pa itong matapakan ng isang estudyante. 

It rolled down away from him...one meter...two meters.....five meters... He couldn't move..

He stepped forward as the ring made a circle ...The ring made circular movement...slowing down . 

Titig na titig siya sa singsing. He gasped when a hand picked it up.

Shit! 

Isang babae ang nakapulot ng singsing niya. Nakayuko ito at hindi niya masyadong maaninag ang mukha nito. 

Then the woman stood straightly. He frowned.

tatlong taon na siya sa university pero ngayon lang niya ito nakita. 

hindi ito masyadong matangkad. morena at itim na itim ang buhok....she had a slender body...and a pretty face...

titig na titig ito sa singsing niya. halos mapugto ang hininga niya nang kagatin nito ang singsing!

"Don't!"

Napangiti si Lora. Sa wakas at nahanap niya rin ang librong hinahanap niya. Nag-iisang kopya lang ito at pahirapan pa ang paghahanap sa mga bookshelves. 

"Mababasa na rin kita..." she smiled.

napahinto siya bigla. she was seeing something on the floor. she thought it was a marble....

marble? no, it was a ring....making its circular movement.

she blinked. she stretched out her hand and picked it up.

 she stood straightly. namamangha siya sa singsing na nasa kamay niya...

"silver....wow grabe...ang ganda nang pagka-ukit ng rose sa gitna......" she blithely thought....

"makagat nga...

she opened her mouth and inserted the ring between her teeth...

"don"t!"

Nagulat siya.....

Nilapitan ni Jacques ang babae. Kitangkita niya ang pagkagulat sa mukha nito. He was alarmed. Aksidente niyang nahila ang dog collar niya, naputol ito at and the ring, his ring which he secured through the collar, slipped and fell on the floor.

"miss, akin ang singsing na 'yan." he said passively.

hindi pa rin natitinag ang babae.

he raised his hand.

"it's mine, give it  back to me."

she shook her head. 

"i don't think it's yours-

"it's mine.." he said. Parang gusto niyang mapikon.

"no, i don't think-

"i don't want to spend my time arguing with a woman." 

"and i don't want to spend my time believing everything you said."

Jacques recoiled. what the heck!

"anong sinabi mo?" he asked with astonishment.

"pambabae ang singsing na 'to-" she raised the ring above her head." so, babae rin ang may-ari nito." she said with undeniable confidence.

" just because it looks so feminine-

" i know mister, i know..." she shrugged ." i just want to be-"

"hell!" Jacques cried.

Nagulat ang babae. Halatang hindi napaghandaan ang outburst niya.  She gaped at him. 

"Don't ..you ...know ...who I AM?"  he enunciated.

she stared at him with equal anger. 

"excuse me." an authoratative voice interrupted.

Nilingon nila ang boses na 'yun. Napaatras bigla ang babae. Nagtago ito sa likuran niya.

And damn it, it was the librarian.

" I think it's better if you two will go out, and argue to your heart's content." sabi nito at tumalikod na.

He opened his mouth to apologize. Pero papalayo na ang librarian. Hinarap niya ang babaeng nasa likod niya.

But She was gone........

NOW WHAT?