A Collection of Short Stories

Something Just Like This

Daniel rushed to the library. His comfortable sneakers squeaked on the pavement underneath him. Everything became a blur, the color of his surroundings blended together and painted a canvas he really wished to paint it. 

But, of course, he lack art skills. 

He reached the entry of the library, its doors looming over him. He caught his breath, breathing gulps of cold air. His legs were full of lactic acid, threatening to fall over. He had been running for a full 5 minutes from his motel to the library. 

All because he forgot to borrow a book. 

Daniel pushed the doors of the library and stepped in. The smell of books overwhelmed him, the sound of pages ruffling echoed through the silence of the library. He walked towards the aisle where he found his book. 

But the book is nowhere to be found. 

Daniel cursed himself silently and ran towards the shelves to find his book. He scanned all the shelves with precision, muttering to himself the title of the book. He needed this book because he got a test tomorrow on that particular topic. If he failed that...well...his teacher would be quite disappointed. 

Anyway, back to scanning the shelves. 

" Scarlet Heart...no...Lailah...no...Skyfall...no...wait, am I in the wrong section? " Daniel muttered. Then he realized he was in the wrong section of the library. He was looking for a book on myths but he ended up in the fiction sector. He cursed himself again and ran towards the next shelf. The next shelf contained language books, from English to Greek. Wrong sector again. He ran towards the third shelf, but it contained books on famous people. Amelia Earhart to Issac Newton to Robert Boyle to Mother Teresa to-

Daniel shook his head. FOCUS, Daniel scolded himself. 

He ran towards the shelf behind the third shelf, the fourth shelf and found what he got. Historical books. He scanned the lower shelf first, but found nothing. Second shelf, also nothing. Third shelf, same thing. Fourth shelf and fifth shelf same thing also. 

But that's how high his eyes can scan. The rest were situated in the top shelves, which meant he had to climb the ladder. He hated climbing ladders, especially when it creaked under his weight. 

Before he could climb it, he heard a girl's voice repeating the same book title he had been finding for the past 30 minutes. 

" Greek Myths: An Introduction to the Beginner. I found it! " the girl's voice squeaked. 

Daniel's heart stopped. There's only one copy of this book and this girl found it first? He needed it. He needed it. He ran towards the voice source and gave a gasp of shock. 

It was his classmate, Alya. And they had a test tomorrow based on that book. 

Daniel had no way to get his book back. He was not going to take a book from a girl. But unfortunately, he needed it to score for his test. Hell no if she took it out from the library. 

He coughed and Alya turned. She smiled at him and sauntered up to him, her skirts swaying right and left. Her ponytail swung back and forth as she skipped towards him. Her eyes were full of glee and her smile-

Oh god, her smile. 

Her smile was full of happiness, covering her in a glow of joy under the sunlight that shone through the window. Halfway there, she frowned at him. 

" Daniel, why are you staring at me? " Alya said. 

Daniel snapped out of his consciousness. He had been staring at her, his mouth gaped open. 

Daniel turned around and said, embarassed, " Nothing. "

Alya touched his shoulder, her warmth was soft, soothing his cold body. 

" You're not fine, " Alya whispered to him. 

All Daniel could do was nod his head slowly. 

Alya then walked past him, towards the counter. Daniel then grasp his hand on her wrist. She whirled around as Daniel pressed his mouth towards hers. 

Her mouth was plush as it looked like. He bent forward as Alya returned the strength of his kiss. His hand touched the side of her face, which was hot from blushing. The book fell off Alya's hand and made a loud sound in the library. 

They both broke up suddenly at the sound. 

Alya muttered softly, picked up the book and went towards the counter, but Daniel didn't stopped her. He could have picked up the book, but...there was something about her that he regretted that decision. Alya turned around and smiled at him, blush forming around her cheeks as she took the book from the counter. Alya then walked up to him, took his hand calmly and pulled him. 

" Where are you going to take me? " Daniel asked. 

" You'll see. Do you want anything to drink or eat? " Alya asked. 

" So you're bringing me on a date with you? "

" No, " Alya answered, " You wanted it. So let's do it. "

Daniel finally understood what she meant. And she guessed his feelings at that moment. 

During grade 3, he fell in love with Alya when they first met. Her hair was pulled up in braids that slid down like vines in the forest. Her eyes were beautiful, the color of violet sparking up with happiness. But he couldn't express his feelings. Until now, 18 years later, in the same college school with her. 

Daniel smiled at her for the first time. And she smiled back. 

Daniel muttered under his breath, " I want something just like this. " 

And they walked out of the library hand in hand.