Unforgotten Tale

CHAPTER 1

THE MYSTERIOUS MAN 

'This is our story.'

Those are the exact words which ended the book I'm reading. I still can't get over it, why is the ending like that? I can't fathom my annoyance towards the author. Though at the same time I admire the author for putting up a good book. Bakit kasi kailangan pang may mamatay? It really hurts, I literally feel the pain of the woman in the story. 

Her fiancé died. I can't stop questioning myself, what if that'll happen to me? I probably can't take it. It may be weird for others because it's just a story and it didn't happen in real life. Though, admit it or not books can turn us upside down , kung ano man ang mga naramdaman ng pangunahing tauhan sa libro ganoon din ang mararamdaman natin. Mapapaisip nga rin tayo if, how will we going to deal with those kind of problems they are facing? Iniisip pa nga natin kung minsan na tayo 'yung leading lady o leading man. 

Reading is not simply reading the story but it is about feeling the story, relating to it. It is a matter of loving and understanding. And at the very end of the chapters make sure that we've learned something.

I closed the book and look at the other three books I've just finished, mystery, romance and a fantasy. I've been spending the whole month of my vacation on reading books. Napabuntong hininga ako at tumingin sa kalangitan. It's brimming with twinkling stars. Sana kahit isa sa mga fictional characters na nabasa ko ay mabuhay.

I shake my head and laughed at myself. It's absurd, and it will never happen. Tumayo na ako at lumapit sa veranda upang isara ang bintana. Tumungo na ako sa aking kama upang matulog.

I decided to look for a book today, wala na kasi akong mababasa. I took a shower, get dressed ate my breakfast and I'm good to go. Habang naglalakad ako papunta sa bus stop I suddenly remembered my parents. They are super busy that we barely see each other. One of the reason why I use almost all of my time reading books, para 'di ko masyado maramdaman na nag iisa ako. I'm an only child so..

I am looking for a book that I can read but I already have those. I decided to go in the information desk and ask for a new book. 

"Excuse me, do you have some new books?" The lady looked at me and proceeds to type in her computer.

"Ikaw 'yung nagtanong noong huli kung mayroon kaming mga bagong libro 'diba?" Naalala niya pa pala ako, unti-unti akong tumango at ngumiti. Napangiwi naman siya.

"Naku hija, next week pa ang delivery balik ka nalang." That was the exact thing she told me the last time I got here. Tumango nalang ako at lumabas na.

Naglalakad na ako papunta sa sakayan, I decided to just go home. I am at the bus stop waiting for the bus to arrive, may katabi akong lalake at mukhang naghihintay rin siya ng masasakyan. 

He has brooding eyes that makes me ask, what's making him sad? My gaze dropped on his pointed nose, sharp lips and sleek jawline. He slowly turns his head on me that makes my heart beats erratically and I suddenly had trouble breathing. He didn't say anything, he took off his gaze on me and got on the bus. 

Nakatutulala parin ako at hindi alam ang gagawin. Then I suddenly realized that the bus already took off. I face palmed myself, guess I need to wait for the next bus. Uupo nalang muna sana ako nang madako ang aking tingin sa isang pulang libro kung saan nakatayo ang lalaki kanina. Maybe he dropped the book, I slowly picked it up and open it. 

It's his diary. Napangiti ako, may lalake parin palang gumagawa ng diary. I peer through the window of the bus I'm into and think about the bucket lists of the guy. A smile crept into my lips as I slowly closed my eyes and sleep invaded my system.

Drops of rain are cascading through the window. As I was looking outside I noticed an old and unfamiliar building, maynakalagay na Literarium. Is that a library?

Agad akong pumara at nagtungo sa gusali na aking nakita. Pagkarating ko sa tapat ng gusali ay pinunasan ko ang aking mukha at braso, halos mabasa ako ng ulan. Tumitig ako sa malaking pintuan na gawa sa kahoy, unti-unti ko itong binuksan at tumambad sa akin ang malaki at malawak na silid aklatan. Tahimik at kakaunti lamang ang tao. Napakataas ng kisame at ang bawat lagayan ng libro ay matataas at gawa rin sa kahoy. May mga nakasabit pa na bumbilya sa bawat pasilyo na nagbibigay liwanag sa bawat libro. One word to describe the place, it's magical. Bakit ngayon ko lamang ito nakita? It's a little bit unusual because I can't see the librarian, I just shrugged my shoulders.

Nagsimula na akong maghanap ng aking mababasa. Kanina pa ako nag iikot ngunit wala akong mahanap. Nasa pinaka dulo at huling pasilyo na ako ng silid aklatan, gumamit ako ng hagdanan upang maabot ang mga nasa itaas na libro.

Sa wakas ay mayroon na akong nahanap na babasahin, kinuha ko na ito at bababa na sana nang biglang may nakakuha ng aking atensyon. Binitawan ko ang aking hawak at kinuha ang libro na nagtatago sa likuran ng mga libro.

It has a very thick cover like it's made of animal's skin and it looks very old. It doesn't have any title. I slowly opened the book and there's nothing written on it, I flipped through the pages and the same thing happened. I found myself frowning because of it. Who would put up a book without something written on it? Weird.

As I was about to return the book, a paper slipped from it. I picked it up and it's a page from the book, like it was ripped off. The only difference is that there's something written on it. Although I'm not sure what it is because it was written in a different language and the calligraphy looks uncanny.

I try to mentally read what's written even though I do not know if I'm doing it right. Then, suddenly I feel the shaking of the ground. I panicked and tried to run but I can't. The shout of the people slowly fades. 

The last thing I remember is shouting for help as my vision gets blurry and the books are falling on me.