XIV. The Girl

                                    

                                          
"Mr. Collins, what are you doing?" I jolted.
                          
The high-pitched voice of the school's librarian caught me sleeping again between the two big shelves at the far end corner of the library.
                          
"I did not know that I've fallen asleep, Ms. Morris." The school librarian is a forty-year-old woman. She was not the usual librarian most of the movies referred to. She does not have those big glasses, a bun hair, and a strict-looking face. She is just Ms. Morris. A woman with a big beautiful smile, high-pitched voice, and a pen stuck above her ears.
                          
"Not another alibi, Mr. Collins. I was sure you were just sleeping." She insisted. I was not really sleeping, honestly. But after an hour of reading a book, may it be humorous or not, I'll always find myself drifting to sleep; which is when Ms. Morris found me.
                          
* bogsh *
                          
I turned my head to the source of the noise and saw a girl reaching out for a book on the floor while making a tight grip on a stack of books in her arms. She must have fallen it. But instead of getting the book on the floor, the books she was holding also fell, making a series of crashing sounds.
                          
"Run along, boy. I'll be closing in a few minutes." She told me and left. I peered at the window of the library and noticed the orange and red-colored sky being sucked up by the night sky.
                          
"And you, Miss Samonte. You need to stack the remaining books ... "the last words I heard before Ms. Morris' voice becomes inaudible.
                          
I immediately gather my things and picked up the book I was reading earlier. Architecture of Happiness. A book about modern architecture.
                          
I glance back to Ms. Morris and the new girl beside her; a nerdy kind of girl and definitely a clumsy one. She must be the new librarian's assistant. But who cares?
                          
***
                          
"Hey, yes bro. Wazzup? Your mom has been calling me. She said you're not picking up ya phone. "He said while showing his phone with three recently received calls.
                          
"Sorry, Nick. I'll just call her later. Thanks, anyway. "I dropped my bag on my bed and the freshly brewed coffee I take out from the coffee shop nearby before changing into something comfortable.
                          
"Been in the library, again, are you?" He placed his arms on my shoulder. I just nodded and shoved him off.
                          
"Dude, 'ya not gonna find some hot babes there." He said while wiggling his brows. How did I end up with this guy again?
                          
"Dude, I've got no time for that. Dad would be furious when he found out that my interest shifted. Again. "I honestly said with a soft groan. Dad was strict when it comes to my studies. He wanted me to follow his path and be a renowned business magnate someday. Not what I planned to.
                          
"But it already did shift. That's the proof. "He said while pointing at the book on my table, the one that I borrowed from the library. I have decided to read the book tonight since I do not have any exams for this weekend.
                          
"Yeah, but I'm still taking my subjects seriously. That's just a past time." Truth is, I had always wanted to be an architect or an engineer but someone always disagrees-my dad.
                          
"Alright, if you say so. Just do not screw up this semester or else I'll be screwed too. Remember when I first met your dad last month, right? He took a firm grip in my hand while saying 'It's nice to meet you, Nick.' with his eyes glaring at me. Dude, that was a total horror. "He exclaimed while shuddering.
                          
"He was just joking you know." I lifted his vibe. I've known my father and he usually made fun of people with his strong aura.
                          
"Na-uh, that was far from joking. But I've got the news that is definitely not a joke. "He declared with a straight face. My tired eyes wandered over his serious ones.