Sands & Sparrow

13

"Mahilig ka pala sa mga libro," turan ni Aveline habang pinagmamasdan ang mga libro sa estante.

"Choose a book," tugon ni Margo. Kumuha si Aveline ng isang libro na naglalaman ng mga tula.

"Eto napili ko." Pinakita agad niya ito kay Margo. Tiningnan ni Margo ang libro, ngumiti sa nabasang pamagat habang hawak ang isang baso ng alak. "Pumili ka ng isang pahina. Tell me the number of the page."

"B-bakit?" tanong ni Aveline na may pagtataka.

"I will tell you the words...without looking at the book," sabi ni Margo at ininom ang alak.

"T-talaga?" Namamanghang tanong ni Aveline at agad naghanap ng pahina. "Eto napili ko... uhm... chapter six page sixty-eight." Pareho silang nakatayo, si Aveline nasa estante habang si Margo ay malapit sa bintana.

"The page you chose, it was written by Howard Arnold Walter," panimula ni Margo. Agad namang tiningnan ni Aveline ang pahina at napangiting humanga. "Tama ka! Ang galing mo naman!"

"Alam mo rin ba ang nilalaman?"

"Yes."

Sinimulang banggitin ni Margo ang bawat salita, habang pinagmamasdan ang mga bituin sa labas ng bintana.

"I would be true, for there are those who trust me. I would be pure, for there are those who care. I would be strong for there is much to suffer. I would be a friend of all the foe, the friendless. I would be giving and forget the gift. I would be humble, for I know my weakness. I would look up, and love and lift. I would be faithful in each passing moment. I would be constantly in touch with God. I would be strong to follow where He leads me. I would have faith to keep the path Christ trod."

Namangha si Aveline sa narinig, eksaktong nabanggit lahat at hindi man lang nagkamali kahit isang letra. "Wow! Ang galing!" natutuwang pahayag niya. Tinitigan siya ni Margo at nakita ang lapad ng ngiti ni Aveline, nasilayan din niya ang malalim na dimples nito. "You can choose a book if you like."

May isang librong kinuha si Aveline at pinakita niya ito kay Margo.

"That's Don Quixote," sabi ni Margo.

"Tungkol saan ba ang kwento?" tanong ni Aveline na may interes habang binubuklat ang mga pahina.

"Would you like me to tell you?" tanong ni Margo.

"Sige, please?" Nawala ang hiya ni Aveline, at siya'y naging masayahin ulit.

"Don Quixote was an old man who lived in Spain. He read so many books that he became obsessed with becoming a knight. Eventually, he went mad. He pretended to be a knight, made his fantasy a reality, embarked on an adventure, and rode a donkey as though it was a powerful horse. He used a rusty sword as if it were the most powerful weapon. He saw windmills as giants and fought them bravely. He fell in love with an ugly peasant and admired her as the most beautiful princess," kuwento ni Margo habang papalapit kay Aveline.

"Baliw ba siya?" tanong ni Aveline, tiningnan ang libro.

"Yes...he was delusional," sagot ni Margo.

"Marahil malungkot ang buhay niya kaya nagawa niya yun," pagninilay ni Aveline.

"I suppose so," sang-ayon ni Margo.

"Siguro namatay siyang masaya," sambit ni Aveline habang nakatingin sa libro at saglit na ibinaling ang mata kay Margo.

"Well... he was happy. Despite being seen by many as a grand madman, Don Quixote saw the world in a different way," sabi ni Margo, ngayon ay nakalapit na kay Aveline. "Can I ask you a question?" tanong niya, nakaharap na ngayon kay Aveline.