Searing Burst of Rage (Fireheart 2)

Chapter 1

I stepped out of the tram when it pulled over at the station near the bookstore. I still have 2 hours before my first class today starts so I'll check around in the store for a while. I'm in my last year of studying Political Science at the Australian National University but I still give some time to indulge myself with my addiction to romantic fiction novels.

It may sound so boring and a waste of time for a typical polsci student but it helps me get away. Some are rather focused on reading books related to politics, and biographies or doing an advanced reading for Law School but I prefer to stay for a little bit. What I mean to say is - stay a little bit in fantasy.

The other reason is - that maybe I might not be able to proceed to Law School because of my father. I have to go home and do what he asked me to do. It is something important that I really have to follow. It is something really important that I have to give up my future for the means of it.

Pero hindi pa rin ako nawawalan ng pag-asa. Baka pwede ko pa syang makausap tungkol dito at magbago ang isip nya. He's a good man and I know for sure that he won't let my dreams shattered.

I want to become a lawyer because he inspires me. He helps people and I want to help people, too. He helps people to survive and to make a living by leading them. For me, I want to help people by giving them the justice they deserve. He's using his ability to lead and I will use my brain to stand for them.

I fixed my black skater skirt the moment I reached the side street. My khaki knee-high boots felt a little heavy when I started to march to the entrance of the bookstore. I gripped the handle of my clap bag and walked towards the bookshelf at the end corner.

I saw some familiar faces from my department. This store is close to the university so it's obvious that scholars come here, looking for books, not for fiction though.

Habang nagtitingin ng mga libro ay narinig ko ang cellphone ko na nagring sa loob ng bag. Napatingin ang ilang customer's sa gawi ko kaya ay agad kong kinuha ito sa bag para sagutin.

"Dafiah," sagot ko.

"Where are you? You said you'd be early to help me," she cried.

"I popped into the bookstore on the way," I told her. "This will be short," I added.

"Trea," she cried. "I'll have a solo recital later. Please be here in an instant!"

"Fine, I'll just get a pad of sticky notes then I'll be there," I assured her.

Nagbuntong hininga ako pagbaba ng tawag at dumeretso sa alley kung nasaan ang mga stationeries. Ang laki ng bookstore na ito, kung bago ka ay hindi mo talaga mabilis mahahanap kung ano ang gusto mo. I walked to the other end of the bookstore to find sticky notes.

Mabilis ko lang itong nakita kaya kumuha na ako atsaka dumeretso sa counter. Mabuti at walang tao masyado sa counter kaya mabilis akong nakapagbayad. Binuksan ko ang bag ko para ilagay ang binili habang naglalakad hanggang sa may bumangga sa akin. Sa lakas ay muntik na akong matumba pero agad ko namang naibalik ang balanse sa pagtayo. I sniffed. Ang bango.

"My apologies."

Napaangat ako ng tingin sa lalaking bumangga saakin nang marinig ang malalim nyang boses. I'm tall but he's taller. He's even taller than regular Aussie men I've met, or he could be as tall as some but he looks stern and bulky.

"A-ah, sure." Ngumiti ako ng matamis sa kanya.

Tumango sya saakin at tipid na ngumiti bago tuluyang maglakad papunta sa mga nakahilerang shelves ng libro. Napako ako sa kinatatayuan ko at sinundan sya ng tingin. Ang bango nya ay nanatili sa kinatatayuan ko. The air seems fresher and chillier.