The Fairy and Me - Chapter One
The school’s library is always so quiet, giving off an aura of tranquility while a silent melody plays in the background. Well, at least I think I heard some kind of melody. Anyway, my work today only consists of rearranging new books on the shelves, typing in new data and…daydreaming?
I proceed to the “Fantasy and Mystery” section, a secluded area situated far back of the alcove of the building. Gracefully, I glide through between the spaces between two shelves and silently read down the list…
“Monsters and Beasts”…
“The legend of Willilowie Low”…
“What’s lurking…everywhere…” ?
Seriously, the titles are giving me the creeps…
As I finished with the newly arrived books, and were just about to continue to my other tasks, a big blue book on the far end of the topmost shelf catches my eyes. Hmm? I don’t think I have ever seen that book before? A new one? I don’t think other librarians are that dedicated to do my part of the work. They are more content ogling cute bookworms who visits here for the sole purpose of studying. Yeah, right.
While wondering why bookworms are not exactly my type, I tiptoed and stretched my hand to the strange book, enticed by the calming colour of the sea. I reached it and pulled it out along with some dusts…which fall into my face, into my eyes.
OUCH.
The book fell from my grip and with a thud it reaches the floor. Frantically, I try to get the eye-intruding-good-for-nothing piece of dust out of my eyes. After steadying myself, I positioned myself over the book and stared at it blankly as my long light blondish hair pouring over the now open book.
This book can only be seen by those pure of heart.
Those who read until the last word of this book will have one wish granted.
One…wish?
My wish?
My only wish for now is to get a kind and loving boyfriend. If only my standards weren’t so high…
Too cool is a no-no. Give me the goose bumps.
Cute is okay, but immature? Bleh.
Normal is appreciated but ordinary is just plain boring.
Ah~~ the dilemma of a young fair maiden.
Or it’s just my hormone doing their job.
I continue to look at the book, taking in all the descriptions; pages are a bit worn out at the edges, brilliant blue wordings lined up nicely, and swirls, lots of them spreading and expanding to the end of each pages. The book seems pretty nice to me.
Well, no harm in trying to finish the book, right?
><><><><
“Ms. Wintermonth!” I heard my name being called as I finish reading the first chapter of the wish-granting book. Lazily, I straighten myself from my comfortable near-lying position and prop my hands on the information counter, searching the area for the source of disturbance. Brat. I do not appreciate my serene reading to be intruded. Especially not to a crush confession, wait, let’s correct that, another crush confession.
Standing in front of me is one 3rd year senior, tall, lean and smart-looking. He looks nervous and is twiddling his fingers in his sweater. I put on my business smile that I’m sure has helped me handle sticky situations before, “Yes, may I help you?”
“Um, can we talk?”
We ARE talking now for God’s sake. Just get on with it! “What is it?”
“Uh, ah, how do I put this…Um…”
Hasn’t he made up his mind yet? Indecisive, lack of straight-forwardness, worse, he is making a fair maiden like me wait! I hate guys like this.
“I think…I like you…would you go out with me?”
You think? What the? There’s no way I’d fall for that lousy of a confession!
Trying to calm my composure, I breathe in deeply before spurting, “I’m more into the decisive, straight-forward and gentleman type of guy, so you don’t really fit those qualities, I’m sorry,” I said flatly, not giving him a second glance, I retreat back to my usual reading place behind the counter.
There was a sigh, the sound of foot steps retreating and I smiled triumphantly. (rather, devilishly…so don’t bother picturing that.)
“There goes another broken-hearted man for today and he’s better than the guy this morning,” my colleague librarian, Jade says. “Crystal, you’re so mean and sadistic.”
“What?” I countered, annoyed. “It’s obvious that they’re not serious enough to be in a relationship,” I watch as Jade rolls her eyes, “I don’t just accept anyone to be the love of my life, you know,” I added in exasperation.
Liking someone is clearly not a game. I’m serious about it and it irks me that not all people seem to share my point of view. Just because you think that maybe you are attracted to someone, it does not always means that it is the real thing. What’s the real thing? I dunno. I have not experienced it myself but I’m sure I’ll know when I’ve found the real thing. Yeah, snort all you want. I don’t care. Hmph.
“Crystal, he’s here again.” Jade nudges me to get my attention, so I tear my eyes away from my book. My eyes fall on a calm figure slouching on the table far on the side of the reading section. A hand moving up and down in a relaxing slow rhythm as his pencil scratches a piece of paper in his tattered sketch book. His movements can really lull me to sleep.
“Weird guy,” I voiced my thought and readies myself for another round of arrange-the-books-on-the-shelves work.
Putting the ‘invisible’ book together with my other things, (…Yes, others cannot see it. “Crystal? What are you doing? Day-dreaming?” Jade had asked when I was clearly reading.) I make my way to a pile of returned books and start to sort them according to the genres. Blue stickers for Teens, yellow for Humour…
As I spin myself around to insert a book on its respective shelves, I accidentally knock into a table and that sends all my things scattered on the floor.
Holding in an exasperated sigh, I quickly started to pick up my things, mumbling all the way. Why do things like this just love to happen to me? Does God hate me that much? I looked around for the ‘invisible’ book wondering that maybe my heart just went impure with my last comment that I cannot see the book anymore.
Where did it go? I was just joking. God you do love me right?
“Ah!” I said, surprised. The book was in the hands of the guy who always sit by the window sketching nobody knows what. I winced. Maybe I should try getting his name sometimes.
The guy just examined the book in his hands, his eyes reading out the title engraved to the hard covers of it.
I walk towards him attentively, and when we’re in whispering distance I tugged his sleeves. “You can see that book?”
He looks at me, unblinking, probably trying to process whatever nonsense that I’ve just spewed. Then, slowly, he nods.
With him still holding the book, I flip open the front cover of the book and open the explanation page. He reads on silently and then looks up at me, face full of questions.
“You do understand the English written right?” I asked impatiently, narrowing my eyes dangerously at him. Come on…come on…
Again, a nod. More likely he’s nodding to the book.
Okay, the guy hasn’t spoken a word but I think he’s doubting the wish-coming-true part. Well, even I don’t know for sure…
(PING!)
Oh, wait. That’s the sound of the light bulb of ideas in my head…hm…
“I have an idea!” I clapped my hands together as I exclaimed that. “Let’s see if it’ll happen then!”
He cocks his head to the side and raises his eyebrows in question.
“Our wishes! We’ll finish the book and see!”
He just stares at me.
“What’s that ‘What kind of mess have I gotten myself into’ kind of face you’re making?”
He quickly shakes his head in denial to my baseless accusation.
“So, it’s decided then!” I take the book from his hands and flip through the pages. “This book’s not so thick. I think we’ll finish it in no time!”
The boy, still silent, and since there’s no sign of hesitation I’ll take it as he has no objection.
…Okay, call me a pushover, yeah, but I need someone else in this! It’s not like I’ll easily meet some other guy who can actually see the book. Well, given that very few man with pure heart is left on the planet, I’m lucky to meet one. (Men, no offense here.) Besides, I don’t want to be called a psycho alone.
(You know? That Crystal claims that she’s reading an invisible book…isn’t that just weird? Haha!)
In that kind of situation…Better two than one, right?
Let’s put my pessimistic imagination aside…
“Let’s see…I’ll finish chapter three by the end of today…so why don’t you pick the book up after the chime? Hm?”
He nods his understanding a few times.
“See you after the chime then,” I said with a wave and head towards the counter.
In the corner of my eye I can see him nodding again. I’m not sure why but that made me smile.
Chapter One done
sore
calm
blank
crappy
sleepy
happy
bitchy
bored