2: Dante Alighieri

The mall wasn’t far from the building. I even reached it by walking and I had a nice time, strolling around the place, trying to get used to the new space I just moved in. Since it was a Sunday, the mall was packed with people. From friends to families and even couples were enjoying their time around different shops and restaurants. I went straight to the department store, to the house decorations station where I strolled for quite the longest time, trying to find small and fitting ornaments to place around the house. While walking around, I felt my phone vibrate inside my pocket, making me take it out and answer the caller. “Hoy, hindi mo naman sinabi na umalis ka na pala, pumunta pa ako sa inyo gaga ka” I laugh at the sound of my friend, Luke. “Sorry, sorry, nakalimutan ko pala na pupunta ka today, nandito ako sa mall malapit sa building, pupunta ka pa rin ba?” I ask while proceeding to walk toward the nearest counter to pay for the things I choose.

In the end, a few ornaments were bought, along with a few pairs of shirts and pants. “Baka bukas nalang o baka sa susunod, may usapan din kami ng kaibigan ko na magme-meet kami ngayon, send mo nalang address mo tapos sasabihan kita kung pupunta ako” he informed, while I nod as if he was there, personally talking to me. “Sige, bye” I smile before hanging up and placing back my phone inside my pocket and paying for the things. After that, I walked past the local bookstore, stopping for a bit in front of it, and contemplating whether to go in or not. Rolling my eyes, I went inside, walking straight to the book area where I strolled always the longest. ‘Nandito nanaman ako, anong oras nanaman kaya ako makakaalis dito’ I thought to myself while gripping the bag and strolling silently at the aisles of books, trying to find a book that might pique my interest.

My eyes brows hunches up at the sight of a book that I have been looking for. I stopped in my tracks before my fast hand takes it. I let out an audible gasp, catching the attention of the person beside me. Quickly, I closed my mouth and took a glance at the person beside me before biting my bottom lip and concealing my smile at the embarrassment. A smile was etched on my face while placing the bag down between my legs and flipping the book open. ‘Shit, finally, sabi ko na talaga, at least something happy would happen today’ my smile never left my face while reading the first pages of the book. “I never knew someone who reads Divine Comedy” the person who was beside me, who watched me go fascinated about the book I was reading, spoke. I look up to see a man, probably in his early twenties, looking at me. He looked at me with droopy eyes, as if he wanted to sleep or his eyes are just a bit sharp like that. “Oh, you know Dante, too?” my mouth opened before I could think about what to say. He nods, “I just finished reading the Paradiso, I haven’t got the Purgatorio and Inferno yet, I’m kinda looking for it” he added while shrugging his shoulder.

I couldn’t help but only nod in response, ‘doesn’t the Paradiso go last out of this series?’ I ask myself before brushing the thought away. I look down at the book in my hands again, noticing that it was Paradiso, meaning that I only have the Purgatorio to look for. “Uhm, if you want, meron ako ng Inferno book, you can borrow it, kung gusto mo lang naman” I smiled sheepishly at the guy. He looks at me again, with his eyebrows raised up at my sudden statement. “I mean, medyo mahirap siyang hanapin since it needs to be translated, so I only find a few na nagp-publish ng book” I added while holding the book in my hand, looking up at him with a small smile. ‘Hindi ba to sasagot, nahihiya na ko, nakatitig lang siya’ my heart raced while waiting for his answer. He shifted his gaze before looking back at the lady again, “hmm, are you from around here? I live at the condo building near here” he said instead of answering my question. I flinched, shocked at his words, “you mean the building near here? Kakalipat ko lang sa building na yon actually” I tell him while my eyes were wide at the realization that we are building mates. He chuckled at my reaction, “then that’s much better, you can borrow my Paradiso in return so you won’t buy that, if that’s okay?” he asked, tilting his head while waiting for my answer. I look at the person in front of me, the sudden making of friends was too sudden but it was as if it was favored by destiny or some kind of fate they have.

“Well, okay lang naman sakin yon..” I trailed while eyeing him, mentally asking what his name is. “Akihiko Brye Lim” he smiled at me, making me return his smile. “Then, thank you, Brye, I’m Celiana Marie Sanchez,” I told him my name in return for him, saying his name. “Are you going home already?” he asks, taking a glance at my bags. “Not yet, I still need to buy a few things sa supermarket, ikaw?” I tilted my head with a small smile. He didn’t answer, instead, he bowed his head a bit, biting his bottom lip, thinking before looking back at me. “Is it fine if I tag along?” he looks at me with hopeful eyes, one that I can’t say no to despite knowing him right at the moment. “Well, ayos lang naman pero baka matagalan ako, baka may gagawin ka or schedule” I blinked at his sudden request, a bit stammering on my words. “No, no it’s fine, I don’t have anything to do,” he says, shrugging his shoulders. “Well, sabi mo yan ha,” I smiled at him before turning our heels toward the path to the supermarket.

We talked on the way, I just know that he’s in his final year in Business Administration and he’s studying at a university near mine. He even told me that his schedule is from morning to afternoon, and asked mine, so naturally, I told him that mine was the same as his as well. Then he offered to drive us home after our classes. “Ayos lang ba talaga? What if matagalan ako and may gagawin ka pala?” I asked him with a frown while he trailed beside me. We walked on different aisles inside the huge supermarket. “That’s fine, my patience is really long, proven, and tested” he chuckled. His voice is deep, but not too deep. I look at him, carefully looking at his features.

Now that I notice it, Akihiko has a fair complexion, a bit pale but not too much. He has an undercut and he has manly features, but not too manly and not feminine either, just the right touch. His skin looked like it was taken care of. He’s not muscular, but his physique is of a man. It was obvious. He’s not thin either, it was as if it was perfect. Mostly, Akihiko is tall. Tall enough to reach the top of the shelves. If I estimate it, maybe around a 6-foot one?

“You okay? We’ve been standing here” he muttered, looking down at me in curiosity. I blinked, “oh, sorry” I sheepishly grinned, my cheeks hot at the sudden embarrassment before continuing to stroll around.