The Lost Book
1363 Words
Leoncio stepped into the marbled tile foyer and air-conditioned hall of the La Biblioteca Nacional de Frias building standing along Avenida de Los Vientos. His eyes caught the attention of the familiar mural painting on the wall - it was the image of the Duke of Frias. The moment the door opened, the place overwhelmed him. In his life, he had never seen many books in one place as big as this. His hands reached for a piece of paper inside his pocket.
“Maritime History of the World by Fernando Aguas. That’s the title of the book,” Melanio said. “Reading it would help you as a seafarer the way it helped me learned about my father’s job as a sailor. You will find it in the Reference Section.”
The Reference Section was located further down the hall. He looked around the library, unsure of his steps, and searched for the book. It was the first time he visited the place. He wasn’t familiar with the direction of the book sections. His eyes caught a glimpse of the old stack of books marked “On Sale” on top of a table. He got curious about the items. He was amazed, as he leafed through the books of different kinds, thirty minutes had passed before he noticed the time and the reason why he was there. He had been reading much longer than he realized.
At the information desk, I carried several new arrival books in hand, and placed them on a table, turned around and paced myself across the room. I saw him walking towards my table.
“Buenas tardes, senorita. Puede ayurdame? Can you tell me where the Reference Section is?” asked Leoncio.
“Hola, Buenas tardes, just go straight up ahead. Look for the sign. You will not miss it.” I replied.
Muchas gracias.
I smiled as I glanced at his towering height.
After a while he came back with the book.
“Hey Miss, I got it. Do I need to sign anything?” Leoncio asked.
“Yes, please, senor. Kindly fill up this form here.” I replied.
I discussed the library rules and regulations and everything involved and asked him to sign the logbook.
“You are good to go, sir,”
Muchas gracias.
My lips formed a wide smile and said, De nada, senor. " Enjoy reading!"
*****
That was a year ago.
Yet, in my memory it was only yesterday.
He lost the book that he was supposed to return to the library. Now he came back to the same place - after the unexpected encounter at the bridge.
“Miss de Almeda. I knew our meeting had a bad start and things went awry between us. I came back to settle the matter with you. Will you give me a chance to explain?” asked Leoncio.
“Please make it fast, senor Marco. It’s a busy day at the library.” I said.
Leoncio turned to look if there were people around to listen and cleared his throat. “Miss Almeda, it was an accident,” he began. “The book fell into the water when the boat that I was riding at Ebro river with my cousin Rogelio capsized. He didn’t know how to swim so I rescued him first and made sure he was okay. When I remembered the book, it already went deeper into the river. It was a long story but as you said - make it fast.”
“Senor Marco, I have known it a long time ago that something happened to the book. It wasn’t the reason why I was mad at you the first time. It’s your brash attitude that turned me off. If my memory served me right I will remind you of that day…”
Leoncio stood there silently and waited in apprehension.
“How much is that book? I will pay for it including the penalty. It was an old book anyway, I am sure it won’t cost much. Or, I can order a couple of those books from abroad. Who is the author again? Which do you prefer, Senora de Almeda?”
Leoncio was stunned. He tapped his fingers on top of the table. That was unexpected. How could she remember that? he thought.
As if she had read what was on his mind, she smiled and said, “I wrote it in my notebook, Senor Marco.”
Leoncio was amazed but ignored what I said. “So, how can we settle this problem?”
“As per the library’s regulations, either you replace the book or pay for it in full amount including the penalty because it was deducted from my salary. It’s up to you. And we don’t waive your library fee.
“Okay. I would pay for the book now.” He reached for his wallet inside his pocket.
“Please bring this note to the cashier and pay the indicated amount. Muchas gracias, senor.” I looked at him and read his mind as he turned his back, but something was missing. Perhaps, it was something he had never done in his life. Perhaps, it was a great deal of effort for him to say the word.
When the fee was settled, Leoncio left and walked past several bookshelves and the same foyer on his way out to Avenida de Los Vientos. Dusk had started to envelop the whole town of Frias. He was glad the issue was over now.
On his way home riding a motorcycle, he visited Melanio again after meeting him last night at the parish church.
“Tell me, Leo. Was it good news or what? Asked Melanio while he led him to the table.
“I paid for the lost book. She was fine with it. No problemo.” Leoncio answered.
“Do you like her?” asked Melanio.
Melanio knew inside I was the girl Leoncio was referring to. He was a regular reader at the library.
“Do you like her?” asked Melanio.
“Why do you ask?”
“I can see something in your eyes that I haven’t seen before… a kind of annoyance, or perhaps sadness.”
“Is there a reason to be sad?”
“You answer your question.”
Leoncio sat back on the chair and brushed the hair with his fingers. He gazed at Melanio’s smiling eyes as if saying, you can’t lie to me, so be real.
He breathed deeply. “Why does this woman hate me so much?” began Leoncio.”Why can’t I just say to her, “Hey, let’s go out for dinner,” like I used to say to other women when I was abroad.”
“Maybe, she was not like any other woman you met before. She was not the kind, who would jump at every opportunity to be with you. I think she was more of a fighter, a warrior. How can you defeat a woman warrior, Leoncio?”
“She was not as defensive as the first time I met her – she seemed so sweet and vulnerable then. Now she was more like Tia Gertrudes,”
“Ah yes, you were right.” Melanio laughed. “Times have changed, Leoncio. Times have changed.” We are at the turn of a new decade. But remember there was an old sage, “The fall of dropping water wears away the stone.”
Leoncio thought hard about it. “What does it mean?”
“You need to be patient. One cannot just make a woman changed her mind overnight. She needed time. The success of your effort will depend on how much feeling you have for that woman. You must not force it.
Leoncio couldn’t find the words to respond, not that he cannot comply but worried about how to make it a bit easier, something that he wasn’t used to doing. After a few minutes, he rose from his chair and said,
“Okay, I will ask her out for a coffee on Saturday. I will keep my fingers crossed, hoped she would say yes. What do you think?”
“Do what you have to do. Let your heart guide you. Good luck!”
- Writer
