The day in town was busy as usual. Carriages and horses passed through the main road. People walked on the sidewalk minding their own business, some were exchange words greeting each other. Stood by the sidewalk were buildings where business, trading, or official matters conducted. Across the street were built a beautiful fountain, the school building not far next to it. Upper and middle classes children were usually attended the public school, the same school that Irina once attended too. The library was the only building located at the end of the road close to the arch bridge to the wood.
Irina walked not too fast and not too slow savoring the warm sunlight through her skin. Under the sunlight, her usually dark like black hair showed its original color which was dark-blue and she never let it grew longer over her neck. She looked beautiful that way.
She was heading to the library feeling extremely happy. She seemed walking like normal people but she was daydreaming inside. It seemed like those blue eyes of hers were focus on the road ahead but in truth, she saw no people or anything else. She saw herself sitting at the library holding the new book collection and would be allowed to bring back home. "Ahh.. Such a fine day would be." Thought Irina to herself while sighing smilingly.
She continued walking and daydreaming without realizing that she hits someone's back. Irina startled when she heard an angry voice. "auch.. are you blind?"
Unconsciously Irina looked around at her surrounding to make sure she was in the right place. She was absolutely sure that she was standing in front of the library but why there were so many people standing at the door, girls to be precise. She then realized someone staring at her. The girl was crossing her hand, staring sharply at her.
Irina thought what was this girl problem then it all coming back to her as she said "ohh.. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to be rude. I'm just.. you know.. wonder if I missed something." She said apologetically while eying the library.
The girl chuckled at Irina's innocent statement, she explained "Since yesterday a handsome man started working with the old lady who guard the library." As someone who never set foot in the library, she didn't know the exact term for someone who works in the library. She described the man's handsomeness as one of a kind that this town would ever see or even in the next town. "His eyes are deep and beautiful. You can drown in them." She said to Irina. She stared blankly and her lips curved up like she was carving the man's figure into her mind. She added "He is the dream man of every girl. Sooo.. perfect." She turned her face to Irina.
Irina stopped listening when she heard that someone working with Mrs. Letty. She was lost in her own thought, someone had stolen her dream job. She felt so angry. Disappointed. How come Mrs. Letty did not considering her, even though she never mentions anything about wanting to work with her. She was the one who visits the library frequently. She was sure that no person in the town went to the library as frequent as her. As almost all of the girls her age had the same thought, they mostly talked about boys or wanting to get married as soon as possible or attending the ball hosted by some rich landlord. So narrow minded thought Irina. As for the men, they were busy either to impress the girls or really work hard to earn the living, not many of them wanted to become scholar.
Irina was adamant thinking that she was the perfect candidate to work with Mrs. Letty. And this news about the unknown man who was just started working yesterday was so unacceptable.
Furrowing her brows, Irina heard the girl's describing him as perfect. She was just can't accept the fact and half hoping that the news was not true. Saying her sorry once again to the girl, she walked toward inside the library.
The building was huge, taller than any building in town. Irina always thought that the building's architecture was beautiful, and inside of it was more beautiful with hundreds of books. Welcomed by the statue of an angel in front the of the aisle, Irina felt the atmosphere was more live than the usual quiet and tranquil. The grand tables were polished and shined, they were three existing tables, two of them were fully occupied by tens of girls with one or two books open in front of them. They were sitting gracefully while they were obviously pretending to read and they were not hide that fact, they glanced every once or two minutes at the man's table.
Irina rolled her eyes at those girl's shameless flirtation. "How shame." Irina shook her head. She was heading to his table followed by tens curious eyes.
Feeling someone walking closer to his table, the man lifted his head. He saw a girl, he then quickly analyzed the girl judging by her glasses and her humble appearance, she was not one of those girls. So, he consciously wore his smiling face.