Rahim:
It irritates me that I'm being told to "behave" all the time. Did they believe I was some sort of troublemaker waiting to cause mischief? Heaven forbid, I wasn't a kid. I went to the library to study and to take in how the world functions. The world was changing and evolving at a rapid pace, and I had no desire to fall behind.
It was oppressive to think that I would be stranded on this island forever. My visits here weren't just for fun. I was looking for information to help me navigate a world that was becoming more complex by the day, while Aries and Deniz whiled away their hours lost in stories of heroes and adventures in the fiction books.
They were unable to see past my reserved exterior to my raging ambition. They might have assumed that I was content to read dusty old books in the corner by myself. But I desperately wanted a chance to disprove them and reveal the fire hiding beneath this composed exterior.My eyes wandered to the window where sunlight was streaming in and creating golden patterns on the floor as I leaned back in my chair. If only I had the chance to defy these assumptions and show them that I was more capable than they thought. If only I could break out of the mold they had given me and face the world with the wisdom and tenacity I had acquired.
I sighed and turned back to the book in my hands, taking in the words while ideas of what lay beyond swirled in my head. The library served as both my haven and a constant reminder of the limitations I had to overcome and the horizons I longed to broaden. I made the commitment to carry it out one day.
The first customer arrived as the bell above the main entrance began to chime softly. It was Aisha Mansoori, a quiet and reserved young woman who always seemed to find ways to run into Aries. She frequently showed up close to the counter while he was working, which was almost endearing. Her interactions with him were understated; they resembled chance meetings and snatched glances more than overt attempts at conversation.
The typical crush trope was not present in Aisha's personality. She exuded an air of timidness rather than giggles and batted eyelashes. She wasn't the type to easily start a conversation or express her emotions. She made subtle attempts to make a connection, such as pausing to peer at the books on the counter or timidly smiling whenever their eyes met.
With red hair that was tinged with blonde and alluring green eyes, Aries stood out because of his unusual appearance. He continued to act as though he was unaware of the attention he was receiving. Maybe that's why Aisha's attempts to be near him were more like gentle proddings in the hopes that he would eventually pay attention. Their dynamic was a welcome deviation from the norm in a world where societal norms prescribed specific expectations, and why the hell am I getting so philosophical?
"I, um... I actually wanted to return these books," she began, her voice carrying a soft timidity that made her words almost a whisper. Her gaze averted from his, her fingers nervously tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. It was a gesture that spoke volumes about her shyness, a telltale sign that she was slightly overwhelmed by the interaction.
Now, let's talk about that 'uh.' It's the telltale sign of a timid character, the kind you see in stories all the time. Ask her for directions. 'Uh.' Buying something from her shop? You guessed it, 'uh.' Sneak up behind her to give her a little spook? It's like clockwork – first the 'uh,' and then, brace yourself, the scream. It's like the author just pulls out the timid character template without stopping to think how unique she could be if she were real. But, you see, that's the thing – reading too much can make you see the seams of the storytelling. Welcome to the world behind the fourth wall.
"Ah, this one..." Now, let's take a moment to pause and dissect the situation here. Allow me to explain that Aries is fully aware of the trope that this girl embodies, but he's going to play the "dense" card, and I can assure you it's for an utterly absurd reason.
"This is 'Echoes of Forgotten Realms,' isn't it? Surprised to see you're into these kinds of books. It's actually one of my favorites," Aries engaged in conversation? Well, that's a surprising twist.
"Well, you did recommend it to me once, remember?" She offered a small smile, her voice maintaining its soft and gentle tone.
Aries! You sly rascal, why aren't you adhering to the predictable character description I just elaborated on for the audience? Um... well, let me clarify that Aries happens to know most of the town's elderly residents, including her grandfather, Salman the butcher. He and his rowdy crew used to frolic with the sheep and other livestock from his shop, so there's a chance they may have talked about books during those escapades. But my hypothesis still holds true, you see.
"Yeah, I did. Well... if you ever need more recommendations, you can always ask me. I practically know every book in here." Now, I'm just going to hush up and get back to my book.
"Well, then, what's your favorite?" Her words gradually lowered in volume until the last word was nearly a whisper.
"Sorry?" "I mean, what do you consider the finest book in this genre?" she countered.
"Hmm, according to me it would be 'Sands of Serenity' and 'Embers of Eternity' of course, both by the same legendary author Aleksander Kovačić."
"I- I see, I'll check on it then." Her cheeks seemed to turn a shade rosier, and with that, she gently placed the books on the counter, her fingers brushing against the worn wood.
"Yeah, so regarding the payment, the total comes to around 17 coins, but since you're our first customer of the day... we're actually offering a 30% discount on the total cost."
What? When did that happen? I looked up from my book, and Aries seemed to realize that I had also caught what he just said. He was playing it cool, pretending like everything was normal to avoid arousing my suspicion.
"What? Really? That's so kind of you," she responded, her voice barely above a whisper. I couldn't help but notice the hint of a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. Author, are you trying to make her character too predictable?
She delicately pulled out a small pouch from her bag, deftly retrieving 12 bronze coins and placing them on the counter. The soft clinking of metal against wood filled the air.
"Then I'll be heading out for now. I have a few things to pick up from the market."
"Sure thing! Thank you for visiting. Feel free to return anytime you're in need of more books or recommendations."
And with that, she glided out of the library, leaving me and Aries exchanging bemused glances. Seriously, what was up with that peculiar interaction?
"You! Why were you acting so dense right now, is it some daily practice of sorts for you?" I said.
"Nah, nah, I get what you're saying, but see if I get too hasty then it might damage the plot. So, it's best to stay a bit dense like a normal rom-com protagonist," Aries replied with a grin.
What do you think? You're some sort of protagonist??? Well, yeah, you are, but this isn't a rom-com!! Seriously, these guys. Well, I'll just read my book. I don't have a major role to play, and the author really did make a filler chapter for no reason. Well, then-
TO BE CONTINUED ->
