The Wrong Bookshop

Lucas ordered a coffee and sat in the empty corner of the café. He took out his book and tried to read. But the man at the next table was watching him.

Umorder si Lucas ng kape at umupo sa bakanteng sulok ng café. Inilabas niya ang kanyang libro at sinubukang magbasa. Pero ang lalaking nasa katabing mesa ay nakatingin sa kanya.

"That's a very old edition," the man said. Lucas looked up. The man was wearing a heavy jacket, even though the café was warm. "I used to sell books like that one. Around the corner. The shop is gone now."

"Napakadaang edisyon niyan," sabi ng lalaki. Tiningnan siya ni Lucas. Nakasuot ang lalaki ng makapal na jacket, kahit mainit sa loob ng café. "Dati akong nagtitinda ng mga librong ganyan. Sa kanto lang. Wala na ngayon ang tindahan."

"Gone?" Lucas asked. He felt awkward, but he didn't know how to leave the conversation. "What kind of shop?"

"Wala na?" tanong ni Lucas. Nahihiya siya, pero hindi niya alam paano aalis sa usapan. "Anong klase ng tindahan?"

The man laughed quietly. "Old books. Forty years. Then the building was sold to a bank. The bank closed too, three years ago. Now it's a clothing store." He looked out the window. "Every time I pass by, I forget for one second. I almost go inside."

Tumawa nang tahimik ang lalaki. "Mga lumang libro. Apatnapung taon. Tapos nabenta na ang gusali sa bangko. Nagsara din ang bangko tatlong taon na ang nakakaraan. Tindahan na ng damit ngayon." Tumingin siya sa bintana. "Tuwing dadaan ako doon, nakakalimutan ko ng isang segundo. Halos pumasok pa ako."

Lucas closed his book and listened. The man did not ask for anything. He just wanted to tell someone about a place that used to be there.

Isinarado ni Lucas ang kanyang libro at nakinig. Hindi humingi ng anuman ang lalaki. Gusto lang niyang makwento sa isang tao tungkol sa lugar na dati roong naroroon.