008

Georgina wasn't entirely sure on this but Aaron so far has been nothing but kind and nice to her and he wanted her to come so she talked herself into it and went out of her apartment.

As she walked, her thoughts swirled around about her past, her present, and her future. She thought her life over so much that she didn't notice she arrived at the small and cozy establishment with the realization that she didn't steal anything from anyone unsuspecting.

Instead of feeling angry and resentful at the fact, she was rather calm and happy.

It didn't affect her that much and she's somehow delighted that the burden of carrying something not hers wasn't with her today.

Still cautious and wary, she opened one of the double doors and headed inside, eyes roving around the books and yearning to read all of them.

Her gaze landed on the counter, eyebrows jumping in surprise as she saw Aaron seated there, a book in hand and narrow glasses sitting on the bridge of his nose.

As if sensing someone was looking at him, his head lifted up and he looked around before his eyes landed on Georgina, a smile lighting his lips as he beckoned her closer.

Her flats made almost little to no sound as she obliged to his request, a small smile gracing her lips as she watched him shut his book.

"You said you'd show me around?" she asked quietly, afraid to disrupt the tranquility of the place.

"Yes I did." He looked around again. "Fortunately not much people are around, so I think we can have some leeway."

He stood and removed his glasses, placing them neatly on top of the closed book.

For a moment, Georgina thought about herself and her actions in Aaron's situation. She'd leave her glasses open and maybe fold the page she was on, but usually she'd place a bookmark between the pages.

She wasn't neat like him, that was the point.

"I've based the arrangement of the books mostly by author and or topic so it's easier to find any book you're looking for," Aaron started as they roamed the shelves. He turned to her briefly. "Have you noticed that when you first came here a week ago?"

Her brown eyes scanned her surroundings once again before sighing out a confirmation, attention focused on the many books that lined the shelves.

They were all put so neatly and carefully that Georgina marveled at the effort this man had for something mundane as arranging books.

"Would you like to borrow some of the books sometime? All you have to do is return them on or before the due date else you'd have to pay a fine."

Georgina turned wide eyes on him, Aaron mimicking her action in slight surprise, wondering why she looked like that.

"I have to pay?" she nearly screeched and Aaron shushed her before nodding solemnly.

"It's just a minimal amount, don't worry."

"I don't even have a penny on me," she grumbled.

"Because you steal," he stated simply.

The air grew silent and charged with tension, Georgina's lips pursed in fear of screaming at him and ruining the silence of the library. She had a feeling he wanted to speak his opinion on the whole matter but her hand was quick to cover his mouth before he can say anything, his green eyes staring at her confusedly.

"Don't say anything, please," she said quietly. "I'm happy the way I am. This is my definition of 'living'."

His eyebrows came together, one of his hands lifting to remove hers.

"Are you certain this is how you want to live all your life?" he began gently. "Running from authorities? Hiding wherever you go?"

Georgina sighed heavily, leaning her back carefully on one of the shelves.

"I told ya not to say anything. Why're you so stubborn? I don't need another person worrying over me when I can take care of myself."

Outside, a butterfly fluttered about, passing through the windows and going out of sight once more.

The two stared at each other, Georgina almost collapsing in herself and Aaron trying to comprehend her actions and beliefs.

"Assuming I'm not the only person counseling you, why won't you accept our advice?"

"Because this is what I enjoy," she admitted, voice rising slightly. "Ever since my parents died, there's been no direction in my life. I resorted to stealing and snitching everything I see. I don't even know how I met my best friend, but I cut ties with her 'cause I don't wanna consider a life where I don't have to steal. If I don't, what's my purpose?"

"If you do, what's your fulfillment?" he returned, making Georgina stop her tirade to process his words.

"I—what?" she said dumbly, blinking rapidly and heart pounding in her ears at being cornered once again by this man.

His eyes were cool and calm; there was no judgement and no malice. All she saw was genuine curiosity and a touch of concern as they maintained eye contact with each other once again, Georgina's mind a muddled mess.

Among all human emotions, anger was the easiest to display as it masked any sign of hurt and was a defense mechanism of a person when faced a situation.

Georgina did just that, like how she usually does.

Her eyebrows pinched together and her body closed in on itself as she lashed out, "What do you know? I'm happy where I am, and I don't need anyone to tell me where to go, especially a stuck-up loser like you!"

She made a rude gesture at him and stomped off the library, muttering foul words to herself.

But once again she was taken aback by the tears that steadily leaked out her eyes, Georgina removing her glasses to furiously wipe at her eyes, muttering about 'stupid know-it-alls' and 'freaking green eyes'.

She hadn't realized that she paused just in front of the library, where everyone can see her red eyes and nose. People passed her by, seeing her but not minding her, and that was somehow a relief to the woman as she cried pathetically in public.

She couldn't think properly anymore and it was all because of that idiot. Why did he have to make this so hard? Did he think this was freaking funny?

She shouldn't have trusted him. She shouldn't have let him in her apartment, as it was already a sign that she was accepting him in her life. She was utterly stupid for not knowing his ploy sooner.

Her hand was grabbed gently and panic immediately filled Georgina, ready to slap when a familiar face stopped her movement, her body jerking into a halt.

She was quick to mask her surprise by plastering on an angry expression, lips pursed and eyes unforgiving even with tear stains on her cheeks.

"What do you want, psycho?" she bit back.

Aaron merely smiled and placed a checkered blue handkerchief in the hand he was holding. He goes so far even as to close her fingers on the soft cotton, patting her hand in comfort.

"My, your language is as colorful as the rainbow," he remarked. Georgina frowned deeply and ripped her hand out of his grasp, ignoring the sting of friction. She did another rude gesture and stalked off, stumbling on the way and regaining her bearings just as quick.

That man can't be trusted anymore.

But how wrong she was.